Full of Action, Full of Emotion...

Rating: 9/10 (14 June 2002)

... depends on what you like. My friends who went to see with me enjoy the action, the war buddies plotlines which is quite the routine as far as war movies go (think The Thin Red Line & its likes). There is no special depiction of the baddies (the Japanese in the movie) because it's not about them, it's just about the war (any war) & the code (this one during WWII) & understanding, getting along with each other.
There are a lot of John Woo trademarks symbolisms & memorable quotes, but being taken into the world of Joe Enders (Nicholas Cage), my memory failed me. Cage is a really good action actor with that special touch of sentimentality without being labeled anything less than being a real man, a hero, or whatever we call these type of strong characters nowadays.
A must see for everyone, because of its reality face of war (any war, in today's world even), its reality face of humanity & it can also be something pure entertaining if you don't think too much about it.
Besides Cage, Adam Beach's eyes talk too! It's hard to come by actors today with talking eyes. Cage's eyes often can burn you with his anger or melt you with his love or sadness, & Beach's eyes just burn with anger & then concern & then... well, you get the picture. Greatly performed, greatly directed, & greatly written. Now, if you'd excuse me, I need to go take care of my tearful eyes.