More of the usual bits ‘n’ bobs! (1 Viewer)

[King & Country]

Hi Guys,

Re some recent posts and the odd other thing...

1) Welcome to RAMC and Fields of Battle...

Good to see yet another new forum member, I’m assuming that “RAMC” stands for Royal Army Medical Corps. Are you “RAMC”, a serving or former member?

Also, like “RAMC” I have a particular fondness for this series depicting the dark days of the Fall of France in 1940.

There is something about defeats and retreats that I find historically fascinating. To find out and see how individuals (and armies) behave when everything is going wrong...when the chips are down...when the **** is hitting the proverbial fan! I’m sure it’s easier to be bold and brave when you’re winning...it’s a darn sight harder when you’re losing!

Re requests for more FoB in 2007...Don’t worry there will be...including British Expeditionary Force “Tommies” in action. No firm decision on FoB new vehicles but there will be at least two.

2) Polls...Requests...and Other Suggestions

Always useful to hear and see what the “troops” would like to come out next. It’s often interesting that many of the subjects echo exactly the ideas that myself and our team come up with over here.

If your favourite idea or concept doesn’t always come up or you feel it’s been overlooked or neglected it’s often because it does not fit in with our existing schedule or it is impractical to design or manufacture...a 36 foot Bismark or a 7 foot UBoat come to mind for example.

3) “Flags of Our Fathers”

I went to see this movie with a fellow history buff and K&C collector the other evening. I felt it was simply stunning!

It was certainly not your average “War Movie” and had a complex structure that I felt Clint Eastwood handled with great flair and originality.

I know the movie has underperformed in the States which I think is a terrible shame considering the story...theme...and relevance to what’s going on today.

Since time immemorial Governments the whole world over have used and abused soldiers, sailors and marines. When Government needs you...they’re all over you like a rash!

When you’re surplus to requirements...you’re yesterday’s newspaper. Anyway back to the movie...the acting of the three actors playing the Suribachi survivors was excellent especially Adam Beech as “Ira Hayes”.

The CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) was superlative — the best I’ve ever seen — especially the invasion fleet...the Corsairs flying overhead and Mount Suribachi itself...outstanding!

I followed the making of this movie on the Internet. Can you believe most of the actual “Iwo Jima” stuff was filmed in Iceland?

In terms of actual “hardware” they managed to find about 6 Amtracks...3 or 4 landing craft and one old liberty ship/ troop transport plus assorted tanks and other military vehicles. As far as I could see from the production photos they never had more than 150-200“Marines” on the actual sets...so the rest were “CGI”.

For me “Flags” was a great movie that honours the men who fought on Iwo Jima in no small measure. And it was a pretty accurate picture of what happens if and when they get back when the band stops playing and the politicians cease back slapping.

That’s the story so far...

Andy C.

 

[nmrocks]

Andy,
I also thought Clint did a great job with the film, one item in the movie strangly stuck with me, that the press, even when the US was in the throws of a truly life or death struggle, still the press tried to undermine the war effort. Just unbelievable? It holds great relivence to the present day.
I also saw starting this weekend Letters from Iwo Jima, which is as I understand it, the Japanese side of the battle is opening here.
Your doing a great job Andy, thanks for all you do.
Ray

 

[OzDigger]

I didn't get to see Iwo Jima because it only ran locally for a short time (bad sign). But I hear it's out on dvd soon. It's natural for a country not to fully appreciate that soldiers (and other servicemen) from their own country act the same as most kids in war. Which is just plain scared most of the time.

I suspect 'Kokoda' wasn't a big hit in Australia for the same reason. It doesn't matter what country (or religion) you are from, war is hell as they say, and should be avoided whenever there is a reasonable alternative available.

 

[Warrior]

Oz,
Flags will be out on DVD February 7th. Too bad you didn't get a chance to see it on the big screen because as Andy said, the CGI was awesome.

Could you provide further info on the movie Kokoda you mentioned; I'm always in the market for a good war movie............

 

[OzDigger]

Hi George, I missed out on Iwo Jima but did get to see 'Kokoda' at the local cinema. It was an Australian movie that viewed one of the first WWII actions where the allies (Aussies) met and defeated the Japanese in a land battle. Btw, I think the Battle of Milne Bay was actually the first http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Milne_Bay.

Anyway, 'Kokoda' was through the point of view of a second line group of Aussie soldiers who where in the wrong place at the wrong time but did ok under difficult circumstances : http://www.infilm.com.au/reviews/kokoda.htm

I doubt if you'll find it at your local dvd rental place but you may find it on eBay.

Here's a link to the Kokada Track battles (nasty it was to): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokoda_Track_campaign

 

[gk5717]

George, Ebay list "Kokoda", but it is not in the right format to play on our DVD,s in the States.
Also, I don,t get the fact that "Letters from Iwo Jima" is just playing in select areas. I checked our main theatre chain here in St Louis and they are not playing it here, but they are in there theatres in Springfield, Mo. & Cedar Rapids , Ia.
Why would it not play in a large metropolitan area, but play in a small market.
Gary

 

[jrsteel]

Andy you were talking about defeats and retreats. Would you ever consider doing the American defenders of Battan and Corriegedor or Wake Island?

 

[Warrior]

Oz,
Thanks for the info; there is a guy here in the states who sells war movie DVD's and I will run it by him to see if/when it will be released on a DVD format for viewing in the states. Gary, thanks for the info as well.

I am royally pissed about the release schedule for letters; the only place it is showing in the Boston area is a small artsie fartsie theater in Cambridge, the home of Harvard. This also was the case for The Downfall, was only playing in a hole in the wall theater in a town called Waltham.

This movie won a Golden Globe for best Foreign Film if I am not mistaken, what a royal screw up this is..........

 

[jazzeum]

If you can find a DVD for region 0, it may play here. However, more than likely it will only play on your computer not, the regular DVD player. You can go to the web to find out the various regions.

 

[Cherni_95]

Flags Of Our Fathers was great(I took my mom and she started to cry) now I can't wait for Clint Eastwoods next Iwo Jima film "Letters From Iwo Jima"

Google it

 

[nmrocks]

I've already heard some grumblings about "Letters" being "politically correct".
Such as Japanese soldiers giving the last of there water to wounded captive marines? From everthing I've read or seen about Iwo, nothing could be further from the truth.
Ray

 

[nmrocks]

I went and saw "Letters From Iwo Jima" last night. A very well done movie. Seeing the Japanese side of the story was very refreshing and while my last comments talked about political correctness rumors, I have to say they were generally unfounded. There was an incident in the movie of Japanese humanitarianism, however to counter that there was plenty of Japanese brutality. It was an equally entertaining and thought provocing film and in my humble opinion the equal to "Flags of our Fathers".
See it and share your thoughts,
Ray

 

[Capitolron]

I felt Flags of our Fathers was well done and a terrific story.