A Bridge To Far for me and Eagles Nest . Speaking of War films what about Hanks war with Bruce Willis any good?

I like A Bridge Too Far, other than that silly thing they pass of as a German tank, but it could be because it had basically all my favorite actors in it
Jeff and Dave, just for clarification, I think you are talking about Hart's War. You're right, it wasn't much of a war film if action is what you're after, but it does ask some interesting questions.
Ranger, I don't know if this is the one you refer to, it's not about the Battle of the Bulge, but I think Anzio had Columbo (don't know his real name either) in it. I think that one could be up there among the all time worst.

Nic

I like A Bridge Too Far, other than that silly thing they pass of as a German tank, but it could be because it had basically all my favorite actors in it
Jeff and Dave, just for clarification, I think you are talking about Hart's War. You're right, it wasn't much of a war film if action is what you're after, but it does ask some interesting questions.
Ranger, I don't know if this is the one you refer to, it's not about the Battle of the Bulge, but I think Anzio had Columbo (don't know his real name either) in it. I think that one could be up there among the all time worst.

Nic

I guess I will nominate my "favorite" film to hate...Windtalkers, I thought it was just plain awful. I know some guys like a movie based on the TO & E alone, but for me it has to have a somewhat believable story line.

Rick Cooper

I'm curious -- what did you guys find unbelievable about Windtalkers? I haven't seen it yet (waiting for the video/DVD now), but I know the real Navajo codetalkers say the bodyguard aspect of the flick is Hollywood BS.

One movie that always irks me is Apocalype Now. It's fun to watch, but is chock-ful-o-BS. "The horror ... the horror ..."

And what's wrong with Kelly's Heroes? One of my favorites, really. You just can't take it seriously, that's all. It wasn't intended to be really accurate, just entertaining. And remember too that it was made in 1970 and bears the mark of the anti-war sentiment engendered by the war in Vietnam. Tank commander Oddball is totally 1969, not 1944, but he's a great character nevertheless.

This movie does have some real highlights for armor fans. The Shermans are great, all M4A3's with the postwar E4 conversion to the 76mm gun in the older 75mm turret. They are NOT fireflies but ARE real vehicles supplied by US military assistance programs in the 1950's. The physical condition, dirt, stowage, and so on all reflect GI practice in WW2. Good reference, IMO. The half-tracks aren't bad either, and you'll probably never see an M5 High Speed Tractor and tank recovery trailer filmed anywhere else. Remember when the yacht got towed away? A few seconds is all, but I've never seen the combination in film anywhere else. We all know about the Tigers converted from T34's--dimensionally strange because of the nose-forward turret placement of the T34 but to my eyes a very nice try--better than using a Leopard 1A4 in A Bridge Too Far (aside from that, I like that film too!). But there is one more vehicle most of you have probably missed:

Look very closely at the sequence where Kelly's band gets into the minefield. The detonation alerts the Germans in the nearby garrison, who roll out to investigate. Look in the background as they roll out the gate, and you will see an M3 halftrack with the rear hull sides modifiedto look like an Sdkfz. 151. Not a bad attempt; I don't know why we never saw more of it.

Greg

Quoted Text

---

I'm curious -- what did you guys find unbelievable about Windtalkers? I haven't seen it yet (waiting for the video/DVD now), but I know the real Navajo codetalkers say the bodyguard aspect of the flick is Hollywood BS.

One movie that always irks me is Apocalype Now. It's fun to watch, but is chock-ful-o-BS. "The horror ... the horror ..."

---

Bob---Windtalkers has some nice effects. Typical Hollywood innocent reservation Indian joins the big bad machine and prejudice surrounds him, etc. Great subject, certainly should demonstrate the prejudices that marked that era, way (way off) when it comes to the relavance and value of the Navajo's Marines. Too bad.
DJ

Thanks for the input guys. I'll be thinking about what you've said when I still rent Windtalkers and -- like every American should -- make a decision for myself.

As far as Kelly's Heroes goes .... it was certainly the best WWII movie of the 70s (OK, Patton was good too, except for the scenes that included tanks). And, HEY, it's a comedy (mostly), so they have a certain extended artistic license. If nothing else, it provided some of the most memorable lines in war movie history.

Oddball: "Who is that guy ,CrapGame?"
CrapGame: "That's Kelly. Used to be a lieutenant until they ordered him to attack the wrong hill. Wiped out half a company of GIs. Someone had to get blamed and he got picked."
Oddball: laughing..."Oh man, I don't like officers."
CrapGame: "Neither does he, so relax."

Reason # 12 why I never became an officer.

More favorite quotes:

CrapGame: "Hey kid, you need to pull yourself together. We're not in the middle of Central Park."
Kelly: "Oddball! Just how you figure moving through enemy terrain with a column a mile long?"
Oddball: "Easy. We can fight. We got an Army."
Big Joe: "Those freaks? That's not an army; it's a circus"
Oddball: "Take it easy Big Joe. Some of these people have sensitive feelings"

One last one ... my dad and I recite this when we're fishing:

Oddball: "Hi, man."
Big Joe: "What you doin?"
Oddball: "Drinking wine and eating cheese and catching some rays, you know?"
Big Joe: "What's happened?"
Oddball: "Well, the tank's broken and they're trying to fix."
Big Joe: "Then why the hell aren't you up there helping them?!"
Oddball: "I only ride 'em. I don't what make's 'em work."

Gotta love Kelly's Heroes.

Thanks for the input guys. I'll be thinking about what you've said when I still rent Windtalkers and -- like every American should -- make a decision for myself.

As far as Kelly's Heroes goes .... it was certainly the best WWII movie of the 70s (OK, Patton was good too, except for the scenes that included tanks). And, HEY, it's a comedy (mostly), so they have a certain extended artistic license. If nothing else, it provided some of the most memorable lines in war movie history.

Oddball: "Who is that guy ,CrapGame?"
CrapGame: "That's Kelly. Used to be a lieutenant until they ordered him to attack the wrong hill. Wiped out half a company of GIs. Someone had to get blamed and he got picked."
Oddball: laughing..."Oh man, I don't like officers."
CrapGame: "Neither does he, so relax."

Reason # 12 why I never became an officer.

More favorite quotes:

CrapGame: "Hey kid, you need to pull yourself together. We're not in the middle of Central Park."
Kelly: "Oddball! Just how you figure moving through enemy terrain with a column a mile long?"
Oddball: "Easy. We can fight. We got an Army."
Big Joe: "Those freaks? That's not an army; it's a circus"
Oddball: "Take it easy Big Joe. Some of these people have sensitive feelings"

One last one ... my dad and I recite this when we're fishing:

Oddball: "Hi, man."
Big Joe: "What you doin?"
Oddball: "Drinking wine and eating cheese and catching some rays, you know?"
Big Joe: "What's happened?"
Oddball: "Well, the tank's broken and they're trying to fix."
Big Joe: "Then why the hell aren't you up there helping them?!"
Oddball: "I only ride 'em. I don't what make's 'em work."

Gotta love Kelly's Heroes.

Quoted Text

---

A Bridge To Far for me and Eagles Nest . Speaking of War films what about Hanks war with Bruce Willis any good?

---

Hanks War is not so much a war film it's just "A few good man" took place in a German POW camp in WW II. And I had watched part of it, and just don't have the interest to watch anymore, because I was eager to watch Lord Of Rings instead, but the movie is a fair one, it dosn't portrait the German POW camp commander as a man-eater as most of the film do, that's at least till the middle of the film, he was alright.