Flags of Our Fathers

[DancingQueen]

From IMDB:

In two and a half hours Clint Eastwood paints a thought provoking piece on heroism and war-propaganda. The film tells three stories: first it is the WW II battle of Iwo Jima where thousands of soldiers (Japanese and American) died 'conquering' that island. In the style of Saving Private Ryan (Spielberg is a producer of Flags) the viewer gets a astounding look at war with a lot of blood, guts and CGI. Second is the story of a son of one of the flag raisers on that island, who interviews other survivors of that battle to understand his dad a little better. This is very moving stuff, but stands a little pale in comparison to the final storyline. This is where veteran-director Eastwood really shines. Like his meditation on violence Unforgiven, Flags takes a closer look at heroism where soldiers by chance get into the spotlight of the war-propaganda-machine. Some may say that Eastwood made an anti-war film or even an anti-America film, but they're wrong. Flags is very critical on the way war is sold to the public. There's nothing honorable about killing or to be killed on the battlefield. The only thing that matters is that you protect you're friends in your platoon and that they protect you. Flags is one of the best war movies I ever saw, maybe even better than Ryan, because it's never sentimental and always honest in its portrayal of the soldiers and war in general.

This movie is based on actual events from WWII which was one of the main reasons I wanted to see this, as history on WWII intrigues me as both of my grandfathers played a roll in this war.

I saw this last night and I thought it was really good. I really like Clint Eastwood as a director. I loved Mystic River and just had to see this after that.

Anyone else seen it?

[Corven]

Re: Flags of Our Fathers

been wanting to catch this ... is it out in the theaters already?? i thought it would be out in december or something??

[res0nat0r]

Re: Flags of Our Fathers

this looks like a good flick, and Clint Eastwood's directing =

[DancingQueen]

Re: Flags of Our Fathers

been wanting to catch this ... is it out in the theaters already?? i thought it would be out in december or something??

Opened this weekend (er this past now I guess, but technically its still Sunday )

[Jibgolly]

Re: Flags of Our Fathers

Unforgiven is easily one of the best movies out there. Eastwood is pure class behind the camera as i loved Mystic River too. at first i thought this was gonna be a remake of 'ryan' but after seeing some reviews elsewhere and actually reading the synopsis, i have a better understanding of this film. look forward to watching this one.

[peloquin]

Re: Flags of Our Fathers

probably going to see this with my dad and brother pretty soon... kinda want to read the book first, i had it recommended to me not long ago

[Miguel]

Re: Flags of Our Fathers

dont forget about million dollar baby ... everything hes done is good

[ProgAgressive_Maniac]

Re: Flags of Our Fathers

Clint as a director = Magic

will watch this for sure

[asdf_admin]

Re: Flags of Our Fathers

read the book and i love it. can not wait to check out the movie. i hope he did not f this up.

[Lorn]

Re: Flags of Our Fathers

Unforgiven is easily one of the best movies out there. Eastwood is pure class behind the camera as i loved Mystic River too. at first i thought this was gonna be a remake of 'ryan' but after seeing some reviews elsewhere and actually reading the synopsis, i have a better understanding of this film. look forward to watching this one.

Unforgiven simply rocks!

[faithless]

Re: Flags of Our Fathers

Will be going to see it next weekend.
Some of you may or may not know that there's another movie to this one, from the Japanese side. "Letters from Iwo Jima" which will be releasd on Dec. 9.
Like how this one is from the American perspective, Letters will be from the Japanese perspective. Should be interesting seeing what it was like from both sides, and not with a good vs evil mindset but a human one.

[DancingQueen]

Re: Flags of Our Fathers

^^^ I didn't know that about the 2nd movie. I think that is a great idea and can't wait to see it. I always want to hear both sides, but unfortunately most war movies only tell the American side to everything

[Miguel]

Re: Flags of Our Fathers

^^^ I didn't know that about the 2nd movie. I think that is a great idea and can't wait to see it. I always want to hear both sides, but unfortunately most war movies only tell the American side to everything

thats because your watching amerian movies

[KinKyJ]

Re: Flags of Our Fathers

Unforgiven is easily one of the best movies out there. Eastwood is pure class behind the camera as i loved Mystic River too. at first i thought this was gonna be a remake of 'ryan' but after seeing some reviews elsewhere and actually reading the synopsis, i have a better understanding of this film. look forward to watching this one.

Don't forget Million Dollar Baby: best boxing movie EVER. I couldn't stand Eastwood at first, but he gained my full respect since he started directing. Read a review of Flags of our Fathers and imo once again it's one for a number of oscar nominations. FInally a good perspective on the events after propaganda crap like Sands of Iwo Jima and what not...

[faithless]

Re: Flags of Our Fathers

^^^ I didn't know that about the 2nd movie. I think that is a great idea and can't wait to see it. I always want to hear both sides, but unfortunately most war movies only tell the American side to everything

I'd say most people don't know about Letters yet as Flags has only just been released.
Of course America is always in the right, so who would want to see the 'enemy' side of the story?
This is what I love about Clint Eastwood as a director, you get a really compelling story, and it's usually not what you're expecting. It's not glamorized, and not how you're thinking and hoping it will turn out.
Anyway, I haven't read/seen (and I won't) anything about Flags and Letters but I'm going to go see both.