Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)

Excellent but underrated film

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Letters from Iwo Jima is one of the worst war films ever. It lacks any real tension, excitement or treachery. The film has no real atmosphere, the only contributing factor is the grey cinematography. I feel that this film and Flags of our Fathers would work better as one film with intertwining stories, rather than having to watch two full length films which is very inconvenient. Many say that this is a very reistic and original war film but really the subtitles are the only major difference when comparing it to similar films. Thankfullt, it does not come across as being racist, like many war films do. However, it lacks excitement or any real moments that transfix your attention. Its just very boring. 4/10

There is a scene where a Japanese battalion commander orders his troops to bring a flamethrower operator into the bunker and to treat him.Notwithstanding the BS that a flamethrower operator would be operating without infantry support, it is a reminder that not all the Japanese were brainwashed fools.On the other hand, the next scene involves 2 captured and secured Japanese prisoners receiving summery executions at the hands of one of their watchers.While atrocities were conducted by (unequally) both sides, and unless you believe the propaganda that this movie and "Inglorious Basterds" will have you believe, the overwhelming evidence supports that US and Allied forces followed the Geneva Convention as well as the situation allowed.

What didn't work for Clint Eastwood in his Flags Of Our Fathers, was a tremendous success in this decent sequel, Letters Form Iwo Jima. Absolutely impeccable, precise, laconic and correctly shot in a darker color scheme, this epic movie delivers an awesome array of characters, both Japanese and some American, along with superb camera work and unquestionable masterstroke. Ken Watanabe is one of the real huge star here, his character, General Tadamichi Kuribayashi is a deeply complex and very touching person, who is not a one-dimensional military cruel, but a decent man with sorrows and joys. All others Japanese soldiers and officers are depicted so well and so endearingly honest that we can not resist but like them, even if they served a wrong cause. This is a true touch of genius, and Mr. Eastwood is at his best, top form that is evident all trough 2 quick hours. This is a huge improvement of a first film, and its pristine, perfect quality is a real blast that holds you attentive all the film through. Highly recommended

I have yet to see Flags of our fathers, but I love the idea behind looking at a conflict from two different sides. I really appreciate what Clint Eastwood has done here, and I hope he and others will continue to explore the "less seen" perspectives of conflicts like this.But it still feels very much like a Western take of the Japanese perspective. The ideal Japanese characters in here has a lot of American influence (having lived there), and while I'm sure the movie is trying to be realistic when it comes to the Japanese mentality, it's still shown as something foreign. There are some good attempts at making their (more extreme) behavior understandable, but I think the movie can only do it's mission justice by going all the way.But when it does succeed, it's a very good movie, with several memorable moments.