‘Hell In The Pacific’ - Film Review.
A few weeks ago, they put an absolute gem of a film on television (I have to admit now that it completely distracted me from my work from home jobs). John Boorman’s ‘Hell in the Pacific’ may now be forty-four years old, but it is still a milestone in cinema. It stars Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune as two soldiers from opposing sides who find themselves marooned on a remote island.
There is very little dialogue throughout the whole film and this allows the audience to feel the frustration of the characters. They cannot speak one another’s language and they are also sworn enemies; yet they must learn to work together if they ever want to escape this ‘Hell in the Pacific’.
Since the entire movie only stars the two men, there is a heavy reliance on their ability as actors. Not only is the audience going to be watching them intently, but they must display a clear range of emotions in their faces and body language. Needless to say, both Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune put in a terrific performance. I wonder how many of our modern actors could manage to do such a good job…
The great thing about ‘Hell in the Pacific’ is that it is so incredibly realistic. When you are watching the movie, you are going through exactly the same emotions as the two characters are. It is so easy to identify with their feelings and you find yourself willing them to survive the various obstacles they come across during the course of the film. The movie also has some genuinely funny moments. Watching the two soldiers in competition with one another is often quite farcical and some parts are strongly reminiscent of Wile. E. Coyote and Road Runner.
If you have never seen ‘Hell in the Pacific’, then it is definitely worth a watch. Film makers seemed to have had far more imagination back then.
Comments are closed!