Letters from Iwo Jima [SOUNDTRACK]

Kyle Eastwood & Michael Stevens (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Kyle Eastwood & Michael Stevens
• Audio CD (January 9, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Milan Records
• ASIN: B000LE1GDA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #120,330 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Although the second part of Clint Eastwood diptych about the battle of Iwo Jima following Flags of Our Fathers is told from the point of view of the Japanese troops, the score, by Eastwood's son Kyle and Michael Stevens, feels very western. As is common in a lot of Hollywood movies, it revolves around a main theme that resurfaces several times. Opener "Main Titles" is where it gets its initial and fullest airing, first on a sadness-tinged piano, then on a trumpet (for that somber bugle feel, no doubt) backed up by drums and strings. Again it pops up, slower this time, at the beginning of the very next track, "Letters Montage," and so on, including a spectral take on echoey piano on "Kuribayashi's Farewell Letter" and yet another sorrowful trumpet interpretation on "End Titles Part I." It's all fine and good, but the CD only lasts 37 minutes and that theme takes up a lot of them. The good news is that matching director Eastwood's thoughtful approach, the music is decidedly unflashy and unwarriorlike--no thunderous eruptions here. On the other hand, there's not much to sink your teeth into. The most affecting track turns out to be "Song for the Defense of Iwo Jima," sung, in Japanese, by young children. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Product Description
Soundtrack to the Academy Awardwinner Clint Eastwood's Letters From Iwo Jima, the untold story of the Japanese soldiers and their general who, 61 years ago, defended against the invading American forces on the island of Iwo Jima.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A touching soundtrack, March 20, 2007

By	Kurt A. Johnson (Marseilles, Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In 2006, director Clint Eastwood released his critically acclaimed movie, Flags of Our Fathers, which presented the horrors of the World War 2 battle of Iwo Jima from the American perspective. That same year he released Letters From Iwo Jima, which presented the horrors of that battle from the Japanese perspective. This is the soundtrack to that wonderful, heartbreaking movie.

Most of the tracks are slow and introspective, relying on a solitary piano, or bugle with drums and strings to give a more military sound. Yet, always with the slow sound of a funeral dirge. There are, however, two divergent tracks - track #7, Dinner Party, which sounds almost unreal amongst the other tracks; and of course, track #10, Song For The Defense of Iwo Jima, which features Japanese children singing a rather jaunty tune, as they prepare for what the listener realizes is their death.

Overall, I found this to be a touching soundtrack. Admittedly short at 37 minutes, but nonetheless excellent to listen to. I highly recommend this CD.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Haunting, January 31, 2007

By	Yankeescf - See all my reviews

This music is haunting and emotional. In my opinion, which is right, it is one of the top musical scores of all time, and certainly top of the year.
The simple, yet very sad main theme gets me every time. I absolutely love this music, and it is one of those pieces that will never fail to grab one emotionally, no matter how long it's been listened to.
The only downside, though, is that it is only 37 minutes long. But despite that, I still highly recommend buying this album.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Haunting..., March 11, 2007

By	Mike Cunha (Boston) - See all my reviews

The soundtrack to this film is as haunting as the film itself. The score for the film is heart-achingly beautiful, but tragic and almost painful as it recalls the haunting images from the stunningly excellent film.

The piano notes stay with you...and makes you think of the characters portrayed in the film. The main score is hard to let go of once you here it. (The film itself is the same way. It is one of the most heartbreaking and painful films I've ever seen. I was stunned for several days afterwards by it.)

Track #7, as described by the Amazon reviewer, is indeed ghostly. The bugle score, Track #12, adds a martial feel to the score.

The CD, while indeed short, is sparse and in keeping with the theme of the film. Kudos to Kyle Eastwood and Michael Stevens for creating a classic and beautiful score that truly defines and complements its picture and reaches its audience's hearts.