D-Day historian: 'Ryan' not best war film

CNN ^ | 11/11/2009 | Matthew Carey

[Deb]

The references I made were about scenes from “Saving Private Ryan” and not references to soldier actions in Vietnam. Is that what you thought?

[ansel12]

Did you or did you not bring in the generational category of “baby boomers” to your post?

[Osage Orange]

Yeah...pretty good movie.

[Deb]

I was talking about boomer film makers like Spielberg not understanding anything before the sixties...OBVIOUSLY!

[ansel12]

Like I said, you did not have to get generational like you did.

[Clemenza]

Private Ryan, A Bridge Too Far, The Longest Day are my three favorite WWII movies.

I don't know if Visconti's "The Damned" counts as a WWII film, as it is about Nazis pre-war. Gotta love a Euro-film that equates Nazism with homosexual debauchery.

[Clemenza]

Sadly, there have been no great Korean War films. M*A*S*H had its moments, but the book was superior (Hawkeye Pierce was a conservative).

[Servant of the Cross]

I agree with you on the teacher angle too. Reminds me of another teacher (professor) gone to war:

Lt. Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, 20th Maine (Gettysburgh)

[SunkenCiv]

“Saving Private Ryan” isn’t a very good movie, period. The ending is telegraphed at the beginning, and the rest of it is just suspense-free faux drama. Spielberg’s artless bashing of US WWII veterans as being continually engaged in atrocities didn’t help either.

[Skooz]

bfl

[mad_as_he$$]

My Uncle who was a the Bulge sat and watched Band of Brothers and cried through most of it. He was awestruck at how closely his experiences had been recreated. He died a few weeks later but told me on his death bed that he was so glad someone finally told the true story so we “kids” could understand.

[mad_as_he$$]

Enemy at the Gates.

[mad_as_he$$]

Stunning picture. They just do not get that full look anymore.

[mad_as_he$$]

I love that scene.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

So far nobody has mentioned:

From Here to Eternity or
The Bridge On the River Kwai.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I liked “Attack” with Jack Palance, Eddie Albert, Lee Marvin as the Colonel, and Buddy Ebsen. A pretty dark story.

[ottbmare]

See my post 15. First thing I thought of.

[Redbob]

"Great films from other countries that were fighting WWII for a few years more than the US.
Different takes, different action."

Yes, but if we hadn't gotten into it, WWII might still be going on.

[mad_as_he$$]

Excellent choices.