Posted on 07/26/2005 7:36:15 PM PDT by fight_truth_decay
The Great Raid. Benjamin Bratt, James Franco, Connie Nielsen, Marton Csokas and Joseph Fiennes. Miramax. W- Carlo Bernard, Doug Miro. D-John Dahl. Opens 8/12/05.
The title threw me. I thought it was a western, maybe something about Jesse James or George Custer. I don’t know why; no one makes westerns anymore. Well, it’s not a western. And it’s not a great title. What it is, however, is the best film I’ve seen so far this year. What’s more, it will be difficult to top. Quite simply, it is amazing.
Director John Dahl recreates the gritty reality-based story of one of the most spectacular rescue missions ever to take place in American history: “the great raid on Cabanatuan,” the daring exploit that would liberate more than 500 U.S. prisoners of war on the Philippines in 1945. A gripping depiction of human resilience, the film vividly brings to life the personal courage and audacious heroism that allowed a small but stoic band of World War II soldiers to attempt the impossible in the hope of freeing their captured brothers.
I know what you’re thinking. “A war film. One about prisoners of war. No, thanks.” Wait, wait. This is one that cannot be dismissed. It is a war film and much time is spent in a concentration camp, and it is difficult to view at times, but ultimately it is an incredible film-going experience. First, it’s about something. So many films this year concern superheroes battling cartoonish villains and the storylines are as synthetic as the Bat-suit or the Fantastic-suit or the Stealth-suit. The Great Raid concerns a moment in history that helped clarify the American spirit. And though it may seem so in the eyes of high schoolers, it was not so long ago.
The following four paragraphs are from the press notes. I’m including them in my review as they give important detail.
“Once a tale shared across the United States, the long-lost story of The Great Raid has been recreated with meticulous authenticity to pay testimony to the many different people, from U.S. commanders to Filipino soldiers to women aid workers to the POWs themselves, who played a part in turning this time of intense hardship and unrelenting danger into a moment of inspiration.
“Meanwhile, believing themselves all but forgotten by their comrades and country, the surviving prisoners at Cabanatuan have dubbed themselves the ‘ghost soldiers.’ Among them is Major Gibson (Joseph Fiennes), weakened by malaria, who is hanging on by a thread of hope and his love for a Catholic aid worker, Margaret (Connie Nielsen), who has been assisting the Filipino Underground.
“Back at the 6th Army Headquarters in nearby Luzon, Lieutenant Colonel Henry A. Mucci (Benjamin Bratt), the tough, ambitious but charismatic leader known for inspiring devoted loyalty among his men, has been assigned to find a way to penetrate behind enemy lines and free the U.S. prisoners before it is too late. The task appears to be strategically impossible – the men will likely face heavy resistance and will be far outnumbered by fearsome Japanese troops—but Mucci is never deterred by an extreme challenge.
“Mucci selects the young, bookish but brilliant Captain Robert Prince (James Franco) to lead the raid, who in turn comes up with an daring plan to have 121 hand-picked, elite Rangers and Alamo Scouts slip 30 miles deep into enemy territory and make a surprise, lightning assault on the camp. To increase the already slim chances for success, the U.S. will join forces with members of the Filipino resistance, led by Captain Juan Pajota (Cesar Montano), whose intimate knowledge of the lay of the land will help to guide the committed band of men to their ultimate goal.”
I passed on the first screening opportunity for this film, because, like many of you, I’ve had enough army movies and prisoner-of-war movies. I just wasn’t up to 132-minute, R-rated film that I feared would be more Rambo than reality. But the studio provided one more screening and I am extremely glad I attended. It’s about so much more than rescue strategy or the trials of POW existence. It’s about that indefinable something that spurs men and women on despite the high cost. There’s a powerful love element as we get to know a soldier whose romantic feelings have stayed suppressed because the lady is married. There’s a religious element where we see men praying and speaking of the need for faith. There’s a sacrificial element as both men and women are seen putting others first, giving their lives for what they believe to be more important than themselves. And there is a good vs. evil element hard to come by in politically correct times. And it is this element that I would like to refer to.
Many may question the need to bring up the incident when we are now allies to some extent with Japan and Germany. It would be a mistake to assume that this film is anti anybody. World War II was a defining moment in world history as it made clear that evil exists and that it can blind an entire nation. Yes, the Japanese did horrific things to the Chinese, to the Filipinos and to the Americans. Unspeakable things. Damnable things. But blind villainy has fallen upon many nations including, the Roman Empire, Spain and Germany. Evil can befall any nation and must be guarded against or it will overcome any country that displaces God’s commandments.
This is great history, and certainly it should be shared with younger generations in order that the sacrifice not be forgotten. However, the film is not just a history lesson. The filmmaker never forgets his main objective – to entertain. Completely enthralling, the characters are well defined, the pacing engaging and the technical achievements are as good as you’ll find in any bigger-budgeted blockbuster.
