Three soldiers appear to be hiding in the grass at night

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The film is set during the Second World War (Image: Miramax Films)

Fans of war movies are being encouraged to tune into a Netflix gem set amidst the backdrop of the Second World War, inspired by an actual rescue mission. The plot revolves around the Raid at Cabanatuan on Luzon Island, where Allied prisoners of war and civilians were liberated from a Japanese camp.

In January 1945, a daring operation was launched by United States Army Rangers, Alamo Scouts, and Filipino guerrillas, resulting in the freedom of over 500 captives. Today, a memorial stands at the former campsite, and the heroic raid has been immortalised in several films, including The Great Raid, currently available on Netflix.

Despite its lacklustre commercial performance, the film found favour with home audiences. It features Benjamin Bratt as Lieutenant Colonel Henry Mucci and James Franco as Captain Robert Prince, both characters modelled after their real-life counterparts who played crucial roles during the war.

The cast also includes Connie Nielsen as Margaret Utinsky, an American nurse, and Joseph Fiennes as Major Daniel Gibson. Critics have given the film a modest 39% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, citing an excess of subplots and excessive length as drawbacks.

However, viewers have taken to IMDb to voice their opinions, which starkly contrast with the critics’. Some have even hailed it as “one of the best” war dramas, reports the Express.

Four soldiers wearing green kneel as they look out into the distance

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The film is hailed one of the best despite being a box office flop(Image: Miramax Films)

Pele8976 shared their thoughts, saying: “I just saw The Great Raid tonight and I thought it was one of the most moving war movies, well movies I have ever seen. The trials that the prisoners endured even in many other POW camps was unimaginable.”

Jackkopsteinbso chimed in with high praise: “This movie is perhaps one of the finest war epics I have seen and I must say I have seen many. I was unable to speak I was so overtaken with emotion when I came out of the theatre. Even now I am completely overtaken by the sheer ability of the men involved in the raid on the POW camp.”

Phcctrucks hailed it as “one of the greatest movies ever”, adding: “The movie did great justice to the book, Ghost Soldiers. Additionally, it was a great War movie without going too far over the line with blood and guts.”

They continued: “Throughout the movie, you feel as if you’re actually in the camp hoping, waiting, and wishing for relief to arrive. These heroes are portrayed not only in a positive but realistic light of what obstacles needed to be overcome to accomplish the mission.”

TheScarceMovieCritic offered their critique: “This movie should be given legendary status! I am a big history buff and I have read about the Cabanatuan Japanese POW camp rescue prior to watching this. It will not fail to give you hope, inspire, encourage, and even entertain you. This movie did everything right.”

A man in khaki uniform looks solemn

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The film is based on real events(Image: Miramax Films)

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Dale Dye, a retired Marine Corps captain, served as the film’s military advisor and put the cast through their paces in a boot camp in northern Queensland. This was a role he reprised from his work on Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan and Platoon.

The Letterboxd synopsis describes the film as: “The most daring rescue mission of our time is a story that has never been told. 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.”

John Dahl, renowned for his contributions to the neo-noir genre and known for his work on Dexter, True Blood, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead and Hannibal, directed the film.

The Great Raid is available to stream on Netflix.