Eastwood and His War Films
3/4 stars

I was looking forward to both "Flags" and "Iwo Jima." Are they bad movies? No. Are they great? No. Eastwood is a decent director, but for some reason most of his films lack that great feeling or great character that all the perfect (well close to perfect) movies have. This one is no different. There are some really great war scenes that look like "Saving Private Ryan" (a rip off?). And, the story is not bad - the acting is ok - using each actor in their strengths rather than trying to push them into something they are not good at (and look uncomfortable).

Like "Iwo Jima" this also lacks good pacing and climax. It builds some what, but then slows down and drags out until we are bored and depressed, just like the characters. Get it over with, like "Gladiator" did. I didn't want to spend a lot of time talking about this movie, but most of the war movies in the last 5-7 years have been very lack luster (Jarhead getting the nod for the best war movie since "Ryan" and "The Thin Red line").

Eastwood, you may want to stop directing movies. Your music bores me, your story telling tactics are very cliche, and your plots have been told many times. Still, I can not disagree that I consider this on the low end of a good movie. You are lucky this time, but next time I doubt I will feel this way.

Review by Alex