Sands of Iwo Jima
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Movie Reviews of Sands of Iwo Jima
Movie Review: A near miss
Summary: 4 Stars
I liked this film even though I found it a bit contrived. John Wayne is of course effective in the lead, but as one of the few elligible Movie Stars who did not enter the service in World War II his performance is more Hollywood than Parris Island. Ironically their was a true story that could have served as the basis of a more authentic film. The story of Marine Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone. Basilone won the Congressional Medal of Honor at Guadalcanal but he turned down a commission and insisted on returning to combat "to be with his men". He was killed at Iwo Jima and was awarded the Navy Cross. I believe he was the only serviceman ever to receive both decorations. Basilone was the son of Italian American immigrants and was from a large working class family. He may have been too "ethnic" to be the subject of a major Hollywood production. Ethnic soldiers were usually in supporting roles in A budget World War II films of that era. The leads were usually "All American Boys". Perhaps it was better box office.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed this film. The Wayne character was shown to have his flaws. The direction was not brilliant nor was the script, but it told the story in an efficient manner which kept things moving to the inevitable conclusion - the raising of the flag on Mt Suribachi, one of the mythic moments of American military history. In my opinion, not as good as "Flags of Our Fathers", but less emotionally draining. A good example of the "Hollywood goes to war" genre.
Movie Review: Semper Fi
Summary: 4 Stars
Although my first thought would not classify this as a recruiting film, the movie does just that. Within the story we see a few people who are trying to earn respect from loved ones, the fellow soldiers, or themselves. This fits most of the themes for WWII movies starring John Wayne. If the formula works, don't mess with it.A hard-core Marine, played by John Wayne, has seen a lot of action, but he has also lost quite a bit of rank due to a problem with getting a bit too drunk on his off duty time. This drinking comes from his trying to deaden the pain from the estrangement from his young son.
One of his squad is having trouble dealing with his world also. His father was a famous commander who wanted to see his son be a brave soldier. His trouble with his family leads to friction between him and Wayne.
One soldier gets his buddies killed or injured due to his taking a break from the battle. From this, he must try to regain his respect for himself.
All these men fight their inner battles as they fight the outer ones. This movie is a tribute to duty and honor. I would recommend watching this movie.
Movie Review: Classic Wayne WWII Marine Film
Summary: 4 Stars
Sands of Iwo Jima is John Wayne as Sgt. Stryker training and leading Marines in WWII. Overall, the film is excellent, and stands well beside Wayne's other WWII films. Wayne is in his element as Sgt. Stryker, and his squad is quite a cast of characters. I enjoyed it, but it is a little light on action. I would recommend that any Marine see this film, but my guess is that all of them have. If you like WWII films, this one is a must see..especially since the ending is tragic and inspirational at the same time, and captures a moment in US history worth remembering.Movie Review: Saddle Up
Summary: 3 Stars
In 1945 Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal took what is probably the most famous American photograph of World War II, Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima. Rosenthal won the Pulitzer Prize in 1945 for the photograph, five Marines and one Naval Corpsman planting a large American flag on the hard summit of Mount Suribachi. The photograph has inspired memorials, books and movies.
Movies like 1949's SANDS OF IWO JIMA, whose reason for being is to faithfully recreate the flag-raising incident and, coincidentally, nudge John Wayne down the path that took him from movie star to American icon.
Wayne plays Marine Sergeant John Stryker, a tough-as-nails type who has to whip his squad into shape during a rest, refit and replacement stint between battle action in the Pacific theater. Among his charges are John Agar, Forrest Tucker, Wally Cassell, and Richard Jaeckel. Agar plays resentful, Tucker irresponsible, Cassell and Jaeckel provide comic relief that isn't.
Wayne, as usual, plays the tough guy role with great verve, and has the acting chops to handle the introspective moments with delicacy. The real scenes of beach battle are well integrated in the studio stuff to good, if not great, effect. It's interesting to see real flame throwing tanks attack real pillboxes, but for the most part it's a chaotic melange of exploding sand and expiring actors. As usual, the ebb and flow of real battle is ignored.
What isn't ignored, unfortunately, is the story of rancorous PFC Pete Conway, the Agar character, who plays Wayne's main antagonist. Conway woos a USO women, played by Allison Bromley, and the movie sags considerably in the handful of courtship scenes Agar is involved in. The making of feature (hosted by Leonard Maltin) tells us that Wayne wanted Agar in the movie, which goes to show you that great actors don't necessarily make great casting directors.
I'm usually a reliable sucker for tear inducing final scenes, but I didn't lump up at the end of SANDS OF IWO JIMA where and when I was supposed to. SANDS OF IWO JIMA is an important film in the career of John Wayne, and on that basis I tepidly recommend this movie.
Movie Review: Hypnotic in its flag-waving way...
Summary: 3 Stars
For 'Sands of Iwo Jima,' Wayne won his first Academy Award nomination in a role that presented him again as a ruthless leader of men, this time the toughest leatherneck, hated and then loved for his hardness:'In boot camp you learned the book. Out here, you gotta remember the book and learn a thousand things that have never been printed, probably never will be. You gotta learn and you gotta learn fast. And any man that doesn't want to cooperate, I'll make him wish he hadn't been born. Before I'm through with you, you're gonna move like one man and think like one man. If you don't, you're dead.'
Wayne plays Sergeant Stryker, a battle-hardened U.S. Marine training a company of raw recruits in New Zealand... He is merciless to his men... They are consistently kept on the go ('If you're nervous, count your toes. I'll do the masterminding around here.'), and they detest him...
The conflict focuses on Stryker and Private First Class Conway (John Agar) who in the end will assume Stryker's position...
At the Battle of Tarawa, one of the bloodiest fights of the whole Pacific campaign, director Allan Dwan establishes his ground rules for describing combat, mixing authentic combat footage with shots of his actors... The few casualties in Stryker's company justifies his methods, and the men begin to respect him...
Allan Dwan's 'Sands of Iwo Jima', anticipated the new vogue for action-packed war movies... His film is quite hypnotic in its flag-waving way...