Monday, February 12, 2007

Please Write Back...

Letters From Iwo Jima is Clint Eastwood's Japanese-language answer to another World War II film he did earlier this year, "Flags of Our Fathers". It is also far and above a better film and more interesting story. Don't let the sub-titles or possibly the previous viewing of Flags deter you from seeing Iwo Jima.

Ken Watanabe stars as real-life General Kuribayashi and leads a wonderful cast of Japanese actors portraying his soldiers and officers as they prepare for and then experience the US invasion of the island they were protecting. We get a look at the strategy the Japanese employed against the US and through unique story-telling, a perspective on what fighters from each level of Japan's military heirarchy dealt with the situation through their letters home.

This is another must-see whether it be in the theater or at home. It was shot in very, very washed out color, not quite black and white as from time-to-time shades of red could be seen. I could be wrong and there is probably a professional term for it but that is my best description. :)

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