What a powerful film that was!

Saw it and was mesmerized.

It showed the war from the eyes of a people whose story was never told.

We see how life sucked for the Japanese soldier. And did it ever. You could not surrender or you get shot. Even if you make it to the enemy, the US Marines will shoot you.

But what was really important is that this film showed the Japanese as human beings with their own internal conflicts, fears and desire for normal and peaceful lives.

I recall one particularly strong scene where a young US soldier is wounded and taken in by the Japanese. The Japanese soldiers want to kill him outright, but a compassionate commander insists on treating him. He then talks to the young man in English and tells him of how he visited the United States during the Olympic Games, where he competed as an Equestrian jumper.

This story reminds us, in a rather sad kind of way, that there are two sides to every story and sometimes we may not understand who our enemy really is.

That second bit sounds like sentimental mush. I doubt that ever happened.

The japs were bastards pure and simple. I knew an old guy who fought in Burma, he couldnt really talk about it but he did mention that after a hospital was overrun they found Doctors nurses and patients crucified, tied up with dannert wire and tortured etc.

After that they took no prisoners.

They were also complete bastards to prisoners.

I am willing to believe that there may have been some who were a little more human but the majority fell in with the code.

That second bit sounds like sentimental mush. I doubt that ever happened.

The japs were bastards pure and simple. I knew an old guy who fought in Burma, he couldnt really talk about it but he did mention that after a hospital was overrun they found Doctors nurses and patients crucified, tied up with dannert wire and tortured etc.

After that they took no prisoners.

They were also complete bastards to prisoners.

I am willing to believe that there may have been some who were a little more human but the majority fell in with the code.

If my father were alive today he would be in agreement. He went face to face with the IJA and said that they would eat the internal organs of prisoners. I asked him if they used chopsticks. He was not too amused.

I have little doubt that the Japanses were cruel and did not fight by the normal rules of war.

But then again, the film showed that the US military did not show much kindness towards Japanese POWs either.

In one scene two prisoners are guarded by these Marines (I assume they were USMC, I do not think the army was involved in this fight), and when their officers leave them, one of the guards is pissed at having to guard these mens. So he shoots the two of them as a way of solving his problem.

I did see a picture once of this head of a Japanese soldier being displayed, complete with a combat helmut, as a war trophy. I will look and see if I can find it online.

If my father were alive today he would be in agreement. He went face to face with the IJA and said that they would eat the internal organs of prisoners. I asked him if they used chopsticks. He was not too amused.

I have little doubt that the Japanses were cruel and did not fight by the normal rules of war.

But then again, the film showed that the US military did not show much kindness towards Japanese POWs either.

In one scene two prisoners are guarded by these Marines (I assume they were USMC, I do not think the army was involved in this fight), and when their officers leave them, one of the guards is pissed at having to guard these mens. So he shoots the two of them as a way of solving his problem.

I did see a picture once of this head of a Japanese soldier being displayed, complete with a combat helmut, as a war trophy. I will look and see if I can find it online.


I cant say I blame the GI's. Few prisoners were taken during combat and even then many were killed out of hand, brutal stuff.

Actually I really tried to watch it, but couldn't get through it. It's a three hour movie and it was putting me to sleep within like 40 minutes. I thought it'd be interesting to see the story told from the other side, but blah. It was like a twenty minute story drawn out into three hours and I couldn't handle it.

Wow I just watched flags of our fathers (inspired by this thread) great film not what i was expecting.

I had seen the story of Ira Hayes before but not the others.

Sad story.

I just watched letters, very good, but I got a bit confused as to who had died etc, but otherwise an excellent film.

I would give both 5 out of 5.

I just watched letters, very good, but I got a bit confused as to who had died etc, but otherwise an excellent film.

I would give both 5 out of 5.

OK Here is the SPOILER


If You did not see the film stop reading here......



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All the guys get killed except the slacker dude who was the baker and had a pregnant wife at home. He is wounded and taken prisoner by the americans. He is last seen getting treated.

Everybody else gets killed.

Everybody else gets killed.

Cool. Like a Shakespearean play. :nice:

I found it extremely ironic that the Japanese would claim as their advantage the idea that the Americans "are too weak and let emotions interfere with their duty". I wish I could have seen the Americans debate the Japanese weaknesses: "uuuuuh....they're crazy - take one post away from them, and they'll all commit suicide".

I mean common, they don't even follow orders, what kind of army is that? I say - the hopeless kind. Why are eastern folk so obsessed with killing themselves? What is this phenomenon?

Ok, so the Chineese are an exception. See - no religion points to reasonable people. Too much spirituality makes one detached from life on this earth, thus resulting in senseless death. I'm sorry, but I cannot respect that kind of culture. I'm glad that the old days of harakiri are long forgotten.