Flags of Our Fathers (2007, DVD)

I did find this movie entertaining at times, but there is a whole list of problems, both artistic and philosophic, I have with this movie. You see, though the director tried to make the film seem fuller by constantly flashing backward, forward, sideways, and kitty-corner, all it served to do was make the viewer frustrated with the short-attention-span MTV video style of storytelling. There was no resonance - I did not become invested in the characters' lives, and I couldn't have cared less what happened to them if they were fictional, as they were all portrayed as 2-dimensional cardboard cutouts (the alcoholic Indian, the man exploiting his temporary fame, the manipulative political fundraiser, etc.).

Not only would a more linear narrative have been appreciated, but I could have done without the constant bludgeoning with themes and symbols. If I heard one more person say "what is a hero," "I'm not a hero, _____ is," or even "why do we need heroes," I very likely would have thrown something through the screen. Moreover, I take issue with any film that blatantly points out its own symbolism. It's as if the filmmakers think the audience has the perspicacity of a developmentally disabled four year old! For instance, zooming in on the strawberry sauce being poured over the ice cream sculpture of the flag raisers, then hovering there as the medic stared in horror was just as good as installing a neon light flashing the words, "Dear idiot audience, this is important - write it down and have someone smarter explain it later!"

Needless to say, this movie insults your intelligence as a viewer.

Furthermore, I'm not sure if the late introduction of the interviewer as Doc's son was supposed to be a surprise, or if they just failed to mention earlier that this guy was interviewing people to write a biography. Normally when you use the frame story method, you give people at least some idea why.

There is more, including ridiculously bad acting by several integral characters, and sub-par editing and direction, but I will stop while I can still bear writing about this film. It might not have been the worst WWII movie I've seen, but my expectations were quite high, seeing as this Was an Eastwood/Spielberg production, and I loved their respective previous efforts.

But this movie will never touch Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan, Tora! Tora! Tora!, or any of the other classics. It is a fine rental, but that's about it.