100 Greatest War Movies of All Time (1 Viewer)

[jazzeum]

This was discussed some time ago and rather than continuing the old thread, why not start with what Channel 4 in the UK considered the 100 Greatest

 

[Warrior]

Brad,
Thanks a million for the link; hard to argue with their top ten, they nailed it. The one difference with me is I'd have Schindlers List at #2 after SPR...................

 

[skeeterbuck]

Brad,
Thanks a million for the link; hard to argue with their top ten, they nailed it. The one difference with me is I'd have Schindlers List at #2 after SPR...................

That kinda funny Warrior, when I was checking out the list, I was thinking that Schindler's List should have been before SPR no behind.

As usual, I didn't aggree with the positions of most of the movies. About half I would not even classify as war movies and out of them most are not too good. They should have made it the top 25. Could have come up with a great list then.

 

[UKReb]

Although discussed briefly on another thread, "Paths of Glory" really should be in the top ten.
Couple of obvious reasons why I believe the great unwashed movie-going public never rated this higher.
Much too harrowing to watch in it's entirety but if you do view it I can think of no other war movie that leaves you so enraged at the absence of retribution.
But it remains, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the best ever made.

And as Douglas said to Kubrick "Stanley! it wont make a single buck-but we gotta make it-and those who do pay to see it will still remember it 50 years later.
He was right on all counts
Reb

 

[The Lt.]

George what I find amazing is that after reviewing the 100 movies chosen some of the best War Movie ever made did not make it to the list. As to their top ten hitting the nail on the head I feel only three listed deserve to be on it and Private Ryan by far is'nt my choice for one of them. Brad I knew you couldn't pass on starting this thread surprise it wasn't another poll ....The Lt.

 

[Warrior]

SPR doesn't deserve to be in the top ten? Sorry, you lost me with that one. The movie won for best director and should have won for best picture, Shakespeare in love was a better movie? Give me a break, the morons in Hollywood are wrong once again.

You had Zulu and Zulu dawn in your top three; now there's a shocker ........

 

[Spitfrnd]

SPR doesn't deserve to be in the top ten? Sorry, you lost me with that one. The movie won for best director and should have won for best picture, Shakespeare in love was a better movie? Give me a break, the morons in Hollywood are wrong once again.
........

Well count me in with the morons I suppose. I would have picked SiL over SPR as well. Better acting, beautiful cinematography, uplifting story, excellent dialogue. That is nothing against SPR, it is indeed a fine movie and certainly it deserves the substantial credit it received.

That Channel 4 in the UK list is interesting but I would take many exceptions with their top 10. Of course it is all opinion but I would definitely be closer to the members of the British Armed Services list referenced by the Lt. in the GoN thread.
http://www.rorkesdriftvc.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1111

 

[Spitfrnd]

Although discussed briefly on another thread, "Paths of Glory" really should be in the top ten.
Couple of obvious reasons why I believe the great unwashed movie-going public never rated this higher.
Much too harrowing to watch in it's entirety but if you do view it I can think of no other war movie that leaves you so enraged at the absence of retribution.
But it remains, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the best ever made.

And as Douglas said to Kubrick "Stanley! it wont make a single buck-but we gotta make it-and those who do pay to see it will still remember it 50 years later.
He was right on all counts
Reb

Interesting, I didn't know Douglas said that but it figures. I found it hard to watch but I am glad I did. I am also glad Kubric and Douglas made that sacrifice.

 

[Warrior]

"Well count me in with the morons I suppose. I would have picked SiL over SPR as well."

In no way did I intend to insult you or anyone else who thinks SIL is a better movie than SPR...........Speilberg essentially said he made the movie as a tribute to the men and women who served their countries during WWII and my father, his brother and my mothers four brothers all served in the US military; army, navy and marines.

I guess it bothers me that the movie did not win best picture, I view it correctly or incorrectly as an insult to those who served, maybe I'm way out in left field on this. It would have been fitting to give it best picture as a way to honor those for whom the movie was a tribute to; how many times in the history of the academy awards did best director not get best picture? If he was best director, should his movie not be the best movie.

That's how I see it.

 

[Spitfrnd]

"Well count me in with the morons I suppose. I would have picked SiL over SPR as well."

In no way did I intend to insult you or anyone else who thinks SIL is a better movie than SPR...........Speilberg essentially said he made the movie as a tribute to the men and women who served their countries during WWII and my father, his brother and my mothers four brothers all served in the US military; army, navy and marines.

I guess it bothers me that the movie did not win best picture, I view it correctly or incorrectly as an insult to those who served, maybe I'm way out in left field on this. It would have been fitting to give it best picture as a way to honor those for whom the movie was a tribute to; how many times in the history of the academy awards did best director not get best picture? If he was best director, should his movie not be the best movie.

That's how I see it.

I certainly was not insulted, just took up your choice of words.

Spielberg achieved his objective, it was a fine tribute. My father was a combat veteran of that war as well but like several others actually found it difficult to watch. He did appreciate being remembered in that fashion however.

I am sorry you think its failure to win best picture was an insult to those who served. I know that was not intended or taken that way by the WWII veterans I know. It has and will continue to be appreciated for the tribute and excellent achievement it represents. It is more rare than not for a picture to get both those top awards.

