Favorite Military Movies

The Washington Times ^ | Oct. 10, 2003 | John McCaslin, Inside the Beltway

[EdJay]

 Our item on retired and active military members being asked by USAA Magazine to rank their all-time favorite military movies (the most popular, in order, were "Twelve O'Clock High," The Bridge on the River Kwai," "The Longest Day," "Patton," "The Deer Hunter," "Saving Private Ryan" and "We Were Soldiers") generated considerable response from within the ranks.

 "I saw that article ... and wondered how they came up with those movies. Then I saw the writer was a retired Air Force officer. Well, no wonder," writes retired Army officer Bob Thomas of Guthrie, Okla.

 "Soldiers would choose a different set of favorite war movies, as would sailors and Marines. I can't believe no one mentioned 'Black Hawk Down,' 'Flight of the Intruder,' 'Gettysburg,' 'Memphis Belle,' or 'Full Metal Jacket.' "

[dr_who_2]

Didn't like it. Those Nazi's sure were stupid because they timed their grenades so that Clint could just pick them up and throw them back at them. Struck me as a formula movie: pair old respected actor who can't do many good stunts with dashing new actor who gets all the action scenes. That Welsh actor whose name eludes me didn't really add much to the movie. There was a funny parody where the Richard Burton character gets lots of dialogue with some sharped tongued Nazi commander character. Every time the camera switches over to the Richard Burton-like character, he's just finishing off another shot glass of scotch that never seems to become empty.

[dfwgator]

Oh that's right. Battleground, not Battlefield. Good one.

Now if you are talking war documentaries, Battlefield rocks!!!! The one show that is worth watching PBS for.

[EdJay]

Hey, thanks for reminding me of Soldier of Orange. (I think it was Soldier, not Soldiers ....???) Haven't thought about that movie in YEARS. But it's a good 'un.

For those who don't know it: it's a Dutch movie, about the Dutch Resistance in WWII. Probably the only Dutch movie I ever saw, LOL.

[KneelBeforeZod]

here is a really cool website. tons of info...

Saving Private Ryan Online Encyclopedia

Lots of info on the events, equipment etc that are in the movie.

[EdJay]

And thanks to everybody for all the suggestions. Some real winners here.

I am making a list for my video nights this winter.

[dfwgator]

"The Longest Day" was nothing more than a chain of big name cameos,

Say what you will, it was still a masterpiece. The best parts were the parts displaying the Germans, it's nice to hear Germans actually speaking German in war movies, and the depiction of the battle at Ouistreham is still one of the most amazing cinematic achievements.

[dr_who_2]

Ballad of a Soldier

[blam]

"Das Boot "

I served on diesel subs in the early 60's. Das Boot was the most realistic sub movie ever made.

[KneelBeforeZod]

WOLVERINES!!!!!

[irishtenor]

The Patriot, Braveheart, The Last Remake Of Beau Geste.

[dr_who_2]

"Hamsun" and "The Last Lieutenant" were watchable. "The Last Lieutenant"'s ending sort of sucked though.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

Met Lee Ermey in person three weeks ago. Our base will be the subject of a mail call episode. Awesome speaker.

[MarkL]

I'm curious which movies Freepers would add, and why. Myself, I liked "Glory."

How about: "A Bridge Too Far," "Platoon," "Zulu," "The Great Escape," "Paths of Glory," "All Quiet on the Western Front," "Das Boot," "Gallipoli."

Glory was a very good and powerful movie. I was SO excited when I was in the checkout line at Target, and I noticed the discount DVDs, and one was "The Great Escape!" Only $9.44!

Mark

[dfwgator]

Another good one is "Operation Daybreak" which was about the Czech resistance fighters who assassinated Heydrich in Prague.

[squidly]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH That's a war face!

[Sci Fi Guy]

I love the movies made during WW2.

Wake Island

Sahara

Action in the North Atlantic

Flying Leathernecks

They were expendable

Tora Tora Tora (made much later of course)

The Red Badge of Courage (with Audie Murphy)Not about WW2, but starring a WW2 Hero.

Stalag 17

[<1/1,000,000th%]

I didn't see anyone mention "Midway". I realize Chuck is killed in the end, but there's great footage of carrier operations.

[hawkeye101]

The Fighting Sullivans. If you don't shed a tear for those brave brothers and their family at the end of the film there is something wrong with you.

[Lion in Winter]

I know of a really great movie about Austrailian horse cavalry during WWI. It was called, "THE LIGHTHORSE MEN".

It was about a group of Australians in the last successful Horse Cavalry charge in a modern war. It was about a battle in Ber Sheba in Turkey, I think.

Good story and quite action packed.

[dr_who_2]

Darn right. Herr Colonel Zanuck, escort zee prizoners to zee caztle dungeon. I vill perzonally take zem to zee zee Fuhrer! Sieg Heil!