The American Spectator

THE DVD OFFERS A NUMBER of extras that truly add to our appreciation of both the movie and the real story. We learn that famous Japanese actors refused to play their roles unless they were allowed to also show forms of insanity: They could think of no other way to explain the barbarous behavior of their grandfathers. Dahl was therefore forced to turn to lesser known Japanese actors. Even then, Japanese historians of the war had to assure them that WWII Japanese soldiers did indeed regularly commit such atrocities. The young actors were stunned. Apparently Japanese schools (which could learn a thing or two in applied self-loathing from the American public education system) don’t teach these things.

The additional historical information should prove surprising to most Americans, too. I’m ashamed to admit I didn’t know that the Japanese government publicly announced its intentions (in 1927) to eventually invade North America, and at the onset of the war had plans to occupy both Hawaii and California. Compare that information to the average high school history textbook, which devotes more space to blaming the U.S. for cutting off Japan’s oil supply and thereby “forcing Japan’s entry” into war.

Quite frankly, I’m flabbergasted that such an honest film was made in the first place, given the political climate in Hollywood. Especially when the honesty and values prompt you admire the good things about America.

And at the risk of sounding like a guilt-inducing liberal myself, I’m also flabbergasted at how little attention The Great Raid has merited from my circle of conservative friends. Though they’ve made a point of seeing Syriana, Brokeback Mountain, Good Night and Good Luck and Munich on the murky grounds that they should have firsthand familiarity with this PC tripe, not a one has taken the trouble to see The Great Raid, the very type of movie making (the honest type) that they claim they want Hollywood to produce.

My suggestion is to buy the “Director’s Cut” DVD of The Great Raid and watch it on Oscar night.

Or are you more interested in seeing if Ang’s sensitive Wyoming sheepboys can beat Steven’s mean nasty Israeli secret service agents out of the Oscar?