The Great Raid (Full Screen Edition)
by John Dahl
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Benjamin Bratt, James Franco, Joseph Fiennes, Max Martini, Robert MammoneDirector: John Dahl
Brand: Buena Vista Home Video
Cinematographer: Peter Menzies Jr.
Editor: Scott Chestnut
Editor: Pietro Scalia
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); Japanese (Original Language); Tagalog (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 132 minutes
Published: 2005-12-20
DVD Release Date: 2005-12-20
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Miramax Home Entertainment
Product features:
- Good old fashioned World War II movies never go out of style and this is no exception
- This fact based war drama benefits from a back to basics approach to realism
- Adapted from the books The Great Raid on Cabanatuan and Ghost Soldiers
- About the rescue of 511 American prisoners of war held by the Japanese in a POW camp
- This hit captures a moment in time when men of honor became soldiers of destiny
Movie Reviews of The Great Raid (Full Screen Edition)
Movie Review: One of the best war movies of recent years
Summary: 5 Stars
The Great Raid is one of the best war movies I've seen in several years, and it makes me downright mad to learn of this film's long-neglected, still overlooked history. It was filmed in 2002, then delayed for three full years thanks to a bunch of bureaucratic jabberwocky. When it finally saw the light of day in 2005, I didn't hear the first thing about it, which says a lot about the marketing behind it. Then, a number of professional critics cast aspersions upon it - all the usual suspects who prefer their own make-believe world where the worst sadists are merely misunderstood victims of a bad childhood and real history is just something to be distorted in pursuit of your own political agenda. The Great Raid is just far too true for these elitists, and - even worse - it shows that war, as horrible as it is, is sometimes a necessity in the face of outright evil. These guys can blanch and puff up all they like, but anyone who knows anything about World War II knows that the Japanese were some of the most merciless, brutal, downright sadistic soldiers the world has ever seen. That very concept is incorporated into this movie because it's true. The Great Raid adds a few unnecessary romantic elements to the story, but that story itself is an honorably realistic presentation of the most audacious, successful rescue mission in American military history. It's a story every American should know - but more than likely doesn't.
There was a good reason why General MacArthur vowed to return after FDR ordered him to withdraw from the Philippines - he was leaving a lot of good men behind, brave soldiers who suffered and died horribly after their Commander in Chief abandoned them. As FDR concentrated on the European theater, thousands of GI's died on the unspeakable Bataan Death March, while those who did survive the 60-mile trek were subjected to brutal, inhumane treatment in Japanese POW camps for three years. In January 1945, the military tide had turned, MacArthur had indeed returned to the Philippines, and the Japanese knew the end was in sight. War criminals to the end, they chose to slaughter all of their prisoners before they could be liberated. That set the stage for The Great Raid. The Allies knew the 500+ prisoners of war at Cabanatuan would be killed as their forces closed in on the camp. The only hope of saving these brave, long-suffering Americans was to execute a surprise rescue mission and take the Japanese completely by surprise.
This movie shows us pretty much what actually happened, and it is that commitment to historical reality that makes it such an important film. We watch Lt. Col. Henry Mucci (Benjamin Bratt) and Capt. Bob Prince (James Franco) draw up the plans, lead their soldiers forward, adapt and react to unexpected Japanese troop movements, and basically refuse to let anything stop them from leaving any American POW behind. These particular troops, from the 6th Army Ranger Battalion, had yet to see any real action for the most part, but they managed to cross 30 miles of enemy territory and sneak up on the camp across open fields in broad daylight without being detected. Meanwhile, brave Filipino soldiers provided invaluable assistance by preventing Japanese reinforcements from reaching the camp in time to disrupt the mission. The big firefight, when it does come, is quite intense and realistic, leading up to an emotionally stirring ending.
Alongside the viewpoint of the Rangers and their Filipino brethren in arms, the film also takes us inside the Japanese POW camp and acquaints us with the Filipino underground sneaking much-needed medicines into the camp. All of these heroes of different stripes aren't enough to satisfy the critics, though. They say the movie drags on too long, yet they complain that the POW camp conditions aren't covered in enough detail. They decry the scenes of Japanese barbarity, preferring their own little world of politically correct grey to the black and white reality of history. Folks, it doesn't get much more black and white than this: risking your life -against great odds - to rescue your brother soldiers is good; burning POWs alive rather than allowing them to be liberated is evil. Some things really are black and white. If you insist on pretending that everyone on earth really just wants to chase butterflies in the sun all day, you may not like this movie. If, on the other hand, you like a good war movie, especially one that is based on fact and presented in a realistic fashion, The Great Raid more than deserves a place in your personal DVD collection.
Summary of The Great Raid (Full Screen Edition)
Set in the phillippines in 1945 this tells the true story of the 6th ranger batallion who undertake a daring rescue mission against all odds. Traveling 30 miles behind enemy lines the battalion aims to liberate over 500 american p.O.Ws from the notorious cabanatuan japanese p.O.W camp. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 08/15/2008 Starring: Benjamin Bratt Mark Consuelos Run time: 131 minutes Rating: RSimilar DVD Movies
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