Letters and Lurve (a coupla film reviews)

Letters from Iwo Jima

I was rather surprised that Kanako actually picked this one out at the video store not being a fan of war movies and all. Just in case you haven't heard it's the second in pair of movies about the battle of Iwo Jima at the end of WW2. The first part, which we haven't seen, was told from the American point of view and focused on the marines and sailors who were in the famous photo of the raising of the flag on the top of Mount Suribachi. 'Letters' is told from the Japanese side and focuses on two main characters, the general in charge of the island's defense and a young conscript who doesn't exactly relish the thought of being trapped on the island with no chance of escape.

If you watched this expecting a great 'war' movie you would probably go away a bit disappointed especially if you saw it on the small screen like we did. For pure visceral action 'Private Ryan' is much better (even if the story got a bit far-fetched at times) but I don't think that was the kind of movie Clint was trying to make. 'Letters' is a much more human story. For the first time, World War Two Japanese are characterized as more than two-dimensional, banzai shouting suicidal stereotypes (although there are scenes of banzai shouting and multiple suicides within). After years of John Wayneist imagery it was refreshing (in a gruesome, blood soaked way) to finally see and hear things from the other side. Sure, a large percentage of the garrison did kill themselves or mount futile charges against the encircling Americans, but the motivations behind such actions are explained to a certain degree as well as exploring what the 'other' guys were thinking and feeling.

Clint's message, delivered not-so-subtly when the Japanese soldiers read some letters found on a dead GI, is not overly profound but nonetheless important. That is, that despite different nationalities and ideologies when it comes down to it the average 'grunt' in the trenches and his family back home have the same simple wish, to return home safely and soon. As an aside, it was interesting to note that the last surviving Japanese soldier's name was Saigou, which, amongst other things, translates as 'last' or 'final'.

Love Story

An oldie but a goodie this one. Panned by a lot of critics and full of genre staples such as characters from different social classes and disapproving parents I still love this film despite being an avowed cynic when it comes to romantic movies.

Perhaps one reason is that we find out that the female character has just died in the very first scene and then leap backwards in time from there. Perhaps it's because Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw seem to have had a real chemistry and personalities. Kanako and I both agree that 70's heart-throb turned Naughteys lard-ass O’Neal really seems infatuated with Jenny something missing from more recent Tom Ryan/Meg Hanks outings.

It's not without it's flaws especially the choppy editing and the slightly cheesy catchphrase 'Love means never having to say you're sorry' but still, in my humble opinion, one of the best I've seen in a genre which is generally devoid of anything really meaningful. Unashamedly emotionally manipulative but hey it’s a love story. Duh!