Which should you watch first? FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS or LETTERS F. IWO JIMA?

[Ernest Rister]

I actually have five - six hours to myself tonight, which is rare. My wife purchased Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima on Blu-Ray for me for Christmas...it was always my intention to watch these back to back somehow in the theater during original release, but I never could find the hours (or the theaters showing both). Then, due to the weddding and life in general, couldn't find time to order the DVDs, much less watch them. My wife knows Eastwood is my favorite director, and knows how much I regretted missing these, so she gave me the Blu-Rays of both films for Christmas.

So now that I have them, and now that I finally have time tonight to have that double feature...which should I watch first? If you've seen both, which would you recommend watching before the other?

Thanks, guys.

[X-Ninja]

I found Flags of out Fathers a generally boring war movie compared to something like Band of Brothers, but i cant really answer here cause i havent seen (or even heard of) that other movie.

Still, most people disagree with me on my Flags opinion. I personally would go with... that other thing, simply because i didnt find Flags that entertaining.

Just watch both back to back. Have a movie night!

[BLUCanadian]

flags of our fathers came out in theatres a few months before Iwo Jima.

[Zman2k2]

Originally Posted by BLUCanadian

flags of our fathers came out in theatres a few months before Iwo Jima.

True, but Letters is a more intimate movie. Personally, I would watch Letters than Flags. At least you'll feel better at the end.

[Ernest Rister]

I went and searched Google...apparently this question has only been asked on other boards about 4.7 trillion times. Consensus leans to Flags, then Letters.

Of course, I still have to watch Ken Burns The War, so maybe I'll watch that first and then just pull an all nighter.

[Siri]

I watched Letters first, since I didn't get Flags until recently. and what is up with the best buy website for flags? i went on earlier and it said $44.99?! glad i got it 'used' for $19

I enjoyed Letters from Iwo Jima MUCH more than Flags of Our Fathers, and I <3 war movies

[EricJ]

Flags makes its points, such as they are, Early and Often, so it's a good initial "warmup", without much involvement--

Letters seems to be the project Clint was devoting more personally creative and emotional directorial attention to, and so works better as the "feature attraction".

[Gremal]

Clint intended FOOF to hit US audiences first to show the American angle. Then LFIJ shows the Japanese angle.

I agree with those above who say Letters is the better film. It had a more convincing main character.

[ajmueller]

What most have said above is true. Flags of our Fathers came out first in theaters followed by Letters from Iwo Jima a few months later. I saw both in theaters and remember not enjoying Flags much at all (and I'm a HUGE war film fan). Letters on the other hand was very touching and human, particularly for a war movie; it deserved its Best Picture nomination. There is one scene in which you hear a group of Japanese children singing a song in a kind of montage...it's a wonderful scene.

I have a friend who said Flags is much more enjoyable if you've read the book, so my recommendation is to watch Letters, read Flags, and then watch Flags, if you have the patience.

[Windows V]

Personally, I watch Letters from Iwo Jima first, then Flags of Our Fathers, because the bulk of Letters takes place during the battle, while much of Flags takes place after the battle. I also think Flags is the superior film.

[NoQuestion]

Letters, better of the two, but both are good.

[Blu Titan]

Letters From Iwo Jima should be watched first; although, it really dosen't matter. Basically Flags of Our Fathers is the American perspective, while Letters From Iwo Jima (the much superior film) is told from the viewpoint of the Japanese.

[Psychonaut]

Watch Flags first knowing that Letters is better and you have something to look forward to. They're both good but Letters I found far superior.

[indianajdp]

Originally Posted by Zman2k2

True, but Letters is a more intimate movie. Personally, I would watch Letters than Flags.

My opinion as well. Letters is much better...then again, if you are going to watch both might be a better move to watch the lesser one first.

[t0nythebeat]

Flags of Our Fathers ... is superior.
And should be watched first imo.

[Moviefan1203]

Both are great movies that I recommend highly. It doesn't really matter which one you watch first since one is the American angle, and the other is the Japanese angle.

[Spymaster]

Flags comes first.

The DVD box set that came out a few years ago, containing both movies and a documentary hosted by Gene Hackman, proves it.

[MrFilmFanatic]

I would watch Flags Of Our Father first also, but I thought Letters from Iwo Jima was a better movie.

[Siri]

How does that cover prove anything? They could have just put the one the title that came first in the alphabet on the top half...

Lol