“Looks sort of like a burnt pork-chop, if you ask me.”

So, if you walk into HMV one of these days (because you’re looking to buy me a present) you’re likely to see Flags of our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima on the New Release wall. Both of them are 2-disc Special Editions and both of them are currently listed at $29.99. If you look a little closer you’ll see something called the ‘Battle for Iwo Jima’ box set. This set includes both of the titles I just mentioned, as well as a two-hour documentary on the battle itself called ‘Heroes of Iwo Jima’. It is currently listed at $49.99.

That’s right, you can buy both Special Editions for $60 or you can buy both Special Editions and a cool documentary for $50. I think I know who is going to spend the $60. It will be the same lady who was ahead of me in line one day. Her conversation with the teller went something like this:

Teller: Ma’am, oddly enough the DVD you are purchasing costs $22.99 on its own, but if you buy another DVD from the same section your total cost will be only $19.99.

Lady: Hmmm. No thanks, I want to save my money and I only want this DVD.

Teller: Um, I don’t think you understand. You will be saving money if you go grab another DVD. It will be three dollars less.

Lady: It sounds like a good deal but I’m not interested.

Teller: …

Me: Uh, ma’am, if you go grab another DVD, that DVD will be free and the DVD you are purchasing will be three dollars cheaper.

Lady: No thank you.

That woman does not deserve to own DVDs. Or money, for that matter.

Anyway, now that my little rant is done, allow me to tell you a bit about Flags of our Fathers which I had a chance to watch last night.

"Everybody saw that damn picture and made up their own story about it."

It’s pretty good. It’s almost what I expected it to be. For many parts it’s ‘Saving Private Ryan’ on a different piece of land. It has really big explosions.

I won’t go into plot details, partly because I hate writing about plot details, but mostly because I loathe writing about plot details. ‘Flags’ is about that famous picture, but it’s still not what I was expecting. In fact, I didn’t really know the truth about that picture until watching the film and I have to admit that I was surprised. The details surrounding the photo itself and the War Bond Drive afterwards are sobering. It was one thing to see it in a movie, another thing altogether to realize that it actually happened.

Apparently that photo is the most reproduced photo in history. Having the facts behind it makes that statement all the more intriguing. You’ll just have to see it for yourself and although it sounds cliché I have to admit that heroes are definitely something we create ourselves.

"This isn't just any island to them. This isn't Tarawa, Guam, Tinian, or Saipan. This is Japanese soil, sacred ground. Twelve thousand Japanese defenders in eight square miles, they will not leave politely, gentlemen! It's up to us to convince them."

Anyway, the film is pretty good. It’s not great but it definitely has a very interesting story to tell. Or rather a very interesting truth. It wasn’t at all what I expected or thought I knew.

The battle scenes are top notch. They use the same style as those in ‘Saving Private Ryan’ which is startling in its authenticity. If you like a good war scene you certainly can’t go wrong with ‘Flags’.

I’m really looking forward to seeing ‘Letters from Iwo Jima’ now. The Japanese are a faceless enemy in ‘Flags’ and, from what I’ve heard, it’s the complete opposite in ‘Letters’. The two films certainly go hand-in-hand and watching one can only enhance the other.

Unless you know something I didn’t know, you’ll never look at that photo the same way again.