Flags of Our Fathers/ Letters From Iwo Jima Set Due in May

[KG Erwin]

Ok, for Pacific War buffs, a 5-DVD collectors' edition will be released on May 22. It features both movies, two special features DVDs, and as a bonus, the acclaimed "Heroes of Iwo Jima" documentary hosted by Marine veteran Gene Hackman. I pre-ordered it from Amazon today (total price w/shipping $38. A hell of a bargain, IMHO.)

I haven't seen "Letters", but you gotta think it's a Japanese version of the Alamo. It received better reviews than "Flags" did.

In any case, I should have the box set in hand, appropriately, before Memorial Day weekend.

I'd already bought the widescreen theatrical version of "Flags of Our Fathers", and it garnered mixed reviews. "Letters From Iwo Jima", on the other hand, received wide accolades. The irony is plainly apparent.

[Arctic Blast]

I think you'll probably quite enjoy Letters From Iwo Jima. I think the reason a lot of critics gave it higher grades came from expecting Flags of Our Fathers to be more...I guess, combat intensive would be the way to put it? And it was more of a character study than what they were prepared for when they entered the theater.

Definitely, the box set sounds like a must have, and that's a REALLY low price for something that extensive, especially right at release.

[Alby]

I bought "Flags"  I enjoyed it but was hoping for more action...
[:)]

[Arctic Blast]

They didn't really run the right ad campaign for that movie, because all of the promos were nothing but battlefield action sequences, and that's not what the movie is all about.

[azraelck]

True. I initially thought it was going to be following the flag raisers throughout the campaign, but it's still good. I'm waiting on the box set, since I see no reason to buy a single DVD movie at $20+ when I can get both with extras for $40.

[Arctic Blast]

Exactly! I sometimes wonder about the sanity of the people who come up with pricing for these things.

[azraelck]

Whats sanity? [8|]

[KG Erwin]

Well, the $37.97 I paid (through Amazon pre-order) is nearly $10 off the retail price of the collectors' set. I'd already bought the basic FOoF theatrical release DVD, but the fact of the matter is, DVD prices overall are falling for several reasons.

In any case, azraelck, those who regularly frequent these forums, by defintion, are classed as having a hobby that COULD be considered "eccentric". At the best, maybe we could call ourselves "military conflict simulation enthusiasts". That almost sounds respectable. [:D]

[Arctic Blast]

ORIGINAL: KG Erwin

Well, the $37.97 I paid (through Amazon pre-order) is nearly $10 off the retail price of the collectors' set. I'd already bought the basic FOoF theatrical release DVD, but the fact of the matter is, DVD prices overall are falling for several reasons.

In any case, azraelck, those who regularly frequent these forums, by defintion, are classed as having a hobby that COULD be considered "eccentric". At the best, maybe we could call ourselves "military conflict simulation enthusiasts". That almost sounds respectable. [:D]

I'll remember to put that down in the the Hobbies section next time I'm job searching. [:)]

[azraelck]

Eccentric? I don't view having an interest in history as eccentric. Far from it. I view working a dead end job for slave wages, and staying there for 2 years as things progressively got worse eccentric, insane, and foolish to say the least. I also view buy a new car in that light, or eating food cooked at my country club. The last is usually considered suicidal though, and should qualify you for therapy. Or to be locked up. [;)]

But to study where we've been? Not hardly; even a cursory view shows me a lot.

[Arctic Blast]

Actually, on a serious note for the study of History, I agree completely. I have a very big problem with the Canadian education system, which breezes over the country's history as part of the Social Studies course, which is just ridiculous. It's something that more people should be better informed about.

[azraelck]

U.S. History courses are crap too. WWII is boiled down to Pearl Harbor, D-Day, Two nukes on Japan, Germany Bad, America Good, Yay Team! WWI is a foot note if you're lucky. Even then, The US declared war but didn't do anything (going to some game forums shows this well, people downplaying US involvement in both World Wars to the point that if the US stayed home and did nothing then the only difference would be that the US didn't get any credit whatsoever), And it basically boils down to a bloody stalemate on the western front, ignoring the rest of the war and even much of the Western front.

I literally learned several times more about WWII the first book I bought about the conflict, which IIRC was about submarine operations in the Pacific, than the entire time I spent in school. And I jumped from a private to two public back to private schools before going home schooled. They all suck. Right now, my little personal library, with only about 60 or so books on history, is loaded with far more history than you'll ever get out of precollege schooling. It pisses me off.

But, it's better than English, which pretty much consists of doing diagrams which have no bearing on actually using the language, and Science, which consists of learning about theories that have never been proven being taught as fact, and gutting defenseless critters so we can teach our future psychopaths and serial killers how to torture and maim.

Can y'all tell I have a very low opinion on the condition of schools in the U.S.? I thank God I was home schooled. I learned much more by teaching myself.

[KG Erwin]

Whoa, guys. I was NOT referring to a study of history -- I was specifically referring to the "specialist hobby" of wargaming.

Sure, by nature, we are all history students, but I was narrowing the focus to what I called "military conflict simulation enthusiast". Re-read what I said above.

[Arctic Blast]

Oh, I did get that, KG. I was replying to somebody else with my short little 'Treach more history, dammit!' diatribe.

[dudalb_slith]

Pre ordered this.
To be honest, I was not bowled over by Flag Of Our Fathers,but Letters Of Iwo Jima is one of the best war films I have seen.
I held off buying FOOF because it was a "bare Bones" Release and I knew that a "Special Edition" would be coming out.
BTW in May A 2 DVD special Edition of "Guns Of Navarone" will be out. You can preorder it on Amazon.com

[Arctic Blast]

I always wait now when purchasing a movie I've really enjoyed, because they ALWAYS hold back the 'good' version with all the bells and whistles. Let idiots buy 2 different versions of the same movie, I'll show a little patience.

[azraelck]

I figure that there'll be a new and improved version every six months for three years straight if it's like LotR.

My misunderstanding, Gunny, but when I get on something that's close, I tend to let loose like an artillery battery told to level enemy positions.