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100 Greatest War Film -- What is your favorite war movie?
Channel 4 ^ | 2-6-006 | Channel 4

Posted on 02/08/2006 7:32:44 PM PST by Bender2

Channel 4 brings you the results of the 100 Greatest War Films of all time, as voted for you.

1. Saving Private Ryan, 1998 The first 20 minutes of Saving Private Ryan is a visual assault, acclaimed as one of cinema's most accurate realisations of warfare. Capt John Miller (Tom Hanks) is among the US troops storming Omaha Beach on D-Day. Thereafter, you follow this everyman soldier on a humanitarian military mission to rescue the surviving brother of three soldiers killed in the same week. Spielberg crafts a shocking and moving illustration of the Second World War.

2. Apocalypse Now, 1979 Francis Ford Coppola's epic hallucination of the Vietnam War, in which Martin Sheen journeys through Vietnam and Cambodia to terminate a flipped-out renegade US colonel played by Marlon Brando. The shoot was notoriously troubled, but the result is a war movie unlike any other: a spectacular opera, a straightforward plot blown up by rampant imagination, and a deft comment on America's Vietnam folly.

(Excerpt) Read more at channel4.com ...


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: betweenthestates; civil; film; indian; mini; movie; one; series; terror; tv; war; world
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To: Fruitbat
As Milius says in the interview "But Hollywood itself, they bring me the steaming shovel full of s**t everyday."

You pays your nickle and takes your chances, even in Lal Lal Land...

321 posted on 02/09/2006 7:01:22 PM PST by Bender2 (Thanks to ya'll who've read the first three chapters of my Science Fiction novel...)
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To: Bender2
Peck's The Big Country is on TCM right now...

A pacifist western (as I recall, Peck wears English riding breeches thru the entire movie), but the score by Jerome Moross is great, and so is some of the scenery.

322 posted on 02/09/2006 7:06:04 PM PST by LibFreeOrDie (L'Chaim!)
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To: Fruitbat

I liked this part from http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/401/401150p1.html:

IGNFF: Do you think it's because egotism has been co-opted? A lot of people look at the '70s and see it as this grand, creative time where the filmmakers were afforded an extraordinary level of control.

MILIUS: The filmmakers always have a great level of control. I mean, when I made one of my best films, which I made most recently, Rough Riders – I don't know if you've seen Rough Riders?

IGNFF: Yes.

MILIUS: Well, I think that's one of my very best films. And they had a lot of controls on me, at Turner, and I just ran over them.

IGNFF: With any rebuttal from them?

MILIUS: Oh yeah, they hated me, but I got the film made, didn't I?

IGNFF: And in the end that's what matters...

MILIUS: Well, you know, that's what you have to do. You have to be true to the vision that you start out to do, otherwise what are you even there for?

IGNFF: How did they try and restrain you? What points did they say needed restraint, when they say, "We're working with John Milius, these are the things we need to look out for." What, in their mind, were the things they needed to look out for?

MILIUS: Well, I mean, when somebody comes in and gives you script notes and ideas that they would like about certain things in there, and you don't know who this person is. They have no qualifications, you know? That's just insane. I mean, I'm willing to listen – to anybody. I always listen to anybody. But I'm not going to take orders from somebody like that.

IGNFF: Especially if you feel it's detrimental to the product.

MILIUS: And it always is. Especially when they want to take out things, or change things that will vastly change the story that you're going to do, or vastly change the realism of it, or the motivations of characters and things like that.


323 posted on 02/09/2006 7:06:15 PM PST by Bender2 (Thanks to ya'll who've read the first three chapters of my Science Fiction novel...)
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To: LibFreeOrDie
Re: The Big Country... A pacifist western...

I think you miss the mark here. Peck's eastern character seems to have more class than the wester ones, but down deep, when it come time for the nut cutting, James McKay proves just as hard as the Major, Rufus or Steve Leach.

I would call it a comparison of manners between the Old East and the Old West...

BTW in real time in the film now on TCM, the Hannasseys have Julie Maragon hostage and Jim has just found out. The shinola is headed for the fan!

324 posted on 02/09/2006 7:15:05 PM PST by Bender2 (Thanks to ya'll who've read the first three chapters of my Science Fiction novel...)
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To: Bender2

Nah, I find the Peck character an annoying do-gooder.

BTW, a much better Western role for Heston was "Will Penny."



325 posted on 02/09/2006 7:27:32 PM PST by LibFreeOrDie (L'Chaim!)
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To: LibFreeOrDie
Re: Nah, I find the Peck character an annoying do-gooder. BTW, a much better Western role for Heston was "Will Penny."

Well, we will just have to agree to disagree...

Or we can shoot it out! Get your Thompson and meet me at the old deserted Corsicana K-Mart parking lot on Highway 31 at midnight...