 

[Warrior]

Kudos to your Dad; the sad part is I've lost my fathers brother and three of my mothers brothers and the sad part is more and more of these heroic men and women, the greatest generation, are passing away by the day.

I guess it really hit me to see that entire front row of the theatre consisting of WWII veterans crying as the house lights came up the first time I saw the movie, an image I'll carry with me forever............

 

[Currahee Chris]

I guess it bothers me that the movie did not win best picture, I view it correctly or incorrectly as an insult to those who served, maybe I'm way out in left field on this. It would have been fitting to give it best picture as a way to honor those for whom the movie was a tribute to; how many times in the history of the academy awards did best director not get best picture? If he was best director, should his movie not be the best movie.

That's how I see it.

I'm with you- I thought that was just awful myself. If memory serves, I thought that "Beautiful life" or what not took best picture that year- the Italian movie?? Am I correct??

Either way, I think if this list is going to be taken with any measure of salt, you drop RAMBO off as #100 and call it the top 99 military films.

I was stunned that "We were soldiers once" wasn't even mentioned on the list yet crap like Platoon, Apocalypse Now and those flicks on Nam are in the top 25. I also thought the Patriot should have been in there somewhere as well.

WW2 Magazine did a list back in 01 or 02 which discussed the top 10 WW2 movies and From here to Eternity beat out SPR........

 

[jrsteel]

"Well count me in with the morons I suppose. I would have picked SiL over SPR as well."

In no way did I intend to insult you or anyone else who thinks SIL is a better movie than SPR...........Speilberg essentially said he made the movie as a tribute to the men and women who served their countries during WWII and my father, his brother and my mothers four brothers all served in the US military; army, navy and marines.

I guess it bothers me that the movie did not win best picture, I view it correctly or incorrectly as an insult to those who served, maybe I'm way out in left field on this. It would have been fitting to give it best picture as a way to honor those for whom the movie was a tribute to; how many times in the history of the academy awards did best director not get best picture? If he was best director, should his movie not be the best movie.

That's how I see it.

I agree with you 100 % George. When SiL won over SPR I was shocked. I don't think I've taken the Oscars seriously since then. Whoe evn remebers SIL?? SPR will always be remembered. No movie ever affected me like that.
It sure increased my admiration for my Dad who was just an 18 year old kid when he was in WW2.

 

[Louis Badolato]

I agree with you 100 % George. When SiL won over SPR I was shocked. I don't think I've taken the Oscars seriously since then. Whoe evn remebers SIL?? SPR will always be remembered. No movie ever affected me like that.
It sure increased my admiration for my Dad who was just an 18 year old kid when he was in WW2.

I'm with you guys. I thought SiL was a cute little fluff piece, whereas SPR was one of the most important films of my lifetime - it managed to show the horror of war while simultaneously paying tribute to the veterans who gave us our lives. SPR deserved best picture, hands down.

 

[Harrytheheid]

This was discussed some time ago and rather than continuing the old thread, why not start with what Channel 4 in the UK considered the 100 Greatest

I think what is interesting here is the diverse differences of opinions.
Be that as it may, I have to agree that Paths of Glory was indeed a fine movie.

Cheers
H

 

[Spitfrnd]

I think what is interesting here is the diverse differences of opinions.
...

True enough, I bet you would get a different list with every group you polled actually. I guess opinions are indeed one of the two things that every one has; each being useful in its own way and one being more so if you don't take it too seriously.

 

[Currahee Chris]

Be that as it may, I have to agree that Paths of Glory was indeed a fine movie.

What does a movie about a pair of male figure skaters have to do with war????

Wasn't Will Farrel and Napoleon Dynamite in that flick?????

Oh, stupid me- that was Blades of Glory

 

[theBaron]

I agree with you 100 % George. When SiL won over SPR I was shocked. I don't think I've taken the Oscars seriously since then. Whoe evn remebers SIL??....

I'm with you guys. I like Shakespeare, but that movie was awful. I tried to force myself to watch it, but fell asleep 20 minutes in.

I'd watch "Pearl Harbor" all the way through, and that was an awful, awful movie, before I'd ever watch SiL.

As to the Academy Awards, well, consider the source. That's the industry voting on itself, and it's a self-perpetuating system. I apply the same kind of approach to movies as I do to collecting figures-I watch what I like, and I don't care what the blowdried set think, they have too much time on their hands, anyway. I think that if they had to work, do real work, for a living, they might grow up a little.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Spitfrnd]

... I apply the same kind of approach to movies as I do to collecting figures-I watch what I like, and I don't care what the blowdried set think, they have too much time on their hands, anyway. ...Prost!
Brad

Exactly the same approach applied by those who do like SiL There are quite a number of common hard working folk in that category. I do agree that whether something wins with the Academy is based on a lot more than merit. They do occassionally get it right though.

 

[kilted vampire]

SIL was Ok but c'mon? SPR not deserving? Not well acted? That movie was so intense I almost had stained pants! When those poor slobs opened the ramps to the Landing boats. The next thing you see is daylight through the guys helmet! I will never forget the horror that movie portrayed. 20 years from now people will say Shakespeare in What?? But not saving Private Ryan.

And I love Shakespeare very much...

We few , we happy few, He who sheds his blood with me this day shall be my brother.
Ne're he be so vile it shall gentle his condition........