Movie Review: Flags of our Fathers

I went and saw Flags of our Fathers on sunday and must say i was very impressed. The entire premise of the movie is based around the picture above. Some say its the most reprinted photo ever. After seeing many WW2 films (with the typical regard that the Allied Forces was America and no one else matters) i was expecting a movie adorned with the American flag would be a great let down.

Amazingly I was completely (and gladly) wrong. The movie tells of the tremendous horrors of the Iwo Jima landings and its effect on the men who survived. It also tells of how wartime heroes were used as an instrument to raise much needed funds during the war.

The focus was very much on the individual men rather then the overall campaign as the story jumped all over the place from the future and past events.

Clint Eastwood has definately earned my respect as a director.

The obvious comparison question is how does it rate next to "Saving Private Ryan". Well i liked ryan better but its probably close by. Easily the best movie on the pacific campaign, beats thin red line hands down.

I give it Four and a Half stars.