Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Movie Review: Letters From Iwo Jima

I got around to watching this last night and I tell you if you have not yet seen this.....make it a must see. Its Clint Eastwoods companion to "Flags of Our Fathers"

Its the telling of the Iwo WW2 battle from a purely Japanese outlook. Extremely well done. Anyone who is familiar with Japanese culture especially the warrior code of Bushido that was practiced with a high degree of fanaticsm throughout the Pacific war knows it stems from the traditions of Samurai during Japan's feudal era.

This film illustrates that well while also providing a human aspect to the average Japanese foot soldier serving on Iwo. The film shows that though at the time he may have been regarded as subhuman by many Americans your average Japanese soldier simply was tasked with doing his duty for his country as laid out in acceptable Japanese doctrine of the time. During WW2 most all enemies were dehumanized for propaganda purposes as well as the general idea of making it easier to kill ones enemy when perceived as evil personified.

I knew before I watched the film that Japanese had been propangandized to believe that Americans were all evil monsters who would maim , kill and subject to unspeakable tortures any Japanese they might encounter. This of course being a falsehood.

The film is very violent depicting scenes of combat and inhumanity that were common on a daily basis for both sides during the monthlong battle for Iwo. Not every Japanese soldier chose the option of Hara Kiri when faced with a surrender situation. Although many indeed took their lives or attacked against overwhelming odds thereby ensuring an honorable death.....some entertained the idea of perhaps returning home to live amongst their families.

Ken Watanabe plays the character of Gen Tadamichi Kuribayashi. the film shows the man's genius for tactics in an effort he knew was a losing effort before it even began. You many remember Ken Watanabe played opposite Tom Cruise in "The last Samurai"

Make sure an block out an evening after a day of riding and quaue this up in your DVD player.

You will not be disappointed.

I have bad news for you Kevin. You are probably the only one that I know of that did not see this great movie when it came out - or soon thereafter!

Haven't seen it yet. Of course, the last movie I saw was "Bruce Almighty" at the theater. Thanks for the review.

Regards,

Tom

Not only did I not see this film, I never even heard of it until now.

Sorry Kevin, I guess these guys ride their motorcycles more than I thought. I knew some day I would probably meet people who didn't see a blockbuster film like this one - I just didn't think it very probable.

Quote:

---

During WW2 most all enemies were dehumanized for propaganda purposes as well as the general idea of making it easier to kill ones enemy when perceived as evil personified.

---

That is not a phenomenon peculiar to WWII.
All the names used for enemies during any conflict, hot or cold, serve that same purpose.
When we realize that they are indeed human instead of nip, kraut, slope, raghead, rooskie, great satan, or whatever it makes it harder take their lives.
The tactic of dehumanizing others is as old as humanity, and I'm afraid will be with us 'til it's all over.

And we have an election coming up, campaigns have already started .
And you, Kevin, have been one of the most fervent for using the tactic of "naming your opponent".
Perhaps you've matured

Nope Big Bill....I still honestly believe that naming ones opponent is a natural state of affairs and I support it in time of war. Once committed to battle its a GOOD thing to dehumanize a bit. It probably makes its easy to pull the trigger.

A soldiers job is at its most common lowest denominator consists of one thing. "killing"

I believe we will have wars on this planet as long as there are people on it.

After the fight is over and one side has won ....then the humanizing begins.

I think if faced with a need to shoot someone I dont know nor personally dislike on a personal level it'd be much easier if I viewed him at least for the short term as an amoeba or a barely animate object.

Your right its always been this way and it always will be.

A wholly apolitical thing as well.

Having seen, and loved "Flags of Our Fathers", I having been eagerly waiting to see "Letters" as well. Definitely a unique experience, to see BOTH sides of a story. Glad to hear it's worth seeing....

I haven't seen "Letters From Iwo Jima". I am not sure I want to. But, let me ask a question, is this one of those movies that follow today's political correctness, to make us feel sorry for, have empathy and/or sympathy for those we are fighting against(darn that putting it PC... in other words "the enemy")?

One of the lines I remember most from the movie Patton is "Now I want you to remember that no b*stard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb b*stard die for his country." One other line I wish was still true is "Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Americans play to win all the time.", but it has been destroyed by political correctness (it use to apply to more than just wars, it use to apply to everything in life).

Soren

It was unavailable the other day when I went to rent.

Having heard the general premise of the movie, I really wanted to see it. Now I REALLY want to see it! Thanks Kevin.

In that case, I just might watch it. I appreciate your reply.

Soren

Thanks. Just reserved it from Netflix.
SteveB

I wish they would do an accurate movie about the Bataan death march from the Japanese point of view. I'd really like to know what they were thinking. If they were really acting according to the Bushido, then I am glad that my heritage is all from the UK.

Bataan was just pure murder. Bushido or not....Bataan was clearly plain old fashioned murder/war crimes.

The Japanese contempt for anyone who would choose surrender over death not withstanding.

The closest film I can think of that accurately shows the Japanese mindset in the Phillipenes would be "The Great Raid" The DVD disc two features a documentary "The Ghosts of Bataan"



I dont think there is any doubt that the Japanese crossed the line from legal wartime killing to murder on a fairly regular basis. I would not go so far as to excuse them based on their "cultural" leanings of the time.

Its not hard to see how "hatred" entered the picture on a very personal level for many Marines and soldiers in the Pacific theatre of war.

Sounds like a great movie, and that was a good review. When I was in the service many many moons ago we were taught that the objective was to wound your enemy so as to take more people out of action as they attended the wounded. Of course that could have all changed by now. I believe the PC stuff will be the downfall of this country if the politicans don't ruin it first.