I’m shocked at how little promotion The Great Raid was given. It’s got a great cast, and certainly anything about American military heroics will play well to American audiences these days. Not to mention that I still think Benjamin Bratt is a horribly misused actor who has a load of talent.
But now the reports are coming in… and they’re not looking great. Most of the critics are saying The Great Raid is pretty boring and dry. Nothing to keep the audiences attention at all. Some call it a nice tribute… but that’s about as positive as it gets. So here’s what some of the critics are saying about The Great Raid:
“A WWII movie so parched, so Reader’s Digest expository, so utterly expressionless, it confuses taciturn Greatest Generation nobility with paralysis.”
Scott Brown, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY“Dullest. Cast. Ever. Everybody in this movie comes off like they’re playing dress-up. Here’s one that should’ve stayed in the vault.”
Sean Burns, PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY“Director John Dahl has fashioned a worthy tribute to the soldiers who carried out this seemingly impossible raid.”
Richard Roeper, EBERT & ROEPER“This overlong march will bore all but the most nobly patriotic of auds.”
Robert Koehler, VARIETY
So there you have it. As of right now this movie holds a 45% on Rotten Tomatoes. Personally I’m still interested in seeing this… if for no other reason that Bratt.
I had a hard time finding a theatre that was showing this movie. I am a great fan of historic war movies. I like to compare the movies with what actually happened in real life. Despite all the negative reviews I have read. I found the movie to be inspiring and moving. I’m not sure what the critics were thinking when they wrote their reviews about this film. The casting wasn’t great, but that means little to me. I liked the fact that historical facts were laid out in detail before and after the movie. I also liked the fact that the movie went into some detail about how the plan to raid the camp was planned and executed. Many war movies rarely show that. This is not just another shoot ’em up, hill charging war movie. It was meticulously done to show all aspects of the raid including the prisoners in the camp, to the Company commander and the lowly grunt private in the company. If you liked the movie “Midway” with Charleton Heston than this film is for you.
I saw this movie on opening day, to an empty house, just me and my brother. but our money was not wasted, and i would see it again, why? it was just plain good, i know i am no real critic, but for 4 buckss it was a great movie
Polaris – shame on you for presenting the actual facts ;} That’s not the modern, America-hating liberal way, you know!
Signed,
An AMERICAN-American.
Just to correct Donna A.’s annoying comment.
1. Germans and Italians WERE interned along with the Japanese. Before you hang that head in shame, please try to learn a few historical facts before you give moral lectures from Japanese propaganda to others.
2. The “treatment” you lament was far and away the most humane and commendable treatment given out of all the Allied Powers (why do people bring this up, when they know it just leaves the door open for…). Japanese nationals were shipped to well supplied and comfortable camps suited for America’s own GI’s (in fact, they were identical). And before you get self-righteous about “Japanese-Americans who were forcefully removed,” take heed: they Volunteered. I know you’ve been getting a bucket of lies to go with your wishful preconceptions, but try and keep it within dignified bounds.
3. The 442nd was comprised of Japanese who were singled out specifically for awards, not because they did anything extroardinarily brave. Put another way: Other units were equally brave if not moreso – and most endured far greater (and far longer) hardships and trials than the 442nd.
It is well documented (or should I say “undocumented”) that the awards claimed for the “Japanese-Americans” are frauds. They received awards for injuries that were never inflicted which were treated at hospitals they had never been to, or for injuries that would put a hypochondriac to shame. They received awards with no documentation whatsoever, merely inventions of historians and Japanese with too little to write about the 442nd’s heroism. They received awards when even their superiors objected to their validity and mendacious fabrication. Worst of all, they accepted credit for awards belonging to other non-Japanese soldiers. (That holds a special dark place in my heart).
Errors and falsifications abound in the 442nd’s accounts and records of its exploits which is why you will never hear a serious American historian make too much reference to them. It’s not because of shame: Academia (and the Japanese) would love to have the “Japanese as victims” canard go on a little longer. The problem is that if they bring too much attention to the 442nd, Americans might actually pay attention and find out what a hoax it is (and at whose expense). Polticians are great liars, but lousy book-keepers (or book-checkers in this case).
