Pelotão de Exterminadores

This war film was one of the early "super cynical" war films. Don't be mislead by that category. There have always been cynical war films. Most books made into films were about the disillusionment-ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT, THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE, and so forth. But Hollywood has always been biased towards the cynical. In the late sixties, they got very self righteous and arrogant about it. This film, one of the early "super cynical" films was different than the usual Hollywood fare. It dealt with the cynicism credibly. The characters have very credible motivation, instead of the usual Hollywood "Oh love me cause I'm full of cruelty" characters with no motivation. In this film set during the second world war, a published writer has made a livelihood on the exploits of a war hero. He has never met the man, so he decides to play war correspondent and get first hand details. That's when he finds this "war hero" isn't heroic, but rather an anti hero of sorts. He plays to win, period. This means some cruel ways, which is war. Does he go too far? Probably not as far as Hollywood wants to take it, but he does it in a believable way. The film takes turns, and has an unexpected ending. Certainly not a Hollywood hate formula ending. This is a great war film in my opinion.

Towards the end of the war in the Phillipines, newsman Tom Drake tracks down guerrilla leader George Montgomery, whom he has made into a hero in the United States with his news stories. He finds a brutal, vicious killer who has sunk far lower than necessary and definitely not anyone to admire . However, Montgomery apparently starts to realize that he has gone too far, and that even in war there are limits Towards the end, Montgomery and his men find a mission filed with wounded Jpaanese soldiers who have surrendered. A Japanese officer has gathered a force 500 men, remnants of the defeated Japanese army, and they plan to wipe out the soldiers who have dared to surrender. Montgomery and his men face a dilemma Do they take on far superior odds to protect men they have come to hate?. This is a very grim realistic war film.The final battle alone is worth seeing this film for- its on a fairly large scale, violent and a little nail biting. This is a large production for a Philipino produced film, and while it doesn't have the polish of a U.s. production, this actually adds to the film's gritty realistic feel. The film also benefits from superior performances from Montgomery and Drake. Go out of your way to find this film.

P.S. HELP! IF ANYONE KNOWS WHERE I CAN GET A GOOD COPY OF THIS FILM ON DVD, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT mgvescovi@hotmail.com

As tough as "Bataan" was, this film deals with American guerillas, and their Filipino allies, fighting the Japanese late in WW II in The Philippines. Characters could have been a little better drawn, there were a few cliches, and the sacrifice of the cynical leader at the end was not entirely convincing. However, this is generally a good war film, and the final brutal 15 minutes of running combat and then final climactic assault by the Japanese was most memorable. I recommend this film.