One of the Best of the Decade
3.5/4 stars

One of the reasons that Eastwood is such a magnificent and successful director and producer is that he manages to give a very realistic portrayal of human events, without subjecting us to the over burdening political correctness of today. As the audience in good faith, we do not have to wade through the business of one white guy, one black guy, one Asian, one Hispanic for every 2.5 screen shots, etc., ad infinitum. We are given a magnificent production, and portrayal of true to life history, in the way things did happen.

'Flags of Our Fathers' is not only a war movie. It really sucks you in, giving you a realistic view on all the confusion during the war. The main part is the story of the raising of the flag on Hira Jima. A stand out performance from Adam Beech as 'Ira Hayes'. Even though the movie does go back and forth between the battle on Hira Jima & when these 'heroes' of the war are touring the states you can really follow the movie.

Eastwood provides the basis and clear understanding of what this event is all about, and provides the highlights and important points necessary to leave a clear impression in the viewers mind. This film was more than just entertaining. It was an experience. It was also informative, historically accurate, and showed a balanced and impartial report of a major event in 20th century history. There were no filler scenes, there was no unnecessary or unrealistic flag waving, no out of proportion background music. The directorship gives us the facts, as close to absolute reality as possible. We see these events unfold from the perspective of the participants in the war on the sea, the air, and the ground, in a very large and all encompassing field of view.

Another reason that this film should be considered great, is that it points out, and shows in detail, what men and women have to endure during times of crises, both as soldiers and as civilians. We are also reminded that much of politics do not change, regardless of their placement in history. The politically motivated hero exhibitions that the main character soldiers were made to present in this film were not always desirable to the soldiers themselves; they were doing their patriotic duty, never the less, at home as well as abroad.

Anyone who has an ounce of patriotism should see this film. Among all of its fine features, it also suggests the strong message that in WWII, the ground soldier knew exactly what he was fighting for, and didn't have to worry as to weather or not it was merely a potential waste of life.

I don't think Clint Eastwood has ever starred in or directed a movie that I didn't like and this is no exception. The movie summarizes the stories of the six men who were photographed raising the American flag over Iwo Jima near the end of WWII.

Flags of our Fathers
Clint Eastwood
Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford
132 minutes, 2 hours 12 minutes.
R for graphic war violence and carnage, and for language.

Review by Wolfman