More than once my eyes welled up, and during one extremely horrific scene, I literally burst into tears. Certainly, that is not something we look forward to when going to a movie. Movies are supposed to get us away from the tragedies of life, right? Wrong. Movies should make you feel. This one does.
As you know, my take on movie reviewing is that I don’t advise people to go to any certain movie. I try to point out the good and the bad, thereby allowing you to make the call as to its suitability for your family. But this movie affected me unlike any I’ve seen in many years. I would say this: If you’re an adult and only going to see one film this year, The Great Raid should be the one.
R (3 profanities, 8 or so obscenities and a few minor expletives, but for a war film, the language is very mild; what’s more, there is a great deal of thoughtful dialogue and several moments that reveal men of faith and a reverence for God; the film receives its rating mainly for the graphic violence and themes including a narration at the top that details the abuse of victims including the fact that 15,000 people died during the Death March; that said, nothing is done exploitatively –this is not a Rambo movie, but a real moment in history; yes, some of it is difficult to watch, but so many gave up so much in order to end a cancer that threatened to destroy the soul of man. Their sacrifice should be depicted and therefore, remembered.).
Once a tale shared across the United States, the long-lost story of THE GREAT RAID has been recreated with meticulous authenticity to pay testimony to the many different people, from U.S. commanders to Filipino soldiers to women aid workers to the POWs themselves, who played a part in turning this time of intense hardship and unrelenting danger into a moment of inspiration.
Trailer on site
The Great Raid - August 12th.
Review:
Cmdr. by Don Scott writes: "I had a chance to see this movie at the Bataan March at White Sands NM in March 2005. It was great I sat next to a vet. who was in the bataan death march. He told me the movie was as real as it gets. I was so moved by this movie all I could say to the Vet. was Thank YOU!"
Note: Phil Boatwright Columnist is the editor and film reviewer for The Movie Reporter, a monthly film guide from a Christian perspective.
The Great Raid on Cabanatuan: Rescuing the Doomed Ghosts of Bataan and Corregidor also a novel by historian, William B. Breuer 1994
All I can say is if you want to see more conservative films help us start the conservative hollywood,,,,, we really need a name.... go here... http://www.boondockexpansionist.org/phpBB/
The book was awesome. I read it in one day because it as so good. Mucci was a short man with a large nose if I remeber correctly so Bratt isn't really cast for his similiar appearance.
ping for later
I wasn't to happy with the movie poster for this film.
With the image of the American flag upside down and on the ground, I thought Hollywood was doing it again...
Looks good (at least by the trailer); however, I'll have to wait until the reviews/ user comments come out. There was that Nicholas Cage movie a few years back about the Navajo code talkers; that was a good premise that turned out to be a dud....
This one I'll see.
yea... hope they did the story justice.
His name was Bill Hubbard, and he made 6 landings under fire in the South Pacific.
He died several years ago, but he told me one thing about this raid. He says they roared up a road 30 miles behind enemy lines in a big truck with a machine gun on the roof. The Filipinos had hidden champagne and other alcohol in anticipation of liberation. They'd buried the bottles, and when the convoy went up the road every Filipino passed them up a bottle. He said they roared up that road, raided the camp, and got drunk while doing it.
He also said that finding the POWs in such a horrible condition shocked them terribly.
Bill was quite an old guy.
For a related story, see the Foxhole thread on the Los Banos raid:
The FReeper Foxhole Remembers The Los Banos Raid - 1945 - Feb. 23rd, 2003
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-vetscor/849795/posts
I can't wait. My stepfather-in-law and many men from our county were at Cabanatuan. I've read all the books and listened to the stories they told. I know I'll love it.
I saw a documentary on the History Channel about
this rescue.
I think it's a great story--should make a good
movie.
Agreed. Lots of white-knuckle "are they gonna make it?" scenarios. The one that had a comic overtone in an otherwise deadly scenario was the deaf-as-a-post Brit who visits the crapper just before the raid. Then the raid goes down - machine gun and rifle fire, grenades, the whole works. He sits through the whole thing, unaware. After its all over he comes out and wonders why everyone is running about.
The two guys sneaking up on the Jap sentries was another cliff-hanger. Am looking forward to the movie.
Thank you sounds like a must see.
How about the mysterious disease that causes men to grow breasts? I wonder if they put that in the movie?
I'm so glad to hear the good report about this movie. I've seen the ads and I was wondering what the scoop was.
I don't mind war movies if they're accurate .. which this one appears to be.
Also .. if this movie is as good as it seems .. it will tell the public a very important message - PANTIES ON SOMEBODY'S HEAD HAS NO RELATION TO TORTURE OR ABUSE.
I've been saying for months .. if only the media would show what real torture is like .. the public would be able to deside that our prisoner "abuses" are no where near torture.
Hmmmmm?? That might draw people in from the left .. people who would not otherwise attend such a film. And .. that might inform a lot of people about what torture really is .. that's interesting about the flag position .. because I would have had the same reaction.
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