The Great Raid

I'm a big fan of Benjamin Bratt but I fear the day when he's paired up with Lou Diamond Phillips because it may be hard to tell them apart!

This is a dramatic movie that mixes drama with documentary aspects. As it begins, we are told/warned that it was "inspired" by actual events. I fear this word "inspired" because what it means is that the makers of the movie gave themselves a lot of latitude to change the characters and facts for dramatic and artistic purposes.

What can't be doubted, apparently, is the fact that the event that inspired this movie is the most successful rescue operation of American troops from a prisoner of war camp. Successful in terms of the number of prisoners (511) and in the lack of casualties on the American side (1 killed, and several wounded).

I think one of the things that is covered by the "inspired" designation is the required love story between the highest ranking US officer and a nurse he had a "thing" for and whose officer husband is now dead. While they never meet, she working in the Philippine resistance and helps smuggle medicine and other necessities to him for the men in the camp. She loves him as well and, apparently, only after the war will they be able to be together.

The setting is the end of the war in the Pacific (WWII of course). With General Macarthur leading a successful assault on the Japanese on the Islands, it's estimated that the camp will be overrun by Americans in as little as five days. Since the Japanese have accomplished horrific mass executions of prisoners in other camps, it's deemed essential to liberate these prisoners before that can happen.

Bratt, a Lt. Colonel who leads the newly-formed Army Rangers, gives the planning of the attack to an underling Captain (James Franco). The attack will involve moving on the camp through the jungle and somehow moving their team across a huge grassy clearing during the daylight hours so that they can conduct the attack as dusk turns into dark.

This is one of the better war movies I've seen in a while, though it's certainly no Saving Private Ryan. It's a guy movie, primarily, though I'm sure many of the gals will sympathize with the love story. Definitely recommended as a good popcorn movie.