Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
As World War II rages, the elite Sixth Ranger Battalion is given a mission of heroic proportions: push 30 miles behind enemy lines and liberate over 500 American prisoners of war.
The Great Raid is a competent and respectful WWII war film based on the true story of the Cabanatuan POW rescue. Its plot faithfully recounts a genuinely remarkable historical mission, though the screenplay juggles multiple storylines (the Rangers, the POWs, the Filipino resistance) with uneven results, diluting dramatic tension. Acting is solid but unremarkable, with Benjamin Bratt and James Franco delivering serviceable performances without standout moments. Cinematography is professional and period-appropriate but rarely distinctive. Novelty suffers as the film follows well-worn WWII rescue mission conventions and feels formulaic despite its extraordinary true story source material. The ending delivers satisfying resolution given the real-world heroism depicted, but the film struggles to fully capitalize on the emotional weight of the actual events.