The Great Raid

August 7, 2005

Rated: R Runtime: 130 min Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

In 1941 right after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, they invaded Manilla where 15,000 Americans and Philippino forces stood between wave after wave of Japanese ground troops, and their objective of conquering the Philippines and establishing dominance in the South Pacific. The soldiers fought valiantly but with circumstances beyond their control… the retreat of McArthur to Australia and the advancement of the Empire of Japan, they were left no other choice but to surrender. Historically it is noted that surrender was not honorable so the Japanese considered these men to be less than human and therefore their lives were forfeit and belonged to their captors. The invaders were not prepared to sustain the great number of POW’s so they marched them to camps; Nearly 80% didn’t survive. You can read more about that part if you’d like but the movie itself only brushes over the actual ‘Death March of Bataan’ through a voice over at the beginning so let’s get to the meat of the movie itself and the rescue of the poor men that had to walk that road.

The Great Raid Set in 1945 at a camp outside Manilla called Cabanatuan, the survivors of the Bataan Death March… now less than 500 are awaiting either rescue or death, since there is nothing else. The commanding officer for the US troops held there is Maj. Daniel Gibson (Fiennes), his job is to keep his men in line and protect them from the EVIL! Major Nagai (Kobayashi), and his secret police. Nagai was sent to the camp to replace the fleeing Japanese regular army, and eliminate the prisoners at the first sign of American advancement. In what is one of the most disturbing scenes I have ever seen; you get to see Nagai’s chosen form of clean up and I warn you it is difficult to watch - This gave the audience I saw this movie with a very good reason to stick around to see this little bastage get what he had coming, AND he got some of it but in my opinion not near enough!

Meanwhile back at HQ just behind enemy lines the brass is planning to free the men in Cabanatuan and end their nearly 4 years of Hell. Commanded by Lt. Colonel Mucci (Bratt) and led by Captain Bob Prince (Franco) they plan the most successful American SAR (Search and Rescue) in modern military history. Although it is difficult to spoil a movie based on fact it is not how we do business and since I encourage everyone to see this movie I will close the review portion.

It has been said by many that the WWII veterans were the greatest generation this country has ever seen, and although I can’t speak from experience I have read enough to know that can’t be far from the truth. Thanks to stories from my Grandfather who was in the Philippines during this time and the documentaries on PBS and the History Channel, I will always remember his and their sacrifice to provide the blanket of freedom we lay beneath each day. This movie isn’t like Saving Private Ryan or Windtalkers, it’s a bit slower in pace but the message came through loud enough that the audience stood and applauded at the end, and in my book that makes it worth seeing. The best line in the movie is a quote that defined the dedication of the men and women from that era; Never before have so many given so much, and complained so little. Powerful words for a powerful movie.

See this movie, you’ll be glad you did.

Posted by J.C. Edwards | Filed Under 4 Stars, Benjamin Bratt, Connie Nielsen, Drama, James Franco, Joseph Fiennes, Motoki Kobayashi, R, Theatrical