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Flags of Our Fathers

Flags of Our Fathers

2006
Drama, Action
2h 15m
Based on the bestselling book, this film chronicles the battle of Iwo Jima and the fates of the flag raisers and some of their brothers in Easy Company. (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Your probable score
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Flags of Our Fathers

2006
Drama, Action
2h 15m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 49.06% from 2524 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(2523)
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Rated 12 Aug 2007
82
67th
The choppy editing was probably not the best choice and the music can be overbearing at times, but neither of these faults prevents this from being a meaningful well done movie. It's not really a movie about war as much as it is a movie about dealing with the effects of war, through the special circumstances of the three main soldiers. As such the editing, while a bit distracting, does make some sense. If you can get past that, there's an insightful film about heroism and the effects of war
Rated 25 Feb 2007
82
76th
I'm surprised at how this movie has been met with only luke-warm receptivity. I thought it was a really good film and it gave a few up and coming actors, or actors that haven't been commonly thought of as "good" a chance to prove themselves. Honestly Adam Beach is just fantastic in this.
Rated 22 Sep 2011
73
51st
A movie that attempts to tell (a version of) the truth about one of the most famous war photographs ever taken. It also tells a story of men who didn't want to be heroes; the problem is that this idea becomes obvious relatively early on, yet the movie keeps making the same point over and over. Also the framing story, the son and the veterans, is weak and redundant. Thankfully the movie's still a worthwhile experience and it doesn't suffer from the overt patriotism common in American war movies.
Rated 04 Feb 2008
2
21st
Amorphously structured and sickeningly sentimental.
Rated 28 Jul 2008
80
70th
It's always interesting to see perspective pieces on events which have shaped our present, and Eastwood's pair of films take a fantastic look at first the psychological effects on the soldiers in the famous photo lifting the American flag over Iwo-Jima during WWII, then of the Japanese experience at Iwo with "Letters from Iwo Jima".
Rated 30 Jul 2012
90
80th
Like the Kill Bill films, I evaluate Eastwood's two part war saga as one, which is how it should be, or the entire meaning is lost. They are films not just about two sides on a battlefield, but a story of cultures and the way different cultures act individually and perceive one another while being human just the same. Almost all the uniqueness of these films are lost when regarded separately.
Rated 13 Mar 2011
80
88th
"Flags of Our Fathers" explicitly states that war is meaningless and disastrous. The combat scenes are very well-directed but their most significant and unique characteristic is the dark, almost sky-less photography. There are also various symbolisms, the most potent of which is probably the strawberry syrup poured like blood over the statue/ cake. Articulate and shaking.
Rated 19 Feb 2007
95
89th
Adam Beach is absolutely incredible.
Rated 01 Jan 2008
52
32nd
Some good action scenes, but overall quite boring, with pacing like a snail. One of the greatest disappointments for me of this year and in quite some time; should have been a home run, but is instead a long single.
Rated 01 Jul 2008
75
65th
I don't like war movies. At all. There are only 1-2 others I've seen that were bearable. This I liked though. It's funny how everyone's putting it down for it's pacing and structure, as I really liked those aspects (yes, it's disjointed, but it really works in my opinion). Good music, good acting, good story and good direction. It leans on too many cliches (Come on directors, enough with the shaky cam already.), but it's still worth a watch. Nothing spectacularly great, but a decent war film.
Rated 22 Aug 2019
79
44th
Feels too much like this movie was made particularly for Americans.
Rated 14 Jul 2008
70
55th
Could have, and should have, been so much better than it was.
Rated 07 Jul 2010
85
78th
Not *spectacular* on it's own, but when see with its opposite: "Letters from Iwo Jima," this shows on of the coolest views on war ever. Letters from Iwo Jima and Flags of our Fathers detail the same story from exact opposite points of view. You see one guy get shot up close in flags of our fathers, and you see the Japanese soldier shooting that very same guy in letters from Iwo Jima.
Rated 28 Jul 2010
82
53rd
Clint Eastwood's direction spices up this powerful war epic
Rated 07 Sep 2010
46
61st
#07#, hype, story, reviews, (dir Eastwood)
Rated 25 Oct 2011
56
40th
As far as war movies go, it's quite good, if a bit long. Watched it with my dad who was not a fan of what he perceived as overt patriotism, but I actually thought the whole thing seemed to be handled with no particular bias; it didn't strike me as obnoxiously pro-American or anything.
