Flags of our Fathers

**Albereth** · 6th August 2007

Watched this this weekend in about 4 goes.

Supposedly this is the story of the men who raised the flag on Iwo Jima - probably one of the most iconic photographs of the war in the Pacific. It was directed by Clint Eastwood and is based on the book written by the son of one of the people who raised the flag.

It is quite disjointed at first and seems to involve lots of flash backs and I am sure some people who are into cinematography could have some issue with some of the gimicky aspects.

This is not a war story really. And neither is it a feel good about 9/11 thing. It is rather sad and I suppose the message is that these guys were considered heroes but they didn't see themselves as such - the way they saw it was they were fighting for the guy next to them, not the nation.

The story shows how the US needed heroes, how the one guy just happened to be there, how a mother knows, how lies are told to help people feel better, how racism is stronger than heroism. But the real hero (for me) is the medic and that he was a hero regardless of whether he had been anywhere near that flag.

Interesting little facts - that was the second flag raised - a politician wanted the first one. The fighting continued for 35 days after the flag was raised. That island saved the lives of countless aircrews needing a place to land.

I suggest seeing it - it isn't a feel good movie by any stretch, and it isn't a gung ho kill them all skop, skiet and donner. It'll make you think - not about the futility of war, but what being a hero means.

TG · 6th August 2007

It's a good solid drama

**Ruslan74** · 7th August 2007

I am more keen to see Letters from Iwo Jima, directed by Clint Eastwood as well. Would like to see the battle from the Japanese perspective and against what odds they held on to that rock for over 40 days.

**Albereth** · 7th August 2007

Sounds like gross stupidity if you ask me but then I don't understand the whole warrior caste. I am not sure that most of the Japanese did either - they just had this belief in the devine right of the emperor. I suppose it could be a systemic mass hysteria. In Flag the Japanese commit suicide using grenades - you sort of get the idea that some of them were not overly keen on that but when someone pull the pin in a confined space you are along for the ride whether you like it or not.

Truth is that I have no sympathy for the Japanese. I am sure atrocities were committed by both sides but I think the Japanese took it to a new level.

Sorry - just got a thought going. We have criminals today committing truely barbaric acts and you sort of see how, they operate in a lawless society. But contrast that against the Japanese - just as barbaric, in a very structured and 'lawful' society. Maybe it is just that we can't cope with extremes?

**Ruslan74** · 7th August 2007

True. Any war brings the monster in everybody. The allies were no better either in their dropping of the atomic bombs, the carpet bombing of Nazi Germany, etc.

You do understand that since the Ancient times the West & East never really understood each other as their societies are way different from ours. Trivial stuff that we dont pay attention brings disbelief to the Japanese or Chinese cultures and it happens vice-versa too.

In regards to the movie, I am keen to see the conflict from the other perspective to have a more varied opinion though. Sitting on one side of the fence never gives you a clear picture of the whole saga.

**Albereth** · 7th August 2007

Yep - you have to thank the poms for carpet bombing - but there is a suggestion that it was really invented by a German in Spain but that spawned out of an idea by an Italian. Okay the yanks picked up on it and writ it huge. But they have moved back to another brit suggestion - accuracy with a bigger munition.

But I think the yanks are in a class of their own with the charming napalm and much scarier air fuel bomb.

**Ga5can** · 7th August 2007

There is a book called "Gold Warriors" - Very interesting as it tells of what the Japanese did to the whole Pacific rim during WW2 and then how the Americans used the gold to buy friends in that region against the "Rooi gevaar"