Movie review: The Great Raid - your comments welcome

[1feral1]

G'Day all,

I was wondering if anyone has seen this movie, and I would appreciate a rating for accuracy/realism and overall performance.

Why?

The movie was filmed on the island I now live on, back a few years ago, and in the post 9/11 world, did not go over too well. So we have been told anyways.

For the first time in Australia, the movie is being shown on Australia Day (26 Jan) here on Bribie Island www.bribie.com.au for $12 general admission, with proceeds going to our surf life saving club.

The movie will NOT be screened anywhere else in the country. Over 300 locals were used as extras, and many of the kit used is still for sale locally. Some vehicles used in the film ( a Sherman tank for example)are displayed at the Gold Coast Military Museum 2 hrs south of the island.

I would appreciate any input, good or bad.

Cold beers,

Wes

 

[geo]

Hey Wes,

Hmmm.... saw the movie quite some time ago with my son.
Interesting in a Hollywood kind of way. Some good scenes
but I find that the producers have a bad habbit of throwing in embelishments & gratuitous drama for no good reason.

T'was pretty good in a put your mind in neutral & enjoy the ride kind of way.

Cheers!

 

[1feral1]

Thanks Geo.

Cheers,

Wes

 

[purple peguin]

I saw this movie some time ago as well, I thought it was interesting ! I also did not know it was filmed in Australia, Thats interesting. The movie has an interesting story line. I found it does not have your typical war movie gore, but has a little more story to it. I thought it was an interesting choice of a movie rental, But for 12 dollars you can almost rent three DVD's here . Overall not a bad movie!

 

[1feral1]

Thanks ECS!

I look forward to the movie.

Regards,

Wes

 

[Danjanou]

Wes I saw it with my wife who is a Filippina when it opened in Toronto last year.  I read the book it's based on Ghost Soldiers (reviewed on the site) while in the Philippines in 2004 and was looking forward to the movie. Our hosts in Manila (who is an Aussie BTW) had told us they had filmed the movie and where although we couldn't understand why as the area it took place in on Luzon  has not changed much and probably could could have been used.  :

The movie was fairly close to the book (some bits changed as noted) and therefore fairly accurate to the real story and I thought faily well done. While the wife did keep up a running commentary on the inaccuracies and differences in plants and other terrain between your new home and the actual area around Cabantuan, she enjoyed it too. I was impressed with fact it showed how crucial the Filippino guerillas were to the success to the mission. something Hollywood often omits.

BTW parts of were also filmed in Shanghai, which stands in for Manila.

Definately will be adding it to my DVD collection.

 

[Glorified Ape]

I saw this movie some time ago as well, I thought it was interesting ! I also did not know it was filmed in Australia, Thats interesting. The movie has an interesting story line. I found it does not have your typical war movie gore, but has a little more story to it. I thought it was an interesting choice of a movie rental, But for 12 dollars you can almost rent three DVD's here . Overall not a bad movie!

So overall, you would say the whole experience was interesting?

 

[purple peguin]

You got it!  ;D Sorry I got carried away with the "interesting" word.

 

[Alex252]

It was a pretty good movie, I never read the book before so I dont know if its close to the book or not so youll have to go with everyone elses word

 

[1feral1]

Well, just back from the field, doing laundry now, had a swim, and tomorrow at 1830h is the premiere of the movie, I'll give an INTSUM based on my AAR after  .

26 Jan is Australia Day (like 01 Jul to us), celebrating the landing of the First Fleet in Sydney back in 1788. METREP is 32C sunny and light winds here on Bribie Island go to www.bribie.com.au  if you wanna get depressed with all that cold and snow back home.

Thanks or the 'Siskel and Ebert'  approach.

Cold beers,

Wes

 

[1feral1]

Well, the movie was good! Not just because most of it was filmed here on the island, but I thought it was good overall.

$12 got you all the wine you wanted, nibblies and some good socialising, after all this was the first screening in Australia.

Suprising enough, at Toorbul Point ( a few km from here), this area was the largest training/concentration for the US Forces 'island hoping' campaign during the war in Australia. Places like Skirmish Point and Fort Bribie (a major coastal artillery fortifications still standing the sands of time 20km up the beach from me, unvandalised and pretty much left as it was left, although the guns were removed about 40 yrs back). So, lots of US Army and USMC history around locally. I even picked up a M3 US fighting knife, an original from a local shop. The knife had been in hands of an old guy since the war years.

The cinema was packed with many local lads and ladies who were extras.

Gotta get to work,

Cheers,

Wes

 

[purple peguin]

Glad you enjoyed the Movie Wes!