What I Think Of LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA

It was inevitable that another World War II movie would come up sooner or later. Which part of the war is this one about? Like the title says it’s about the defense of the island of Iwo Jima by the Japanese. It’s the supposed sister film of Flags of our Fathers, which is of the American attack of Iwo Jima. No surprise that both films share the same scenes a couple.

What makes this movie different from the rest of the pack? In the first place, is it any different? Yes, it’s different cause it’s one of those rare films told from the enemy’s (the Japanese) point of view. And what’s even better is it that for a Hollywood production, it hasn’t been watered down for the American audience. It does attempt to be authentic by retaining its Japanese dialogue and script, unlike some other movies. Eg. Memoirs of a Geisha.

OK. So you spent 2 hours plus in there? Was it worth it? Yes it was. I knew that it was not coming to Malaysia anytime soon. Neither is Flags of our Fathers. I was in Singapore and it was screening, so I was not going to let the opportunity pass. My only regret about the show is that I had the crappiest seats which were right up front.

What about the film made it worth watching? It’s in Japanese about the Japanese. That makes it both fresh and original on the scene. It doesn’t attempt to take sides. It doesn’t paint the Japanese as the good guys, and neither does it label the Americans as the bad. It’s simply a show about the Japanese troops trying their best to rough out events that take place not by anybody’s choice, but by the consequences of war. Ultimately, it’s about Japanese soldiers fighting an already lost war, and shows several of a thousand sorry endings that they went through.

Anything Clint Eastwood did that you didn’t agree with? The show doesn’t give a proper ending for the main character Saigo. It just shows him being taken into American medical care. It would have been nice if they showed him being reunited with his wife and baby girl.

How does it compare to Flags of our Fathers? Way, way better. If you had to choose between the two, skip the other and watch this. You wouldn’t be missing anything that you couldn’t get from other similar movies like Windtalkers.

Does watching this show make you a Japanese sympathizer? Or did you watch it in the first place because you were one? I do sympathize with what the Japanese soldiers went through, but it doesn’t make me forget what everyone else under Japanese occupation went through either.

What did you learn from the show that you’d like to share with others? If you’re a Japanese and all is lost, always scream BANZAI!!!

Lastly, would you watch this one again?
Sure, in the not too distant future. On ASTRO or someone elses DVD