Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

--I don't have much to add about the positive aspects about what this movie *says*. I happen to agree, and that's all well and good. What I would like to mention as far as a *technical* review goes is that the attention to detail is quite remarkable. This is the first time I've seen a G43 rifle used in a WWII movie. Additionally, the *sounds* of the firearms are different, which is something that is often missed in a production. When people creep around while being shot at, they look like they have actually been shot at.I've read that this movie was comprised largely of actual 442 veterans, which takes it from being a matter of "Interesting Public Domain" to being something of a National Treasure, in terms of visual history.

It is an interesting coincidence of television programing that within three days of this week (Thursday to Saturday, June 18 to 20th, 2008) I saw two films regarding the problems of Americans and Japanese intermingling in the period World War II that I have long known of but had never before been in a position to view. First there was BRIDGE TO THE SUN which told of the mixed marriage of a Caucasian-American with a Japanese Diplomat in the 1930s into the World War, when they lived together (with their child) in Japan. Second is this film which looks at one of the hardest fighting military units in World War II's American Army, the 442ND Regiment. It was made almost entirely out of Japanese - American volunteers who wanted (in the wake of Pearl Harbor) to prove their patriotism. It was extremely difficult. Gwen (Carol Baker) saw first hand American bigotry turned in her direction when she was spotted boarding a bus with her daughter Mako in BRIDGE TO THE SUN. Obscenities were being thrown in her direction, as the bigots knew the people leaving were going home to Japan. Here these were native born Americans from around the country who were determined to show their patriotism, but faced a country that imprisoned many of their relatives in "relocation camps" and where many individuals faced possible physical danger by local bigots. If (as I said) BRIDGE TO THE SUN is a fine follow up to Cagney's film on the rise of Japanese militarism BLOOD ON THE SUN, then the appropriate (if disheartening) follow up to GO FOR BROKE! is BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK, as Spencer Tracy finds out the fate of his wartime friend's Japanese American father.GO FOR BROKE! is a "B" Feature, and lacks many of the special effects of the better war films from World War II through the 1960s (there is no point in comparing it to the computerized films of today). It showed care in how it developed character. Six of the Japanese actors in the film actually had served in the 442ND and were able to give a sense of realism to the movie. They were probably consulted in the script by Robert Pirosh, the director. There are moments of real humor in the movie. Van Johnson's taking his platoon through training, and suspecting (but not being able to prove) they cheated on an obstacle course is a good example.The actors are quite good. Lane Nakano (Sam) is a level headed fellow who is trying to understand the ways of the Caucasians who run the Army and U.S., but also trying to get them to understand the plight of the Japanese - Americans. George Miki ("Chick") is the reverse - a wise guy who knows the angles (we first see him winning remarkably well in a dice game in the barracks - too well as one of the others wants to examine the dice). He was working on the farms of Iowa in choosing male and female chickens for the farmers (a Japanese ability that Americans did not have). Since he was in the Midwest, "Chick" was not in the net of the Federal act that created the west coast relocation camps. Now he bemoans having been convinced to leave a $500.00 a month job for volunteering in the army of a country that disgraces his relatives. At the same time Sam is sending food to his family and girlfriend in their camp in Arizona, and is getting news from them about how they are being treated. Van Johnson is "Lieutenant Michael Grayson", who is a Texan, and wished to be in the same regiment with his Texas buddies. He is appalled at the Japanese-Americans he has to lead, and this annoys his commander Warner Anderson (Colonel Charles Pence) who refuses to consider him for transfer. Johnson does bring the men up to snuff in their training "by the book", but he earns their contempt for his obvious dislike of them. But as the film progresses Johnson gradually begins to question his own bigotry. The men are really willing to prove their worth. Moreover, in reading a U.S. guide book to Italy he reads words reminding him of the bigotry towards Italians and Germans that the Fascists and Nazi Propagandists build on.* It unsettles him, and slowly prepares him into a defender of the men.[*I suppose only one racial stereotype could be concentrated on in each movie that came along - there is no mention of the "Jim Crow" African-American units in the war. Unlike the Japanese - Americans the African - Americans did not get put into camps, but they were treated throughout the country (even in Hollywood) as second class citizens. In 1943 Jesse Owens achievements in Berlin in 1936 and the brouhaha over Marion Anderson's singing in Washington in 1930 were yesterday's news. Joe Lewis was still considered a boxing treasure, but Jackie Robinson's breaking the baseball color line was three years away. And even if Hattie McDaniel won the Oscar in GONE WITH THE WIND in 1939 no other African-American performer got a nomination in this period.]The film follows the men through Italy and France to the fighting at the Bulge. In the reaction of the men to their surroundings it bears comparison to A WALK IN THE SUN. One adopts a pet pig, and keeps the lovable little animal (and feeds him) until he has to make a choice about the pet. Another, who was an architecture major, keeps mentioning the different styles of great buildings that he sees along the way to the others. But for all their idiosyncrasies and different viewpoints, the men prove tough, experienced, and brave fighters, who rightly won their military glory with blood and toil. This is a worthy film in their honor, and you should try to catch it.

Most people know about the imprisonment of many Japanese Americans in camps during World War II, however, relatively few know the history of involvement by Japanese Americans in World War II. The 442nd Regimental Combat Team was sanctioned by Franklin Delano Roosevelt and consisted of Japanese American volunteers. These faithful Americans came to the military for many different reasons, and this film does a wonderful job of illustrating the diversity within the team as well as their courageous dedication to service despite the adverse conditions they and their families faced in an America at war with their ancestral homeland.This adversity is personified in the character of Lieutenant Grayson (Van Johnson) - a tall, blond, Texan with a bad attitude about working with what he calls "Japs". Though Grayson's story arc is not really very surprising, it is thoroughly believable. The excellent Oscar-nominated Robert Porash script, solid editing and directing, and Johnson's nice performance make his portrayal of the archetypal understated Texan quite excellent. I can say this because I am a Texas-ex - though you never really get the place out of your heart. For once, the minority is less stereotyped than the Northern European-American males! The Japanese-American actors are all excellent, and are the real stars of this film. I agree with the vast majority of reviews published here on IMDb about this significant and entertaining film. Go For Broke is a war film which very nicely explores human behavior, American social reality and ethics but also commemorates and celebrates the triumph of humanity in adverse situations. Recommended!

Others have said it quite well -- an otherwise routine war film with the all-too-familiar stock characters (the stuffy officer who eventually loosens up, the belly-aching enlisted man, the bigoted sergeant, the lovable underdog, the kid brother) spiced up by a very intriguing and little-known story about a regiment made up entirely of Japanese-American volunteers. The film-makers deserve praise for making their points with humor rather than "speechifying." Look fast for The Six Million Dollar Man's Oscar Goldman (Richard Anderson) as the officer struggling with the Japanese names in the roll call and Hogan's Heroes' Sgt. Schultz (a younger, much leaner and almost unrecognizable John Banner) as the surrendering German officer stunned to be captured by Asian soldiers.