The Great Raid (2005)

Release date: 2005-08-12
Country: USA|Australia
Language: Filipino|English|Tagalog|Japanese
Director: John Dahl
Production Co: Miramax, Marty Katz Productions, Lawrence Bender Productions
Genre: Action, Drama, War
Rating: 6.7/10
Length: 2h 12min

Storyline

Set in the Philippines in 1945 towards the end of WWII, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Mucci and Captain Robert Prince, the 6th Ranger Battalion undertake a daring rescue mission against all odds. Traveling thirty miles behind enemy lines, they intend to liberate over 500 American Soldiers from the notorious Cabanatuan Japanese POW camp in the most audacious rescue ever.

Plot Keywords

philippines, based on book, based on true story, u.s. army, prisoner of war camp, japanese army, rescue mission, abuse, corporal punishment, jail, prison, scolding, towel, bare chested male, caning, beating, man on fire, sergeant, summary execution, flashback

Short Review

While one might have wished for a better movie, and a few smarter decisions regarding the screenplay, generally it's a riveting, even inspirational account of an American feat of arms about which few know but about which many more should.