Made for TV with excellent production and good acting. Jason Donovan is an actor with some good roles on his repertoire. I like sniper movies and the one-on-one sequence is great. The flashbacks right in the heat of the action does slow the pace down a bit and a little bit of obvious wartime story-telling like the intro with the new recruits in a truck sequence. The ending was a little dramatic but surprisingly feel good. I wish movie-makers would install subtitles for foreign language scenes (in this case, Japanese) automatically instead of having us figure them out. It is obvious that not everyone understands foreign dialog in an English language film yet only DVD versions have the option for subs. On my list of war films to watch.
13 Reviews
The small screen movie that plays as a Big Screen winner.
Cinema_Fan18 November 2007
Warning: Spoilers
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.
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.
wow what a surprise .....
nasty_pac5 December 2006
i have just seen this film on movies for men channel on sky t.v. , i would have missed it but by luck i stumbled across it . i never even knew that jason donovan had made this movie ,but think he done a excellent job . i won,t spoil it buy telling the plot and ruining it for anyone , but if you like me enjoy war movies , especially the classics , then this movie will be a pleasant surprise for you . it is as you will see low budget , but the acting is great and the story very well thought out and engrossing , and it was not one that i could predict the end easily , which this day and age happens often , the action is quite bloody in places so not for watching with any children around really , but in a realistic way not just a gore fest for the sake of it , it is a realistic and powerful story and a little gem from our Australian cousins , i think they should be given a lot more credit for there movies especially when they really are this good , as i said before it is well worth a watch and far better than i thought it would be , i am now off to order it on DVD to add to my collection , i think you could do a lot worse for a good war story especially as good world war two movies are few and far between especially in the jungle warfare of borneo i would give it 8/10 .
What a FANTASTIC FILM!!!
ketchkev26 March 2003
I was fortunate enough to catch this film on the Sundance channel one day. It has got to be one of the most powerful WW11 movies that I have ever seen. I literally cried during the scene where he (the Japanese soldier) was flashing back to his life before the war. I just broke into tears when his daughter was stuck up in the tree, and he was below telling her to jump and trust that he would catch her. This is just wonderful filmmaking at its finest. I want to deeply express appreciation to director Michael Pattisen for such a fine exhibit.
Surprisingly good under the circumstances
erkirb13 August 2000
This film is a low budget TV production and that's how it should be taken. The main reason why it got my attention is the fact that the leading role is played by the Australian singer Jason Donovan. His performance is far from outstanding but it is still pretty acceptable. The action takes place during the last days of WWII in a jungle where Australian soldiers are looking for the last surviving Japanese warriors. It so happens that after an encounter between the enemies only one man both sides survives. The rest of the movie concentrates on the lonely battle of the two soldiers, looking to get rid of the other just to finally have a chance to return home to his family. One different aspect with the film is that there is really no good and bad guy. Both sides are equal, it is just the insanity of war that has put them against themselves. It is just unfortunate that the ending of the film goes a bit on the cheesy side (well frankly even much more than just a bit). So overall a quite ok film, why not watch it if you have a chance. 6/10
Great movie
mag_sol7616 March 2005
This movie is just excellent. It's a little war movie that no one has ever heard about and that's a real shame. At a quick glance it's not very interesting: an Australian made for TV movie starring Jason Donovan. And it's 90 minutes long (for me that's the definition of TV crap, those 90 minutes). But all is not what it seems. It's the story of an Australian and a Japanese soldier (both the last survivors of their units) that square of against each other in the jungles of Burma in the ending days of WWII. But it's not the action that's the allure of this movie. We get to know these guys with flashbacks to their lives before the war. What's their motivation, their background? They are not one dimensional and we get to know them and learn that neither of them is a bad guy (not even the Japanese who is always portrayed as bad guys in war movies). They are where they are for good reasons and during this movie it's impossible to take sides against either one. They are both good guys and you cry for them and what happens to them.
A great movie about what happens to men during war.
A great movie about what happens to men during war.
My favorite WWII movie.
mj_jernigan7 February 2003
--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.
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.
Wow, a great movie accidently found
FesterSam19 October 2000
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.
A surprisingly good movie
flash_gordon992 May 2001
I only watched it because I happened to turn on the TV when it started, but I got caught right away! First, I love sniper-movies. Second, the tense feeling starts the first minute, showing the australian soldiers, young, inexperienced and nervous. The sniper-parts, when the eighteen year old boy duels with the old, cool and ruthless japanese are excellent. You can sense the feel of someone aiming at your neck without being seen, and the rain and mud creates very "nice" surroundings for this all-out war. The end is surprisinging and fills you with a sense of happiness and feeling of overcoming.
Pretty good piece of Australian movie-making
ionov24 December 2001
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.
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.
A Pretty Good War Film
gordonl567 May 2015
Warning: Spoilers
THE LAST BULLET – 1995
This excellent Australian television film is about the Borneo Campaign of 1945. This was the last major Allied campaign in the South West Pacific during the Second World War.