Rated 12 Mar 2013
75
57th
Clearly this is the weaker one of the pair. It lacks the maddening drama that the Japanese position in the battle carries and the characters aren't as strong as in "Letters from Iwo Jima". Still, it's a piece of solid film-making. Not to be missed by fans of the genre.
Rated 28 Aug 2008
85
84th
I liked Iwo Jima better.
Rated 08 Jul 2008
95
74th
love clint!
Rated 31 Dec 2008
100
99th
Fantastic war film. when you see some of the stuff that Clint Eastwood has directed it makes it kind of sad he acted so long cause he's amazing at this. Good actor too mind you Looking forward to seeing the flip side from the Japanese perspective
Rated 24 Nov 2009
4
10th
When it comes to WWII, I don't particularly care for the propaganda stuff. I understand it was a huge part of the war, specifically the Pacific theater, but as a movie, it's not entertaining.
Rated 11 Sep 2011
72
55th
A very different take on the usual war story formula, and an interesting exploration of what it means to be a hero for front line soldiers and the public back home alike. Eastwood's direction is even handed and well managed, but it's let down by some poor acting turns, particularly the emotionless Ryan Phillipe. The timeline is all over the place. It definitely stands up as a fine piece of work but doesn't stand up to the greatness of much of Eastowood's directorial ouevre.
Rated 13 Apr 2012
68
16th
A well-told story that is executed competently, but as it follows Eastwood's typical conservative style, it ends up feeling like about a dozen war movies you have seen before.
Rated 06 Nov 2012
74
33rd
Clint Eastwood is normally the master of mature, emotional scripts with complex characters, but this is a misfire. The film depicts the war with almost too much respect and thus it is sombre, lacking in pace, and has little entertainment value. I didn't care for the characters or the story's clunky framing devices. The action parts were ok but certainly not the most imaginative or impactful scenes in war cinema, and the glum cinematography didn't help matters. History has never been so dull.
Rated 01 Aug 2012
73
25th
An admirable film from Clint Eastwood that doesn't quite become would it could have been.
Rated 06 Feb 2009
90
42nd
A good one
Rated 14 Aug 2007
60
27th
Clint Eastwood's film wants to be epic - just as any film wants to be good - but it struggles to find its identity and provide us with a true hero to whom we can latch on to.
Rated 01 Aug 2009
88
94th
This is a great film, and I never quite understand why it gets given such a hard time? I can only assume people were expecting something very different? This a thoughtful and beautifully paced war film. Somehow, and I'm not sure how, Eastwood manages to make a film about American hero's without the usual gung-ho, huurah flag waving bollocks that so often accompanies Hollywood war movies, and that is particuarly amazing considering the films subject, and is testament to Clint's greatness.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
48th
Doesn't quite make it. Lose the book-interview sub-subplot and half the music, and bulk up the natural drama in the center.
Rated 16 Nov 2007
50
56th
sort of over-long, but interesting.
Rated 27 Jul 2022
67
49th
A sprawling epic that brings out an interesting side of the war with the importance of pictures and propaganda, it has stronger moments in between feeling a bit too disjointed. I felt like the strongest part was towards the end with explaining what happened to these men after the war, but the battle sequences feel like they came straight out of Saving Private Ryan. It's both good as well as bad, but we've seen that movies can come up with a more original way of showing battles after SPR, too.
Rated 08 Mar 2009
6
55th
It should've been a great movie but it's just good. The god awful cast is to blame. You can't cast Paul Walker, Jesse Bradford and Ryan Phillippe in the same movie and expect greatness - these guys just all ooze huge douche bag. Eastwood saves it with his impeccable directing. Towards the end it just became tedious, I was tired of seeing yet another group of people get killed.
Rated 08 May 2011
48
44th
There's nothing really wrong with it but none of the characters are memorable or compelling, and seeing as Eastwood made this a personal recollection it just comes off as cookie-cutter. Letters from Iwo Jima is better but not by much for at least presenting a different perspective, also Ken Watanabe.
Rated 03 Aug 2013
90
59th
Interesting movie with nice direction. Gathers many aspects of human lives and wars.
Rated 20 Apr 2009
83
33rd
Good story but Beach's alcoholic soldier was overplayed. I preferred the superior "Letters from Iwo Jima" also from Mr. Eastwood.
Rated 06 Oct 2009
80
70th
Might be a bit difficult to keep track of all the faces and names, but definitely one of the better war movies out there. Might even watch it a second time...