326 posted on 02/09/2006 7:33:49 PM PST by Bender2 (Thanks to ya'll who've read the first three chapters of my Science Fiction novel...)
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To: nomorelurker
That movie is horrible in almost ALL the details. First, Guenther Lutjens is portrayed as a Nazi fanatic. He was the opposite. One of the great photos of the BISMARCK was taken during Hitler's inspection where Lutjens is the ONLY military person in shot giving Hitler the MILITARY salute. He protested the treatment of Jewish officers to Raeder.

Second, Lutjens was a fatalist on the mission. He failed to top off at Bergen, leaving BISMARCK several thousand tons of oil short, which coupled with the hit she took in the Denmark Strait forced BISMARCK to travel at 27 rather than 30 knots towards France to conserve fuel. At 30 knots, the Brits may not have caught her. In the Denmark Strait, Lutjens refused to order BISMARCK to fire on the HOOD for sufficient duration for Lindemann to issue the order saying he wasn't going to have his ship shot out from under him without a fight.

The major error, however, is the battle of Denmark Strait itself. The film fails to show that BISMARCK [initially leading] and PRINZ EUGEN changed station during the night before the battle, and the British mistook the now leading cruiser for the battleship. HOOD's initial engagement was with EUGEN - for some two minutes. EUGEN hit HOOD at extreme range for 8' guns - and the fire control data was being fed to BISMARCK - with lethal effect.

The movie also left out the facts that: BISMARCK's long radio transmissions helped the British find him [the Germans referred to their ships in the masculine gender, and called their sailors soldiers] after they lost him; that the BISMARCK went past a U.S Coast Guard cutter during her flight, and that the copilot of the PBY that found her was an American.

That being said, I saw it several times when it came out, and own a DVD or VHS of the movie.
327 posted on 02/09/2006 7:39:52 PM PST by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: Bender2

And an executive producer, co-creator and writer of the HBO series "ROME" [Thirteen!! Thirteeen!!]


328 posted on 02/09/2006 7:46:19 PM PST by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: Bender2

No ! No ! flee East. Palestine is the promised land less than 1 hr away.


329 posted on 02/09/2006 7:51:58 PM PST by nomorelurker (wetraginhell)
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To: PzLdr
Re: That movie is horrible in almost ALL the details. First, Guenther Lutjens is portrayed as a Nazi fanatic. He was the opposite. One of the great photos of the BISMARCK was taken during Hitler's inspection where Lutjens is the ONLY military person in shot giving Hitler the MILITARY salute. He protested the treatment of Jewish officers to Raeder.

Second, Lutjens was a fatalist on the mission. He failed to top off at Bergen, leaving BISMARCK several thousand tons of oil short, which coupled with the hit she took in the Denmark Strait forced BISMARCK to travel at 27 rather than 30 knots towards France to conserve fuel. At 30 knots, the Brits may not have caught her. In the Denmark Strait, Lutjens refused to order BISMARCK to fire on the HOOD for sufficient duration for Lindemann to issue the order saying he wasn't going to have his ship shot out from under him without a fight.

The major error, however, is the battle of Denmark Strait itself. The film fails to show that BISMARCK [initially leading] and PRINZ EUGEN changed station during the night before the battle, and the British mistook the now leading cruiser for the battleship. HOOD's initial engagement was with EUGEN - for some two minutes. EUGEN hit HOOD at extreme range for 8' guns - and the fire control data was being fed to BISMARCK - with lethal effect.

The movie also left out the facts that: BISMARCK's long radio transmissions helped the British find him [the Germans referred to their ships in the masculine gender, and called their sailors soldiers] after they lost him; that the BISMARCK went past a U.S Coast Guard cutter during her flight, and that the copilot of the PBY that found her was an American.

Don't hold back, Panzer... Tell us... what did you not like about the film?

I thought the English actors were a little faggy...

I was just telling that to Wilbur the other night... Lutjens blew the whole mission!

330 posted on 02/09/2006 7:58:17 PM PST by Bender2 (Thanks to ya'll who've read the first three chapters of my Science Fiction novel...)
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To: nomorelurker
Re: Palestine is the promised land less than 1 hr away.

That's right, nomore... Most of the Yankees here on FR don't realize that Palestine is in Texas...

#2 and I go fishing at his cousin Wick's lot on Lake Palestine. I got to say old Wick sure does do a great job of security! I've not seen one Arab water skier there in years...

331 posted on 02/09/2006 8:04:25 PM PST by Bender2 (Thanks to ya'll who've read the first three chapters of my Science Fiction novel...)
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To: Bender2
I think Lutjens was burned out. I believe he commanded the SCHARNHORST and GNIESENAU when they sank the RAWALPINDI [1939]. He commanded them during the Norwegian operation, and drew off the REPULSE[?]. Not sure if he sunk the GLORIOUS. He commanded them again during their commerce raid in 1941, and took them into Brest shortly before he left to run the RHINE EXERCISE. By the time he took out BISMARCK and PRINZ EUGEN, he had commanded major surface units in every German operation except the pocket battleships. They should have sent someone else.
332 posted on 02/09/2006 8:14:52 PM PST by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: PzLdr
Re: They should have sent someone else. Yes, I agree, he took an excellent military opportunity and snatched defeat from the jaws of victory numerous times in Bismark's voyage. Seems I recall that Raeder did not tell Hitler of the mission until it was already underway. Adolf got his panties in a wad, but Raeder got him to calm down and not call them back.

