Sections of this review regarding the content, picture & sound were previously posted for the original DVD release in January. It seems like just yesterday that I reviewed the DVD release of Clint Eastwood's "Flags of our Fathers" (actually, it was January, but January of THIS YEAR). While I suspected a special 2-disc edition would eventually pop up, and would probably released around Memorial Day, this has got to be the fastest re-release of any DVD in recent memory. If I was a big fan of the film who invested in the first bare-bones disc, I'd be just a little bit ticked off. This disc features the same cut as the original (along with the same picture & sound quality), but this time a lot of extras are included.

Comparisons can initially be drawn between this and "Saving Private Ryan," particularly in its visceral depiction of the horrors of war. But that would be an unfair comparison. "Flags" begins like a "Private Ryan" wannabe, graphically accounting the mayhem of the United States assault on the island of Iwo Jima. But ultimately has a loftier agenda. The film cuts back and forth between the battle scenes of Iwo Jima and scenes of how the military & media present the war to the American public, especially after the now-famous photo of 'victorious' soldiers raising the American flag atop the island. The problem is that the island wasn't yet taken, and said-flag was actually the second one raised (it was a replacement for one coveted by a greedy officer who wanted the original on his wall). Though not deliberately staged, the second (and more dramatic-looking) snapshot is the one Americans saw in newspapers, and those who raised that flag, with a lot of manipulation from the military & media, end up being public heroes. Focusing on the three survivors who helped raise that second flag, "Flags" all at once all-at-once presents both the perceived and real heroism of war, and is as critical of the media than it is of the government (in its efforts to gain financial support for the war from the public, the government shamelessly uses these three soldiers as promotional tools). The movie is sometimes dramatically shaky in terms of character exposition & bland performances by some of his lead actors (Ryan Phillippe is deadly dull, though Adam Beach, as a remorseful native American, is outstanding), and there are times when the narrative jumps around so much in the third act - from events on the island, to the PR-debacle in the U.S., to the narration by the soldiers in their old age - that it's sometimes jarring, but all-in-all, the movie's timely themes manage to resonate with the viewer more than the pure visceral assault (and cliched dialogue) of "Saving Private Ryan."

The film is presented in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio, and the overall results are great. The film is suitable drab & grey during the virtuoso battle sequences, nicely contrasting the much more colorful 1940s' era set design. The picture also features sharp lines & good black tones. I was also impressed with the sound presentation, rendered in 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Surround. It's mostly crisp, clean and features good balance.

The sole reason for this Collector's Edition is the abundance of bonus features, which include a making-of documentary, the adaption of the story to film, a segment on the criminally underrated visual effects, and some features about the historical events themselves. Director Clint Eastwood also provides a new introduction to his film. Also included is the original theatrical trailer.

The movie itself is exactly the same version as the DVD released in January, meaning the sole reason for this disc's existence lies in the bonus features. History fans will surely enjoy some of the extras included here. So will movie geeks who appreciate Eastwood's unique approach to filmmaking; this disc offers a lot of technical info about the film in addition to the true life events which inspired it. For them, this disc is recommended.