When I was in school we were taught all about WWII. We knew that it was America's finest hour and that the brave and valiant soldiers of our country absolutely saved not only the USA but the entire world. Many books have been written and tons of pictures have been made and though the main story has been told some of the individual actions and campaigns have been neglected. This story is one that should have been told long before now. I am happy to say that it was finally told and told right and the wait was well worth it. This is an excellent picture! When Bataan fell the Japanese army marched the American captives for days. It came to be known as The Bataan Death March. Over 15,000 died and the rest were placed in Cabanatuan, and other POW camps. Cabanatuan was a vicious place and many more Americans died in their three years of captivity. The American government was concentrating on the war in Europe and therefore the Pacific theater took a back seat and those, now 513 men in Cabanatuan, felt abandoned and wondered if help would ever arrive. Captain Prince (James Franco) of the 6th Ranger Battalion hatches a brilliant and VERY daring plan to rescue them. The plan is approved and they set out on what will be the greatest military rescue of American prisoners in the history of our armed forces (to this day!). Captain Prince is in charge of the raid even though they are accompanied by Lt. Colonel Mucci (Benjamin Bratt) and they both know that they not only have to rescue the men, but they have to do it before the Japs (that's right, I said it) know what's going on. They (the Japs) have been ordered to kill ALL POW's so that their massive atrocities (burning whole camps of POW's, ALIVE!) will not come to light. With the help of the brave Filipino guerrillas, our boys just might pull it off! WWII should not be forgotten and the younger generations should be shown what America can do when our survival is threatened. This picture is a perfect tool to do that. It's historical, but at the same time EXTREMELY entertaining! The acting was good (including Joseph Fienes), but it's the story and the heroism that are the real stars. This picture is in limited release for some reason and may be hard to find. I would like to see every American take his whole family to see it. Director John Dahl places us with the rescuers. We are there and we feel the pain of the POW's and we experience the urgency of the brave soldiers who know they are the last hope for their brothers in arms. To see what they had to endure could be the worst thing for Toyota sales this country has ever seen. I loved this picture! LOVED IT! "It's not always about the arithmetic, Captain. Some things have to taken on FAITH!" RECOMMENDATION: Please! It won't be in theaters long. Go see it! It's your heritage and your history and believe me, it feels GOOD! Rated R for combat violence and "R"eal Americanism! TWO HUGE AND ALL AMERICAN THUMBS UP (saluting our guys.......all the way!)!!! Movie Review © 2005 by Terry Anderson |
