History Club
Military history and past events only. Rants or inflamitory comments will be removed.
Military history and past events only. Rants or inflamitory comments will be removed.
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The best war film
Cob
Member Since: May 23, 2002
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Posted: Friday, September 13, 2002 - 10:34 PM UTC
To close the loop on DJ's "worst war film" thread, Let's see what you think is the best. You can define best however you want.
SS-74
Member Since: May 13, 2002
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Posted: Saturday, September 14, 2002 - 12:07 AM UTC
Saving Private Ryan
Das Boot
Satlingrad
Band of Brothers
Das Boot
Satlingrad
Band of Brothers
Hollowpoint
Member Since: January 24, 2002
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Posted: Saturday, September 14, 2002 - 03:18 PM UTC
Adding to SS-74's list:
Battleground
84 Charlie Mopic
Full Metal Jacket
Hamburger Hill
The Boys in Company C
Zulu
Gettysburg
A Walk in the Sun
Cross of Iron
Hell is for Heroes
The Great Escape
The Longest Day
Kelly's Heroes
Battleground
84 Charlie Mopic
Full Metal Jacket
Hamburger Hill
The Boys in Company C
Zulu
Gettysburg
A Walk in the Sun
Cross of Iron
Hell is for Heroes
The Great Escape
The Longest Day
Kelly's Heroes
sgtreef
Member Since: March 01, 2002
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Posted: Saturday, September 14, 2002 - 08:38 PM UTC
adding
Bridge on the River Kwai
Deer Hunter
force 10 from navarone {I know I know}
Sands of Iwo Jima
Brave heart
Guns of Navarone
Fighting Seabees
They were Expendable
Bridge on the River Kwai
Deer Hunter
force 10 from navarone {I know I know}
Sands of Iwo Jima
Brave heart
Guns of Navarone
Fighting Seabees
They were Expendable
210cav
Member Since: February 05, 2002
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Posted: Saturday, September 14, 2002 - 09:52 PM UTC
All, great films. Off the top of my head: The Story of GI Joe, The Great Escape, and (I second) They Were Expendable and Saving Private Ryan.
DJ
DJ
sourkraut
Member Since: May 11, 2002
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Posted: Sunday, September 15, 2002 - 03:17 AM UTC
you would have to ask that question.
I dont know about the best but some of my favorites are;
u571
enemy at the gates
saving pvt. ryan
das boot
a bridge too far
and outside of ww2 i like ; patriot
I dont know about the best but some of my favorites are;
u571
enemy at the gates
saving pvt. ryan
das boot
a bridge too far
and outside of ww2 i like ; patriot
Folgore
Member Since: May 31, 2002
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Posted: Sunday, September 15, 2002 - 09:03 AM UTC
I also like Enemy at the Gates, Stalingrad, Zulu, Gettysburg, Bridge on the River Kwai, and A Bridge Too Far. I'll add The Battle of Britain and Heartbreak Ridge to the list.
Nic
Nic
clovis899
#155
Member Since: May 05, 2002
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Posted: Sunday, September 15, 2002 - 11:50 AM UTC
I have to agree with most (not quite all, I didn't care for U-571), but I would like to add in a couple others with no particular ranking in mind;
Winter War- a Finnish movie about a pair of brothers in, obviously, the Winter War. Been years since I have seen this and would love to own a copy if any one knows a source.
Piece of Cake- still a favorite around my house.
Great topic, it gives me a list of things to look for at Blockbuster next weekend!
Rick Cooper
Winter War- a Finnish movie about a pair of brothers in, obviously, the Winter War. Been years since I have seen this and would love to own a copy if any one knows a source.
Piece of Cake- still a favorite around my house.
Great topic, it gives me a list of things to look for at Blockbuster next weekend!
Rick Cooper
210cav
Member Since: February 05, 2002
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Posted: Sunday, September 15, 2002 - 08:03 PM UTC
Quoted Text
I have to agree with most (not quite all, I didn't care for U-571), but I would like to add in a couple others with no particular ranking in mind;
Winter War- a Finnish movie about a pair of brothers in, obviously, the Winter War. Been years since I have seen this and would love to own a copy if any one knows a source.
