JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton
Hell in The Pacific (1968)
Hell in The Pacific
DVD Cover
Director: John Boorman
Starring: Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune
Writer:Alexander Jacobs
"My log, this is my log."- American Pilot
To call this a war film is to commit the injustice of pigeon holing, trying to put a label on a profound work. This think piece of survival and humanity is set against the backdrop of WWII and delves deeply into our cultural, social, lingual and psychological differences.
Hell in the Pacific explores the nature of war in a personal and primal way, centring completely around two men stranded on a beautiful Pacific Island. One is a Japanese Officer, Captain Tsuruhiko Kuroda (Toshiro Mifune) and the other is an American Fighter Pilot (Lee Marvin) who has been shot down.
The film picks up right as the pair discover each others presence, this contemplative piece then sets about showing, not telling its story. We watch as the two enemies continue the meaningless quest for superiority in a situation where trust would enable survival.
Neither understand each other on any level. The natural responses in war time of fear, hatred, confusion and Childish, stubborn, fearful and violent behaviour persist. From the comfort of our living rooms we see that humanity and compassion is the only solution.
John Doe says:
Part survival film, part anti war drama, sometimes heartbreaking and inspirational, mirroring the sad reality of our basic nature and the essential neccesity of companionship.
Profound, moving and optimistic Hell in The Pacific is cinema at its purest. The minimal dialogue is inconsequential, the narrative is free formed and interpretive.
All in the viewing, shot on location, with visual cues as our guide, deliberately paced and allowing us to soak up and assess everything we witness.
It all works and is communicated clearly because of its immensely watchable and charismatic stars, Lee Marvin (Point Blank, The Professionals, Death Hunt, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance) and Toshiro Mifune (Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, Red Sun, Rashamon).
Both their performances are introspective, subtle and textured to the point where you can forever ponder the slightest gesture or glance.
Shot directly after he completed work with Lee Marvin on the seminal crime thriller Point Blank, this was British Director John Boorman’s3rd feature film. (Excalibur, Deliverance, The General, Tailor Of Panama)
A single minded stylist who brought a unique eye and character to the action genre with daring lens work and an emphasis more on mood and tone than narrative or dialogue.
Capturing moments of unguarded reality and always putting a human face to the seemingly mythological stories he chooses.
It’s purely coincidence that the first two war films I choose to review star Lee Marvin, honestly.
The DVD:
Ok, thank god this film is so worth the effort, because the DVD just plain sucks. I could understand no extras but, the sublime Panoramic lensing is destroyed by a Pan N Scan (4:3) transfer and the all important sound of this inventive film is only in 2.0. The picture is relatively clear.
Rent it and wait for a better DVD edition.
Starring: Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune
"My log, this is my log."- American Pilot
To call this a war film is to commit the injustice of pigeon holing, trying to put a label on a profound work. This think piece of survival and humanity is set against the backdrop of WWII and delves deeply into our cultural, social, lingual and psychological differences.
Hell in the Pacific explores the nature of war in a personal and primal way, centring completely around two men stranded on a beautiful Pacific Island. One is a Japanese Officer, Captain Tsuruhiko Kuroda (Toshiro Mifune) and the other is an American Fighter Pilot (Lee Marvin) who has been shot down.
The film picks up right as the pair discover each others presence, this contemplative piece then sets about showing, not telling its story. We watch as the two enemies continue the meaningless quest for superiority in a situation where trust would enable survival.
Neither understand each other on any level. The natural responses in war time of fear, hatred, confusion and Childish, stubborn, fearful and violent behaviour persist. From the comfort of our living rooms we see that humanity and compassion is the only solution.
John Doe says:
Part survival film, part anti war drama, sometimes heartbreaking and inspirational, mirroring the sad reality of our basic nature and the essential neccesity of companionship.
Profound, moving and optimistic Hell in The Pacific is cinema at its purest. The minimal dialogue is inconsequential, the narrative is free formed and interpretive.
All in the viewing, shot on location, with visual cues as our guide, deliberately paced and allowing us to soak up and assess everything we witness.
It all works and is communicated clearly because of its immensely watchable and charismatic stars, Lee Marvin (Point Blank, The Professionals, Death Hunt, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance) and Toshiro Mifune (Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, Red Sun, Rashamon).
Both their performances are introspective, subtle and textured to the point where you can forever ponder the slightest gesture or glance.
Shot directly after he completed work with Lee Marvin on the seminal crime thriller Point Blank, this was British Director John Boorman’s3rd feature film. (Excalibur, Deliverance, The General, Tailor Of Panama)
A single minded stylist who brought a unique eye and character to the action genre with daring lens work and an emphasis more on mood and tone than narrative or dialogue.
Capturing moments of unguarded reality and always putting a human face to the seemingly mythological stories he chooses.
It’s purely coincidence that the first two war films I choose to review star Lee Marvin, honestly.
The DVD:
Ok, thank god this film is so worth the effort, because the DVD just plain sucks. I could understand no extras but, the sublime Panoramic lensing is destroyed by a Pan N Scan (4:3) transfer and the all important sound of this inventive film is only in 2.0. The picture is relatively clear.
Rent it and wait for a better DVD edition.
"Do I look like Im kidding?"
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