I read the book a couple of years ago and thought it was terrific and this film stays true to the book,Kudos to Clint Eastwood and Spielberg for that and not to Hollywood it. Adam Beach as Ira Hayes should be nominated for an Oscar,truly a great performance. How they created Mt Suribachi was right on and of course the battle scenes were horrific but that's war. Japan refusing to let us use the island just goes to show the arrogance of the Japanese who still haven't apologize for Pearl Harbor. I don't know who was responsible for giving it back to them but it's insult to all the Americans who died on that piece of volcanic island. A must see film and Oscars to Eastwood and Beach.