100 Greatest War Movies of All Time (1 Viewer)

[Spitfrnd]

SIL was Ok but c'mon? SPR not deserving? Not well acted? ...........

With respect, I did not say SPR was not well acted or deserving in the abstract, just noting that it had real competition and that I would have likely put SIL ahead of it, albeit it would have been a close call. That you would rate them differently is fine with me, that is why they call these things opinions.

I did want to add that, as I hope I have made clear, I do very much appreciate SPR and I have both it and SIL in my collection. As to visceral or emotional impact or even social virtue, I agree that SPR is in a different league. Which one do I enjoy more, well it depends on the mood; SIL can just be enjoyed; SPR requires your commitment and, for me, the right mood.

 

[gk5717]

Chris, I certainly wouldn,t classify "Platoon" as crap, nor even put it next to Apocolyps Now, now that was a crappy movie. I never understood it.
After SPR #1, Paths of Glory #2, I would give Platoon and Full Metal Jacket, neck & neck for #3.
I liked We Were Soldiers, but thought Mel Gibson came off to "goody, goody", if you know what I mean.
I would rather get a root canal than be forced to watch Shaekspear in Love.
Gary

 

[Spitfrnd]

...I would rather get a root canal than be forced to watch Shaekspear in Love.
Gary

My this thread has become entertaining. I just had my first root canal and if you use the specialist I had, I can frankly recommend it. There are certainly some on that list that I would enjoy less; Rambo comes to mind for example.

 

[Currahee Chris]

Chris, I certainly wouldn,t classify "Platoon" as crap, nor even put it next to Apocolyps Now, now that was a crappy movie. I never understood it.
After SPR #1, Paths of Glory #2, I would give Platoon and Full Metal Jacket, neck & neck for #3.
I liked We Were Soldiers, but thought Mel Gibson came off to "goody, goody", if you know what I mean.
I would rather get a root canal than be forced to watch Shaekspear in Love.
Gary

FMJ and Platoon couldn't hope to hold the jockstraps of We were soldiers once- it's about time someone got out there and showed the positive of American soldiers and how they executed in Viet Nam. There were tons of professional soldiers out there who were just as brave and courageous as their fathers were in WW2. You are right in the fact that Mel does come off as a bit too "goody goody" perhaps but I think that is part of the tragedy of the story in that it was 1965 and the Ia Drang was a showdown right before the "doubt" began to set in. The film is phenomenal and everyone of those actors did the Viet Nam vets a great service in my eyes- who can tell me they didn't feel the chills when SMAJ yells out "Gentlemen, prepare to defend yourselves" or when that one Asian soldier's skin peels off his legs from his severe burn trama. Or when Mel runs around and yells "Broken Arrow". No sir, that movie does our Nam vets much justice- a far cry from the nonsense of those worthless fleshbags Harrison Ford (Apocalypse Now) and Charlie Sheen (Platoon). It's all good and well that they may have opposed the war for whatever beliefs they may have had but don't sit there and go out and make a movie wearing the uniforms of our kick butt Nam vets and have the audacity to collect the paychecks that went with it- they outta go out and find some of those kick butt Nam vets and donate the entire check to whatever charity they request.

I served with several Nam groundpounders and they were some of the most professional warriors I ever new- it's one of those sad, terrible tragedies in life that they are the ones who suffer from the horrific flashbacks from PTSD or were slaves to the chains of drug or alcohol (or both) addictions but these worthless fleshbags like Ford and Sheen can go and make tons of money wearing the uniforms of these great Americans. I'm sure you can relate bud- it's like that clown Ice-T running around making money on TV as a "cop" on TV a decade or so after his rock "band" releases "Cop Killer"-it's just as crying *** shame.

STANDS ALONE!!
CC

 

[Warrior]

I'm with Gary regarding Full Metal Jacket, I saw that in the theater and it was almost like watching two movies; the first movie was marine boot camp where Lee stole the show and the second movie was the Tet Offensive and the battle within the city that ensued.

Plus, like Kellys Heroes, there are loads of quotable lines from FMJ, most of which are R rated.................

 

[jrsteel]

FMJ and Platoon couldn't hope to hold the jockstraps of We were soldiers once- it's about time someone got out there and showed the positive of American soldiers and how they executed in Viet Nam. There were tons of professional soldiers out there who were just as brave and courageous as their fathers were in WW2. You are right in the fact that Mel does come off as a bit too "goody goody" perhaps but I think that is part of the tragedy of the story in that it was 1965 and the Ia Drang was a showdown right before the "doubt" began to set in. The film is phenomenal and everyone of those actors did the Viet Nam vets a great service in my eyes- who can tell me they didn't feel the chills when SMAJ yells out "Gentlemen, prepare to defend yourselves" or when that one Asian soldier's skin peels off his legs from his severe burn trama. Or when Mel runs around and yells "Broken Arrow". No sir, that movie does our Nam vets much justice- a far cry from the nonsense of those worthless fleshbags Harrison Ford (Apocalypse Now) and Charlie Sheen (Platoon). It's all good and well that they may have opposed the war for whatever beliefs they may have had but don't sit there and go out and make a movie wearing the uniforms of our kick butt Nam vets and have the audacity to collect the paychecks that went with it- they outta go out and find some of those kick butt Nam vets and donate the entire check to whatever charity they request.

