Letters from Iwo Jima [Blu-ray]

Letters from Iwo Jima [Blu-ray]
by Clint Eastwood

Letters from Iwo Jima [Blu-ray]
List Price: $34.99
Our Price: $17.49
You Save: $17.50 (50%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $9.70 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases

Compare Prices for Letters from Iwo Jima [Blu-ray]

(Click here)
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada

DVD Cover Information

Actor: Kazunari Ninomiya, Ken Watanabe, Tsuyoshi Ihara
Director: Clint Eastwood
Brand: EASTWOOD,CLINT
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 140 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-05-22
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Warner Brothers

Movie Reviews of Letters from Iwo Jima [Blu-ray]

Movie Review: "Patriotism" - a concept for fools
Summary: 5 Stars

"Damn this island! The Americans can have it!", exclaims Saigo, the baker-turned reluctant Jap soldier, as he digs into a beach trench in the opening scene.

I'm a pacifist. I don't like war movies with senseless violence. I wanted to give this movie 1 star before I even watched it, but somehow, I find myself giving this 5 stars because of the human face it portrays behind all those solider-victims who were drafted and sent off to die by war-mongering politicians and their high military command. This movie reminded me of Emma Goldman's essay on "patriotism" which exposes the lies that the military-industrial complex in society wants us to mold all male behavior into. I don't admire any war or military force from any country. They're all puppets of politicians. You can see some of these structures being played out in this movie. The most lowly soldier doesn't have a say in anything except to obey reluctantly - all in the name of his freaking "country".

This movie tells a war story from the eyes of the Jap solider, two in particular - the youthful and low-ranking Saigo and the highest ranking Lieutenant General Tadamichi Kuribayashi.

The war to defend the island of Iwo Jima was doomed from the start. Without Jap Imperial air and naval support or ground reinforcements, the island couldn't be defended effectively. Lieutenant General Tadamichi Kuribayashi and the other Jap commanders are soon made aware of this fact, but had to stand ground and couldn't retreat because Tokyo HQ didn't want them to. That evil merciless Emperor! So, here we are viewing and listening to the inner thoughts of the Jap soldiers as they do what they were told to do, will all, save for lucky Saigo, end up dying by the end of the movie.

The opening scene starts off with Saigo digging a beach trench and venting his frustrations at the war. Unbeknowest to him, his "unpatriotic" comments were overhead by both his buddy and his strict, "patrotic" captain who took offense at insults to the Imperial Army. Saigo and his buddy were both beaten with a stick by the captain. Scene 2 shows Lieutenant General Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe of "The Last Samurai") arriving on a plane onto the island of Iwo Jima and briefed by one of the island's commanders. He chances upon Saigo being beaten at the beach, halts the punishment and immediately tells the beach defenders to quit digging beach trenches and to move inland. This encounter with lowly Saigo is to be the first of several throughout the movie as we track Saigo's "lucky streaks" with death and war, right to his final encounter with the General in the final scene where he was ordered to bury the dead General, before Saigo ends up getting whacked unconscious by an invading American soldier.

To be continued.....


Recommended reading:

Anarchism and other essays
Write your own review
More Letters from Iwo Jima [Blu-ray] reviews:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Summary of Letters from Iwo Jima [Blu-ray]

Nominated for 4 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima tells the untold story of the Japanese soldiers who defended their homeland against invading American forces during World War II. With little defense other than sheer will and the volcanic rock of Iwo Jima itself, the unprecedented tactics of General Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe, The Last Samurai) and his men transform what was predicted to be a swift defeat into nearly 40 days of heroic and resourceful combat. Their sacrifices, struggles, courage and compassion live on in the taut, gripping film Rolling Stone calls "unique and unforgettable." It is the powerful companion piece to Flags of Our Fathers.
Critically hailed as an instant classic, Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima is a masterwork of uncommon humanity and a harrowing, unforgettable indictment of the horrors of war. In an unprecedented demonstration of worldly citizenship, Eastwood (from a spare, tightly focused screenplay by first-time screenwriter Iris Yamashita) has crafted a truly Japanese film, with Japanese dialogue (with subtitles) and filmed in a contemplative Japanese style, serving as both complement and counterpoint to Eastwood's previously released companion film Flags of Our Fathers. Where the earlier film employed a complex non-linear structure and epic-scale production values to dramatize one of the bloodiest battles of World War II and its traumatic impact on American soldiers, Letters reveals the battle of Iwo Jima from the tunnel- and cave-dwelling perspective of the Japanese, hopelessly outnumbered, deprived of reinforcements, and doomed to die in inevitable defeat. While maintaining many of the traditions of the conventional war drama, Eastwood extends his sympathetic touch to humanize "the enemy," revealing the internal and external conflicts of soldiers and officers alike, forced by circumstance to sacrifice themselves or defend their honor against insurmountable odds. From the weary reluctance of a young recruit named Saigo (Kazunari Ninomiya) to the dignified yet desperately anguished strategy of Japanese commander Tadamichi Kuribayashi (played by Oscar-nominated The Last Samurai costar Ken Watanabe), whose letters home inspired the film's title and present-day framing device, Letters from Iwo Jima (which conveys the bleakness of battle through a near-total absence of color) steadfastly avoids the glorification of war while paying honorable tribute to ill-fated men who can only dream of the comforts of home. --Jeff Shannon

