Posted on 02/23/2002 3:46:01 AM PST by ReveBM
I'm trying to get some of the best war movies on DVD to show to my kids someday, when they are older. So far here's what I have in my collection:
Gladiator (OK - not technically a war movie)
Braveheart
Henry V (Kenneth Branagh version)
Glory
Tora! Tora! Tora!
Patton
Saving Private Ryan
Here are some ones I want to get when they come out on DVD:
Behind Enemy Lines (OK, I thought the ending was goofy but I thought it was good in capturing the atmosphere of Yugoslavia)
Black Hawk Down
We Were Soldiers
Can some people please add movies (preferrably ones currently out on DVD) to this thread, and why you think they are good?
I'm hoping that watching these movies will help teach my kids some of the following virtues:
1. Patriotism
2. Sacrifice
3. Bravery
...I missed a few I'm sure.
I'm also interested in getting films from different historical periods. Are there any good films (from a Freeper point of view) on World War I or the Korean War, particularly the Chosin Reservoir conflict?
Please note that I'm not interested in leftist, polemical "antiwar" war movies, though I don't mind movies that show war brutality, senselessnes or tragedy, provided that it's in a context appropriate to the conflict.
Also any movie that tells the Batan story.
I think that's what I like about it.
Oooooooooooooooh - I LOVED that movie!
Check out Belle and Blade to order videos.(they have lots of documentarys too.)
My favorite.
"Courage Under Fire" with Meg Ryan--the men in my family thought it was a bit hokey, but my sister and I thought it was great.
"Masada" with Peter O'Toole, a real portrayal of "give me liberty or give me death".
"Sink the Bismarck" (oh, I know the bathtub effects pale to today's computer tech, but whay the hey--it's a legendary story.)
What is the movie where Dustin Hoffman, as a centegenarian, narrates the story of his capture and life with Indians and the ensuing conflict between whites and Indians? A bit PC, but overall, very enjoyable.
I'm terrible with titles. There was a recent movie (fictitious) with Samuel L. Jackson as a Marine commander who was court-martialed for killing civilians in Yemen when they stormed the U.S. Embassy. A very good story, but the ending was a letdown.
Dare I mention "Pearl Harbor"? (most of the story line was sappy and silly but the attack scenes were awesome.)
It did a lot for American morale when it was sadly lacking.
Red Beach was a great one, based on the Marine invasion of Tarawa.
Zulu is a classic!
I think the Great Escape is being appreciated even more now, than when it first came out (1963) because it shows the incredible ingenuity of British POW's (even though it shows Americans taking part who were actually moved out before most events took place). Still a great showcase of British and American stars and the movie that clearly made Steve McQueen a superstar.
Patton is, in my opinion, the single greatest casting event in the history of Hollywood. I cannot conceive of anyone else playing Patton better than George C. Scott ... "A world at war and I'm not part of it! God will not stand for this!" By the way there is a movie called MacArther starring Gregory Peck which clearly was done as an attempt to copy the format of Patton. It is however a poor film and rather boring but there is some valid history there.
Lawrence of Arabia is an unusual film but does show very well the behavior of Arabs in forming small warring tribes who cannot cooperate ... until the strange character Lawrence decides (single-handedly!) to unite them. Great WWI type battle scenes and stupendous acting ... it needs to be seen on a wide screen, preferably in a theatre! (And have a large pitcher of iced tea handy, while watching.)
Little Big Man
Little Big Nose. I guess you favor a pc movie with your popcorn.
There is a mountain range that is famous in Hawaii, and it is onthe west side of Kaneohe Bay, 30 miles from Pearl. Pearl is on the west side of thie range, but it is shown several times in the west of the attack!!
Also, if you look at the ships on Battleship row, Only One of them is a real battleship, and that one was made after Pearl Harbor, allthe rest are amphibious ships of the 1960's era with some destroyers that are totally modern!! You would think that with todays animation and computers they would have gotten that right somehow!
Pork Chop Hill
The Last of the Mohicans.......a must see on DVD
Enemy At The Gate
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