As it is, the current state of ignorance is just fine; no need to rock the boat (and have people asking the wrong questions)
The reason that the 442nd was awarded with so many false/political medals is that the US and Japanese government had to turn American opinion from “Japan the enemy” to “Japan the Ally.” Eulogizing the 442nd became one of the vehicles, even though a consistent patriotic and non-racial view would have been that their exploits would be attributed to the US, not the Japanese.
One last thing: the 442nd was sent to Europe, not Japan, for two reasons:
1) The US Army surmised correctly that their loyalties to the US might be compromised (MIGHT?!). “Racist” you say? Wait for it…
2) Most Japanese Americans themselves refused to participate in any action against their fellow Japanese brethren. Why do you think they volunteered for the 442nd instead of a Pacific unit where their language skills could do some good? They had refused to sign up for the Army until the Army promised to send them to fight the Germans instead. Not exactly a star on their shoulder – and one that these particular veterans hope never comes to light…
4. I’m not going to go on… make a trip to the National Archives.
One prediction: This movie will not play well in Japan! That’s OK by me, though!
I found the movie historically accurate with a hollywood love interest/angle thrown in for ticket sales. The fact that the woman portrayed was a real life figure and heroine from WWII and in the same locale as the great raid did not detract from the overall spirit of the movie. Overall, not a bad tie-in.
The movie critics did not care for the cast, but I thought it was excellent.
The movie critics thought it was slow-going, and I thought the story was dramatic and the action scenes, realistic.
The film critic here in Austin, TX gave the movie one star. Now, I too believe there are alien beings living here on earth and they are all film critics.
At this showing; at the end, almost everyone stayed seated to watch the closing credits and then filed out slowly and silently. And that usually means they appreciated the movie and the story very much.
I am a movie goer for the last 60 years and I say it was a very good movie. Go see it! I am sure you will not be disappointed!
L in Austin, TX.
My heart sinks; I understand that one of the reasons the film is underpromoted is due to the Disney-Miramax (Wienstien) split. Only 800 screens! Happy hunting filmgoers!
The film has been on the shelf for almost two years. But actors Ben Bratt and James Franco still back it up in promotions . The filmmaker, John Dahl, still supports it. That doesn’t sound like a bad film; it smells like studio back stabbing, throat choking politics.
I just happened to have read “Ghost Soldiers” about six months ago and it was one of the best books I have read. I just hope the movie stays true to the book. Of course, they had to go Hollywood and make the character of “Margaret” a love interest for one of the prisoners. There was a woman who helped sneak items into the camp but she was not the love interest of any soldier. I also hope they give credit to the Filipino guerillas who were so very important to the raid. Also, in this highly political correct time we live in, the enemy is referred to as the “Japanese.” They were always referred to as “Japs” or “Nips.” My father is a veteran of the war in the Pacific and I hope to take him to see this.
I’m still interested in seeing this. I like historical movies, the cast is good, and the topic has potential.
After what I’ve seen lately, bad or no marketing doesn’t make much difference to me. All I need is the Movie Blog, so I have an idea what’s coming. :)
Downfall came and went in silence – it was two weeks at my theatre before I even realised it was there – and was a ten out of ten flawless masterpiece. The Island, at least an eight out of ten movie with some real thought and heart in it, was wrecked at least partly by some of the worst marketing ever. Now The Great Raid is also seemingly being thrown away. For all I know that means it’s a masterpiece too. I have to see it to find out.
I know two people that have seen the seek preview and they both liked it. I am looking forward in seeing this one. Like someone said there are lots of movies about WWII and the fight with the Germans. Hardly any thing about the war that we had with the Japanese.
The only thing I can figure is that we were not very nice to the Japanese who lived in the US. We through them in camps. While we never did that to any of the Germans that were living here. And yet many Japanese fought and died for America. So did the Native Americans. None didn’t get credit of it. Sometimes I hang my head in shame. The good thing at lest they are getting it now.
Donna A.