Posted on 01/09/2018 6:18:46 AM PST by Rummyfan
I was attending a Christmas party over the holidays and, in the course of conversation, made the following statement:
I cant watch very many war movies anymore.
My sister in-law, thinking I was talking about some kind of emotional issue said, Of course I immediately interrupted her.
No, its not some kind of PTSD thing or anything like that. Its just that I think Im hyper-critical and I end up taking myself out of the movie.
This caused me to think about all the war films I watched over the years and which ones based on my experience actually bring something to the table. As a caveat, I fully admit that most of my criticisms are purely superficial. The layman would never notice or appreciate the difference if it was changed to be more accurate.
Additionally, I was a helicopter pilot for 24 years, so if I dont notice that the guys in a stack getting ready to kick down a door werent oriented correctly thats not my fault, it wasnt my job in the Army.
(Excerpt) Read more at hollywoodintoto.com ...
One of the best war movies ever was “Breaker Morant” from the 1970s. It’s an historical account of 3 Brits being tried for war crimes in the Boer war in South Africa. Must see.
More of a "courtroom drama" than war movie, but it is one of the best movies ever made.
“Paths to Glory” is another one.
Dunkirk occurred because of the complete surprise success of the German attack and the nearly complete incompetence of the French command.
The British did not “decide” to strand 400,000 men on the beaches. It was forced on them as a war decision. It was that or surrender.
From what I have seen of pictures, film clips, and stories, the 1930 movie All Quiet on the Western Front was very realistic. The Saving Private Ryan of its day.
It's both - the trial took place in the theater of operations. Half the film is in the makeshift courtroom and the other half is flashbacks to the war events being testified about. All of it is in the military setting. I agree, its one of the best movies ever. I think the same director directed "Gallipoli" which is also very good but not quite as good as "Breaker Morant". It's one of Mel Gibson's earliest movies.
Most accurate Vietnam film, IMO...
The tea drinking surrender monkeys ran away brilliantly. Then in Singapore they surrendered to the Japanese force 1/3 their size.
Then they run home and slander France.
A post-WW II movie that was one of the first to spot the mental anguish of war was “The Best Years of Our Lives.”
While not a VNam war movie, one of my favorites is “Tears of the Sun”. A brutal depiction of the atrocities of a Central African nation against its own people. Bruce Willis leads a Seal Team to get some people out.
I agree with his opinion of all three. (I’m an “honorary” submariner”) The Naval League rated war movies a few years back and liked U-571, but made sure that the British got credit for the actual capture of the first enigma machine from the U-110.
Early Vietnam movie, “Go Tell the Spartans”, when we had advisors there before the $#!t hit the fan. Its like a forgotten movie with Burt Lancaster. Many good WW II black and white movies, staring the great arch villain Richard Loo, who we all loved to hate as kids.
My Uncle, a Korean War Vet loved Mel Gibson’s HACKSAW RIDGE.
Agree with your assessment of "Go Tell the Spartans". Another "forgotten" Vietnam era movie is "The Boys In Company C". I was always fond of that one ...
Gibson's "We were Soldiers" is also very good and historically accurate.
Bruce Beresford directed “Breaker Morant.” Peter Weir directed “Gallipoli.”
I’m surprised as a helicopter pilot that he didn’t mention “We Were Soldiers”.
Both fantastic movies.
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“The Enemy Below” is one of my favorite movies about submarines.
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OK. I was thinking Weir directed both. Thanks for the correction.
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