I served with several Nam groundpounders and they were some of the most professional warriors I ever new- it's one of those sad, terrible tragedies in life that they are the ones who suffer from the horrific flashbacks from PTSD or were slaves to the chains of drug or alcohol (or both) addictions but these worthless fleshbags like Ford and Sheen can go and make tons of money wearing the uniforms of these great Americans. I'm sure you can relate bud- it's like that clown Ice-T running around making money on TV as a "cop" on TV a decade or so after his rock "band" releases "Cop Killer"-it's just as crying *** shame.

STANDS ALONE!!
CC

I thought Platooon was a great movie. I served in the Army in the 80's with a lot of Vietnam vets and they said it was very realistic. And Oliver Stone who made the movie was himself a combat veteran of Vietnam. I didn't like the scenes of Americans commiting atrocities but it did happen, My Lai etc. And the scenes with all the dope smoking was 100% accurate.

 

[gk5717]

Chris, I didn,t like Platoon for it,s anti war statemant. But more for the fact that it was one of the first war movies to really in my opinion show reality.
Correct me if I,m wrong but Oliver Stone did that picture and was he not a VietNam vet?
To me it illustrates what the typical GI had to go thru and causes me to appreciate them.
Now back to a documentory. One of the best on VietNam was done by HBO a while back, "Letters Home from VietNam" That will bring a tear to your eye!
Gary

 

[Currahee Chris]

You fellas are correct that Oliver Stone was a Nam vet. I fully concur there, I just feel like, as Jr Steel points out, that it focused on the atrocities and things like that and to me, that flick got more caught up in that and it played into the negative stereotypes of American soldiers at the time. I know guys like Colonel (and later Lt. General) Hal Moore and a slew of the other guys who served there did their time to the best that they could and weren't appreciated for it then and I just feel like these flicks did what they could to continue to kick sand in their faces.

Gary- on that small soldier forum, not sure if you saw but me and that dude 75TH Ranger were in the 506 together and we both remember SMAJ Fitzpatrick- a Nam vet of the First Cav. To guys like he and I, SMaj Fitzpatrick is an infantry legend (yes, he is the dude who threw the MRE at me- see my comical military moments thread ).

My point is- and I know this is bound to happen with OIF and Abu Gharib is that somebody is going to go out and make a movie, sensationalize it a bit and there we go again- never mind the scores of thousands of troopers who gave it there all to make it a go.

Anyway, out of all of this, I hope everyone on this forum knows I love the effort all our Nam vets put forth out there and that so long as I draw breath, their sacrifices were never in vain. They were as heroic as any soldier in the Bulge, Antietam, Gettysburg or Valley Forge. And I hope they know that they got a friend in Mechanicsburg Pa- all they gotta do is ring the doorbell for three hots and a cot.

CC

 

[jazzeum]

I was looking through the list and there are some interesting movies in there like Love and Death, one of the funniest movies I've ever seen although I wouldn't classify it as a war movie per se. I saw that Apocalypse Now is number 2. It's a great movie although I probably would have rated it in the top 30 or so. Still an awesome movie with some great lines: "I love the smell of Napalm in the Morning." It's movie making emblematic of the time it was made akin to The Deer Hunter.

 

[kilted vampire]

With respect, I did not say SPR was not well acted or deserving in the abstract, just noting that it had real competition and that I would have likely put SIL ahead of it, albeit it would have been a close call. That you would rate them differently is fine with me, that is why they call these things opinions.

I did want to add that, as I hope I have made clear, I do very much appreciate SPR and I have both it and SIL in my collection. As to visceral or emotional impact or even social virtue, I agree that SPR is in a different league. Which one do I enjoy more, well it depends on the mood; SIL can just be enjoyed; SPR requires your commitment and, for me, the right mood.

I misread something and joyfully stand corrected!

