The movie is half a great film about Kokoda.

One of the great strengths of Kokoda is the unflinching honesty with which it recreates the nature of the fighting. The film brims with detail that is physically, emotionally and psychologically authentic.

The film deserves absolutely top marks for really re-creating this nightmare -- the rain, the mud, the dysentery, the horrors and it is almost like a horror film at times, as the Japanese get so close to them.

It's a remarkable feature for so many reasons, not the least of which is the haunting tension that fills every shot of every scene.