Letters from Iwo Jima

Name: Letters from Iwo Jima
Genre: Drama, History, War
Released: December 20, 2006
Duration: 141 min
Rating: 89
Cast: Ken Watanabe

2006

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Universal acclaim based on 37 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 361 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 361 Ratings

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Letters From Iwo Jima

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: December 20, 2006 | R

Starring: Ken Watanabe

Summary: In this companion piece to "Flags of Our Fathers," Clint Eastwood presents the untold story of the Japanese soldiers and their general who 61 years ago defended against the invading American forces on the island of Iwo Jima. (Warner Bros.)

Director: Clint Eastwood

Genre(s): Drama, History, War

Rating: R

Runtime: 141 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Lou Lumenick

Taken together, Eastwood's masterworks - two of the best films of 2006 - may be Hollywood's last word on World War II. Read full review

100

Kenneth Turan

Letters From Iwo Jima, takes audiences to a place that would seem unimaginable for an American director. Daring and significant, it presents a picture from life's other side, not only showing what wartime was like for our Japanese adversaries on that island in the Pacific but also actually telling the story in their language. Which turns out to be no small thing. Read full review

100

David Ansen

It's unprecedented, a sorrowful and savagely beautiful elegy that can stand in the company of the greatest antiwar movies. Read full review

Kirk Honeycutt

Now Eastwood turns on a dime and tackles not just his first war movie but two war movies of considerable scope and complexity. If he doesn't nail everything perfectly, he nevertheless has created a vivid memorial to the courage on both sides of this battle and created an awareness in the public consciousness at a most opportune moment about how war feels to those lost in its fog. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

The humanistic approach makes Eastwood's movie a war story for the ages. Read full review

David Edelstein

For my money, Flags (however clunky) cuts more deeply, but Letters is more difficult to shake off. Together, they leave you with the feeling that even a just and necessary war is an abomination. Read full review

Michael Sragow

Even with the great Ken Watanabe lending command and compassion to the role of General Kuribayashi, it's a formless slog across a treacherous field. Read full review

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User Reviews

forestville

Mar 23, 2013

Never wait, but really loved it, there is no film more beautiful and exciting than this masterpiece, Eatswood amazed me every minute of this epic work. The film works perfectly alone, without having seen 'Flags of Our Fathers', but obviously you can see its parallels. The fact that theseNever wait, but really loved it, there is no film more beautiful and exciting than this masterpiece, Eatswood amazed me every minute of this epic work. The film works perfectly alone, without having seen 'Flags of Our Fathers', but obviously you can see its parallels. The fact that these characters fill us more, and connect more with them, do we show more interest in them and their stories. We can even say that some stand out above the rest, as for example happens to the character named Saigo, who gives life to a young Kazunari Ninomiya, and that is simply superb Internet, serving as a link between the other characters, including that of Watanabe Ninomiya protgoniza one of the most emotional moments of the film, near the end, and one of the few in which sounds wonderful music by Kyle Eastwood and Michael Stevens, who is close to what Clint Eastwood composed for some of his films, but perfecting it and making a score easily recalled and full of emotion. Yes, it sounds very occasionally, as the film seeks at all times not to fall into sentimentality, and shun all emotion, but it is telling us is terrible and emotional. But emotion is contained, that is breath, and as only the masters know show.
Eastwood (or Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu for Babel) should have won the Oscar for best director. Scorssese maybe gave us the best movie of the year for The Departed, but the way this work Clint work is far superior to that of Martin, seeing it well I think that's clear but we can not fix that.
Well this is one of the most beautiful and amazing movies of the decade 2000, if you have not seen, you have to see it.
Not to be missed.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

Kayla

Feb 26, 2007

A masterpiece, now understand why the criticizes world-wide says it that!!!! Clint Eastwood is the best director!!!!!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

KevinL.

Feb 17, 2009

This movie is absolutely beautiful. It's very touching. I'd recommend this over Flags of Our Fathers but that too is an amazing movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

RhyssC.

Dec 29, 2006

The triumph of this movie lies in its courage to depict the humanity of the soldiers fighting for a nation portrayed by history as the evil doer of World War II. The film is majestic and poetic in its approach and remain true in portraying the strength and sensitivity of the Japanese The triumph of this movie lies in its courage to depict the humanity of the soldiers fighting for a nation portrayed by history as the evil doer of World War II. The film is majestic and poetic in its approach and remain true in portraying the strength and sensitivity of the Japanese culture without justifying its misdeeds.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

KazuoH

Apr 28, 2007

I was surprised at the fact that an Americal took this film. This movie was not able to be taken without the ability of seeing its own country from a third person. Probably such an ability should have been forming a strength of the U.S. The fact that Eastwood took the film cannot but I was surprised at the fact that an Americal took this film. This movie was not able to be taken without the ability of seeing its own country from a third person. Probably such an ability should have been forming a strength of the U.S. The fact that Eastwood took the film cannot but eliminate Japanese streotype againt the U.S. even though Steve keeps his stereotype throughout a lifetime.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

BillC.

Jan 24, 2007

First , I don't see this as a Best picture winner. I don't think it's even worthy of a nomination. It's a good film, and I thought the story was told fairly. It was interesting to see the other perspective, and it wasn't done in a heavy handed or disrespectful First , I don't see this as a Best picture winner. I don't think it's even worthy of a nomination. It's a good film, and I thought the story was told fairly. It was interesting to see the other perspective, and it wasn't done in a heavy handed or disrespectful mannor. It's a good film , but is it one of the top 5 for 2006? That's going too far for me.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Dr.Strangelove

Jan 3, 2007

Just amazing how Japan, a Sneak Attack nation, 65 years later can be reinvented with honor in that they were the good guys. Too bad we can't ask the surviving parents or the spouses of those who were killed by their infamy on December 7, 1941 or the other Asians who suffered a similarJust amazing how Japan, a Sneak Attack nation, 65 years later can be reinvented with honor in that they were the good guys. Too bad we can't ask the surviving parents or the spouses of those who were killed by their infamy on December 7, 1941 or the other Asians who suffered a similar fate in Japan's March of Infamy. Why does Hollywood insist on revisionist history. These were bad people who had no regard for any other life other than their own. They were slightly above today's terrorists who have no regard even for their own lives. This is a travesty to the brave men who died because of this sneak attack that plunged us into war on a day that will live in infamy forever. What's next Hitler for the Puliizer Prize for humanitarism? Revolitng.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful

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