All in all, the mission was one more of the Nazi's poor use of Naval capabilities. Had they build 40 more U-boats instead of the Bismark and Tirpitz they would have starved the Brits out by 1941 before we came in...

Still, I'm more than glad the did screw up. I'd chafe under Nazi rule.

333 posted on 02/09/2006 8:26:17 PM PST by Bender2 (Thanks to ya'll who've read the first three chapters of my Science Fiction novel...)
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To: Bender2
When BISMARCK and TIRPITZ were laid down [early 1939], Raeder was in the middle of building a balanced fleet under the 'Z' Plan, having been assured by his Fuehrer that war was not on the horizon. Those plans included two fleet carriers, and six or eight battleships of a class larger than the BISMARCKS [I believe three triple turrets of 16" guns], plus cruisers, destroyers, etc, and more U-boats. Problems from Raeder's point of view: His Fuehrer lied to him, and until Hitler's personal intervention, no Naval air arm worth a rat's ass because Goering wouldn't give up control of the air assets. So, as Rummy would say, "He went to war with what he had".
334 posted on 02/09/2006 8:33:51 PM PST by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: beachn4fun; Bender2

after we were soldiers came out i watched a PBS show with about 12 or 13 vets who were there at a viewing of the film.
in the round table discussion afterwards the moderator asked each and every one of them what % of the film was hollywood and what % was accurate.
the lowest rating from anyone there was 95% accurate 5% hollywood. and many of the guys choked up talking about the battle.

hey Bender2, just thought of another good one.
NO man is an island with jeffery hunter i think.


335 posted on 02/09/2006 8:36:12 PM PST by 537cant be wrong (vampires stole my lunch money !)
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To: 537cant be wrong
Re: ...many of the guys choked up talking about the battle... & just thought of another good one. NO man is an island with jeffery hunter i think.

Yep, No Man Is an Island (1962) The true story of George Tweed (Jeffrey Hunter), an American sailor who became the only serviceman on the island of Guam to hide out from the Japs.

I vaguely remember it... Probably haven't seen it since its release.

AS to We Were Soldiers, it is dead on as far as I am concerned... I had a good friend who was there and he spoke about many times before he passed on last year. He even looked a lot like Sam Elliott who played Sgt. Maj. Plumley.

336 posted on 02/09/2006 9:15:56 PM PST by Bender2 (Thanks to ya'll who've read the first three chapters of my Science Fiction novel...)
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To: PzLdr
And aren't we lucky Adolf was such a liar...

Yet, even if they has waited and gone to war with the Plan Z fleet, the Nazi's would have eventually lost as they had too many fingers in too many pies. They failed to concentrate their assets on their primary objectives after the Fall of France. That was their high tide mark when they did not invade and take Britain out of the war. Even the Russian invasion's masterful start was marked by Hitler's dabbling in strategy and tactics until their initial advantage was wasted away.

Yes, sir ree! I am damned happy "They went to war with what they had."

337 posted on 02/09/2006 9:25:53 PM PST by Bender2 (Thanks to ya'll who've read the first three chapters of my Science Fiction novel...)
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To: Bender2

Yep, that's the one, haven’t seen it in years. A friend of mine who has since passed away had a copy. Good movie.


338 posted on 02/09/2006 10:09:01 PM PST by Sauce
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To: Sauce
Had to go back to see what film you were speaking of... Yes, I first read about The Beast of War aka The Beast in 1987 when it was being shot under the working title 'Motherland' as I recall.

The film came out and tanked in very limited release. I did not see it until about a year or so later on HBO or Showtime. I watched it several times and thought it had very good parts (The mechanics of firing and running the tank) and some bad parts (The Mahjadeen letting an infidel prisoner live even if he claimed to be Muslim). They were cruel fighters even when they were on our 'side' back then.

I did not like the attempt to humanize the Soviets even as I know they are flesh and blood. They were invaders and needed killing without mercy. I feel the same about the radical Islamic ragheads attacking us now...

As they say, no bastard won a war by dying for their country. The war is won by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his!

I say we get them all to their 72 virgins ASAP!

339 posted on 02/09/2006 10:51:24 PM PST by Bender2 (Thanks to ya'll who've read the first three chapters of my Science Fiction novel...)
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To: Bender2

"The Boys In Company C" has some great scenes...


340 posted on 02/09/2006 11:03:48 PM PST by 185JHP ( "The thing thou purposest shall come to pass: And over all thy ways the light shall shine.")
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