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Review #371 of 365
Movie Review of Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) [R] 141 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $14.75
Where Viewed: United Artists Continental 6, Denver, CO
Special Denver Film Society Advance Screening
When 1st Seen: 18 January 2007
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Film's Official Website • Film's Trailer
DVD Release Date: unscheduled
Review Dedicated to: A world-wide movement toward peace among all organisms on the planet
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Directed by: Clint Eastwood (Flags of Our Fathers)
Screenplay by: Iris Yamashita based on the story by Iris Yamashita and Paul Haggis (Casino Royale) and the book Picture Letters from Commander in Chief by Tadamichi Kuribayashi and edited by Tsuyoko Yoshido
Featured Cast (Where You Might Remember Him/Her From):
Ken Watanabe (Memoirs of a Geisha) • Kazunari Ninomiya ("Yasashii jikan") • Tsuyoshi Ihara (Hinagon) • Ryo Kase (Shisso) • Shido Nakamura (Jet Li's Fearless) • Hiroshi Watanabe (The Last Samurai) • Takumi Bando (debut) • Yuki Matsuzaki (The Last Samurai) • Takashi Yamaguchi (debut) • Eijiro Ozaki (Gaijin - Ama-me Como Sou)
Soundtrack: Download now from 
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word or less review of this film]
Intended as a pair of films with Flags of our Fathers depicting the WWII Battle for Iwo Jima from USA point of view and Letters from Iwo Jima portraying the Japanese perspective, the latter of the two films stands strikingly as the far, far better of the two. Director Clint Eastwood has created a pair of films that, together, are worthy of a prominent place in the history of films, even though the second easily eclipses the first in both power and message. Ironically, Hollywood's conventional wisdom when it would have come to releasing this films simultaneously or as a double feature is that far less money would be made, or that it would have been too much for people to bear, or whatever, was a sadly mistaken view in this case. The power of the perspectives and the critical reminders that the vast majority of war that has ever occurred among members of our species, with the grave exception of genocidal wars, are fought by like-minded, family men with loved ones persuaded or conscripted by magnanimous leaders into fighting to defend the homeland of their leaders against a nameless, faceless, marauding enemy, would have been more poignant had these films come out back-to-back. Meanwhile, the pairing would have likely enjoyed a more favorable combined review. Seldom have we seen such an intimate portrayal of the defeated side in a war. Likewise, rarely has history permitted the enemy of the winning side to be shown to have fought with such valor and intent toward glory. The film reminded me of the fearless Japanese Kamikaze pilots whom I was taught were among the most brave of all military personnel and how the suicide bombers of today have been contrarily vilified. The film reminded me that really, in war, there are no winners, just losers and bigger losers. Both sides lose thousands if not tens of thousands of lives, and worse, they both lose a large part of their common humanity. What we really have in this pair of films is an urgent message for the need for peace. We have been war mongering for centuries, and the time has come for us to see the long-term ill effects of war, seek to heal the wounds, and give peace a chance. But such can only be obtained if we seek to understand each other and learn we are far more alike than different. If we spent even one third of our industrial military complex budget each year on world-wide efforts toward understanding and peace, imagine the impact it would have in preventing war and the need for war. Clearly, we have allowed ourselves throughout the ages to be led by the wrong people. The script for Letter for Iwo Jima demonstrates this clearly within the ranks of the Japanese military in a number of powerful ways.
"…remarkable…and daunting impression. The movie is stunning…"
So, the story begins with the preparation of Iwo Jima by the Japanese defense forces sent to protect the island and prevent it from falling into the hands of USA forces which could then use the island as a base to conduct the full scale invasion of the mainland of Japan. Located just above the Tropic of Cancer between 140° and 142° longitude, in the Philippine Sea, some 500 miles south of Tokyo and 500 miles north of Guam, the tiny volcanic island of Iwo Jima named for its sulfurous odor, the island was coveted by the USA forces as a strategic airbase. General Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe) was sent by the Prime Minister to protect the island to the end. Upon arriving, he immediately provided the awaiting men with two very important things: trust in his leadership and a new defensive strategy that would prove potent later in exacting more casualties from the impending encounter than would have been otherwise probable. Ken Watanabe does an incredible job of portraying the complexities of this Japanese war hero. He refuses to allow the men to fight without hope, even if the odds are heavily stacked against them. He inspires and leads indicating that he will always be fighting just in front of them. Assisting in the preparations for an expected USA invasion, are Baron Nishi (Tsuyoshi Ihara) and Lieutenant Ito (Shido Nakamur). Ultimately, these men will have moral and ethical issues in fulfilling the General's orders. Ito, especially, will accuse Kuribayashi of being an American sympathizer and attempt to countermand his orders. Using an elaborate system of caves and tunnels, the preparations by Kuribayashi actually give the Japanese a fighting chance. Unfortunately, has history has revealed, the USA forces were simply vastly superior in technology and number. Throughout the film, the Japanese soldiers are shown engaging in writing letters home, most of which they know will never reach home. Most of the letters demonstrate some sense of doubt that they will ever be received or read. The soldiers become content in just writing them. Once the attack begins, the film alters its portrait to one of the opposing forces and, indeed, it is fascinating how ones ability to root for one side or the other shifts despite feelings of national pride. In this film, we know so much more about the Japanese soldiers, their hopes, dreams, loyalties, hobbies, fears, etc. We especially get to know Saigo (Kazunari Ninomiya) who, in some ways, becomes the hero pacifist of the film. He values life far more than death, and while he wants to be loyal to his heritage and homeland, the simple and humble baker and new father, would prefer that everyone put down his arms and retreat home to their families. His zest for life gives him an advantage over the other soldiers that follow orders for the sake of the orders and help him live longer and with a unique type of valor. The film shows the good, the bad, and the ugly of both sides, though it does present the Japanese as the bit more noble, at times of the two. A captured US soldier is given immediate medical attention and comfort from a Japanese commander, while US soldiers shoot to death two surrendered Japanese soldiers (white flags in hand) whom they simply do not want to 'baby sit' with the excuse that the two make them more vulnerable to attack themselves. These two contrasting scenes direct favor in rooting for the underdog, Japanese soldiers in the film. Again, the important underlying concept, still in the foreground, is the terrible waste associated with warring in the first place, so regardless of sentiments toward either side, the film clearly hopes to build favor with the notion of peace first.