 

[VIRIATO]

Haven't seen all these 100 movies, but I might make my favorites list:
1. Apocalypse Now
2. The Deer Hunter
3. Lawrence of Arabia
4. Ran, from Japanese master Akira Kurosawa
5. Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line
6. A Bridge too Far
7. Dr. Jivago ( Russian Civil War )
8. The Last of the Mohicans
9. Kevin Costner's western ( can't remember the name now)
10. German film Berlin the Downfall


There surely are many others that I can not remember now, and I guess the listers have listed the 100 they could remember.
The recent Clint Eastwood movies on Iwo Jima should be on the list: they sure are excellent like any Eastwood directed movie ( and better than Rambo for that matter ). I really don't care that much about the movie's message or ideology but about the way it is done and the mastering it shows of cinematic art. Saving Private Ryan and Schindlers List are terrific films but to me they would never make top 10, neither would Black Hawk Down ( this would probably be fighting to make the 100 ).
Would like to see Gallipolli, from Peter Weir, got to get it on DVD. Also need to see Alexander Nevski and re-see Gone With the Wind.
Love movies, would be glad to discuss my list with you guys.


Paulo

 

[UKReb]

Guys
What I found interesting when viewing the list is that in the top 50 only 10 were British War films. Channel 4 being a Brit TV station I am assuming the vast majority of voters were Brits themselves. One might have thought a few more patriotic votes would have got the British war movies further up the list, but that wasn't the case. So what does that tell you, not really sure but a few thoughts:

Brits appear to like/appreciate American war movies-as the remaining 40 top films are predominantly US. And at my local video store, run by my pal, new and old Yankee war films are still Number 1 rentals followed by the "slasher" movies.
So is it because the Brits dont make too many war movies anymore- resulting in the voting being a bit skewed?
Or is it because the US make good entertaining war movies?- I think so- even allowing for the usual BS heroics they are nearly always thoroughly enjoyable.
Is the stiff British upper lip war films now hopelessly out-dated? Possibly! Some of those Noel Coward RN Captain type roles can make you cringe today.
Have noticed though that the Brits have become the nasty guys in a few American war films of late especially those from Uncle Mel, and even in SPR, Monty took a verbal bashing. Food for thought!

But a growing trend I have noticed over the last few movie-going years is that 90% of villains in all genre films made in Hollywood today are portrayed by British actors.
Guys I assure you we aint that bad, still a bit stuffy perhaps which I put down as a leftover of losing the empire but we still are your major ally and very much entwined!
Reb

 

[Currahee Chris]

Guys
But a growing trend I have noticed over the last few movie-going years is that 90% of villains in all genre films made in Hollywood today are portrayed by British actors.
Guys I assure you we aint that bad, still a bit stuffy perhaps which I put down as a leftover of losing the empire but we still are your major ally and very much entwined!
Reb

Oh I'm not so sure bout that Reb!!

Take a look at today's popular TV shows here in the States and let me outline some of the "villians"

1.) American Idol- Simon Cowell (sp?)
2.) Hell's Kitchen- Chef Gordon Ramsey
3.) Dancing with the Stars- the gentleman's name eludes me but there is a British guy on there who always beats everyone up
4.) The Nanny- a whimsical one hour show about a friendly, though stern and direct British lady who goes around and beats up on American families- in their own homes even!!

I think we Americans know we have some self discipline issues and who else to better whip us into shape than the "Stodgey old dour and sour Brits??"

 

[theBaron]

Maybe the first example of that trend was "Spartacus", with the deliberate decision to cast the Roman nobles with British actors, and the slaves with Americans (excepting Jean Simmons).

And the more I watch Gordon Ramsay, the more I like him. He cusses a little more than is necessary, perhaps, but so do I (good thing I drive by myself), and the people he deals with need a size-12 in the tocchas.

Simon Cowell is a girl-real men don't judge "talent" contests.

The nanny-well, our ideal is Mary Poppins. Even Robin Williams found it necessary to don a British accent along with his dress as Mrs. Doubtfire.

Prosit!
Brad

 

[UKReb]

Oh I'm not so sure bout that Reb!!

Take a look at today's popular TV shows here in the States and let me outline some of the "villians"

1.) American Idol- Simon Cowell (sp?)
2.) Hell's Kitchen- Chef Gordon Ramsey
3.) Dancing with the Stars- the gentleman's name eludes me but there is a British guy on there who always beats everyone up
4.) The Nanny- a whimsical one hour show about a friendly, though stern and direct British lady who goes around and beats up on American families- in their own homes even!!

I think we Americans know we have some self discipline issues and who else to better whip us into shape than the "Stodgey old dour and sour Brits??"

Crikey
I had forgot we had sent all those clowns your way. On behalf of the British people I apologise for that and I stand thoroughly admonished.