Piece of Cake- still a favorite around my house.
Great topic, it gives me a list of things to look for at Blockbuster next weekend!
Rick Cooper
Rick--what is "Piece of Cake" about? Never heard of it.
thanks
DJ
sniper
Member Since: May 07, 2002
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Posted: Monday, September 16, 2002 - 01:10 AM UTC
OK,
Black Hawk Down - No matter what the accuracy, this film takes you into combat as no other has.
das Boot - Amazing in all respects.
Thin Red Line - Came out at the same time as Saving Private Ryan and didn't recieve as much attention. A great 'anti-war' film. Beautifuly filmed and makes you think a bit. Also set in the Pacific which I think is often overlooked.
Zulu - A man's man movie! I love this one. Great music!!
Schindler's List - Not a 'war' movie in the strictist sense, but it is one of the few truely important films. It is a 'beautiful' depection of horrible events. The cinematography is beyond amazing.
Best Years of Our Lives - Again, not a true 'war' movie (takes place right after WWII) but an important film in American cinema. A departure from the overly patriotic, propaganda-type movies made during the war. One of the first films to tackle certain situations.
Star Wars - Hey, it's a war film!
Love the original. Still the best.Lots of other movies I can't think of now. Sometimes a great single scene is enough to make a film 'good.'
Steve
SS-74
Member Since: May 13, 2002
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Posted: Monday, September 16, 2002 - 01:15 AM UTC
Don't judge me, but I also like Starship Troopers, it is really violent, it's got very cheesy dialogs.... #:-) #:-) #:-)
210cav
Member Since: February 05, 2002
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Posted: Monday, September 16, 2002 - 01:23 AM UTC
Quoted Text
OK,
Black Hawk Down - No matter what the accuracy, this film takes you into combat as no other has.
das Boot - Amazing in all respects.
Thin Red Line - Came out at the same time as Saving Private Ryan and didn't recieve as much attention. A great 'anti-war' film. Beautifuly filmed and makes you think a bit. Also set in the Pacific which I think is often overlooked.
Zulu - A man's man movie! I love this one. Great music!!
Schindler's List - Not a 'war' movie in the strictist sense, but it is one of the few truely important films. It is a 'beautiful' depection of horrible events. The cinematography is beyond amazing.
Best Years of Our Lives - Again, not a true 'war' movie (takes place right after WWII) but an important film in American cinema. A departure from the overly patriotic, propaganda-type movies made during the war. One of the first films to tackle certain situations.
Star Wars - Hey, it's a war film!
Lots of other movies I can't think of now. Sometimes a great single scene is enough to make a film 'good.'
Steve
Steve--wow, did you ever employ literary license on this one! I would have put the Thin Red Line in a category all by itself---- the worse films ever made by man. The only thing I could think of during the film was "when is this nonsense going to end?" To each his own...
DJ #:-)
sniper
Member Since: May 07, 2002
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Posted: Monday, September 16, 2002 - 02:01 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Steve--wow, did you ever employ literary license on this one! I would have put the Thin Red Line in a category all by itself---- the worse films ever made by man. The only thing I could think of during the film was "when is this nonsense going to end?" To each his own...
DJ #:-)
I appreciate your opinion, but could you be more specific as to why you disliked it so?
This was certainly not a war movie to be taken as a depiction of actual events. It was fairly well-recieved by the critics when it came out. I thought it was beautifuly filmed and daring in its approach. Personally, I like movies that try to explore something beyone the 'guts and glory.'
And if we are now judging the choices people are making, I will take issue with your picking The Great Escape. Worthless Saturday matinee tripe! :-) :-)
Steve
PS - One more to add to my list. Life is Beautiful - Very nice film for a very cinical world.
210cav
Member Since: February 05, 2002
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Posted: Monday, September 16, 2002 - 03:43 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted Text
Steve--wow, did you ever employ literary license on this one! I would have put the Thin Red Line in a category all by itself---- the worse films ever made by man. The only thing I could think of during the film was "when is this nonsense going to end?" To each his own...
DJ #:-)
I appreciate your opinion, but could you be more specific as to why you disliked it so?
