In an era when few people have actually seen the horrors of combat firsthand, a new film is attempting to paint a ghastly picture of war for the new generation.
Based on the New York Times bestseller book bearing the same name, "Flags of Our Fathers" follows the story of a man attempting to learn more about his father's experience in the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II.
Unfortunately, the movie remains with an old generation and makes a poor attempt at speaking to a new one.
Directed by Clint Eastwood, "Flags" chronicles the experience of six of the soldiers who raised the American flag on Iwo Jima, producing one of the most iconic images of the war.
The film starts out portraying the explosive and adrenaline-pumping atmosphere of the Pacific battlefront towards the end of World War II. The graphic nature of the fighting scenes invokes chilling realism in the eyes of the viewer, making this aspect of the movie one of its more engaging attributes.
The deeper plot of the movie begins to unfold as those honored for raising the flag express their blatant reluctance to be honored as heroes. It is this aspect of the film, and not necessarily the battle scenes, that contributes to the real conflict and turmoil of the story.
What sets "Flags of our Fathers" aside from other war movies is that it attempts to instill a more personal message that has not been thoroughly addressed by other films of the same genre.
The movie is unlikely to be ranked in the same category as war classics such as "Saving Private Ryan." Unfortunately, "Flags of our Fathers" does not translate very well to the current generation of young people. The movie seems to speak mainly to those that are still alive from the World War II era.
As for the cast, Adam Beach ("Windtalkers") makes a stunning performance portraying a frustrated Native American soldier simultaneously dealing with the heartache of war and racial adversity.
At the same time, this movie is not one of Ryan Phillippe's ("Crash") finer performances. He seems detached throughout the film and does not seem to bring life to his character.
Although there is a war going on, modern society knows nothing of a mandatory draft. This is a void that essentially makes the youth of today unable to comprehend the meaning of true sacrifice.
"Flags of our Fathers" premieres Oct. 20.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