 

[Spitfrnd]

Guys
...But a growing trend I have noticed over the last few movie-going years is that 90% of villains in all genre films made in Hollywood today are portrayed by British actors.
Guys I assure you we aint that bad, still a bit stuffy perhaps which I put down as a leftover of losing the empire but we still are your major ally and very much entwined!
Reb

I am not so sure it is a trend or new but one could say that a villain's role requires the most acting talent. Hence it is natural they would turn to all your classically trained actors. Then of course, the British accent lends itself so well to the speeches common to that kind of role. BTW, who does Hollywood still turn to to save the world every few years, good old shaken and not stirred, that's who.

 

[debrito]

Haven't seen all these 100 movies, but I might make my favorites list:
1. Apocalypse Now
2. The Deer Hunter
3. Lawrence of Arabia
4. Ran, from Japanese master Akira Kurosawa
5. Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line
6. A Bridge too Far
7. Dr. Jivago ( Russian Civil War )
8. The Last of the Mohicans
9. Kevin Costner's western ( can't remember the name now)
10. German film Berlin the Downfall

I would like to add Enemy at The Gate.....

 

[Harrytheheid]

Haven't seen all these 100 movies, but I might make my favorites list:
1. Apocalypse Now
2. The Deer Hunter
3. Lawrence of Arabia
4. Ran, from Japanese master Akira Kurosawa
5. Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line
6. A Bridge too Far
7. Dr. Jivago ( Russian Civil War )
8. The Last of the Mohicans
9. Kevin Costner's western ( can't remember the name now)
10. German film Berlin the Downfall


There surely are many others that I can not remember now, and I guess the listers have listed the 100 they could remember.
The recent Clint Eastwood movies on Iwo Jima should be on the list: they sure are excellent like any Eastwood directed movie ( and better than Rambo for that matter ). I really don't care that much about the movie's message or ideology but about the way it is done and the mastering it shows of cinematic art. Saving Private Ryan and Schindlers List are terrific films but to me they would never make top 10, neither would Black Hawk Down ( this would probably be fighting to make the 100 ).
Would like to see Gallipolli, from Peter Weir, got to get it on DVD. Also need to see Alexander Nevski and re-see Gone With the Wind.
Love movies, would be glad to discuss my list with you guys.


Paulo

Hi Paulo,
Just my own personal opinions on your list;

1. Apocalypse Now Certain parts of it pretty good
2. The Deer Hunter Very moving in parts
3. Lawrence of Arabia One of the all-time classics
4. Ran, from Japanese master Akira Kurosawa I don't know this one
5. Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line Some scenes are very realistic
6. A Bridge too Far Another all time classic
7. Dr. Jivago ( Russian Civil War ) Absolutely fantastic movie
8. The Last of the Mohicans One of my all-time favourites
9. Kevin Costner's western ( can't remember the name now) Dances With Wolves..?? - good movie
10. German film Berlin the Downfall Brilliant film. A bit harrowing when the Goebbles children are murdered - and when the young AA gunners carry out their pact to kill each other - but seems to be very realistic

Saving Private Ryan and Schindlers List Terrific films, for different reasons

Black Hawk Down Okay, but not one of my favourites

Gallipolli One of the most moving films I've ever watched

Gone With The Wind Sure the acting is now dated - so what - its still a cinema landmark

Just my observations for what they're worth. I think the main thing is to enjoy cinema, although I can't really in all honesty say that I enjoyed Schindlers List. It was more like one of those films that you really just have to watch if only to make yourself realise that the depicted events must never be allowed to happen again (I know, Cambodia, Rwanda, etc). I think the very final scene was brilliant though.

Regards
H

 

[jazzeum]

Haven't seen all these 100 movies, but I might make my favorites list:
1. Apocalypse Now
2. The Deer Hunter
3. Lawrence of Arabia
4. Ran, from Japanese master Akira Kurosawa
5. Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line
6. A Bridge too Far
7. Dr. Jivago ( Russian Civil War )
8. The Last of the Mohicans
9. Kevin Costner's western ( can't remember the name now)
10. German film Berlin the Downfall

I would like to add Enemy at The Gate.....

Rod,

I think you mean Dances With Wolves. I also wonder how many of us have seen all 100 films. I certainly haven't.

 

[redhugh]

FMJ and Platoon couldn't hope to hold the jockstraps of We were soldiers once- it's about time someone got out there and showed the positive of American soldiers and how they executed in Viet Nam.
CC

Hi Chris
agree We were soldiers is a great film, what did you think of the other Oliver Stone film, Born on the 4th of July(even though it had tom cruise in it). I thought it was anti-war in a different way in that it showed the difficulties for a returning injured soldier, the whole thing about him turning to the antiwar movement was like a secondary story line for me , but I'll never forget the scene of him waking up upside down in the hospital...Reminds me of another great 'war' film by William Wyler called The Best Years of Our Lives (won 7 oscars) about returning WWII vets which featured a character suffering from PTSD and that was made in 1946.