There are 2 versions of "Henry V" that are very well known.
One stars Lord Lawrence Olivier.
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0036910/
The other stars Kenneth Branagh.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097499/
"Flags of our Fathers" is like "Henry V" with Olivier.
"Saving Private Ryan" is like "Henry V" with Branagh.
I don't hold it against Clint Eastwood. Unless Spielberg is doing bit parts in an Austin Power's movie, I'll bet Steve sucks as an actor. "Flags of our Fathers" was like a Hallmark Card special with an "R" rating for graphic combat violence and vomit from heavy drinking. The movie is not entertaining ("Windtalkers" has better entertainment value), but "Flags" holds historical documentary value.
Adam Beach, playing Ira Hayes, should get an Oscar.
Clint should get a job with the Hallmark Channel. He can make you feel sympathy for anyone, and that's why I can't condemn the movie. Thus, don't look for a flag to be waved in your face--literally.
The timing of the movie may do more to improve our friendship with Japan considering the bellicose Pacific neighbor just next door to them. In fact, Iwo Jima, Peleliu, and Okinawa are attrition battles heavily studied by North Korean forces as their defenses mimic defense in defilade with extreme fortification and massive tunnel networking.
I witnessed the friendship ceremonies between the US Marines and our Japanese allies in Okinawa, and I'm glad that WW2 is over. Perhaps this movie says it humanly the way the Holy Spirit says it Divinely by choosing a conscripted German Hitler Youth to be the Pope. Time heals all wounds and life moves on. This movie serves no politics and would damage a politician if it's used as rhetoric (since Clint seemed to purposely make it like that).
If what I've written has you wanting to wait until the movie is on DVD, then be assured that the movie does best when played on a large screen.
BTW, you may know that Mitsuo Fuchida, who led the attack on Pearl Harbor, became a born-again Christian and a missionary throughout Japan.