Ah yes, the intrepid T.V. movie genre, the straight to video and the mostly forgotten classics of the small screen, but, once in a while there is always a hidden gem, a small nugget of gold, and unlike other thorns in the crown of this movie category there is often the odd surprise. And this pleasant surprise comes from Australian born (1957) T.V. and movie director Michael Pattinson, having done eleven episodes of the cult television show "Prisoner" and his movie career also includes Secrets (1992) and Ground Zero (1987) with Donald Pleasence, he's no stranger to both worlds of television and cinema.The Last Bullet is loosely based around actual events between July 8th and the 15th of August 1945, on the oil rich, and Japanese occupied, island of Borneo, and in mid 1945, it was now the turn of the Australian Allied Forces to take the lead. The Battle of Balikpapan was soon to be, at least, the last fight of the Wars history, and after the final push, the 7th Division et el had to then seek out and capture the last remaining Japanese fighters scattered in the dense jungle.Centralising not just on the plight of the soldiers, from both sides, in the heat and the dirt of the jungle The Last Bullet uses imaginative edits for the delicate flashbacks, from Peter Carrodus, to capture the moments when these poor souls were remembered as family members, lovers and friends, a time of beautiful, sensitive and fond reflection when all around them the fear of death and the capture of that last bullet is all that awaits them. The story kicks off proper when novice Stanley Brennan, played here by Jason Donovan, who excel's himself as the naïve rookie, finds more than just grit and determination when alone and out of his depth during a battle of cunning and stealth between himself and a Japanese sniper. Learning more than just survival in this terrain, this too is a moral code of honour toward ones comrades and toward the enemy, that to know your enemy is to also respect him.With an average age of 25 years, these young men were on the threshold of their lives, but into the deep, unforgiving jungle they were thrown, and in this new dimension of bravery beyond the call of duty we see a wonderful movie that gives no biased toward either side. The Last Bullet is seen from both perspectives, there is no enemy, just two factions trying to stay alive and reunite with their families. The production design here, by Japanese born (1918) Takeo Kimura is a wonderful adaptation of Borneo's killing fields, even if the movie had been filmed at Tamborine Mountain, South East Queensland, Australia and at Tochigi in Japan. The hard work put into this arena is as fitting as any standard blockbuster, while not up-to-par with the big boys, Takeo Kimura has a keen eye for realism and Michael Pattinson's work is as outstanding as it is both physically harsh and at times graphic, sentimental and heart-warming, a grand combination for a story of cultural pride and personal anguish, lovingly seen from both sides.Within an instant of the opening scene we are introduced to the beautiful accompaniment of Ms. Nerida Tyson-Chew's score, trained in both classical and contemporary genres and her Bachelor of Music (Composition) Honours Degree has put her in good stead with her collaborations with fellow Composers' Bruce Broughton, Henry Mancini and Jerry Goldsmith. Nominated for the 1996 Australian Screen Music Award for Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie, for The Last Bullet, she's done herself proud in this movies production; haunting, graceful and atmospheric. As too are the edits, by one Peter Carrodus, whose twenty-three year career, so far, brings a sharp perceptive to this hell-on-earth; exciting, interesting and hard and fast.The Last Bullet isn't about the taking part nor is it about the winning, there can never be any winners here, this movie is a fine example of how we should never forget the past, but how we can learn to forgive, and not cry havoc, and to let sleep the dogs of war. The small screen has, for once, conquered the Silver Screen, The Last Bullet, right toward its final moment, will hit you where it hurts, a battle worthy of remembrance.

--Feb 2003--My favorite WWII movie. Period. There are many contenders for the WWII title and this one takes it without much dispute. I keep it next to Lawrence of Arabia.While I am a fan of war movies (along side a couple of other select genres) nothing makes me hate war more than this movie. It is perfect.Somewhat reminiscent of Hell in the Pacific with its mano-a-mano style.--Oct 2013 edit--Looking back at this film years later it is, admittedly, hard to still call it may favorite WWII movie. Band of Brothers/The Pacific, Flags of Our Fathers/Letters from Iwo Jima, and maybe some others are all very good. So what is it about this film that grabs me (or used to grab me)?The replay value is not all that great. This is not a film that you could probably sell your friends on at a movie party. I gave the film 10 stars perhaps mostly because I judge a film against its own budget and not against other films (and this is a low-budget film). Yet, the production quality is only pretty good, the acting is only pretty good ... everything seems to point to maybe 8 stars at best and not 10. Most of the great films I watch get an 8 or 9 with 10 going to only the truly landmark or innovative films. How is this one of those?What it comes down to is this: I remember how moved I was when I first saw it. For that, it somehow earned two extra stars. Thus, while during replay (or some other critical viewing) it may be hard to see this value, isn't the emotional response while watching something the first time the true value of a dramatic film?The stereotyped, ruthless, WWII Japanese warrior is well known in film. Perhaps fairly--perhaps unfairly. I have spent a bit of time researching Japanese culture and their sense of honor. I 'believe' I get the true message of a film such as Grave of the Fireflies (another great WWII movie--certainly the most depressing one) better than many Americans. The Last Bullet took me someplace wonderful in my understanding of Japanese honor: a place where it is impossible to judge which of the two main characters acted more bravely in a difficult situation. Surprising (a lot like how When the Last Sword is Drawn was another surprising film about Japanese honor). The difference between shame and honor is not always apparent--even in Japan it seems. Showing us the human struggle between shame and honor is what makes this film great.

It is a movie that is not shown by TV networks as often as it probably deserves to be especially nowadays when then there are so many conflicts brewing across the globe and "foe" tag often leads to hatred and unjustified murder.I'd say that here in Europe as well as in the US folks often underestimate australian movie industry which is a misjudgement. Despite the fact that aussies do not make as many movies as Hollywood one cannot deny that australian cinematography is very mature yet really different from both Hollywood and what sometimes is named as the "european" schoool of film-making and that makes it very unique (read - even more interesting)."The Last Bullet" featuring Jason Donovan and Koji Tamaki in lead roles is just one such example of very interesting, thrilling yet very serious war films, which is in effect a very anti-war movie. I'd note that due to Jason Donovan's pop-singer popularity one may possibly expect something miraculous on his part and some folks were a bit disappointed yet in my opinion what Jason did in this movie is just exactly what he should have done - that movie is not about singing.Another interesting aspect of that movie is that it is a rare piece of the WW2 episode where Japanese are characters rather then just a "banzai"-shouting mass.Interesting is that the film director Michael Pattinson is exactly the man who directed the fabulous TV series "The Feds" which is probably the best TV police series ever made.So, I do not know how you'd be able to see the "Last Bullet" unless it is on your TV station schedule yet if there a chance to do not miss it.

After a knee injury sidelined me for several weeks, I discovered this fine film. Truly a great movie, Jason Donovan plays a very convincing new soldier to the jungles in the end of WWII. After the deaths of all of his comrades, he becomes embroiled in a fierce life or death struggle with the surviving member of a Japanese outpost. The final scenes bring humanity and seems to more personalize the war than most any other movie I've ever seen. This is a very fine film, don't miss it.