Diagonaldi Very well executed

RyothChatty ridiculous rating

WillSushyMedia This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

Dirtylogy It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

DKosty123 When I saw a review of this one saying this is an "important true story" I could not believe my eyes. Anyone who has read historic accounts of Saipan would be aware there was no mass surrender of any Japanese Army on Saipan, which makes the entire battle sequence of this movie false. This is by far the best example of historic revision ever put to the American Public as even the tanks shown are not correct. Here is the real ending of Saipan - "In the end, almost the entire garrison of Japanese troops on the island — at least 30,000 — died. For the Americans, the victory was the most costly to date in the Pacific War: out of 71,000 who landed, 2,949 were killed and 10,464 wounded. Future Hollywood actor Lee Marvin was among the many Americans wounded. He was serving with "I" Company, 24th Marine Regiment, when he was shot in the buttocks by Japanese machine gun fire during the assault on Mount Tapochau. He was awarded the Purple Heart and was given a medical discharge with the rank of Private First Class in 1945."The only piece of truth in the battle part is that there were a large number of Japanese civilians on the Island and yes a bunch of them did commit suicide. Allied Artists did do an incredible job making the battle sequences look real, but this script on what happened on the island is just plain false. So the second half of the film is a flim-flam.As for the first half, I enjoy the acting by a very talented cast. Jeffrey Hunter, David Jansen, George Takai are all great and get plenty of solid support. The film starts with the kids being young and in a school yard fight. Then it brings the appeal of an American boy who is an orphan to live into a Japanese household in the 1930's. By the time the war starts, he has grown up with his new parents.The story as told does not exactly state whether the boy (Guy Gabaldon) is legally adopted by the family or not and I think back in that era that perhaps they would not have had to do that? It does pull in the viewer with Guy's relationship with his new family after his mom dies (we never meet his mom on screen as she is in the hospital ill when we first meet Guy).George Takei is 23 years young and this is his 9th role of a fine career in support as George Une. He is an older brother to Guy. The script can be admired for creating what would have been an extremely rare family situation for the 1930's, and early 1940's but it is quite easy to take apart.This is a film that addresses the issue of the internment camps and the race relations during this time period. It does not do it properly. The brief scene of the camp here gives little indication of how conditions really were in the real camps. It appears because of film length (over 2 hours) and limited budget (Allied Artists) that any real addressing of this could not be done. In a way, the worst scene in the film is the party where we have Americans and Japanese mingling in a social setting. Some of the uncomfortable issues of this are brought up but the reality of the party itself is not really addressed very well. Then the film lurches suddenly from the party into the island battle.Screen Legend Sessue Hayakawa plays Gen. Matsui late in the film who Guy convinces to surrender his whole army though in dramatic form com mitts suicide after telling his troops to surrender. . The role here obviously a short dramatic one which he does well, but the way it is scripted does not give him the opportunity to show case his talent anywhere near what he did in Bridge Over The River Kwai 3 years earlier. This film is a showcase for Hunter's considerable talent. Unfortunately, the script is so fictional and the errors throughout the film so messed up that anyone with knowledge of the real events or even those who might pick up an accurate history book, should know this film just comes off as Hollywoodized. I do wish that race relations were this advanced in the era the film uses. The reality is that they were not, this is a wishful thinking script that does a major tragedy to a very talented cast. My rating here is because of the script. It is very much worth watching for the talent of the cast. It is so easy to love mama-San and wish this was a true story.

chrissso This film could have be one of the greatest American WW2 movies ever! Seriously, the subject is that potent. This is not to say the filmmakers were not bold … they were just bold in sophomoric areas (specifically a sexually charged scene that was downright explicit … which is completely irrelevant to the story arc … as well as violent death scenes on the battlefield).So ya the Director and Producer chose to titillate with sex and violence as opposed to making a striking social commentary. Such statements were more typical of the later 60's.I love the fact that the film keeps us talking about Guy Gabaldon, he is a great American hero. More so the film is entertaining … despite many flaws … and has a decent cast (Mr Sulu meet Captain Christopher Pike) yet this film could have been so much more.I believe in the cathartic power of film. I believe films should be honest. The story of Gabaldo is an amazing and powerful story … imagine how good this film could be if retold in the following fashion ... 1. You cast a Hispanic to play Gabaldon and you do not gloss over the fact he is Hispanic (Hispanics after all helped build this country and fought in our wars)2. You get his size and age correct (5'4" and 18 years) … not all Americans are built like John Wayne 3. You reinforce the fact he was rescued and raised by a Japanese family (The film did a good job of this … it is important)4. You expand the attention on the horrible plight of Japanese Americans … not sugar coat it ... and talk about the fact Italians and Germans never received such treatment5. Pay some attention to his brothers who went on to fight for America in the 442 ... despite the fact they had been sent to Japanese concentration camps ... and talk about the accomplishments of the 442 in detail6. Lose the silly scene in the apartment7. Accurately portray Gabaldon's activities on Saipan. Galbadon is a great American hero ... he is credited with over 1500 surrenders. Consider how many lives that saved! This story deserves an unbiased and honest retelling. It is a great American story.6/10 for lacking courage

roscian-1 Guy Gabaldon died Thursday August 31, 2006 at his home in Old Town, Fla. He was 80. The cause was a heart attack.From an L.A. Times Article:The actions that earned Gabaldon the nickname "the Pied Piper of Saipan" took place in June 1944 on the 25-mile-long island in the Northern Marianas in the western Pacific Ocean. Marine Pvt. Gabaldon killed 33 Japanese soldiers on his first day of combat, he said. Later he changed tactics. Disobeying orders, Gabaldon went behind enemy lines by himself looking for Japanese. He "daringly entered enemy caves, pillboxes, buildings and jungle brush, frequently in the face of hostile fire," reads the citation that went along with his Navy Cross. The goal was to get the Japanese to surrender.Years later, Gabaldon called his actions foolish, but back then he had reasons to believe he would succeed.Many years before, in Boyle Heights (Los Angeles, CA), a Japanese American family had taken in Gabaldon — a wayward boy, prone to trouble — and raised him. He experienced Japanese language, food and culture firsthand. During the war years the family was sent to an internment camp and Gabaldon joined the Marines. He used his limited Japanese language skills in his contacts with Japanese soldiers and civilians.

emc22 I have been trying to buy this movie but the prices are out of reach. I was on Okinawa in 1960 when this movie was filmed. Our battalion was the first to occupy the brand new barracks at Camp Schwabb. A lot of us marines were chosen to be in the Japanese army because of our looks or physical stature. yes I played the part of a Japanese soldier and during the bonsai attack I was killed. I must say I died very dramatically. I had the pleasure of meeting Jeffery Hunter, David Janssen, and Vic Damone. I think the movie was pretty good even though some important parts were omitted. I have read several articles on the life of Guy Gabaldon and he looked nothing like Jeffery Hunter. Have a nice day.