The Best War Movies Ever Made

Freepers who know their war flicks | June 25, 2002 | wimpycat

[wimpycat]

As a companion to http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/705904/posts' The Worst War Movies Ever Made thread, I offer you the best war movies ever made, and I wanted to get mine in first. Here's my list, in no particular order.

1. Battleground (love James Whitmore in this!)

2. Full Metal Jacket (love the DI, R. Lee Ermey. "Hard core, man! F***ing Hard core!")

3. Glory (even though it's not quite historically accurate and it's about Yankees, it's a very moving film, IMHO. Great musical score, too.)

4. The Boys in Company C (same DI as in Full Metal Jacket. Made very soon after Vietnam, but it's still pretty good.)

5. Tora! Tora! Tora! (forget Pearl Harbor, the movie, this is the definitive Pearl Harbor movie)

6. Das Boot (definitely one of the all time great war films--great camera work, great sound effects, it makes you feel claustrophobic. Best viewed on DVD with SurroundSound system. Make sure you watch it in German, with the subtitles, not dubbed! Awesome!)

[Tony in Hawaii]

That's 84 Charlie MoPic. You're off by 30.

[RobbyS]

Re: #49. R.E. Lee, a pretty good soldier, was also an engineer.

[tophat9000]

William Bendix... One of the all time great character actor... Always loved him in "Wake Island"

[wardaddy]

You forgot to do the sarcasm off bit....I tried to watch it on AMC last night after 25 years....it was horrible and so damning of the vets...a damned hit job...no way.

[wardaddy]

I can tell I'm getting older than your average FReeper. Nothing personal and thanks for the thread but 3 of your picks were too PC for me. Glory, FMJ, and Boys in Company C.

Das Boot may be the best ever from a film makers perspective...

Regards

[wardaddy]

I never knew that! and I've followed Das Boot for a long time.

[wardaddy]

Nice picks....glad to see Stalingrad get a nod.

[Pelham]

Bridge over the River Kwai

[wardaddy]

Man....I loved OJW ....I imagine most FReepers do but I always thought of it as a western....Long Riders bump as well.

[wardaddy]

Nice darkhorse pick!

[Light Speed]

In researching 2 Family members miltiary history's from England discovered that 1 served in 1882 in the Egyptian war,dealing with the Mahdi and the aftermath of Khartoum...he was with the Coldstream guards.
The other served with Clemsford during the siege or battles of the Krals, with the Princess of Wales Own.
I do enjoy both movies -Zulu ,and Zulu Dawn for there realism...
The Movie Khartoum does justice to the Legacy of Chinese Gordan..and gives us a good Kodak of Britians political crisis from 1882.
I like that scene where the Primeminister is talking to Lord Woolsey:..
"Don't you dare...don't you dare pull a Billy Hicks on Me"!

[Northern Yankee]

Enjoy the book!

I chuckle everytime someone asks me if there is anything other than a "Northern Yankee"?

Not that I know of... Of course then I often wonder if there's anything other than a Southern Belle?

[Northern Yankee]

I knew that about Joey Galloway.

He was/is a helluva reporter.

Interesting interview with Mel Gibson, and Joey Galloway on the web site: www.We were Soldiers.com

Worth checking out.

They also have a remarkable soundtrack to the movie that is worth purchasing. dedicated to American Veterans. I am damned proud to own a copy!

Take care, and keep your powder dry!

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

The Big Red One
The Dirty Dozen (yeah, I like Lee Marvin!)
Bat 21
Full Metal Jacket
The Longest Day
The Patriot

[wimpycat]

The best war movie ever made may also be the best war movie no one has seen. Well, a few people have seen it. It was a made-for-cable miniseries type flick called "Rough Riders." (Check out some of the customer reviews.)

I've seen "Rough Riders". It is, indeed, a good film. Tom Berenger does a great job as T.R.

[wimpycat]

Nice selection. I'm putting asterisks next to these choices of yours that I like and an "x" if I've never seen it, and a "0" if I don't like it:

Das Boot*****, Steiner X, Gallipoli ***, most Kurosawa flicksX, Last of the Mohicans*** (I considered it more of a romance/adventure than a war movie, which is why I didn't include it), the DuelistX, Henry V (KB version)*** (LO version is also good)....Bridge on the River Kwai**** and The Longest Day**** for their era.
We Were SoldiersX for a realistic and complimentary view. Apocalypse Now */0 (only the first part--the Brando segments are dumb) for the imagery....even though it was a rip off story.

Blackhawk Down....excruciating to watch...just rented it. X

Shenandoah...it moved me as a young Southern kid. (I don't remember if I've seen it or not--is it the John Wayne flick where he takes boy from the military academy over his knee and spanks him? If it is, that's a good one)

Savior....about the only non Serb bashing Balkan flick I know of. X

Breaker Morant....honorable mention **

Lawrence of Arabia....for epic proportions..LOL ***

Patton and Cross of Iron....nuff said. (I've seen most of Patton ***, don't think I've seen Cross of Iron)

Ride With The Devil...an interesting little WBTS flick of late. X

[DM1]

I must add a few

Patton
The Sands of Iwo Jima
Midway (Charlton Heston Rocks)
The Flying Tigers (these guys had some B@!!$)
To Hell and Back

[wimpycat]

Even though I always like Charlton Heston (my mom is a big, big fan), the only thing I liked about Midway was all the color stock footage. That subplot with his son being in love with the Japanese-American girl was a bit much, IMHO.

[wimpycat]

ping