Not An anti-War Film

The five reviews all make the mistake of calling this an anti-war film. Not all war films are such. Soldiers die. Movies showing that are not necessarily criticizing the war or warfare in general. Consider the huge outpouring in the US during World War II. John Wayne may die in SANDS OF IWO JIMA, but it's certainly not anti-war. It isn't calling the deaths of American marines a waste. Neither is the atrocious PEARL HARBOR of a few years, and neither is SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, for that matter "Earn this," Hanks says to Damon: make the sacrifice of my life meaningful by doing something with yours. In THE ROAD TO GLORY March takes over and makes the same patriotic speech to the troops that Baxter had twice given. The movie isn't suggesting that he's a deluded fool for mouthing hogwash. The sacrifice at the end is a willing one and those losing their lives feel it's worth it for the contribution they are making to the possible success of the mission. The movie ends with The Marseillaise and a shot of the trumpet that blew the cavalry charge at Sedan. I think some viewers are assuming that it's impossible to make a movie about the First World War that celebrates heroism. But what is still probably the best-known movie about an American in that war, SERGEANT YORK,also does that.