Action & Adventure DVD Video
DVD Video
Movies most talked about in Top 10 films 2006
Lady Vengeance ImageLady Vengeance
Genius; Release date: 2006-09-26; DVD
Best price: $3.99
Price in other shops: $19.99
The Descent (Original Unrated Cut) [Blu-ray] ImageThe Descent (Original Unrated Cut) [Blu-ray]
LIONS GATE HOME ENT.; Release date: 2006-12-26; DVD
Best price: $9.72
Price in other shops: $29.99
The Painted Veil ImageThe Painted Veil
WARNER HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2007-05-08; DVD
Best price: $5.99
Price in other shops: $27.95
Children of Men (Widescreen Edition) ImageChildren of Men (Widescreen Edition)
OWEN,CLIVE; Release date: 2007-03-27; DVD
Best price: $5.18
Price in other shops: $12.98
Marie Antoinette ImageMarie Antoinette
SONY PICTURES HOME ENT; Release date: 2007-02-13; DVD
Best price: $5.57
Price in other shops: $14.94
Pan's Labyrinth [Blu-ray] ImagePan's Labyrinth [Blu-ray]
Newline; Release date: 2007-12-26; DVD
Best price: $13.49
Price in other shops: $35.99
The Death of Mr. Lazarescu ImageThe Death of Mr. Lazarescu
Genius; Release date: 2006-09-12; DVD
Best price: $5.99
Price in other shops: $19.99
Letters from Iwo Jima [Blu-ray] ImageLetters from Iwo Jima [Blu-ray]
EASTWOOD,CLINT; Release date: 2007-05-22; DVD
Best price: $17.99
Price in other shops: $34.99
Casino Royale [Blu-ray] ImageCasino Royale [Blu-ray]
CRAIG,DANIEL; Release date: 2007-03-13; DVD
Best price: $12.49
Price in other shops: $28.95
Cache (Hidden) ImageCache (Hidden)
AUTEUIL,DANIEL; Release date: 2006-06-27; DVD
Best price: $6.83
Price in other shops: $14.94
Similar DVD Movies
Syriana [Blu-ray] ImageSyriana [Blu-ray]
CLOONEY,GEORGE; Release date: 2006-10-10; DVD
Best price: $13.49
Price in other shops: $34.99
The Aviator [Blu-ray] ImageThe Aviator [Blu-ray]
DI CAPRIO,LEONARDO; Release date: 2007-11-06; DVD
Best price: $7.44
Price in other shops: $28.99
Blood Diamond [Blu-ray] ImageBlood Diamond [Blu-ray]
DICAPRIO,LEONARDO; Release date: 2007-06-05; DVD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops: $28.99
The Last Samurai [Blu-ray] ImageThe Last Samurai [Blu-ray]
CRUISE,TOM; Release date: 2006-11-14; DVD
Best price: $9.00
Price in other shops: $28.99
Million Dollar Baby [Blu-ray] ImageMillion Dollar Baby [Blu-ray]
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2006-11-14; DVD
Best price: $12.99
Price in other shops: $28.99
Babel [Blu-ray] ImageBabel [Blu-ray]
PITT,BRAD; Release date: 2008-06-03; DVD
Best price: $9.98
Price in other shops: $29.99
The Departed [Blu-ray] ImageThe Departed [Blu-ray]
DICAPRIO,LEONARDO; Release date: 2007-02-13; DVD
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops: $34.99
Unforgiven [Blu-ray] ImageUnforgiven [Blu-ray]
EASTWOOD,CLINT; Release date: 2006-10-31; DVD
Best price: $8.99
Price in other shops: $28.99
We Were Soldiers [Blu-ray] ImageWe Were Soldiers [Blu-ray]
PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2008-06-03; DVD
Best price: $15.99
Price in other shops: $29.99
Flags of Our Fathers [Blu-ray] ImageFlags of Our Fathers [Blu-ray]
PHILLIPPE,RYAN; Release date: 2008-06-03; DVD
Best price: $13.11
Price in other shops: $29.99
Books | Health and Personal Care | Beauty | Digital Cameras and Photo | Kitchen and Housewares | Tools and Hardware
Copyright © 2005-2007 dvdnear.com
Google
 
Web dvdnear.com
Compare prices and read customer reviews for more than one million DVD titles.
Oscar 2005 Winners