[tup] Just got back from seeing this great movie about the flag raisers at Iwo Jima. It’s not for the faint-hearted, as there are many graphic sequences similar to what we see at the beginning of Saving Private Ryan.
The US Navy shelling Mt. Suribachi and Corsairs strafing enemy positions was a visual spectacle. And there is a great shot of a B-29 coming in with at least one engine out, another on fire, for a crash landing.
I plan to see it tomorrow with my oldest daughter, who developed an affinity for the famous photograph a couple of years ago.
Anyone old enough to remember that Aurora (I think) put out a plastic kit of the flag raising, back in the middle '60’s?
Sounds like a must see. Will see it soon.
Jerry
It is on my list of “things to do” this weekend. Thanks for the head up.
Darwin, O.F. [alien]
Check this out:
I just saw this movie today. It did have some of the best battle sceens i have ever seen, but it goes so fast from fast paced action to a coulple guys talking and such that it makes you want to yawn.
I overall did not like it that much, the main reason is that i simply do not care about the story of those men who raised the flag Over any other 99.9% of the men who fought in WW2. If you are intrested in that story then this is a very good movie.
Just got home from seeing it and found it terrific. I read the book a few years ago and the movie stayed true to the book. Some great battle scenes but the main point of the movie is about the six flag raisers and in that light it was a worthy movie. Their story is worth telling and glad it was made.
Semper Fi.
Steve.
Saw it yesterday. Enjoyed it.
Regards, Rick
On my list to see
Interesting comments . I read the book recently before the movie was announced . I havent seen the movie yet . I dont know how the movie protrays the 5 Marines /1 Corpsman that took part in the second flag raising but in the book the 3 survivors that came back stateside were relunctant to be glorified as heroes . They were average soldiers that happened to be in a photo that was used as a symbol to promote the sale of war bounds. They were paraded around when needed but gained little if nothing from the experience .
Ive got a stupid question is this about the 1st or 2nd flag raising on Iwo Jima
it goes into deatail about both, but is based around the men who raised the second flag.
Thanks for the link, Stinger. The one I had–decades ago–was in a larger scale; I think the figures were probably six inches tall. At least, they were a lot smaller than the normal Aurora figure size. I hadn’t thought of the kit in years, maybe because I didn’t do so well building it.
It’s definitely on my “to see” list.
I read an interview of Clint Eastwood who stated in the battle scenes the pyrotechnics technians placed some of the charges in places to “surprise” the actors so he could capture their look of horror when the charges went off, this he said was to keep the realism of combat because all Soldiers & Marines who fought never knew where the rounds would land in that situation of combat
I had one of those Aurora kits, Never finished it and used the base as an island for my Revell navy to attack!!! Good Hunting, G.W.