The Great Raid

[Spartacus]

I haven't seen it yet,but apparently it has been well received in the military history community.

The Great Raid (2005)

Set in the Philippines in 1945, THE GREAT RAID tells the true story of the 6th Ranger Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Mucci (Benjamin Bratt) who undertake a daring rescue mission against all odds. Traveling thirty miles behind enemy lines, the 6th Ranger Battalion aims to liberate over 500 American prisoners-of-war from the notorious Cabanatuan Japanese POW camp in the most audacious rescue ever

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8 out of 16 people found the following comment useful:-
read the book first, 30 July 2005
Author: draven103 from United States

Read, "Ghost Soldiers," before you watch the movie. It's the best book I've ever read. If you can read it without crying, then you don't have a soul.

If the movie was done right, it will have the same effect. Some critics have complained that the movie has too much drama and not enough action. But you can't really set up the story without seeing the background. The book has it all. The Death March, the imprisonment, people dying every day of malnutrition and disease. When you finally get to the end and the attack takes place, all that drama will lead into, if the movie was done correctly, one of the most climactic endings in the history of cinematography. Period.

Action movies are a dime a dozen. These POW's waited for years for even the smallest glimmer of hope. What little hope they did receive, in the form of Red Cross care packages, were pillaged by the Japanese before making their way to the POW's. Their world was bleak and hopeless. How can we expect to understand the frustration and gradual loss of hope they felt if we don't have ample time to understand their suffering?

If this movie portrays the anguish, despair, and finally the redemption as well as the book does, it will absolutely be nominated for every award they can come up with. But that's a big, "if." The movie has the potential to redefine the word, "hero," not only in the way we associate the word with movies, but in the way we apply it to real life. That just cannot be accomplished in the average 90 minute action film.

If you want nonstop action, watch Predator (which I do really like, by the way.)

If the movie is going to give us any appreciation at all for the horror these POW's endured, if it's intent is to give us even the vaguest idea how important this raid was to the POW's and their families, then without question it needs to be long and full of drama. The ending will take care of itself.

more

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0326905/usercomments

 

[Spartacus]

You want 'Alamo Scouts' go here.
http://www.alamoscouts.org/
In many Hollywood war movies the first casualty is often the truth. But despite the occasional errant bullet, Miramax Studios and Director John Dahl, were right on the mark with The Great Raid.

The movie, based on William Breuer’s book of the same title, takes place on Luzon in the Philippines in late January 1945, and recounts the daring raid in which 121 Army Rangers of the 6th Ranger Battalion, two teams of Alamo Scouts, and Filipino guerrilla units combined to liberate 513 POWs from Cabanatuan POW Camp thirty miles behind enemy lines.

The film begins with dramatic period footage and narration, which is needed given many Americans’ limited understanding of the war in the Philippines, but the opening runs about ten minutes too long before segueing into a powerful scene portraying the Japanese massacre of American POWs at Palawan. This scene clearly demonstrates the possible fate awaiting POWs at Cabanatuan, many of whom were survivors of the infamous Bataan Death March, and establishes the raison d’etre for the mission.

The story is told from the view of Captain Robert Prince (James Franco), a Ranger company commander and subordinate to Lieutenant Colonel Henri Mucci (Benjamin Bratt). Mucci is rightly characterized as a dynamic, ambitious, and charismatic leader, who, through force of will and indomitable personality, races against time and overcomes all obstacles in preparing for and accomplishing the mission.

At the heart of the secondary plot is real-life hero Margaret Utinsky (Connie Nielson), an American citizen who passes herself off as a Lithuanian nurse working for the Red Cross in occupied Manila. She smuggles food and medicine through the guerrilla resistance to the beleaguered POWs inside Cabanatuan, and faces certain torture and death if discovered by the Japanese secret police. Margaret, the widow of an American POW who died in Cabanatuan in 1942, is driven by the desire to help and by an unrequited love for POW Major Gibson (Joseph Fiennes), who will die without the medicine she provides. While the love interest with Gibson is arguably a necessary element for broadening the movie’s appeal and selling tickets to a mixed audience, it is clearly Hollywood.

From an historical standpoint, the most glaring omissions were at the expense of the Alamo Scouts. Not only were fictitious names used for the Alamo Scout team leaders (Lts. Able and LeClaire for NELLIST and ROUNSAVILLE), but the role that the Scouts played in obtaining vital pre-raid information, and the subsequent evacuation of the seriously sick and wounded a day after the main body of prisoners arrived at American lines, was diminished or omitted all together. Also, the details surrounding the Alamo Scouts hastily constructing an airfield five miles from the camp during the night for the evacuation of the mortally wounded Ranger, Dr. James Fisher (Robert Mammone), were omitted, possibly due to Mucci inexplicably having failed to send the aircraft.

