Letters from Iwo Jima

I saw the movie Letters from Iwo Jima and felt compelled to write a review;

This movie toyed with my emotions continually.  Clint Eastwood did a great job of finding a few Japanese characters for the audience to identify with then put them into danger against unknown enemy.  As with any movie, you grow attached to the main characters but then as they enter battle we are reminded that they are fighting American soldiers and it was difficult for me to know what I wanted to happen.  In the end I was hoping that everyone would lay down their arms and stop killing one another but I knew the story ended different.  Every time a Japanese officer charged his men into a forlorn hope or a soldier fell on a grenade it reminded me of the futility of blind jingoism.  The only issue I had with the movie is it appeared to be on a tight budget and the battle scenes weren't nearly as well done as I've seen in similar movies.  In the end though this movie was carried by the conflicting the issues of duty to country and love of family.  The result is possibly the greatest movie about the need for peace I have ever seen.

For those that are upset that the writers didn't portray the Japanese leadership in a worse light I can understand your point.  The bottom line is the Pacific war was started by the Japanese and and their ill treatment of American soldiers quickly caused a similar response by our troops.  After hostilities started the brutality in the Pacific War was fierce and neither viewed the other in humane terms.  For those that feel this movie is a disservice to the American soldier I suggest you read the book, "With the Old Breed" by EB Sledge.  He fought with the 5th Marines on Pelieu and Okinawa and he mixes personal details with a detachment when speaking about the big picture that I found amazing.  The movie I saw fit very well with what he described and makes me feel that at least one vet would have agreed with portrayal.  In the end I thank god that my country had the will/means to put an end to tyrannical leaders on both sides of the world while I respect the service of all the combatants that got caught up in the whirlwind.  I hope it is the last time we will ever need to take that kind of action and am glad Mr. Eastwood's movie encourages that view.

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