Flags of Our Fathers – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Flags of Our Fathers

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2006

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Eastwood's brutal, thoughtful war film deconstructs American heroism—enriching for older teens, but the graphic violence is no joke.

7.1/10

76%

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Flags of Our Fathers

movie

R, 2006

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Eastwood's brutal, thoughtful war film deconstructs American heroism—enriching for older teens, but the graphic violence is no joke.

7.1

76%

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7.1/10

76%

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this is a well-made, thoughtful war film that asks important questions about heroism, propaganda, and the human cost of conflict. Eastwood doesn't pull punches—the violence is brutal and meant to be, and the film's deconstruction of American mythology is genuinely sophisticated.

But let's be clear: this is not for kids, and even for the 16+ crowd Common Sense Media recommends, it's a tough watch. The battlefield scenes are graphic in ways that will stick with you (and not in a good way if you're too young). And honestly? At nearly 20 years old, it's also a bit of a slog for modern teens used to faster-paced storytelling.

If you've got a high schooler genuinely interested in WWII history or film studies, this paired with 'Letters from Iwo Jima' is valuable viewing. For everyone else, there are more accessible ways to learn about the war. This is a film for adults and very mature teens who can handle both the violence and the emotional weight of what Eastwood is trying to say.

Age Fit

This is strictly for mature teens (16+) and adults. The graphic violence is genuinely disturbing and the emotional weight is heavy. It's enriching for older high schoolers studying WWII or media literacy, but younger viewers will find it traumatic and boring.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Clint Eastwood's war drama is emotionally heavy and morally complex, exploring PTSD, survivor's guilt, and the propaganda machine behind the famous Iwo Jima photo. It's thoughtful about the cost of heroism, but the graphic battlefield violence, disturbing imagery (severed heads, suicide scenes, bloody bayonet combat), and bleak tone make it far from emotionally healthy viewing for younger audiences. This isn't a feel-good war movie—it's deliberately uncomfortable.

Imaginative

The film takes a non-linear storytelling approach, weaving between brutal combat and the war bond tour back home. It's conceptually interesting in how it deconstructs heroism and examines the gap between myth and reality. However, it's a historical drama that follows real events fairly closely—there's craft in the filmmaking but limited imaginative world-building or creative exploration beyond the narrative structure itself.

Safe

Multiple sources confirm this is intensely violent and disturbing. Common Sense Media (age 16+) notes 'graphic battlefield violence' with 'bloody, ravaged effects visible.' Kids-in-Mind gives it an 8/10 for violence, citing explosions with severed body parts, soldiers discovering Japanese suicide victims, close-up bayonet assaults, and tissue-level gore. This is absolutely not safe for unexpected viewing by children—the content is deliberately harrowing and would be traumatic for younger viewers.

Enriching

This is genuinely enriching for mature teens and adults. It offers a sophisticated examination of war propaganda, the construction of American mythology, and the psychological toll on soldiers. The film challenges simplistic notions of heroism and explores how individuals become symbols. It's historically grounded, ethically complex, and prompts real reflection about media manipulation and the human cost of war. Strong critical scores (79 Metacritic, 76% RT critics) reflect its substance.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Sophisticated examination of war propaganda and how heroes are manufactured for public consumption
Historically grounded portrayal of the Battle of Iwo Jima and the famous flag-raising photo's aftermath
Explores PTSD, survivor's guilt, and moral complexity in ways that challenge simplistic war narratives
Strong critical reception (79 Metacritic) reflects genuine substance and craft in filmmaking
Paired with 'Letters from Iwo Jima,' offers rare dual-perspective view of the same battle

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What to Watch For

Extremely graphic war violence—severed heads, suicide scenes, close-up bayonet combat with visible gore
Emotionally heavy throughout: this is deliberately bleak and uncomfortable, not a crowd-pleaser
Non-linear storytelling may be confusing for younger viewers not used to time jumps
Strong language and some alcohol use during the war bond tour sequences
Nearly 20 years old now—pacing feels slower than modern war films kids might be used to

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think the government wanted to turn these soldiers into heroes for the war bond tour?"
"How does the movie show the difference between what people believed about the battle versus what actually happened?"
"What do you think about how the film portrays the cost of being labeled a 'hero'?"
"The Japanese perspective is shown in the companion film 'Letters from Iwo Jima'—why might Eastwood have made both?"
"How do you think media and governments create narratives about war today?"

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