Rated 18 Nov 2008
56
26th
It's too bad Clint Eastwood leaves little in the way of resonating characters, as these men (possibly due to a lack of commanding actors, while credit belongs to Adam Beach, delivering the most sincere performance) slog through this movie without any weight to work against the gravity of well staged combat-sequences. Ultimately 'Saving Private Ryan'-not, despite Steven Spielberg producing. This is an admirable attempt for a history lesson, but a failed achievement at sticking it to us.
Rated 02 Mar 2008
85
67th
Real America. Real Drama
Rated 20 Feb 2007
65
40th
An interesting take on heroism with solid production values, performances and firm direction. The problem is both the screenplay and the editing, with an overuse of flashbacks to explain what was already explained.
Rated 20 Sep 2009
64
45th
The foccuss in this film is so completely wrong in my opinion. Ok, the flag is an important point, but now it looks like the film isn't about anything else. Also, the flashbacks ruin the movie imo, not a good way of showing what has happened because the pace is get..ting.. slow.. What I hated the most was the beginning part, that's really one cliché on top of the other.
Rated 01 Jul 2014
49
19th
Conundrum: I think Ryan Phillippe and Paul Walker might actually be the same person, with the exact same level of douchiness, and I mean they are THE EXACT SAME LEVEL of douche. So why is it I secretly like one of them but not the other? What possible role from either would sway me? This movie did nothing for either of them, and it didn't really connect with me in a way that made me think anything other than, I just watched that movie.
Rated 05 Jul 2007
70
55th
Various flashbacks destroy the sequencing and throw off the heroism theme of the entire film.
Rated 19 Sep 2007
47
30th
Quite tame. It's nice to see that they got all the typecast war heroes back in a movie together.
Rated 26 Dec 2011
76
56th
This is a good movie but there are numerous better films about war. There are also a number of better films that Eastwood has directed. The cast was good in this movie but not spectacular.
Rated 27 Jan 2007
50
7th
The battle sequences are remarkable, but when people start opening their mouths, the film practically crumbles. The whole portion about the son interviewing survivors really doesn't fit, and makes the already sluggish epilogue feel even longer and unecessary.
Rated 05 Dec 2009
19
1st
I lasted 30 minutes of this before wanting to set fire to Clint Eastwood. He is old and dry. He would burn well.
Rated 14 Apr 2014
90
39th
A decent film that has more of a focus on the psycholgical impact of the battle for Iwo Jima on the men who raise that famous flag over Mt suribachi. the acting is uneven although Adam Beach puts in a decent performance as Ira hayes.
Rated 31 Oct 2010
20
41st
"A creaky history-class lecture." - Nick Schager
Rated 18 Sep 2012
62
33rd
Nowhere near as powerful as Letters from Iwo Jima, yet still watchable if a little dull.
Rated 26 Jun 2015
80
78th
Not sure why people dog on this so much. Sure it's not as god as Letters from Iwo Jima but it is still very good. Adam Beach is great.
Rated 30 Mar 2009
45
59th
stupid...
Rated 05 Oct 2013
75
51st
75.000
Rated 30 Mar 2007
40
13th
Just not a very good movie. Says things that any good movie would leave unsaid.
Rated 29 Nov 2007
30
11th
Depressing as hell
Rated 18 Dec 2011
70
48th
A bit disappointing, but still quite watchable. Visually beautiful.
Rated 15 Feb 2007
50
35th
Watchable.
Rated 29 Jul 2009
70
57th
In my opinion this is not a war film, rather a film that revolves around an event of a war. I had a lot of expectations from this movie but felt disappointed. It just presents the perspective and experiences of a few people involved with an event. I agree with others of that probably there shouldnt have been any of the son interviewing the veterans part. Its a nice movie worth watching once.
Rated 02 Oct 2011
7
73rd
Good but the narrative jumps about and becomes confusing at times. Should be viewed with Letters from Iwo Jima, which is better.
Rated 30 Nov 2012
50
28th
It feels disrespectful to say it, but this kind of war movie, like war itself, is starting to feel sickeningly familiar.
Rated 22 Jan 2009
51
18th
If you're expecting a worthy counterpart to Letters From Iwo Jima, you will be disappointed, as I was. It is simply not as good a film. I respect what Eastwood was trying to do here - where Iwo Jima told the story of war from the battle front, this tells the story from back home. But it didn't really move me. The Indian character was the best thing about the movie, but ultimately this wasn't all that exciting.
Rated 14 Nov 2014
60
24th
Well made and has interesting ideas but too ponderous and analytical and contrived.
