heroic story, good movie

Rating: 10/10 (29 May 2006)

This was one of the better war movies I've seen. The characters were set up; we learned a little back ground about them. The raid was explained, so we(the viewer) knew what was going to happen. And once the action took place, you could tell who was who since we got to know the soldiers in the beginning. The fighting was violent, but there wasn't many close ups of the actually killings. Not like the violence in Saving Private Ryan or We Were Soldiers.
I don't understand why this film didn't do better at the box office. I blame it on the marketing of this film, plus, it was released like a low budget independent film, which it really wasn't. I didn't see it until now, but I wanted to watch it at the theater. I was unable to go the first couple of weeks it was out, and by the time I was ready to see it, I couldn't find it at any local theaters. I guess because it didn't have a big name star attached it got buried in the mass of movies released.
Too bad it wasn't given more credit and advertising because it probably was the best movie released last summer.
FINAL VERDICT: Compelling, entertaining, informative war story. One of the best films based on the military action in the Pacific.