This was certainly not a war movie to be taken as a depiction of actual events. It was fairly well-recieved by the critics when it came out. I thought it was beautifuly filmed and daring in its approach. Personally, I like movies that try to explore something beyone the 'guts and glory.'
And if we are now judging the choices people are making, I will take issue with your picking The Great Escape. Worthless Saturday matinee tripe! :-) :-)
Steve
PS - One more to add to my list. Life is Beautiful - Very nice film for a very cinical world.
Steve--let's not get vicious, cinematography aside, are you kidding me! You besmirch "The Great Escape" with the God-like Steve McQueen on a motorcycle and yet cling to the "Thin (very thin) Red Line." AH,hhhh. Okay, what is the story line in this movie? All I saw was John Travolta, Nick Nolte and a host of other has beens running amuck in a simple coordinate infantry attack. Pray tell me that people do not actually believe you attempt to take a position in the manner and with the leadership shown in this Hollywood doozie. The film did not even last long enough in the theaters for one to even contemplate a return visit. Where is John Wayne when we really need him? Beam me up!
DJ
sniper
Member Since: May 07, 2002
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Posted: Monday, September 16, 2002 - 04:23 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Steve--let's not get vicious, cinematography aside, are you kidding me! You besmirch "The Great Escape" with the God-like Steve McQueen on a motorcycle and yet cling to the "Thin (very thin) Red Line." AH,hhhh. Okay, what is the story line in this movie? All I saw was John Travolta, Nick Nolte and a host of other has beens running amuck in a simple coordinate infantry attack. Pray tell me that people do not actually believe you attempt to take a position in the manner and with the leadership shown in this Hollywood doozie. The film did not even last long enough in the theaters for one to even contemplate a return visit. Where is John Wayne when we really need him? Beam me up!
DJ
First, I didn't get 'vicious.' I was responding to YOUR critique (worst film ever made by man) by saying that I don't agree with your choices either. My original post contains only my opinions, nothing directed at anyone else's picks. Please don't scold me for doing what you did to begin with!
(Please notice the smiley faces in the posts!)Second, as I mentioned, this is opinion. Thin Red Line is not a documentary. It is a movie about relationships and how people react to conflict, isolation, death, etc, etc. More directly, it is a movie about how the filmmaker feels about these relationships and situations. I don't think this is a movie without its flaws either. But, I do think the movie works on a level other than that of say, Black Hawk Down, now one of my favorite films.
You mention that this is a 'Hollywood doozie.' Well, the guy who made it, Terrence Malick, is about as un-Hollywood as one can get. And, like I mentioned before, this was an anti-war film, not an action flick. There is no 'story line' as in traditional narratives. I think the viewer is expected to make their own conclusions.
And no, not every leader is Ike or Bradley or even Patton. Some sucked and were probably more interested in their own careers over the safety of their own men. But, the characters in the movie are each in place to represent various states of mind, not real people.
Steve McQueen is a favorite of mine. That dosen't mean he alone can save 'Escape.' And, you mentions has beens, so should we throw James Garner in that category too!
As far as the film not lasting long in theaters and not being a box office smash, I have no problem with this. Many of my favorite films are small and not succesfull at making lots of money. This wasn't intended for a 'general' audience or a certain demographic.
Steve
sniper
Member Since: May 07, 2002
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Posted: Monday, September 16, 2002 - 07:05 AM UTC
Has anyone mentioned Bridge on the River Kwai yet? There's another great one.
Oh, the recent A&E TV movie The Lost Batallion was also really good.
Steve
PS - Shouldn't this be in the TV & Movie catagory?
210cav
Member Since: February 05, 2002
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Posted: Monday, September 16, 2002 - 07:56 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Has anyone mentioned Bridge on the River Kwai yet? There's another great one.
Oh, the recent A&E TV movie The Lost Batallion was also really good.
Steve
PS - Shouldn't this be in the TV & Movie catagory?
Now, you made a good call. Lost battalionwas super good.
