Low budget is not an excuse since many movies pull it off anyway. The depiction of battle and warfare is badly acted, but mainly badly planned and executed by the director, giving an air of boys playing war at a paint-ball field, rather than actually being at the western front. I would even say that the characters, in a way, mock and ridicule Asian Americans, and place the whole group in an old and clichéd POV.

They are all flat and one-dimensional, delivering predictable portraits with no depth. The acting is horrible and over dramatic overall, and leaves one with an uncomfortable feeling of embarrassment on the behalf of both the actors and the characters. Nothing is subtle nor actually touching, since the director has drenched it all in banality and cheap clichés. Everything is shoved in the face of the viewer, in a pathetically naïve way, leaving no room for any thought or reflexion. The degree of melodrama, over acting and oh-it's-so-sad, is so extensive that it makes me queasy. Still, I have to practically force myself through this syrupy mess. So the genuine interest is there, and also a good insight and knowledge of actual history. Also, some of the areas in WWII history, which I have spent the most time on, are the affairs in Asia and the Pacific. I also have a great interest and fair insight into different Asian cultures due to both personal interest and having several Asian in-laws in the family. (Also see 'Days of glory', a rather good movie about the Algerian French soldiers in the French army during WWII - Another 'forgotten' Group). I have my roots in Finland, and therefore I have the same relationship to Finnish movies about the Winter war and Continuation war (btw something to take a look at for anyone interested in WWII, to see some of the least discussed but most astonishing military wonders of all times - a tiny Little poorly equipped army in a tiny little country, literally crushing the USSR Bear), as I suppose Asian Americans have to this movie, since it portrays a part of the US Army which seldom have gotten any recognition for their efforts and sacrifice. I'm very interested in military history, especially WWII. Cheesy and conceited were adjectives that came to mind. Already in the first scene,(incense and cultural clichés accompanied by ramblings), I was thinking 'Nooo'. I really wanted to like this movie, even though seeing the bad reviews and grades, but I'm sorry to say I just couldn't.

Only the brave release date dvd