‘One of the best and most moving’ war dramas based on real events streaming now
The 2005 film stars some huge names like James Franco and Connie Nielsen.
The film is hailed one of the best despite being a box office flop (Image: Miramax Films)
Fans of war films are being urged to watch a Netflix favourite set during the Second World War, which is based on a real-life rescue mission. The film is about the Raid at Cabanatuan on the island of Luzon, which was a rescue of Allied prisoners of war and civilians from a Japanese camp.
In January 1945, United States Army Rangers, Alamo Scouts and Filipino guerrillas attacked the camp and freed more than 500 prisoners. A memorial now sits on the site of the former camp and the events of the raid have been depicted in several films, including The Great Raid, which is on Netflix.
Despite the film being a commercial failure, it went down a hit with audiences at home and it stars Benjamin Bratt as Lieutenant Colonel Henry Mucci and James Franco as Captain Robert Prince. Both characters are based on real-life counterparts and pivotal figures during the war.
Connie Nielsen stars as Margaret Utinsky, an American nurse, with Joseph Fiennes as Major Daniel Gibson. The film only has a 39% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics saying it is “bogged down in too many subplots and runs on for too long”.
However, viewers at home have taken to IMDb reviews to share their thoughts and they hold an entirely different opinion, with some hailing it “one of the best” war dramas.
The film is based on real events (Image: Miramax Films)
Pele8976 said: “I just saw The Great Raid tonight and I thought it was one of the most moving war movies, well movies I have ever seen. The trials that the prisoners endured even in many other POW camps was unimaginable.”
Jackkopsteinbso added: “This movie is perhaps one of the finest war epics I have seen and I must say I have seen many. I was unable to speak I was so overtaken with emotion when I came out of the theatre. Even now I am completely overtaken by the sheer ability of the men involved in the raid on the POW camp.”
Phcctrucks hailed it “one of the greatest movies ever”, sharing: “The movie did great justice to the book, Ghost Soldiers. Additionally, it was a great War movie without going too far over the line with blood and guts.
“Throughout the movie, you feel as if you’re actually in the camp hoping, waiting, and wishing for relief to arrive. These heroes are portrayed not only in a positive but realistic light of what obstacles needed to be overcome to accomplish the mission.”
The film is set during the Second World War (Image: Miramax Films)
TheScarceMovieCritic commented: “This movie should be given legendary status! I am a big history buff and I have read about the Cabanatuan Japanese POW camp rescue prior to watching this. It will not fail to give you hope, inspire, encourage, and even entertain you. This movie did everything right.”
Retired Marine Corps captain Dale Dye was the film’s military advisor and trained the cast in a boot camp in northern Queensland, reprising a role from Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan and Platoon.
The Letterboxd synopsis reads: “The most daring rescue mission of our time is a story that has never been told. As World War II rages, the elite Sixth Ranger Battalion is given a mission of heroic proportions: push 30 miles behind enemy lines and liberate over 500 American prisoners of war.”
The film was directed by John Dahl, best known for his work in the neo-noir genre, who has previously worked on Dexter, True Blood, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead and Hannibal.
The Great Raid is on Netflix
SOURCE: EXPRESS