At times the dialogue, mostly by the POWs, was stiff, manufactured, overdramatic, and violated the cardinal rule of “show not tell.” However, it was useful in further informing the audience about the three-year plight of the POWs at the hands of the Japanese Army. And in keeping with Hollywood tradition, the attack on the POW compound, which purportedly killed 250 Japanese, was exaggerated. “We didn’t approach the camp in a service line,” said Galen Kittleson, a member of the Alamo Scouts who participated in the raid. “We would have been detected and slaughtered. We approached the camp in a single line on our bellies heel-to-toe like a long snake. And there wasn’t that much fighting at the compound, and there certainly weren’t any tanks. We caught them by surprise and hit them so hard and fast that they didn’t have much of chance to fight back.”

True historians and sharp-eyed aircraft aficionados were also disappointed in the unavailability of vintage Army Air Corps P-61 Black Widow aircraft needed to recreate the buzzing of the camp as a diversionary tactic prior to the raid. Instead, modified C-47s were used. But given the enormous expense and difficulty in obtaining real P-61s, Miramax should be allowed to keep its artistic license with just a slap on the wrist, that is, if it promises never to repeat such an historical faux pas in the future.

The cinematography was realistic, with good use of light and shadow, which was effective in conveying the harsh and brutal conditions which existed at Cabanatuan. Equally impressive was the recreation of war time Manila, filmed at Shanghai Film Studios in China, and the relatively accurate use of extras. “We tried to be as accurate as possible in casting extras,” chuckled Dahl. “Japanese played Japanese, Filipinos played Filipinos, and Australians played Americans!”

One of the strengths of the movie was the outstanding and authentic newsreel footage of the POWS that chronicled their journey from Cabanatuan a few hours after liberation to their emotional homecoming to the United States. In concert with an excellent musical score, it provided a powerful and emotional ending to the movie, one that clearly made an impact with the veterans in attendance.

Had several minutes of narration and over-explanation been sacrificed on the cutting room floor, the dialogue tweaked, and the role of the Alamo Scouts expanded, The Great Raid could have been heralded as one of the more accurate and entertaining war movies of the last generation. But it falls just short of joining Patton, Saving Private Ryan, and few others on the pantheon of elite movies. Despite minor flaws, The Great Raid is a valiant and stirring attempt at recounting a heroic event in our nation’s history—one that should not and will not be forgotten. Go see the movie. You’ll be glad you did.

 

[Cutiebaby]

uhm ok....

 

[Spartacus]

John Cook
P.O.W. Says Thanks In A Big Way
by Lance Q. Zedric
John Cook has spent almost sixty years thanking the men who liberated him from a Japanese POW camp and gave him a second chance at life. Through his determined efforts, a memorial plaque was dedicated at the Ranger Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, Georgia, on 11 August 2000, recognizing the 121 Rangers, 14 Alamo Scouts, and hundreds of Filipino guerrillas who liberated 513 prisoners of war from Cabanatuan Camp #1 on 31 January 1945.
Cook, a surgical tech at Hospital 1 on Luzon, the largest of the Philippine Islands, was surrendered on 9 Apr 1942 on Bataan. "I’ll never forget the day we surrendered. It was 10 a.m, kilometer 168. A very sad day."
For nearly three years Cook and the others endured hellish conditions at the hands of their captors. "A lot of guys didn’t come home," Cook recalled. "It was no picnic. I had about a half dozen diseases and got down to 110 pounds. At 6’2 that’s pretty thin. But a lot of guys had it worse than I did."
But in early 1945, the end of the nightmare was almost over. On 9 January U.S. forces landed on Luzon and began their drive toward Manila. Walter Krueger, commanding general of Sixth Army, had learned of the camp several months earlier. Fearing that the prisoners would be executed as the Allies advanced, Krueger had plans made for a liberation. A reinforced company of the 6th Ranger Battalion would make the assault along with two teams of Alamo Scouts. Some Scouts would reconnoiter the camp prior to the assault while others guided the Rangers thirty miles through enemy territory to a staging area five miles away.
On the evening of 31 January, the attack commenced. "We didn’t know what was happening," Cook exclaimed. "A Ranger busted into our quarters and said, "Let’s go. You’re free!" "I didn’t recognize the uniform and asked, "who the hell are you?" He said, "We’re Yanks." I said, "Not dressed like that you’re not! But I went anyway."
By the next day, Cook and hundreds of others were safely behind American lines. "I thank my liberators every day," said Cook. "And I tell my fellow POWs the same thing. We need to get up and thank the ones who got our asses out of that camp!"
In June 1945, Cook wrote personal letters to all the Rangers who participated in the raid. But he didn’t learn of the role that the Alamo Scouts played, or even who they were, for nearly 45 years. "Nobody knew of their existence during or after the liberation. We just thought the Scouts were Rangers. "Snake" Baker of the Alamo Scouts and Herb Ott, a former POW, told me about the Scouts in 1988," said Cook. "Two years later I attended an Alamo Scouts reunion in Orlando. That was the beginning of my association with them."
Although Cook attended Ranger and Alamo Scout reunions and expressed his gratitude firsthand, he wanted to do more. "I had had an idea in the back of my mind for years," said Cook. "But it wasn’t until the induction of Captain Bob Prince into the Ranger Hall of Fame in 1999 that I knew what I wanted to do for these guys."
Cook spent the next year slicing through Army bureaucracy and red tape. "I got told ‘no’ so many times I started believing it meant yes," chuckled Cook. "But it was the least I could do. I ruffled a lot of feathers, but it paid off in the long run."
Since dedication of the memorial plaque, Cook has appeared on several national television programs advocating for the Alamo Scouts and Rangers and was featured in Ghost Soldiers, the best-selling book by Hampton Sides "The attention has all been kind of crazy," added Cook. "Fifty-five years and nothing. Now what the Scouts and Rangers did is all over the news. I‘m happy for them. They deserve the recognition. "
Although a permanent memorial is established and the role of the Alamo Scouts and Rangers in the liberation of hundreds of POWs is finally becoming publicized in film and print, Cook will not rest. "I owe these men everything," said Cook. "Nothing I do can ever repay them for what they did. But I’ll keep on trying. It’s the least I can do for my heroes."