The film is set during July 1945 just before the end of the Pacific conflict. The Australian Army has defeated the main Japanese forces, and are now engaged in mopping up operations. The war has come down to small unit actions in the dense Borneo jungles.
A new replacement, Jason Donovan, has joined one of the platoons out searching for the remaining Japanese. At the same time, a group of 40 or so Japanese are about to launch a Banzi attack on an Australian position further inside the jungle. The attack is repelled with only two Japanese surviving.
The two make their way deeper into the dense forest to hide. They come upon an old abandoned bunker. They find some old rice to chow down on. This beats the bamboo sprouts and bugs they have been living on. By this time in the war the Japanese merchant fleet had been wiped out. No supplies were getting through to bases on the Pacific outposts.
Donovan's patrol is making a sweep through the forest and come up on the two Japanese, Kôji Tamaki and Kazuhiro Muroyama. Tamaki is a sniper with a scoped rifle. The two Japanese soldiers manage to ambush the Australian patrol. They wipe out the patrol except for Donovan. Muroyama is also killed in the battle.
Now the two enemies spend the next two days and nights trying to kill the other. Both have sniping rifles and both are wounded in the fire exchange. There is a real game of cat and mouse here as each tries to finish the other. Grenades and rounds are exchanged till both are down to their last bullet. What happens now? This one is a down and dirty war film, showing just how quick and bloody death can come.
For a film made on a television budget, this one is better than you would expect. It was well worth the 90 minutes spent watching.
This excellent Australian television film is about the Borneo Campaign of 1945. This was the last major Allied campaign in the South West Pacific during the Second World War.
The film is set during July 1945 just before the end of the Pacific conflict. The Australian Army has defeated the main Japanese forces, and are now engaged in mopping up operations. The war has come down to small unit actions in the dense Borneo jungles.
A new replacement, Jason Donovan, has joined one of the platoons out searching for the remaining Japanese. At the same time, a group of 40 or so Japanese are about to launch a Banzi attack on an Australian position further inside the jungle. The attack is repelled with only two Japanese surviving.
The two make their way deeper into the dense forest to hide. They come upon an old abandoned bunker. They find some old rice to chow down on. This beats the bamboo sprouts and bugs they have been living on. By this time in the war the Japanese merchant fleet had been wiped out. No supplies were getting through to bases on the Pacific outposts.
Donovan's patrol is making a sweep through the forest and come up on the two Japanese, Kôji Tamaki and Kazuhiro Muroyama. Tamaki is a sniper with a scoped rifle. The two Japanese soldiers manage to ambush the Australian patrol. They wipe out the patrol except for Donovan. Muroyama is also killed in the battle.
Now the two enemies spend the next two days and nights trying to kill the other. Both have sniping rifles and both are wounded in the fire exchange. There is a real game of cat and mouse here as each tries to finish the other. Grenades and rounds are exchanged till both are down to their last bullet. What happens now? This one is a down and dirty war film, showing just how quick and bloody death can come.
For a film made on a television budget, this one is better than you would expect. It was well worth the 90 minutes spent watching.
What an enormous pleasant surprise!!!!!!
joost_dijkema30 March 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I started watching this film with low expectations but what a GREAT movie this turns out to be!! It reminded me of the top class movie Enemy at the Gates (the duel between Vasili and the German sniper)although "Last Bullet" of course has a lot smaller budget!! It started out quite slow but when the sniper duel unfolds the tension is breathtaking! The great thing about this movie is that you feel for both sides of the fight, the American but the Japanese soldier too! The characters are decently developed and the climax of the film worked great for me!! I can recommend this film to EVERYONE that enjoys war movies and it's a shame that this movie is known by such a small group of people!!
Doesn't it sound familiar to you?
searchanddestroy-122 June 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I can't believe it. I read all the comments above and No one - NO ONE - speaks about the feature starring Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune, made by John Boorman in 1968, and speaking of the nearly very same story. It could have been the perfect copycat of the Boorman's film that I won't tell the title. It's SO OBVIOUS !!!
For me, it's totally unbelievable that no one has told this yet. I dream. Such a great film, with two awesome actors - Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune - in such an unusual story...
But, concerning this feature, OK, I agree with the other comments, it's a good piece of work.
But let's be fair, the Boorman's film has not been so worldwide released as other movies from him. And not so long ago, it was still available in DVD in f...garbage can pan and scan frame. So maybe this explains that.
For me, it's totally unbelievable that no one has told this yet. I dream. Such a great film, with two awesome actors - Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune - in such an unusual story...
But, concerning this feature, OK, I agree with the other comments, it's a good piece of work.
But let's be fair, the Boorman's film has not been so worldwide released as other movies from him. And not so long ago, it was still available in DVD in f...garbage can pan and scan frame. So maybe this explains that.
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