Flags Of Our Fathers

This movie is around 70% talking and 30% action however the fight scenes are very good but has too much talking for me and dragged on qite abit.

The movie shown here is how the Americans fought the second world war in the pacific. The movie focused on the raging war where the Americans are getting sick of. Until a photograph which bring hope to the Americans on the mainland to push through to end the war. The three remaining soldiers which survived and brought back to the states to inspire their fellow countrymen.

The movie showed on how the US government exploits its Countrymen. Good movie to watch. An eye opener

Screened in sepia tint, the battle of Iwo Jima is recreated with particular focus on the famous photograph of US soldiers raising the American flag on the island, and how it became a symbol for victory and patriotism.

The story is told by a writer who is trying to uncover the truth of the flag-raising because of rumours that the photograph was set up. Two flags were raised; the second raising was photographed, so there were different soldiers in the picture than those who originally shoved the thing up the pole a few days previously. It seems a flimsy reason to make an entire film but it's a way of saying 'the medium is the message'; the photograph meant victory to the US, and raised the hopes of a nation.

The historical accuracy of knowing the identities of the first flag raisers doesn't mean diddley-squat to me but I'm not a patriotic American. Eastwood paints a realistic picture of battle but also aims a cynical lens at the political use made of the young men who were on the island. Portrayed as shaken by the fighting, several young men are plucked from the island to go on a fund-raising tour around the United States, to masquerade as heroes, and encourage civilians to buy war bonds, although one of them says that putting up a flag wasn't heroic. The platoon doctor is stoic and solid, the handsome hunk is simple and genuine and the Native American seems to have post-traumatic stress syndrome and has been driven to drink, which struck me as a slightly uncomfortable Native American clich but maybe it was true. I'm a devoted Eastwood fan but this one wasn't for me; perhaps it's a young man's film.