Letters from IwoJima

[MrBern]

Yes, that is controversial. How would such a film about German soldiers at The Bulge or on the Eastern Front be taken?[huh]

I thought EdHarris as the Nazi Sniper in Enemy at the Gate came off pretty well.
Then again, I find it hard to root for either side when its the soviets vs the germans.

 

[Feraud]

I thought EdHarris as the Nazi Sniper in Enemy at the Gate came off pretty well.
Then again, I find it hard to root for either side when its the soviets vs the germans.

In that situation I root for Ed Harris. Jude Law is too "pretty boy". lol

 

[LaMedicine]

Some of the letters of the deceased are published, either in circulation widely, or as private memoirs. I don't suppose Clint Eastwood would have had that hard a time getting them once he had his mind set.

Last night, I was watching a TV program for English conversation self study. This program features interviews with prominent people, and last night, both Ken Watanabe and Clint Eastwood were interviewed, although not together.

According to Ken Watanabe, the final scenes of Letters were taken on Iwo Jima (as opposed to Flags which was taken on Iceland) and after all the scenes were finished, the entire cast and staff went to the War Memorial on Iwo, and took pictures together. Watanabe said that he understood the true meaning of taking this film when a staff first took his right hand and gave him a Japanese flag, then took his left hand and gave him an American flag, then took pictures.

Eastwood said that he read as many books and letters as he could, to capture what was entirely foreign to him. The script was first written in English, then translated into Japanese by a Japanese American woman, but at the start, he was unsure how things would turn out, since the dialogues were in a language completely foreign to him, as were the entire cast who were all Japanese and whom he had never worked with, and who with the exception of Watanbe had never worked with American film makers. He was very gratified how the film has turned out.

 

[Lincsong]

I thought EdHarris as the Nazi Sniper in Enemy at the Gate came off pretty well.
Then again, I find it hard to root for either side when its the soviets vs the germans.

Remember in the movie Patton a reporter asked the General if he said that if found in this situation he would shoot in both directions? bahahahahhalol lol lol

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

The movie is really good and it's really interesting to see another perpective of the same battle. Seeing the before and aftermath of different situations in Flags Of Our Father in Letters From Iwo Jima was brilliant and not at all a difficult task.

 

[PADDY]

Just watched 'Letters from Iwo Jima.'

I'm glad I watched it. It certainly aimed at showing the human element involved and how war has no respect nor regard for humanity.

I now have 'Flags of our Fathers' sitting here ready to watch.

LaMedicine, did you manage to get to see it afterall? What did you think and what was the general feeling about this film?

 

[Smithy]

We got it with a pizza as part of a pizza and DVD deal here about 3 weeks ago.

I liked it and my fianc?©e did too. I saw Flags of our Fathers on the plane so I should really see it again in a more comfortable and conducive atmosphere!

 

[scotrace]

Which film is best to see first?

 

[Smithy]

I saw FOOF (how's that for an acronym!) first - admittedly it was on an international flight - and then LFIJ second, which seemed to work well.

Really though, I'm not entirely convinced it matters either way as they are two different perspectives of the same general events.

Definitely see them though.

 

[LaMedicine]

LaMedicine, did you manage to get to see it afterall? What did you think and what was the general feeling about this film?

I, ah, must confess. Not yet. I have the DVDs of both films sitting next to the player, but haven't had the time to pop them in yet.

On another note, NHK (Japanese equivalent of BBC) ran a repeat of a documentary first aired last year, featuring the Iwo battles comprised from interviews with the Japanese Iwo survivors who have been silent up to now from their guilt that they were able to come out alive while they lost all their comarades, the soldiers under their commands, etc. They were ordered die in battle, no other way out of the island. No surrender, no suicide however horredous the conditions in the underground tunnels were. Their only honor was to die in battle. There are still over 10,000 unrecovered Japanese bones buried in these tunnels and trenches. It must have been pure hell for these men and boys on both sides.