Flags of Our Fathers (DVD) > Reviews > History remembered

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Liked it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Good
Special Effects	Good
How does it compare to similar films?	Good

Advantages:	Educational & great story
Disadvantages:	Constant flashbacks & forwards spoil flow of film slightly

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Set during WW2 this film tells the story behind what has become part of American military folklore of the Marines raising the Stars & Stripes on the island of Iwo Jima. You follow the individual stories of the marines to see how their lives helped to create the story behind this American iconic image which went on to be carved in stone as a monument.

Before watching the movie I didn't know anything about this film or the story of the second flag on Iwo Jima. This film proved to be very educational in that account. The film is well made, looks wonderful and all the actors are excellent that they all played their alloted roles very well indeed. The film for me has one major point against it that makes it difficult to watch and that is the constant scene transitions from present to past to war to future and where ever else they choose to be.

This made scenes disjointed and exceptionally difficult to follow. Although it says this was shot back to back with Letters From Iwo Jima I actually have a feeling both films were made at the exact same time with 2 different camera units. Much footage from the battles was re-used in "Letters" and the bodies found in the tunnels appear to be the same from "Letters" also.

A very good film with an excellent plot but only the disjointed scenes spoiled what would have been a truly excellent movie. If your a fan of war movies or military history then this is well worth a look.

The dvd I watched was part of a 2 disc set with "Letters From Iwo Jima" and I can't remember there being any dvd extras apart from subtitles in various languages.