Excellent!

Rating: 10/10 (18 September 2005)

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Based on actual events, The Great Raid tells of the rescue of 500 American POW's interred in the Philippines by the Japanese. The Japanese, during WWII were fanatical fighters and brutal captors. They considered surrender dishonorable not only for themselves but for anyone who surrendered to them. To be a prisoner of the Japanese during WWII was to suffer.
These 500 Americans were scheduled for execution by burning as hundreds of prisoners had perished before them.
Another overlooked fact about the war in the Pacific was the bravery of the Philippine people, both their soldiers and civilians.
This movie hasn't been a big hit so far, but it deserves to be.