sanny77 Blog

The other side of the story

sanny77 — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 23:20:59 GMT

I liked watching the story of the people on "other" side of the battle of iwo jima. How the Japanese Bushido code affected the way that they fought. How important propaganda is in war. And not the least, how important it is to remember that the guy on the other side most probably is just like you. He has a family, problems and bleeds just like you and that he fights for what he believes is true and honourable.

War is madness (spoiler warning)

sanny77 — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 22:55:03 GMT

War is madness, well that pretty much sums it up. This is not your typical war glorifying Hollywood story. This is not only a story about the harsh realities of war when it comes to money, numeral superiority and propaganda but also to what makes and breaks people and what they, the soldiers, become after the war is over.

On the downside I did not like the flickering story telling style of the movie, to much altering between past, present, iwo jima and the states.

I liked the ending of the movie; that although people go out at war for their country they fight and die for their friends.

This is to good to be real...

sanny77 — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 22:13:14 GMT

was what I thought on several occasions during the movie. It seemed so polished, so... so to much and I was just sitting waiting, asking myself; when will the shit hit the fan? However, as the movie progressed I started to get more and more emotionally involved and I have to admit that occasionally some solitary tear rolled down on my cheek.

One of the things that I liked about the movie what the illustration of the importance of getting people common ground, somthing in which they themselves can see a reflection of their own reality. Something tangebly, real and with emotional hoocks.

Spoiler warnings
I would have liked to have getting more information about what happened with the students after graduations and if some students dropped out during the years in high school. At the same time I'm satisfied with the story since the point is to mediate hope, that even though everything may seems utterly doomed success may still be within our grasp as long as people try.

If nothing else after the movie ended I did feel better at heart then at the start.

Strange

sanny77 — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 19:40:00 GMT

Some really weird shit, Jonas Åkerlund must have been high as a kite while shooting this picture! The only reason I rate this as high as 2 stars is due to to the performance by Mickey Rourke and Eric Roberts

Just barely

sanny77 — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 22:22:52 GMT

What can I say... It would not have recived 2 stars if it had not been for some of the nice underwater and rock climbing sequences.

Interesting

sanny77 — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:57:51 GMT

I enjoyed watching this miniseries and had it not been for the somewhat strained ending I'd probably have giving it a 5 star rating.

Great Movie

sanny77 — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:25:24 GMT

I loved the movie and I'd love to view it again, sadly I cannot find a 16:9 dvd in production, just some lame 4:3, so I guess i'll have to wait :(

Want to know more about the story?

sanny77 — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 08:26:00 GMT

When the movie was released I thought it rather awesome, but then I was younger and a lot have happened and changed in the years since.

However, If you do enjoy the story I would recommend to read the book Willow which the movie is based on as well as its sequels.