"Flags of Our Fathers" US Trailer Released

[KG Erwin]

From the upcoming movie produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Clint Eastwood.

The trailer, a wmv file in a downloadable format, is available here:

http://r-phillippe.com/videos/albums/mo ... railer.zip

[Mark Carver]

Here's their website. With the trailer posted online...

www.flagsofourfathers.net

[Sarge]

Anyone read the book yet ?

[Hertston]

Hmmm.. impossible to tell from the trailer if it's a brilliant war movie or a load of sentimental tosh. Guess we will have to pay our money to find out!

[KG Erwin]

To Sarge: yes, my friend, I've read the book.  For Pacific War enthusiasts, it's required reading.  I highly recommend that you read it before seeing the movie.
 
Some trivia about the trailer :  the voiceover at the beginning may sound familiar.  It's the same actor that portrayed Gen. George Marshall in "Saving Private Ryan".  His name is Harve Presnell.  Producer Spielberg has come up with a nice touch here, and an element of continuity in his version of WWII history.
 
Also, a couple of the other actors have a Spielberg connection: Neal McDonough, who played Buck Compton in "Band of Brothers", is Captain Dave Severance.  Barry Pepper, who was sniper Jackson in "SPR", plays Sgt Mike Strank.

[KG Erwin]

ORIGINAL: Hertston

Hmmm.. impossible to tell from the trailer if it's a brilliant war movie or a load of sentimental tosh. Guess we will have to pay our money to find out!

After viewing both the US and Japanese trailers, and with the Spielberg/Eastwood team making the two movies, I think they will be instant classics.

Here's to hoping, anyway.

[JudgeDredd]

Don't look much kop to me...but I'll probably go and see it anyway [8|]

[KG Erwin]

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

Don't look much kop to me...but I'll probably go and see it anyway [8|]

Judge, have you read the book? Please do. The movie concerns the making and marketing of an American icon -- that photograph resulted in the raising of some $14 BILLION dollars in war bond purchases -- that's an astounding figure. That is why the three survivors were sent home -- to help raise that money.

Battle scenes aside, the movie is about how it affected the survivors. In the marketing of heroes, this has a very contemporary relevance. This film is gonna generate some controversy, but the fact remains that it ISN'T about fictional characters, like "Saving Private Ryan".

[Sarge]

Picked it up today.

Thanks for the tip KG [;)]

[KG Erwin]

ORIGINAL: Sarge

Picked it up today.

Thanks for the tip KG [;)]

You're quite welcome, Sarge. It'll give you some things to think about. Give us your impressions when you finish it .

[martxyz]

Edited: It never does to write a pile of drivel! I should know better by now. [&:]

[KG Erwin]

The book was written in an attempt to reveal the stories behind the men in that photo --  to my mind, James Bradley did an admirable job. 

Have you studied the PTO, Mart?   Did you have any pre-existing knowledge of the war? 

I DID, so maybe it made it easier for me to put it all in context.  This book was NOT written to be a definitive history -- he made that plain in the introduction. 

[KG Erwin]

ORIGINAL: Mart

Edited: It never does to write a pile of drivel! I should know better by now. [&:]

Uh -oh. I think you have some other beef bugging you. What is it? That old Marines vs Army rivalry?

Listen to me, Mart -- the Army did its part in the Pacific War -- I know it, and the Marines know it.

The Okinawa Campaign is the prime example -- US Army flame -tanks directly supported Marine units, and the USA-USMC fought side-by-side.

Nevertheless, Iwo Jima was fought solely by Marine units on the ground.

Get over it, man.

[martxyz]

Thanks KG.
Why I pulled the post was that I realized I was really having a go at the Steven Ambrose style of (frequently selective) oral history, and the comments on Amazon. Like you, I hope it's a great and honest film, chronicling the lives of real people.
As for the PTO,I always tend to feel the Aussies, and, to a lesser extent the Indian Army and the US forces in China, and later the Phillipines, seem to get a bit left out of any discussions. Mind you, that's a different issue from the book/film, which I hope is a tribute to real people, with real histories and families. I didn't put it well, so I chopped the posting.
My capacity to write rubbish, unfortunately knows no bounds. [8|]

[Brady]

So how is this all tied to that new HBO Series do out next year covering the pacific War?