"Letters from Iwo Jima" Movie Review

It's not absolutely crucial to see Clint Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers prior to sitting through Letters from Iwo Jima, but it does help put the events that unfold in Eastwood’s second film of the series into context. While the first film focused on the American invasion of the island of Iwo Jima, this sister project tells the story from the Japanese point of view.

Letters takes a more compelling and emotionally engaging approach to the Battle of Iwo Jima than Flags of Our Fathers did. Eastwood's Letters takes all the elements of a classic war film and delivers a taut, gripping tale about the hardships of war.

Some have called Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers a disappointment and even labeled it a misfire. Letters from Iwo Jima more than makes up for any of Flags' perceived shortcomings. Not exactly a sequel, it's more of a companion piece to Flags. Other than the fact they both have the Battle of Iwo Jima as their centerpiece, they're vastly different films.

Flags of Our Fathers shined its spotlight on the military men made famous in one of the most iconic war photos in history. Flags briefly focused on the American invasion of Iwo Jima as World War II came to an end, and then quickly moved on to how the men in that spectacular photo handled being paraded across America as heroes. Letters from Iwo Jima takes an entirely different approach to the Battle of Iwo Jima, showing how the Japanese military reacted to having to defend the island against an overwhelming invading force.

Letters from Iwo Jima is a more intimate film. While plotting strategy and digging out tunnels and caves is integral to the story, it's not the central focus. Instead, the Japanese soldiers set to defend the island are shown as ordinary guys who long to be at home with their families and realize they are grossly undermanned and won't survive the war.

The characters are meticulously developed, to the point where the film drags for the first hour or so. But there's a definite reason to this approach, and the pay-off of being able to understand the complex feelings of these soldiers as they wait to fight and die defending Japanese soil is worth enduring the slow start to the film.

Eastwood, screenwriter Iris Yamashita and the entire cast and crew have made an extremely powerful film that breaks from tradition. The unique approach, superb cinematography and intense action sequences make Letters a captivating, engrossing film.

GRADE: A