“Sands of Iwo Jima” was officially released in 1949 (same year Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner were introduced) four years after World War II ended. It received positive reviews and made money at the box office. John Wayne was nominated for an Oscar for “Best Actor.” He eventually earned it for “True Grit.” Although I watched a few of the Duke’s movies growing up, I wasn’t fully aware he made a movie based on the Battle of Iwo Jima. First time I’ve heard of the real-life battle in World War II, was Clint Eastwood’s “Flags of Our Fathers” & “Letters from Iwo Jima.” I’m gonna come clean, I never got a chance to see “The Pacific” on HBO. I plan on watching it in the future.
It doesn’t matter if SPOILERS are listed. Most of us are aware of World War II history. By the way, this is a short review. It’s not a fully complex three hour plus war epic. So, bear with me, folks.
Victory & Defeat Aspects
Victory: John Wayne did a superb job for his performance. He’s the only character I remember.
Fun Fact 1: After the movie premiered, John placed his hand and footprints outside the Grauman’s Chinese Theater.
Fun Fact 2: Sands of Iwo Jima is Cotton Hill’s favorite movie. He’s the father of Hank Hill from “King of the Hill.” I haven’t watched the show in for years.
Action Sequences were pretty good.
Cinematography didn’t have any technical problems.
Practical Effects were involved to stage combat scenes.
Costume Designs and Set Pieces were manually built.
The movie centers on Sgt. Stryker, a tough guy who trains recruits to toughen up before they embark on a mission to Iwo Jima.
Near the end, Stryker dies in battle. I didn’t expect the Duke to die onscreen.
The Ending recreates the famous raising the flag moment. An important part of history.
Defeat: A lot of troops from Stryker’s unit are forgettable. I couldn’t remember a single one.
Pacing can be a bit off. I didn’t care about a romantic subplot involving one of Stryker’s men falling in love with a random woman. Again, Stryker’s troops are forgettable.
The Final Verdict: B, FOR BRAVERY!
Sanda of Iwa Jima is really good. If you’re into World War II history or a fan of old movies from the Golden Age of Hollywood, give it a shot. What’s your favorite World War II film? Mine’s probably “Dunkirk.”
Nickthemoviecritic.com 