 

[eat big]

uhm ok....

If you don't like it, don't post.

Apparently it is quite accurate. But the most accurate movie I have seen recently would have to be Downfall. I think I saw on another thread that you saw it.

 

[75th]

Its very technically accurate...this coming from a major military history buff.

It definately isnt the most exciting film the the world, but the last 30 minutes (during the raid itself) represents filmmaking of the highest order.

 

[Spartacus]

If you don't like it, don't post.

Apparently it is quite accurate. But the most accurate movie I have seen recently would have to be Downfall. I think I saw on another thread that you saw it.

I just ordered Downfall and Tae Guk Gi last night

Tae Guk Gi link

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386064/

 

[eat big]

I just ordered Downfall and Tae Guk Gi last night

Tae Guk Gi link

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386064/

Do you also think that no Vietnam movie has been able to show the effects it had on its soldiers? I've seen so many that fall short. The Deer Hunter is the best one I can think of. All of the other's fail at delivering the message IMO.

 

[Spartacus]

"Fucking hell. That’s what this movie is. Pure hell. If you’re that person that screamed in agony when SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE beat SAVING PRIVATE RYAN – find this movie and realize just how much better TAE GUK GI: BROTHERHOOD OF WAR is than just about every war film ever made. A story of two brothers during the Korean War. The movie is spectacle larger than any film made this year, but as intimate as a tale of brothers could ever be. I grew up with Sam Fuller, Peckinpah, Spielberg and the war films of Hollywood. This thing… it’s just amazing. I went to see it on “Can Day” here in Austin… where you donate 3 cans of food to the homeless and see any movie you want. I saw 4 films that day, this was the 3rd – and it just completely blew me away. I instantly got the Korean Box Set – and have seen it many times since… Unfortunately – the day I saw it in the theater was the last day it was showing in Austin. A BRILLIANT FILM. The film will just shake you to the core. The South Koreans are making brutally brilliant films. Amazing. Should be re-released with a major advertising campaign. The trailers you could cut of this thing… my god. Stunning film and my pick for the best film of 2004!"

that was from a film blog

By the way, "Tae Guk Gi" is the name of the South Korean flag.

 

[Spartacus]

Do you also think that no Vietnam movie has been able to show the effects it had on its soldiers? I've seen so many that fall short. The Deer Hunter is the best one I can think of. All of the other's fail at delivering the message IMO.

if I group the Deer Hunter with Platoon and Full Metal Jacket I feel you get a good comprehensive sense of the vietnam era soldier's plight
Apocolaypse Now too as that film conveys some of the insanity present esp. in that quasi-guerilla war

 

[eat big]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386064/

Looks pretty good, I'll check it out, if I can find it!

 

[Spartacus]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386064/

Looks pretty good, I'll check it out, if I can find it!

amazon has it
I wish I had read about the Korean boxed set though before I ordered last night

btw,while we are on the subject
my personal favorite war film for the pyschological treatment of war is
The Thin Red Linel

 

[eat big]

amazon has it
I wish I had read about the Korean boxed set though before I ordered last night

btw,while we are on the subject
my personal favorite war film for the pyschological treatment of war is
The Thin Red Linel

Very true, I forgot about The Thin Red Line. Band of Brothers series is good too. There is a second series of that coming out BTW set in Southeast Asia.

http://imdb.com/title/tt0374463/

 

[75th]

Tae Guk Gi is probably the most graphic war film I have ever seen.

Brilliant though.