WWII according to the Hollywood Left

Rating: 3/10 (17 May 2013)

I finally watched this movie despite seeing the names George Clooney, Woody Harrelson and Sean Penn. I should have known...
Even with all the cuts made, actors' roles left out, etc., the movie is way too long. What could have been taken out? Many of the scenes involving natives, the laughable scene with John Travolta, and endless parts where nothing is happening would do.
Often the trouble with ensemble casts is that the viewer often can't identify with any of the characters because none of them are on screen enough to accomplish that. This movie is a classic example of that.
The Japanese soldiers surrendering right and left without much of a fight sure doesn't seem to go along with their credo of never surrendering because that is dishonorable, etc.
The parts of the movie where soldiers were questioning to themselves "Why are we here?", "What is all this for", etc. would seem to fit more with a movie about the Viet Nam War, not World War II.
OK the movie wasn't "terrible" but I think it could have been much better. I'm not surprised it was nominated in several Oscar categories though, the Hollywood Left always has to look out for their own.