Posted on 05/30/2016 7:05:39 AM PDT by rktman
What kind of war movies best capture the day set aside in remembrance of the honored dead?
Memorial Day remembers those who have died while serving in the armed forces of the United States—in war or peace. As long as our nation produces these men and women willing to “bear any burden, pay any price,” our nation earns the liberty it enjoys. That is the eternal meaning of this day. When we walk out of a theater profoundly moved by the sacrifice of our soldiers on the screen—those are movies that evoke the sentiment of the day the most.
I have done lists before of the top war films that make you cry, but this is a “Memorial Day” list, so let’s single out those history-based military movies that exclusively highlight the loss of Americans in harm’s way.
(Excerpt) Read more at pjmedia.com ...
| I like a lot of the suggestions here. Mine is an unusual one, perhaps -- director Clint Eastwood's movie, Letters from Iwo Jima. Very unusual one because Clint pulled a fast one on movie goers by focusing a lot on the Japanese soldiers' point of view with English subtitles Shocking movie, great acting and includes perhaps Japan's most respected male actor, Ken Watanabe, who many recall was in Last Samurai with Tom Cruise. |
In Harm’s Way was the one film that helped me rethink the war.
A film about adults handling and being adults in the face of horror.
Agree on Glory. Also, I think Platoon is great...
The story of GI Joe.
The grittiness and long suffering of it.
Agreed. Though "fictionalized" (thinly), the story has an authentic ring to it. Probably because the book was written by a man who had been one of Admiral Halsey's staff officers (and had handled press relations from the period of the Guadalcanal campaign).
Speaking of Halsey, "The Gallant Hours" is a worthwhile movie, too. It's done as a wartime character study, like "Patton".
A Bridge Too Far is also on my list, but for personal reasons. It was released a few months after I got my wings at Airborne School. The scene portraying BG Gavin opening his legs just before impact always give me the willies, even 40 years later.
If I learned one thing at Jump School, it was "keep your feet and knees together."
During my tour in Germany, I visited Arnhem and the battlefield. IIRC, the Hartenstein Hotel was the location of the museum.
Yes, In Harm’s Way is a must-see.
Followed by another 12 pack and watch "The Pacific."
Weird. I thought of the Bridges of Toko Ri when I first read the list. Think Micky Rooney in that ditch.
Loved War Horse, and I agree, it’s among Spielberg’s best.
“...I wonder if we have enough strength, decency, courage and character to save ourselves now?...”
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I sometimes have a problem with seeing how younger people treat this day...I realize it is a “holiday” and people are off work and enjoy having the time with family and friends...
I only wish they took the day a little more serious about the real meaning of the day...
It’s great to cook out and have a good time, but let’s also reflect on what the day stands for...
To bring in a little Canadian content here, how about “Captains of the Clouds”? This one is a 1942 Technicolor feature with James Cagney playing a bush pilot who joins the Royal Canadian Air Force. Features nice, rare colour footage of Ottawa and Trenton (a Canadian Forces base east of Toronto) from that time.
An interesting connection between this title and the one I mentioned in my previous post is that Alan Hale Sr. is in “Captains of the Clouds” as one of Cagney’s buddies and his son (a pre-Skipper Alan Hale, Jr.) is a naval officer serving alongside Jim Garner in “Up Periscope”.
We Were Soldiers is Mel Gibson's good side at his best.
What else... Midway, They Were Expendable.
Oh yeah, The Longest Day belongs in the top tier. I'll think of some more.
A real hero’s story...
Yes,why not??????
If you liked “Day One”, you should check out “The Beginning or the End” with Brian Donlovey as General Groves and Hume Cronyn as J. Robert Oppenheimer. Pretty factual for being made in 1947. Also check out “Above and Beyond” with Robert Taylor as J. Paul Tibbets. Agree that “Best Years of Our Lives” rates a #1 position.
Never saw it but Canadians have always served skillfully and bravely in the cause of freedom (except when they were attacking us in the name of The King),so they (and others) also deserve to be honored.
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