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Posted by Slimdaddy101 (U2553470) on Monday, 5th December 2005
It's been getting a wee bit high-brow in here today. For some right relief: Favourite war movie?
I think mine is Das Boot.
Well, Gettysburg, Zulu (and Zulu Dawn), Breaker Moran, Kellys Heroes, The Cruel Sea, Battle of the River Plate, Ice Cold in Alex, Cross of Iron, Catch 22.
Phew, best stop.
Cheers AA.
Buffalo Soldiers
To AA's list I'd also add 'The Battle of Algiers' and does 'Dr Strangelove' count?
Has to be Zulu. Great cast, great scenery, great action, great story, great music. In fact it is just....great.
Hi Slimdaddy101,
As an old sea dog, RN submariner, 'Above Us The Waves', 'In Which We Serve' and of course 'The Cruel Sea'
Regards
Spike
I think I was a bit hasty in opting for Das Boot. Imagine overlooking Dr Strangelove! and The Cruel Sea. What superb choices. I'd also like to nominate Stalingrad.
All: I like all the movies mentioned. I would like to add "Enemy at the Gates," and "Kingdom of Heaven."
I agree... They're all pretty damn good movies...quick question though. Did anyone see 'Trenches' last night on Channel 4?
"Enemy at the Gates" is a decent enough movie. However, why, why, why? do they need to spoil a good story by throwing in some inconsequential love interest. It demeens the Battle of Stalingrad to a mere backdrop for Jude Law to get his leg over. (I much preferred the book)
Re: Message 2.
Arnald,
nearly your list, but in another order:
Ice Cold in Alex, Zulu, Das Boot. Long ago: The Cruel Sea and All quiet on the Western Front were my favourites but now they seem a bit old fashioned. I didn't see Gettysburg, Catch 22, Breaker Moran, Kellys Heroes. Battle of the River Plate and Cross of Iron are also among my favourites.
John's (Jesw1962): "Kingdom of Heaven" I want to see. However I saw some bad critique that the main player was less performing than some side characters, who played much better. However I think it is worth to see it even if it only was for the spectacle. Seen with my grandmother some black and white "Crusade" films, some 55 years ago, at eight I suppose. I couldn't even read the Dutch subtitles to the end, before they disappeared.
Cheers,
Paul.
I've just realised- my favourite war movie is Downfall.
How about "Bridge too far", or "All the Kings men"??
has the whole world gone mad?
no-one has yet mentioned 'The Dirty Dozen'
best flick by far.
"Downfall" or "Glory"-excellent films
, in reply to message 15.
Posted by Slimdaddy101 (U2553470) on Tuesday, 6th December 2005
I can't believe we that The Longest Day hasn't had a mention. All star cast with Sean Connery, Richard Burton, John Wayne. Top notch!
, in reply to message 16.
Posted by Slimdaddy101 (U2553470) on Tuesday, 6th December 2005
Incidentally, the worst war movie of all time has to be John Wayne in 'The Green Berets'. Its so dire that its almost good!
How can you all forget "A Bridge too far"?
Honourable runners up for me would be "Gallipoli", "Enemy at the Gates","Stalingrad" and "All quiet on the Western Front". All classics.
For realism though, the first 30 minutes of "Saving Private Ryan" is about the most realistic I've seen. Shame the rest of it goes all pants.
How about TV series while we're at it? My vote goes to "Band of Brothers" and "Warriors".
Cheers
, in reply to message 18.
Posted by KCLUndergrad (U2561619) on Tuesday, 6th December 2005
I have spent so much of my life watching Band of Brothers episodes over and over! Must be literally over a week, yes I know i'm sad!
Whoever said Ice Cold in Alex - YES! Brilliant film. Bridge too far is great too.
Not too many American films have been mentioned (as in films about Americans) - before attestation we had lectures about the British Army as an equal oppurtunities employer and one of the sergeant majors referred to Full Metal Jacket as a 'must watch training video' - very worrying!!
, in reply to message 19.
Posted by Slimdaddy101 (U2553470) on Tuesday, 6th December 2005
One of the best movies ever of any genre has got to be Apocalypse Now!
"Never get out of the boat!"
Some one has mentioned 'Glory', an excellent examination of the principles that people fight for.
The Soviet era movie 'Come And See' gets my vote for best non-English language movie. It takes the view of the un-important people, allowing the viewer only to understand what the main character can understand.
One of the best movies ever of any genre has got to be Apocalypse Now!
"Never get out of the boat!"Β
The helicopter attack was terrific, worth seeing the film just for that
I also admire Battle of Algiers, though to be pedantic, I'd call it a political thriller rather than a war film
While we're on foreign foilms, the samurai epics of Kurosawa surely deserve a mention, especially 'Throne of Blood' & 'Seven Samurai'
KCL,
I know exactly what you mean with "Full Metal Jacket"! When doing basic training, we must have exhausted every single drill instructor quote by the time we passed out! It was of course made even worse by being shown in the NAAFI during week two!!!
DL
(Now choke yourself!!!!!!)
As a great film extollong the uselessness of ward, hows about "Iron Cross" James Coburn and Max von Sydnow
I didn't think Sweden's finest Max von Sydnow was in Cross of Iron?
, in reply to message 26.
Posted by KCLUndergrad (U2561619) on Tuesday, 6th December 2005
Pretty sure he wasn't either. Lots of 'Russian' troops in Yugoslav uniforms tho, the attention to detail was awesome!
Still a great film though!
I think you can give them a break - If Spielberg can get away with using an RPG in the 1930's in 'Raiders of the lost'
Not too many American films have been mentioned (as in films about Americans)Β
You've reminded me of THE all time classic. "Pack up your Troubles", Laurel and Hardy. Good trench scenes at the beginning.