DJ
clovis899
#155
Member Since: May 05, 2002
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Posted: Monday, September 16, 2002 - 08:19 AM UTC
DJ asked about "Piece of Cake"...it was not actually a movie, it was a "Masterpiece Theatre" presentation of a British mini-series. It follows the story of an atypical British Fighter Command squadron from mid 1939 until Alder Tag in Sept. 1940. It was criticized in the U.K. over the depicition of some of the RAF fliers as being less than honorable at times. (UK friends, go easy on me here, this is what the American host of the show reported). I thought the story lines and characters were first-rate, even if some of them may have been those famous 'amalgamated' characters!
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I understand there is a film out on video that explores the journey of some of the Polish pilots who flew for the RAF. May be somewhat similiar, I hope to get a chance to see it soon. Don't recall the name offhand, "Blue...something or other.
Rick Cooper
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I understand there is a film out on video that explores the journey of some of the Polish pilots who flew for the RAF. May be somewhat similiar, I hope to get a chance to see it soon. Don't recall the name offhand, "Blue...something or other.
Rick Cooper
Folgore
Member Since: May 31, 2002
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Posted: Monday, September 16, 2002 - 08:24 AM UTC
Another series that first appeared on Masterpiece Theatre (I think) is the Sharpe series. I love the movies and I've read all the books. It's about a British rifleman who rises through the ranks during the Napoleonic Wars.
Nic
Nic
sgtreef
Member Since: March 01, 2002
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Posted: Monday, September 16, 2002 - 07:43 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Has anyone mentioned Bridge on the River Kwai yet? There's another great one.
Oh, the recent A&E TV movie The Lost Batallion was also really good.
Steve
PS - Shouldn't this be in the TV & Movie catagory?
Sure did my first choice great movie
how about
Lawrence of Arabia
210cav
Member Since: February 05, 2002
entire network: 6,149 Posts
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Posted: Monday, September 16, 2002 - 08:48 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted Text
Has anyone mentioned Bridge on the River Kwai yet? There's another great one.
Oh, the recent A&E TV movie The Lost Batallion was also really good.
Steve
PS - Shouldn't this be in the TV & Movie catagory?
Sure did my first choice great movie
how about
Lawrence of Arabia
Jeff--I have this slight hearing problem as a result of my life in the motor pool and never really enjoyed the theater version of Lawrence of Arabia. However, I received the DVD version with CC. Wow! Great flick, wonderful story line and superb photography. Good choice
DJ
mongo_mel
Member Since: June 04, 2002
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Posted: Monday, September 16, 2002 - 09:19 PM UTC
One I like from the '60s is "36 Hours" with James Garner. He is an American officer who knows the plans for the D-Day invasion. The Germans capture him and try to convince him that he has amnesia and the war has been over for 6 years. Trying to get the date and location of the invasion from him. Good psychological drama. I shows up on Turner Classic movie channel every once and awhile.
210cav
Member Since: February 05, 2002
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Posted: Monday, September 16, 2002 - 11:22 PM UTC
Quoted Text
One I like from the '60s is "36 Hours" with James Garner. He is an American officer who knows the plans for the D-Day invasion. The Germans capture him and try to convince him that he has amnesia and the war has been over for 6 years. Trying to get the date and location of the invasion from him. Good psychological drama. I shows up on Turner Classic movie channel every once and awhile.
Craig--good call. Do you recall Garner in Darby's Rangers. Inspirational film although historically inaccurate in many respects.
DJ
mongo_mel
Member Since: June 04, 2002
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Posted: Monday, September 16, 2002 - 11:36 PM UTC
DJ,
I remember him being in that movie but it's been a long time since I've seen it.
One of my favorite things in "36 Hours" is watching John Banner (Sgt. Shultz) as a home front guard.
I remember him being in that movie but it's been a long time since I've seen it.
One of my favorite things in "36 Hours" is watching John Banner (Sgt. Shultz) as a home front guard.
210cav
Member Since: February 05, 2002
entire network: 6,149 Posts
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Posted: Tuesday, September 17, 2002 - 01:10 AM UTC
Quoted Text
DJ,
I remember him being in that movie but it's been a long time since I've seen it.
One of my favorite things in "36 Hours" is watching John Banner (Sgt. Shultz) as a home front guard.
Craig--may I recommend to you not only Darby's Rangers but also the DI with Jack Webb. Two nice military junk films (ones you do not need to take seriously).
DJ
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