A Film; Colour of War: D-Day

Sometimes it's hard to belive there was colour in the world before 1950 or so. This fantastic DVD puts things straight. All in colour it provides much useful information on what landing crafts looked like. No more doubt on how dark Navy Blue or how gaudy red hull bottoms were. The film begins with a short recapitulation on Stalingrad, Tunisia, the invasion of Sicily, the conference in Casablanca where the Germany first doctrine was cemented. Although the title of this DVD is D-Day one should not think it is entirely on June 6. Most of the material is focused on the build up and aftermath of the actual landing itself. One can imagine there was not much filming done during the actual fighting on D-Day and therefore there aren't much to show, at least not in colour. Maybe that is the reason for the few genuine landing sequences to be so much more touching and horrible. Starring landing craft wise there will be LCVP, LCM, LCT, LST.

Much recommended.

A film; Letters from Iwo Jima

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Letters from Iwo Jima, directed by Clint Eastwood


This is the second film from Clint Eastwood on the Iwo Jima  theme. Watch the commanding General Kuribayashi transform a volcanic island into a fortress waiting for the Americans to assault it from the sea. Many battle scenes are directly connected to the ones in Flags of our Fathers and this is a great way to understand the opposing forces and their efforts to fight and survive. The film was nominated for four Oscars.


Much recommended.

A film: Flags of our Fathers

 

Flags of our Fathers, directed by Clint Eastwood


The story of three young men who fought on the beaches of Iwo Jima and one day found them selves not only to be alive but to be the most famous men of United States. Follow them and the other soldiers and officers as they prepare for and fight a bitter battle to capture one of the islands on the way to the Japanese mainland. This film is paired with Letters from Iwo Jima, also by Clint Eastwood. The two films show the opposite sides of the same particular battle. 


Recommended.

A film; Saving Private Ryan

Saving Private Ryan, 1998

One of my absolute favourites when it comes to war films. The landing intro is epic and will go to the film history as one of the most provocative and horrible ever made. The sense of being there and documentary quality is outstanding. Tom Hanks is the top name in this film but other well known names are Matt Damon and Ted Danson, although in much smaller parts. Vin Diesel and Tom Sizemore are doing great parts as well, the latter known from films like Blackhawk down. Everybody knows war is hell but this film takes the medium one step further I think. I'm cold and mizerable when they're wet from rain, I duck when they're shot at and I cry a bit when they die.

Highly recommended.