Posted on 11/26/2008 4:39:25 AM PST by mattstat
Here’s my list.
1. Twelve O’Clock High : Inarguably the best. No show, no false notes, no forced emotion like you see so much nowadays. No political correctness in the sense that there are no directorial heavy-handed “war is evil” sub-tones. No actors posing or posturing. Utterly realistic. This takes place during a time when the outcome of the war was by no means assured. The actors believe it: there is no foreshadowing of ultimate victory here as in so many other movies. A son of a general learns his lesson that even the privileged must do what is expected of them. Gregory Peck is the perfect leader, trying to get “Maximum effort” from his men, giving more of himself than he asks from anybody. 2. Tora! Tora! Tora! : Stays exceptionally close to what is known historically. Brilliant idea to have a Japanese director direct Japanese actors reading lines written by Japanese writers. Increases the sense of realism to a remarkable degree. The “special effects” are astonishing, especially since no computers were involved (Thank God). Gordon Prange (who wrote many Pearl Harbor books) contributed to the script—which is why we never see the emperor Hirohito’s involvement (Prange could never let himself believe that the Showa emperor was what he was). People who know me won’t watch this with me anymore because I like to point out just what did and did not happen at each moment in the movie. 3. The Train ...
(Excerpt) Read more at wmbriggs.com ...
Not only that, but being from the mountains of East tennessee, Sheen’s attempt at a southern accent was attrocious!!!!!!!!!
My wife and I got Band of Brothers through Netflix. When we finished one, it was hard waiting for the next one. It was a very good series.
We did get a chuckle out of Ron Livingston (Peter in Office Space). Could just hear him saying "I wouldn't say I've been missing it, Colonel."
That is, ME, being from the mountains...not Sheen....sorry...
I don’t know about ‘Bank of Brothers’ but Band of Brothers is awesome.
I don’t know much about war movies, but a top 10 without ‘Patton’ seems... broke.
LOL, yeah, those were some seriously dissimilar roles, but he played both very well.
Also, a rather short movie which is very intense and true to the book is “Red Badge of Courage”. It features two genuine war heroes, Audie Murphy and Bill Mauldin.
East Tennessee?! That’s where I live. I am an East Tennessee native and a card carrying member of Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. I used a distant uncle’s record in the First Tennessee Cavalry (USA) for membership.
Das Boot.
Grey Lady Down.
Run Silent Run Deep.
Hey neighbor....Townsend, TN here....
Should have been:
Das Boot.
The Enemy Below.
Run Silent Run Deep.
This Thanksgiving, I'm also thankful for men like Boonie!
Lots of people don’t realize how “Union” East Tennessee was during the War Between the States....It almost caused the state to divide into two separate states...
I do thank you, Hat-Trick...It was my honor and privilege to serve....
Well I think we all are forgetting a great movie in Braveheart. And I’d like to give a second to the Last of the Mohicans. WWII movies are great and I have most of them on DVD, but I like war movies that I am not familiar with.
Lastly, Gettysburg was a great Civil War movie, while God’s and Generals sucked. Ted Turner singing bonnie blue was it for me.
To expand the topic more, what was your favorite battle scene in a movie? Mine would have to be the Assault on Brecourt in Band of Brothers.
You must be a hockey fan???*GRIN* Me too!!!!!
Oops....That was to you about hockey...
130 posts and nobody has mentioned one of my favorites: “A Gathering of Eagles”: minimum interval takeoffs by B-52s and massive amounts of black smoke and jet noise!
I liked “Flyboys” in general. It was one of the better WW1 flying movies made, and the first with serious special effects. The major mistake of the movie from a technical standpoint was that they had every German pilot flying a blood red Fokker Triplane.
Another decent movie along those lines was “The Blue Max”.
There was also a good squadron level series on PBS several years ago about the Battle of Britian called “Piece of Cake” which is worth watching.
The music and scenery from Western Carolina “made” Last of the Mohicans....
It was mentioned 50 or so posts ago...This thread is stretching so long things are being missed, but it is a great thread....Thanks to everyone who posted here...
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