Sorry to be posting so much in this thread, but it's screener season.
Latest on the menu, a Clint Eastwood War in the Pacific Double Feature of
Letters from Iwo Jima and
Flags of Our Fathers. I enjoyed both of them, but - in opposition to the relative popularity of the duo - prefer
Flags overall.
Letters is told more directly, and is more even in tone. The tone and direction were very good. Not much at all about the battles, but relentless and fascinating on the futility and humanity of the Japanese military on the island. The main characters were a little stereotypical - a lowly conscripted Baker who promises his pregnant wife he'll return against all odds only to return against all odds (he is shown to be one of a handful of Japanese survivors), and the honorable samurai General who takes over the defense of the island from incompetent and arrogant officers (Ken Watanabe in the role he is typecast as, but very good at).
The story was very straightforward, but perfectly suited to illustrate the similar humanity of the "enemy" side of the famed WWII battle.
* * * * * *
Flags is more ambitious in ideas, but less even in result. Sort of a "Best Years of Our Lives" tale of the toll of war and unearned fame for the three soldiers who took part in the staged iconic photograph of the Marines raising the American Flag in the conquest of Iwo Jima. Their battle experiences are intercut in flashback with the U.S. publicity tour they are roped into for soliciting desperately needed wars bonds sales.
Some of it was pretty typical war movie stuff, but other elements seemed quite unique. The directing was certainly of a more interesting style, and I can't fault the film for occassionally failing to achieve its ambitious goals.
Taken together, Clint Eastwood has created quite the epic of Iwo Jima. I enjoyed both films, and liked watching them in the more chronological order of the latter released film (
Letters) viewed first.