Green Zone

Matt Damon is Chief Roy Miller, an American Army Team Leader in the Iraq war.  His team’s job is to use intelligence sources to find weapons of mass destruction (WMD).   Each site is empty and intelligence deemed false.  Miller is angry at the time and effort wasted.  When Miller finds a note book and a journalist he begins to investigate.  The Green zone is the central area of Bagdad that was the government centre for the Iraq coalition. This area has been taken by Americans as America try to manufacture democracy.

The story takes a few twists and turns and is engaging.  Unfortunately the ending action is bloated and drags on.  Paul Greengrass is using his usual camera techniques that drive me crazy.  We found that the effect of running everywhere with the camera man severely hampered our enjoyment of this film.  Not only could we find ourselves infront of Matt Damon in the corridor and a second later behind him and a couple of seconds later right beside him which was confusing enough, we had to work out through the screaming of frightened Iraqis the machine gun fire and helicopter noise, who was shot and where we are.  Yes ok if you want to experience war like it is first hand but in that case I would play Call of Duty on my Xbox.
IMDB Green Zone

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Rating: 6.2/10

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The Last Samurai

Tom Cruise stars in this action war adventure as an American war hero who has fought the American Indians in his home land.  He is asked to serve in the civil war of Japan.  He gets captured by the Samurai and is kept in their society.  He can not escape due to the fierce winter.  He begins to learn Japanese and embraces their culture.  When he is released, both sides of the civil war have been revealed and he must decide which side to take.  He chooses the Samurai.

Tom Cruise fits the perfect American captain, Nathan Algren.  Billy Conolly is present at the beginning, he dies in the first action encounter which does the film good as he is incredibly annoying.  Timothy Spall is casted too.  Ken Watanabe is the Samurai leader, Katsumoto.  He excels his role and makes the Samurai village atmospheric.

The story only really starts when he gets captured.  There is obviously fighting and dueling, which was necessary.  It was done originally and very you felt like you were watching it in the village.  Slow motion effects and atmospheric brilliance from Tom Cruise.

Even though it is biased towards the samurai, you are engrossed and you feel for Ken Wantanabe.  Needed the beginning chopped and the war at the end left out or made shorter, could have been an all time favourite.  The ending is beautiful.

IMDB The Last Samurai

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Rating: 6.9/10

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Valkyrie

Tom Cruise is a colonel who lost his right hand, some fingers and an eye in Tunisia, who realises that you can not serve Germany and the Führer.  Every Nazi soldier in World War two swore an oath to the Führer for loyalty and leadership of Nazi Germany.  In a conspiracy to assassinate Adolf Hitler, based upon real events Tom Cruise and the team devise a plan where upon success, operation Valkyrie is announced and the state security takes control in Berlin to agree a truce with the allies.  If they fail, their families and loved ones will be found too.

The film kept you on the edge as you were worried for the success and safety of the team.  The plan is clever.  Eddie Izzard helps the team in the operation as the inside man.  The beginning is engaging and the pace is never too slow.  Full of A list actors who don’t adopt German accents!

IMDB Valkyrie

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Rating: 8.1/10

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Letters from Iwo Jima

An unconventional perspective from the Japanese side with sub-titles in English.  Directed by Clint Eastwood, the Japanese hold out against the might of the American army on a small volcanic island called Iwo Jima. This island is all that stands between America and Japan  The Japanese are digging in ready for the American invasion, they face limited food, water and ammunition and worse. Ken Watanabe (you may recognize him from The last Samurai) stars in this and delivers his usual amazing performance as the Japanese General.  A 40 day epic battle ensues and the story focuses on Saigo a young recruit who has never seen action.  Prejudice, loyalty and a struggle for survival. Powerful, historically accurate and atmospheric with good sound track. Pulls at your heart strings.

IMDB link: Letters from Iwo Jima

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Rating 8.0/10

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