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lakelandjim
Reviews
Go for Broke! (1951)
Much better than standard war movie fare
This movie is significant because of its subject matter: only five short years after World War Two ended, "Japs" have become full-fledged Americans fighting for honor and country. Of course, the movie was released at a time when the US was caught in another Asian war (Korea) and we needed to know the "good" Asians from the "bad" ones.
The battle scenes are plausible, if not outstanding, but the greater story arcs are the transformation of Lt. Grayson into a true-blue fan of an ethnic minority he once despised; and the struggle of the Nisei to prove themselves even though they were American all along. Deals with ethnic issues much better than most war movies. Also peppered with humor.
Good Fences (2003)
A moderately decent movie
A moderately decent movie, one that takes a lot of attention to get the full gist of the story since it goes back and forth in flashbacks, few of which really add to the film..
Definitely plays like a vanity film for Glover and Goldberg. Contains some interesting commentary on racial attitudes and the fluidity of racial identity.
Biggest drawback is that several different threads are grafted together (pardon the mixed metaphor) without adding to the story. Is this a story about the generation gap? Racism? Class identity? So difficult to tell.