Flags Of Our Fathers 2006

Flags Of Our Fathers
2006
Ryan Phillipe
Adam Beach
Barry Pepper

Some other guy no one cares about
** of five because I think I've seen this movie before...

Flags of our fathers.
The story of the flag raised at Iwo Jima.
I've seen this picture (above) as much as anyone.
I guess it's because I'm not an american that I didn't feel my heart and soul moved when I looked at it. I didn't see the patriotism of a nation, the courage of those men, or the victory won when I looked at it. I was just like, "Oh, they're putting up thier flag. Isn't that what americans do?" Just kidding. But really, perhaps I would feel a little partial to it if it were a Canadian flag. But it's not. So I'm not. But anyhow, back to the movie. Sort of. See, I enjoy seeing movies about the wars (I & II). I love to read stories about it, and most of all I LOVE to hear stories from people who were there. I like to do all of these things because I think it is so very important to remember the wars. Losing friends. Fathers. Brothers. Sons. Rationing food. Black outs. Fear. None of the last few generations can really understand it. The oldest generation who was actually there rarely wants to talk about it. The newest generation hardly cares about it. It's a sad situation. So I think it important to remember it(--and don't even get me started on seeing that walmart and canadian tire are open on Remembrance Day). Each year we lose more and more people who remember it, movies are one way to take generations back to how it was. So. Blah, blah, blah. My little tirade is over. Why? Because this movie is not the way to do it. This movie sucked. Directed by Clint Eastwood, should be good enough, right? Nope. Screenplay-Paul Haggis, fellow canadian, obviously brilliant screen writer, right? Wrong again. I don't know if people (and by people i mean editors and whoever else reviews movies before they continue shooting) were a little intimidated by the Eastwood/Haggis duo, but someone should have stopped them. I waited the whole movie-okay okay, I waited the first half of the movie--for something that would make me gasp at their geniusness. Make me goggle, wide-eyed at the marvelous way they make it seem so raw and real. To be amazed and humbled and not surprised that they are in the buisness of movies and I am not.

So, okay, perhaps my expectations were a tad high.

Mainly the movie would switch between the battle on Iwo Jima, a few months later (as the soldiers who raised the flag toured the us of a raising war funds) and the present -- where one of their sons was 'discovering' the story along with us-the veiwers. Pretty much the entire movie was spent by me trying to figure out who was who is the past and who is that person in the present. I never got clarity. The other half was spent by me trying to ignore Adam Beach (who ever encouraged that boy to act??!?!-if that is what you can even call it).

One of the things that made the movie bearable was Ryan Philippe. He held it up. And, yes he is also easy on the eyes. Oh, and also Barry Pepper. (BP didn't have a major, major role, but he was wonderful as always.) I just found that watching this movie was pretty much like watching Saving Private Ryan: Youngbloods. A bunch of soldiers who are buddy-buddy-special-connection-friends who are led by a fearless sargent through the war to fight nobally(sp?) for their country. Hey Barry Pepper is even in both movies! Ha! Now, after you see this movie, you may be saying to yourself,well it wasn't THAT bad.

And then you will remember adam beach crying, the horrific lone guitar soundtrack (can we say Brokeback mountain anyone?) and you will suddenly find yourself wishing for your money and precious time back.