World History 4/6-4/10

EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENT - Rent a copy of "Letters From Iwo Jima" (2006, Directed by Clint Eastwood, Starring Ken Watanabe, Kazunari Ninomiya, Tsuyoshi Ihara.)

Summary of Movie: The island of Iwo Jima stands between the American military force and the home islands of Japan. Therefore the Imperial Japanese Army is desperate to prevent it from falling into American hands and providing a launching point for an invasion of Japan. General Tadamichi Kuribayashi is given command of the forces on the island and sets out to prepare for the imminent attack. General Kuribayashi, however, does not favor the rigid traditional approach recommended by his subordinates, and resentment and resistance fester among his staff. In the lower echelons, a young soldier, Saigo, a poor baker in civilian life, strives with his friends to survive the harsh regime of the Japanese army itself, all the while knowing that a fierce battle looms. When the American invasion begins, both Kuribayashi and Saigo find strength, honor, courage, and horrors beyond imagination.

The Assignment: 1) Watch the movie (*THE MOVIE IS RATED R FOR GRAPHIC SCENES OF WAR VIOLENCE, SO YOU MAY NEED TO GET PARENTAL APPROVAL FIRST). 2) Write a detailed analysis of three different scenes throughout the movie. Identify the plot of the scene, the setting, and then use the film to write a 3/4 to 1 page detailed analysis. Include what you know and perhaps do a little research on the subject online. 3) Write a movie review about this film. What is good (in your opinion), was it historically accurate, did it portray Iwo Jima as a turning point in the War in the Pacific between the United States and Japan? This movie review should be at least 3/4 of a page in length.

Due Date: The written work of this extra credit is due on Tuesday, April 14. No exceptions, no late work accepted. Have fun and enjoy.