The cinematography for both films captures the desolate, isolation of the island well. What separates Letters from Flags is the story. Flags became to preoccupied by the events of the lives of three soldiers back at home after the now famous photo of the raising of the USA flag over Mt. Suribachi was taken and the impact the war has on their personal lives rather than on a nation or a people. While Letters travels back to Japan only once, the film gives a tremendous sense of what the Japanese people value as a whole. By focusing on the soldiers in the trenches and their leaders more, the scale and proportion of the loss of these men has a greater impact. The effect, overall, is remarkable as is the lasting impact and daunting impression. The movie is stunning as men bound to their honor sacrifice themselves, men dedicated to victory fight insurmountable odds without flinching, contrasting styles of leadership clash, and the will to survive and protect the homeland intensifies. There is no way to leave the theatre after engaging with this remarkable film without serious doubts that war is ever the right answer to human conflict.
It is shame that the two films were not released simultaneously, however risky it might have been perceived. It is also a shame that the two films were not saved for 2007 in the race for awards. This urge to tack on so many important and quality films to the end of a year really prevents them from getting their proper due with mainstream audiences. Hollywood executives should learn well from this monumental film pair, and learn from the mistakes made in release. There needs to be more trust in the movie-going population.
The cinematography for both films captures the desolate, isolation of the island well. What separates Letters from Flags is the story. Flags became to preoccupied by the events of the lives of three soldiers back at home after the now famous photo of the raising of the USA flag over Mt. Suribachi was taken and the impact the war has on their personal lives rather than on a nation or a people. While Letters travels back to Japan only once, the film gives a tremendous sense of what the Japanese people value as a whole. By focusing on the soldiers in the trenches and their leaders more, the scale and proportion of the loss of these men has a greater impact. The effect, overall, is remarkable as is the lasting impact and daunting impression. The movie is stunning as men bound to their honor sacrifice themselves, men dedicated to victory fight insurmountable odds without flinching, contrasting styles of leadership clash, and the will to survive and protect the homeland intensifies. There is no way to leave the theatre after engaging with this remarkable film without serious doubts that war is ever the right answer to human conflict.
It is shame that the two films were not released simultaneously, however risky it might have been perceived. It is also a shame that the two films were not saved for 2007 in the race for awards. This urge to tack on so many important and quality films to the end of a year really prevents them from getting their proper due with mainstream audiences. Hollywood executives should learn well from this monumental film pair, and learn from the mistakes made in release. There needs to be more trust in the movie-going population.
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
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Other Projects Featuring Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
Cast Members
Ken Watanabe
• Kazunari Ninomiya • Tsuyoshi IharaRyo Kase
• Shido Nakamura • Hiroshi WatanabeTakumi Bando
• Yuki Matsuzaki • Takashi YamaguchiEijiro Ozaki
Director
Clint Eastwood
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Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) Review-lite [150-word cap]
Intended as a pair of films with Flags of our Fathers depicting the WWII Battle for Iwo Jima from USA point of view and Letters from Iwo Jima portraying the Japanese perspective, the latter stands strikingly as the far better of the two. Director Clint Eastwood has created a duet of films that, together, are worthy of a prominent place in the history of films, even though the second easily eclipses the first in both power and urgent message for the need for peace. Beginning with the preparation of Iwo Jima by the Japanese defense forces and General Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe) who arrives and provides immediately the awaiting men with leadership and a new defensive strategy. Where Flags focuses too much on the soldiers back home, Letters builds respect and understanding for the men in the trenches. The effect, overall, is remarkable as is the lasting and daunting impact.
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