Haven’t been excited about a new Hollywood release in a long time, but I’m hearing good things about The Great Raid. Via AP:

Miramax should clean out its closets more often. “The Great Raid,” one of a rush of delayed films the company finally is releasing, turns out to be an engaging World War II tale spotlighting a forgotten engagement in the Pacific campaign.

A hybrid of “The Great Escape” and “Saving Private Ryan,” though it’s a cinematic skirmish compared to those masterpieces of war, “The Great Raid” presents a stirring story that puts a human face on the despair of POWs simply hoping to survive until their liberators arrive.

Departing from the thrillers he has made a specialty, director John Dahl (”The Last Seduction,” “Joy Ride”) proves an able hand at deeper drama, if only a passable overseer of combat action.

Dahl had an emotional connection to the daring sortie by outnumbered, outgunned U.S. commandos and Filipino guerrilla fighters who teamed up to free 511 U.S. prisoners marked for death at the Japanese camp of Cabanatuan in 1945. The director’s father fought in the Philippines during the war.

Blogger reviews…

Jim Hoft at Gateway Pundit has a link to the trailer of the movie and details of its opening in the Philippines.

Debbie Schlussel gives it two thumbs up, with background links on U.S. POWs in the Philippines.

comments (0)   trackbacks (2)