DVD Review: Letters from Iwo Jima - Page 2

Pushing emotional content aside, Iwo Jima simply crushes its companion piece, Flags of our Fathers. This is far more focused without convoluting its story by taking it in countless unneeded and confusing directions. Even without Flags' action scenes, Iwo Jima elicits a far deeper emotional response simply because the people portrayed are so vigilant and determined.

That said, Flags is still a critical piece to Iwo Jima’s success. Although it’s able to stand on its own as the one character crossover is barely apparent, the opposing view aids in making this follow-up work on a different level. It’s impossible to take sides, though it’s hard not to feel as if Eastwood is making a point that the overblown media impact the American soldiers felt in the famous flag-raising photo was an easy way out comparatively as Japanese troops kill themselves instead of surrendering.

Letters from Iwo Jima is a film everyone should see, though sadly that’s unlikely to be the case after a disappointing box office take. It’s not a war movie as many may be accustomed to, but a human drama placed in a set of circumstances that are unimaginable to the majority of the audience. This has instant classic written all over it.

With faded color, it’s surprising to see some excessive compression. Edge enhancement is also a problem in spots, both avoidable problems if handled properly. Black levels are thankfully spot on as much of the film takes place inside caves draped in darkness. Contrast can be a bit high in the early moments, blotting out background detail. Detail feels muted throughout however. It’s a soft transfer as well. This is truly a DVD presentation not up to par with the film material.

Audio will likewise be a concern early on. A plane bombardment that begins the battle feels flat in terms of bass. Not long after, ships begin blasting the island and as the troops huddle inside tunnels, the blast begins reverberating throughout the sound field. That’s when this mix is at its best, and the massive shots from other scenes using the LFE channel are amazing. Surround use is aggressive during gunfights, and there are bullets consistently being fired in the rear speakers during dialogue sequences.

Article Author: Matt Paprocki

Matt Paprocki is a 12-year movie and game critic. He currently freelances for Blu-ray review site DoBlu.com and video game site MultiPlayerGames.com.

Visit Matt Paprocki's author page — Matt Paprocki's Blog