Rated 23 Jan 2009
74
44th
Not a memorable movie... wasn't bad... worth a watch
Rated 23 Mar 2008
88
69th
Make sure to see "Letters From Iwo Jima", which is even better than this. I found the characters in this film to be shallow and unexplored. I even had trouble telling some of them apart.
Rated 20 Dec 2009
44
61st
Lidt rodet og har svært ved at fænge for alvor. Kampscener er ok, men jeg blev lidt skuffet..
Rated 22 Aug 2007
69
66th
Good
Rated 21 May 2008
80
61st
Interesting, genuinely moving insight into heroism and the exploitation thereof. I don't really know what this says about the movie, but the ending - while very good, don't get me wrong! - feels like it totally negates the 'epic' feelings of the rest of the movie.
Rated 11 Jan 2009
70
9th
meh
Rated 01 Feb 2011
75
72nd
"Flags of Our Fathers", the versatile Clint Eastwood's unconventional war drama, provides a surprisingly sobering look at war, articulating an explicit message about its meaninglessness. Expertly filmed and crafted, it boosts stunning combat sequences, up to the level of "SPR", while it rebukes the clichés and didacticism of most American war films, by presenting a unique and realistic take on heroism. Despite some sluggish pacing and middlebrow performances, this remains a potent experience.
Rated 12 Sep 2009
60
77th
Much better than I expected. The leading cast is unfortunately the film's greatest weakness.
Rated 29 Sep 2012
88
64th
Solid war movie
Rated 28 Apr 2008
40
12th
It has a healthy heart, but a dull body.
Rated 11 Aug 2014
90
81st
An elegant piece of craftsmanship, fits into Eastwood's twilight itinerary to reveal the interconnected tolls taken by violence, in whatever form it takes, and to reveal the chasm between reality and legend. War is devastating until filtered through the media. After this human-sized reflection on propaganda and fame, how can we ever again reconcile ourselves with the iconography of war?
Rated 12 Jan 2013
66
35th
It has its moments and while definitely not a bad film, I didn't really connect with it.
Rated 02 Dec 2013
57
52nd
This flick is proof, I think, that the material itself would be compelling no matter what you do to it. Terrible structure and ordinary-at-best performances can't, apparently, reduce the impact of the story of these soldiers. Particularly memorable is Adam Beach's performance--or maybe it's his character...
Rated 20 Jan 2008
55
32nd
null
Rated 17 Apr 2010
20
7th
everything about this movie said to me it'd be great, but it lied, I guess the fact that it was a little disappointing for me made it feel worse than it actually was. It just went on and on, some of the acting was good, but it had that whole 'American' feel, by which I mean it had too little grit, and too much sentimentality, A shame really.
Rated 28 Dec 2010
73
50th
73.000
Rated 14 Aug 2007
4
43rd
A relatively bland WWII film. It's decently made, but terrible casting does it no favors.
Rated 16 Jan 2009
90
38th
Pretty awful structure that destroys any sort of pacing in an otherwise good, if melodramatic, film. The Japanese story was better.
Rated 18 Aug 2007
70
14th
A good film masked behind a needlessly complicated flash-back/flash-forward plot development.
Rated 17 Dec 2009
83
72nd
Great story about how mundane events take on legendary status. Good war scenes and (thankfully) no attempt to insert a lame love story to distract from the main plot (ahem, Pearl Harbor, anyone?)
Rated 16 Apr 2018
94
82nd
A-
Rated 12 Jul 2018
80
37th
Not a film about war but about propaganda, and how the commodification of valor leads to a loss of humanity. Even by Eastwood standards, this is really weirdly structured, so what could have been a tight and impactful 100 minute movie turns into a strange, highly emotional elegy that dips back and forth in time at will. I was pretty into it until the last 15 minutes or so ratchet up the sentimentality while laying on the themes without an ounce of subtlety.
Rated 04 Jan 2020
72
71st
A film that engages with the concepts of American military heroism, released at a time when we were heinously ravaging the Middle East. Divorced from that context and the prestige of its big-brother companion, "Flags" stands as a solid contemplation on the last flickers of the Greatest Generation and their legacy.
Rated 21 Jan 2020
78
82nd
I am, admittedly, not a fan of war movies. The gore in this was difficult to take in (there's a reason it so deeply traumatized those that saw it in reality) but the time-jumping back and forth made an incredibly bleak and saddening time surprisingly bearable, even for one of the most gore/violence-averse moviegoers.

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