Two Interesting Asian Films about WWII

[joea]

I have not seen these films but plan to-they look excellent.

First, who said no Japanese know anything about the horrors their military inflicted during the war?

The Human Condition:

http://www.amazon.ca/Human-Condition...9097136&sr=1-1

Masaki Kobayashi***8217;s mammoth humanist drama is one of the most staggering achievements of Japanese cinema. Originally filmed and released in three parts, the nine-and-a-half-hour The Human Condition (Ningen no joken), adapted from Junpei Gomikawa***8217;s six-volume novel, tells of the journey of the well-intentioned yet naive Kaji (handsome Japanese superstar Tatsuya Nakadai) from labor camp supervisor to Imperial Army soldier to Soviet POW. Constantly trying to rise above a corrupt system, Kaji time and again finds his morals an impediment rather than an advantage. A raw indictment of its nation***8217;s wartime mentality as well as a personal existential tragedy, Kobayashi***8217;s riveting, gorgeously filmed epic is novelistic cinema at its best.

A user review:

Masaki Kobayashi, the acclaimed director of Japanese classics such as "HARA-KIRI" and "Samurai Rebellion" has always made a powerful stance against established authority. He made a scathing indictment of the "Code of Bushido" and criticized the way samurai clans have treated its retainers and their families. Kobayashi's "THE HUMAN CONDITION" is his fearless indictment of the war itself that criticizes established authority. Based on the novel by Jumpei Gomikawa, this film trilogy is arguably Kobayashi's finest films, its strong existential themes, the manner of which it exposes the aspects of good and evil, and the thin line between morality and immorality is truly masterful. The trilogy focuses on the exploits of Kaji during World War II. Kaji's development as a man, as a husband, as a soldier, and later as a prisoner of war is brought to exposition by Masaki Kobayashi.

Nine hours though.

Second An interesting Korean film.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1606384/

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/engli...nt/507281.html

Inspired by a true story. Jun Shik works for Tatsuo's grandfather's farm while Korea is colonized by Japan, but he has a dream to participate in Tokyo Olympics as a marathon runner. Tatsuo also aims to become a marathon runner, so the two are in rivalry. But war breaks out and they both are forced to enlist in the army. Tatsuo becomes the head of defense in Jun Shik's unit and he devises a scheme but fails. Jun Shik and Tatsuo are captured by the Soviets. They run away but soon are captured by Germans and forced to separate. In 1944, they meet again at the shores of Normandy.

Holy cow!!!

Anyone seen either of these films? Any other interesting films on WWII or any other war from an unusual (ie. non-Hollywood) angle?

[Eisenwurst]

Hi Joea. I haven't seen these films, but you ask about non hollywood good war films. I can think of a few.
Firstly "The Admiral"-Russian film that came out just a couple of years ago, about Admiral Koltchak the Russo-Japanese war hero. Focussing on his life during WW1 and the Russian Civil War when he was White Russian leader. Great, dignified film, and very moving.
Secondly, "The Red Baron" the German film of 2008 about guess who. I found it very exciting but the sound levels were a bit all over the place.
Thirdly another Russian film, "Alexander Nevsky" - A bit out of our period here but God what a film.
"Das Boot" of course.
And a "war" film that often gets overlooked, "Viva Maria" with Bridget Bardot. Doesn't take itself seriously and is a lot of fun to watch.
They're the only ones that come to mind just now, but I do recommend them, especially the last one.
Cheers.
P.S. Just remembered "Zulu" truly one of the Great's.

[nikimcbee]

"The Admiral"-

Own it. I love the opening scene of the movie.

"Alexander Nevsky"

Great film. I have the enhanced soundtrack.

I didn't like the Red Baron. One, the dude playing the Red Baron looked too much like this guy:


And his character was too whiney. It just proved to me that the Germans were just as capabale of making a movie as silly as Flyboys.

[nikimcbee]

@Joe, have you seen the Yamato movie?

[August]

This was a good movie although very dark.

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by August

This was a good movie although very dark.

Never seen this one but I goggled it... sounds very interesting.Thanks.

[Takeda Shingen]

Fires on the Plain is a brilliant film in the way that The Road is a brilliant novel. Both are fantastic works about humanity in a nutshell. Both are also works that you don't 'enjoy' viewing or reading.

[JU_88]

Anyone remember a WW2 film about a German Tank crew? I think it was made around the 80s or so, heres the thing, it wasnt actually a German Movie, im 99% sure it was American made, as were the actors and the language & accents.. (already sounds a bit dodgy doesnt it?)
Saw it when I was a kid, so I cant remember if it was any good or a if was turkey soup.
Certainly not a hollywood flick as objective war movies were pretty rare back then, unless you were Oliver bloody Stone.
Any clue?

[JU_88]

Found it! Wheels of Terror 1988
And it looks like it was a big pile of steaming poo - sorry for getting anyones hopes up

[August]

I prefer to hear foreign movies in the original language and read subtitles.
Voice overs always sound kind of hokey to me.

[JU_88]

Originally Posted by August

I prefer to hear foreign movies in the original language and read subtitles.
Voice overs always sound kind of hokey to me.

I know what you mean, but I think in this case the language was the least of the flims problems, American sounding Germans would have been quite forgivable if the flim is had actually been good.

[Cybermat47]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

I didn't like the Red Baron. One, the dude playing the Red Baron looked too much like this guy:


And his character was too whiney. It just proved to me that the Germans were just as capabale of making a movie as silly as Flyboys.

I've heard of that movie. Apparently ther were riots in Berlin at it's German premiere. No joke.
Here's one line from the movie:

Aim at the machine, not the man.

Here's what von Richtofen Actually said:

Aim for the gunner. once you have taken care of him, you can take out the pilot.

I hate it when they misrepresent war heroes.

[TwoGamers]

Subtitles all the way!
Hmm good WW2 movies well theres the Guns of Navarone and it's sequel Force 10 from Navarone it's not bad either.

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by August

I prefer to hear foreign movies in the original language and read subtitles.
Voice overs always sound kind of hokey to me.

This.

[August]

Letters from Iwo Jima was pretty good too. Better imo than Flags of our Fathers (I hate flashback movies).

I've also recently watched a couple Jackie Chan war movies that were pretty good and I recommend them.

1911 an engrossing story based on the revolution that founded the Republic of China. I thought it was a very good look at a rather obscure (to us) time in Chinese history. Apparently this was a labor of love for Chan too, it being his 100th movie.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1772230/

Little Big Soldier. A fictional story of an old soldier, the only survivor of his entire army who captures an enemy general and tries to take him back to his home kingdom for a reward.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1319718/

I liked them both although the constant action and movement that is naturally found in Jackie Chan movies makes it a bit hard to keep up with the subtitles.