letters from iwo jima

I saw both Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima this weekend.

All I can mainly say is wow. I actually have not seen too many war films for me to be able to draw comparisons. I should probably see Saving Private Ryan and some other war movies (any recommendations?).

I like the perspective that Flag of Our Fathers takes, how it depicts the war on the ground itself and how it tackles what it is to be a “hero”. But at the same time, I thought it was somewhat confusing to follow with the Doc character narrating and his son interviewing. Perhaps that could have been better handled, though I don’t know how.

Letters from Iwo Jima was just unnerving. I wonder if the downplay of colour in the movie was a pre-production or post-production decision. Seems to have worked out really well. I liked the fashion in which this story was told better, and I suppose the letters narrative makes it more compelling. The story itself here was more gripping than Flags, though perhaps it is this way by design? Letters deals with questions of honour (suicide), and the treatment of POWs and leadership etc.

All together so well directed and edited. I need to dig up more Clint Eastwood movies. This guy is unreal.

16 thoughts on “letters from iwo jima”

  1. clint eastwood movies worth looking into:
    – mystic river
    – million dollar baby
    – midnight in the garden of good and evil

    “changeling” is in theatres now, which looks really good.

    this guy is a way better director than he ever was actor.

  2. i’ve seen mystic river and million dollar baby. i absolutely loved million dollar baby and i’m not sure how i should feel about mystic river, i think it has to do with the story itself. i think i need to see it again…

    i’m almost embarrassed to say that i’ve only seen clint eastwood as an actor in million dollar baby.

    i need to put unforgiven and now midnight in the garden of good and evil on my download stack…

  3. I really liked mystic river. I thought it was a good story, but also a i’m a big Tim Robbins/Sean Penn fan so i’m probably biased.

    I think I’ve seen Unforgiven a long time ago in the mid 90s, but I was never into Westerns so it’s kind of lost on me.

  4. apparently, mr eastwood is quite close to remaking Dirty Harry with a female protagonist played by Angelina Jolie.

    that is exciting news. something to look forward to. and hopefully is not a rumour.

  5. @sara – i like tim robbins as well. i need to see more sean penn movies. am not into westerns either. but i’m willing to give clint eastwood a chance.

    @sophister – hahaha. i laughed out loud when i read your comment.

    @iffat – exciting that dirty harry is being remade? that Clint Eastwood is directing? that Angelina Jolie is starring? or all of the above?

    i think my next weekend will also be spent with mr. eastwood.

  6. all quiet on the western front another war movie that was pretty well filmed.
    have a look and tell us about it.

  7. oh btw, that’s not c. Eastwood, its someone else and in other news, I saw the english patient…not bad but not good.

  8. I’ve only seen the 1979 version of All Quiet on the Western Front and it’s pretty good.

    Also, yes … look into Sean Penn. Definitely worth it. I’m looking forward to “Milk” coming out this year. But some other favourites of his: “Sweet and Lowdown” and “Dead Man Walking”, which reminds me of another good actor: Susan Sarandon.

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