Yes, I know Stan was a Brit, but what would they do without us............
I think credit should be given to Gettysberg.... Out of all the war films I have seen, it is the most accurate....
I'll add my name to the 'Zulu' camp. For WWII, what about 'Enemy at the Gates'?
, in reply to message 19.
Posted by arnaldalmaric (U1756653) on Tuesday, 6th December 2005
Not too many American films have been mentioned (as in films about Americans)Β
Okay to address the balance, Hell is for Heroes and Pork Chop Hill. I'd include Battle of Midway but why any producer feels they have to include a love interest in a war film is beyond me.
I don't recall seeing any scenes from the Gulf War in Four Weddings and a Funeral or Notting Hill. (Mind you I have made an effort to block those films out of my conciousness and there could have been, or I could have dozed off).
Cheers AA.
Not too many American films have been mentioned (as in films about Americans)Β
Okay to address the balance, Hell is for Heroes and Pork Chop Hill. I'd include Battle of Midway but why any producer feels they have to include a love interest in a war film is beyond me.
I don't recall seeing any scenes from the Gulf War in Four Weddings and a Funeral or Notting Hill. (Mind you I have made an effort to block those films out of my conciousness and there could have been, or I could have dozed off).
Cheers AA.Β
Hi AA,
Regarding love interests, sex and death, winning combination mate! Besides, these things happen! Seriously!
Cheers
DL
(no I am not supplying any details!!!)
I really enjoyed Downfall last night. Thought it was a very good insight into the last days of Hitlers life. It was good to see current German thinking on the subject too.
I didn't think Sweden's finest Max von Sydnow was in Cross of Iron?Β
He wasn't. It was James Coburn, James Mason and Maximilian Schell.
We have all forgotten about The Great Escape. What a film!
My list would have to be: gallipoli, glory, waterloo, battle of austerlitz, sink the bismark and dawn patrol
, in reply to message 37.
Posted by Slimdaddy101 (U2553470) on Tuesday, 6th December 2005
And not forgetting 'Tora,tora,tora' of course.
, in reply to message 38.
Posted by Giselle-Leah (U1725276) on Tuesday, 6th December 2005
I just loved a 1930s film called "All Quiet on the Western Front" - IMHO one of the best anti-war films ever made.
I also liked Cromwell which although was a bio of OC, showed how devastating a civil war can be.
Another very old film, about 9 hours in length, is called "Napoleon" and was made c. 1910 by a Frenchman called Abel Gance. It was outstanding, and the actor playing Napoleon really looked the part, short, wiry, pointy face. Fantastic film.
, in reply to message 39.
Posted by Giselle-Leah (U1725276) on Tuesday, 6th December 2005
Oh I forgot one more - "Oh What A Lovely War".
Yes,'Apocalypse Now'.
'I love the smell of napalm in the morning'.
Robert Duvall
+music of 'Doors'-sort of 'no one here gets out alive'.
"Memphis Belle", a heck of a movie...."Apocalypse Now" is one of the best movies ever made, "Das Boot" I cannot watch a second time.....claustrophobia...these are my three.
"oh what a lovely war" was a good cynical critique of war. The same director's "A Bridge Too Far" was a great insight into the planning (or lack of planning) of a major military operation. They are both great films in their own right - with superb casting.
However, for an indication as to why wars are fought, look no further than Schindler's List - not an enjoyable experience, but it brings the sheer horror of the holocaust to the audience. It did not need to be in colour - the graphical detail was more than enough to say "this is why we went to war."
, in reply to message 43.
Posted by Slimdaddy101 (U2553470) on Tuesday, 6th December 2005
Although 'Shildlers List' was absorbing and chilling, I preferred 'The Pianiast' as an observation of that particular time in history. I would hesitate to call either of them 'war movies'. They are movies about mass murder and destruction of a particular group in society. Disgusting, evil and totally compelling.
Any votes for the Battle of Britain (1968)?
OK the plot & characters are weak but there are some great air combat scenes, especially the last big one.
The first half of Full Metal Jacket, The second half of Zulu, and all of Platoon.
Cheerz.
O K, what about The Dam Busters, and one of the finest U S films. We where Soldiers. If only for the scenes back home as the telegrams started to arrive. Oh, speaking as some of the group have, about Zulu. Great film, but nobody pointed out, that the defenders had Gatling Guns. But did anybody spot the mistake. In the last stand scene, One of the Red Coats is holding a Lee Enfield Rifle. Oops.
Fred
Grumpy Fred,
They also had the wrong bayonets on the Martini Henry....
They weren't called the South Wales borderers until after the wall...
"One of the Red Coats is holding a Lee Enfield Rifle" Was it a Lee Enfield or a Leer-Metford?
I remember when I was a kid my Grandfather took me to a graveyard in Gorton, Manchester - where we lived at the time, there was the grave of a certain Private Jones VC.... He died penniless apparently.
, in reply to message 48.
Posted by Plancenoit (U1237957) on Wednesday, 7th December 2005
You're quite right about Zulu. I don't think they were Welsh at all in reality, although there would have been a few. I know 'Hooky' was a Gloucester man, and the majority were English. There are a few inaccuracies, but I have to admit it is a good film, I must have seen it 20 times but I can still watch it.
Would you class Spartacus as a war film?? If so, I'd like to throw that one in for consideration.
Zulu is a classic, one of the finest scores in any film, and what a rendition of 'Men of Harlech'.
Colour Sergeant Bourne - The hardest man ever? I think so.
Spartacus is a great film, not too accurate though.
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