Plot: What’s it about?
On a lush, deserted island in the Pacific Ocean, there are no signs of the war which rages not far from it’s shores. World War 2 ravages through nearby islands and in the air space not too far away, but not here, only peace and isolation. Until two men, one a Japanese Naval Officer, the other a U.S. marine, are forced to cohabitate on it’s grounds. With only the two of them on the island, and no war to be found anywhere near, you might think they would work together to survive and find a way off the isle, but that is not the case here. Although they are physically removed from the battles of the war, they still feel the pull to continue the cause. Stalking each other across the sands and forests of the island, they try to capture each other and destroy the other’s camp. After a slip up, the Japanese officer is able to bind the American, and he begins to torture him. Not soon after however, the American turns the tide, and captures his rival. But after a while, the American sees that the two men need to put aside the war and work together to get off the island. They speak two different languages, and they fight for two different sides. Can these men put the war in the past and help each other to survive?
Hell in the Pacific is a thrilling tale of the men at war. Not the U.S. versus Japan, but one man against another. They play cat and mouse throughout the film, making small strikes against each other, then retreating. It’s interesting to watch how each man deals with this situation, as the American scours his survival guide for possible food sources, while the Japanese man builds a shack and a katana out of bamboo. There are only two characters in this film, and that makes for an unusual movie, to say the least. When you only have two stars, you better hope they are great, or else the movie will be terrible. Hell in the Pacific has two of the best, Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune, and I know they could not have chosen two better actors. Lee Marvin is a legend in war films, no better choice to represent the American soldier could have been made. Marvin has been in the trenches of The Dirty Dozen, Delta Force, The Dirty Dozen:The Next Mission, Sergeant Ryker, and of course, starred in the television series M*A*S*H. Only John Wayne surpasses Marvin in the realm of war movies. On the flip side of this film, Toshiro Mifune is to Japanese films what John Wayne is to American war movies, the best of the best. A true legend of cinema, Mifune starred in so many classics, often featured in films by master filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. Some of Mifune’s best films include Seven Samurai, Samurai 1-3, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, The Hidden Fortress, as well as American films like Midway, Grand Prix and 1941. The performances in Hell in the Pacific are not to be missed by film fanatics, as this film is one of the best of both men.
The director, John Boorman, is no stranger to great films either, with Deliverance, Point Blank, and Beyond Rangoon under his belt. Boorman excels here with Hell in the Pacific, with great performances, as well as a beautiful back drop for it all. I know the idea of a movie with only two guys in it might seem boring, but trust me, this is not a boring movie. It is packed with action and suspense, as the two men hunt each other all over the island. The sheer intensity these two actors display is amazing, fantastic depth to each man, even though we never understand a word the Japanese officer says. That is a very cool idea, too. We are forced to be in the same situation as Lee Marvin, because we can’t understand the other guy either! This is a must have for war movie fans, and anyone who appreciates great performances. The action is top notch, as is the suspense, this is a great movie to watch when you’re in the mood for a thriller. This is a great treatment of the film, and surpasses any previous versions I have seen. I highly recommend this disc, it’s a ***** movie for sure.
Video: How does it look?
This disc offers you the choice of either 2.35:1 widescreen (not anamorphic) or full frame, and while I detest full frame, I do think the choice is good. The picture is very good, with the only drawback being some slight print damage, which should not deter you from this disc. The lush tropical colors look great, and while the black levels are usually good, there are some scenes which are way too light. No artifacting can be found, and overall, this is a really nice transfer!
Audio: How does it sound?
This film is almost entirely dialogue driven, so there is not much audio power to speak of. I think the dialogue sounds perfect, it’s always clear and audible. The music will use your system somewhat, but not much. For this type of film, the audio mix is great.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The only extra provided is an alternate ending, which if used, would have thrown the movie in a totally different direction. A very cool extra, but I would have liked a trailer…
