Aside from obvious entries like SPR and Kelly's Heroes, here are a few of my favorites

The Longest day

Battleground

Stalag 17
I never get tired of watching the aforementioned three flicks; truly great films.

A time to live, a time to die
If you have never seen this, or even heard of it, it really is a great movie. It was filmed in Berlin in 1958 in some of the still ruined areas, so the realism is quite good.

Europa, Europa
Surprised noone has brought this up! Really one of the best WWII films
I've ever seen. The plot synopsis on IMDb says: "A Jewish boy separated from his family in the early days of WWII poses as a German orphan and is taken into the heart of the Nazi world as a 'war hero' and eventually becomes a Hitler Youth. Although improbabilities and happenstance are cornerstones of the film, it is based upon a true story."

Empire of the Sun
Really a great movie. If you havent seen it, make an effort to watch it. See if you can find a very young Ben Stiller.

When trumpets fade
Really a good movie about the 28th infantry and battle of the Huertgen forest. Unfortunately, it was overshadowed by Saving Private ryan, so it never made it to the theaters, instead, it was shown on HBO.

Murphys War
I *LOVE* this movie! I havent seen it in a very long while, but still a great piece of WWII cinema. Peter O'Toole rocks.

Enemy at the Gate
Like SPR, the opening sequences are worth watching it alone.

To hell and back
Hey, it's Audie Murphy man, what can you say?

Bridge over the River Kwai

Bridge at Remagen

Bridge too far


The rest of my picks arent WWII, but a mish mosh of stuff.

All quiet on the western Front

Sergeant York

The Beast
TANK BOY!!
"Afghanistan, 1981, and the Soviet Union is locked in a futile and bloody battle with the Mujahedeen. Separated from their patrol after a vicious attack on an Afghani village, a T-62 tank engages in a deadly game of cat and mouse with the local mujahed, led by the Afghan Taj. The tyrannical and increasingly unstable tank commander Daskal pushes the moral boundaries of the tank driver Constantine Koverchenko to the limits, with almost dire consequences."

Black Hawk Down

Shot Through the Heart
I saw this by mistake one night on HBO; a film about two lifelong friends who end up on opposing sides of the war in Serbia.

Hey guys, any one of you watched Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War ?

IHMO, a great korean war movie. Saving Private Ryan-like cinematography

You should see it

Here are mine.......not in order

Band of Brothers*****
Saving Pvt Ryan*****
Blackhawk Down
The Alamo (2004)****
Zulu*****
Tobruck
Gettysburg****
Tora ToraTora
Patton
Rough Riders
Gallipoli
Kelly's Heros
Sahara

No order as well..

Apocolypse Now
Fires on the Plain (Ichikawa)
The Deer Hunter
Ivan's Childhood (Tarkovski)
Galipoli
l'Armée des Ombres (Melville)
Full Metal Jacket
Cross of Iron
The Thin Red Line (Malick)
Archangel (Maddin)

hey Tanker26, I have been seeing Tae Guk Gi-really good! Korean cinema is really something these days, very few are better than Kin Ki Duk!

My list would have to have

Tora Tora Tora
The longest Day
We Were Soldiers
Black Hawk Down
Private Ryan
300 Spartans
Gettysburg
Braveheart
Sands of Iwo Jima
the Alamo
Zulu
Sink the Bismarck
Mister Roberts
They Were Expendable
Battleground
Hamburger Hill
Enemy at the Gate
Cross of Iron
In Harms Way
Blue Max

I've seen many war movies and only like a few. Most of the war movies have some issue which I don't like such as: a coward, a dame gets in the way, poor leadership (like the Lt. in ALIENS), someone goes berserk, power-struggle for command, everyone gets shot except one, or the war movie just doesn't make sense or ends abruptly.

The ones I like are (in no particular order):

* We Were Soldiers
* BAT 21
* 89 Charlie MoPic
* Horatio Hornblower
* BlackHawk Down
* The Greatest Raid
* Band of Brothers
* Sink the Bismark
* Battleground
* The Pianist (not really a war movie, but very good nonetheless)
* Schindler's List
* Shining Through
* Empire of the Sun
* The Killing Fields (I don't really remember this one except that it was very good when I saw it)
* The Longest Day
* Platoon
* The Winds of War
* Gone with the Wind = OK

There were a few "Made for TV" war movies such as "Napolean" which were worthwhile to watch although I wouldn't care to see them again.

Some in my list:

Band of Brothers
Saving Private Ryan
Taegukgi
Iwo Jima: Flag of our Fathers
Cross of Iron
Enemy at the Gates

will post more when I remember them. :-) :-)

My favorite is:

1941

Directed by Spielberg, this is from 1979. Dan Aykroyd is one of the actors, acting as a tank commander. This is a very very funny war film, find it and watch if you still havent

Cagin.

Hi fellas,

Just seen Guadalcanal Diary from 1943. If you haven't seen I recommend you to.... Marine ace Marion Carl pops in for a few seconds.

This is a late post but heres my list.

Enemy at the Gates (great pening but CoD stole it for singal player)
Band of Brothers
We Were Soldiers
Greatest Raid
Flags of Our Fathers (the actual fighting sequences)
Alamo (latest version)
Gettysburg and Gods and Generals (big ACW nerd) :-)
Tora!Tora!Tora
Great Escape (sorta)
Saving Pvt. Ryan
A Bridge to Far (Col Frost is pissed off at the other brits for not coming to his aid)

The Last Mohican sucked... he never reloaded and everyshot was a head shot and from personal experience those guns are B*@#h to carry and shoot with one hand... and in the middle of the movie when the british column is attacked he runs past atleast a dozen brits who need assistance and kills the random native to get the girl.

Oh come on man! It's one of the greatest movies ever! "Game over man! Game over!". I can watch that movie a thousand times.....more.

OK, What are the absolute WORST war movies ever?

I'll put my point-oh-five in for "Pearl Harbor".

Pearl Harbor was not a war movie it was supposed to be a love story. Besides who can forget Kate Beckinsale

I like "Dad's Army" :-)

The film or the series??

Still has one of the funniest Sit Com lines ever - "don't tell him your name Pike" - makes me laugh every time.

For our Non UK Members Dad's army is a Sit Com based around a Home Guard platoon during WWII, Great characterisations, good dialogue and ageless humour

Andy

I love both. As for characters? Some of the funniest I've ever come across!

"Aye! We're all DOOMED!! DOOMED!!! I tell ye!!!"

Pte Fraser was a crackingly lunatic character.

Or Cpl Jones... "Bring 'em on! They don't like cold steel up 'em, they don't!"

Also famous for "DON'T PANIIIC!!! DON'T PANIIIIIIC!!!!!"

A hilariously funny and slightly rude series and film that you could watch with any member of the family, even your granny .

Crackingly good!

I used to be in a Scout and Guide marching band - the Bandmaster was the spit of Captain Manwaring - looks and actions :-)

Captain Mainwaring and Sgt Wilson were funny as "chalk and cheese" the tension between them was supeb.

Just had a look on the web, There were 80 episodes made and a film.

Just finished watching "Jet Attack" from '58 and that film really made me smile.....
Don't get me wrong, it's always nice to see F-86's other Korean war machines in the air.
Anyhoo, I don't think if they used B-25 (Imight be Wrong though) in that war, certainly not marked in North African markings. Not to mention when this scientist was shot down, the B-25 suddenly turned into a B-26 in D-day markings.
Or, when they strafed the enemy airfield, which had several FW-190's on it....

It was a good laugh non the less. Have you ever been out for the same, watching film like this when you suddenly "what the?" and you can't help but smile....?
:-) :-)

What about inculding the russian film "Come and See". Its very moving and powerful as it is about a 12 year old boy joining the partisans in 1943 Byelorussia. It has some shocking scenes in it and shows the true horror of war.

A good film that should be added to the list to give a different perspective of war.

Dare I suggest In the Army Now? Ok I guess not. My favorite war movie, at least from accuracy, would have to be The Great Raid and We Were Soldiers.

Jeff

The Great Raid sounds pretty good, just heard about the now from your post. I've read about it now on amazon and I think i'll have to see it now.

Cheers

James

Its well worth it and has the best operation's order presentation in any hollywood movie.

Jeff

You know what is worth a watch? "Saints and Soldiers". I liked it, for some reason it came off as a really good movie. Not a lot of blood and gore, and good characters (though a few of them could have been developed more), overall, worth your time.

Hmm.. this is a toughie...


The Lost Battalion- Not many well done WWI movies out there...
"A Very Long Engagement"- OK, not REALLY a war movie, but it has the best trench scenes ever done in Cinema.
All Quiet On The Western Front- It's a classic!
The Blue Max- reasonably well done WWI Aviation movie with a good plot.
Death Watch- OK, it really was an attempt at a horror movie, but I think it shows the horror of war better. Set in the trenches in 1916.
Gallipoli-From what I have seen, it's very good.
Full Metal Jacket
Hamburger Hill
Memphis Belle
Gettysburg
Gods and Generals
Saving Private Ryan
Enemy At the Gates
Stalingrad
Kelly's Heroes
1941
Battleground
Bridge On the River Kwai
Dark Blue World


Hmm.... I can't think of anything else I would call a really great war film...BUT, I can tell you what DIDN'T make the list.

The Patriot
Flyboys
Battle of the Bulge
Pearl Horror...ermm, I mean Harbor

Ugh...I better stop. I'm gonna get nightmares...