100 Greatest War Movies of All Time (2 Viewers)

[Cardigan600]

Yo Troopers got to have my say on this. Have seen all the movies and SPR stands out on its own. Now being a Brit and seeing what the US guys had to face on the beach, is something I will never forget how many young GIs died never even getting to the beach it was an awesome scene, you read about it but when you see how it actually was is something else. No Hollywood gung ho here and winning the war single handed like so many US war films. Us Brits might be stiffed lips as you guys say, but boy what a disiplined Army we have. To to give you an example, we were on Nato War games in Germany in the 1960s in the middle of nowhere, and we parked the Tanks up to grab some dinner, eating compo rations out of tins (disgusting stuff) but it kept you alive, and the American Tanks were across in the next field, and we could not believe our eyes out of nowhere comes an ice-cream wagon & and coke wagon for the American guys. Well we could not take them serious after seeing that, this is war games and here's an ice-cream wagon in the middle of the war games DOH. Not taking nothing away from all the brave guys who died in battle helping us out in the two wars, without them we would have lost both wars. Its like Rambo ok entertaining but he was superman reborn, 10 guys firing machine guns at him and not one bullet hits him, it doesn't happen guys its just hollywood. If you want to see the difference try and get the original "The Bourne Identity" starring Richard Chamberlaine,really excellent movie, the new version with Matt Damon was a load of Hollywood rubbish.
Bernard.

 

[Harrytheheid]

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.

I thought Born on the 4th was okay, but didn't OS direct another much better movie about Nam - "Between Heaven and Earth" (Think that was its title).

Cheers
H

 

[Spitfrnd]

...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

I love them too; another collection for me. You definitely should see Galipolli; I would put it in or near the top 10, along with Breaker Moran, which I would put in the top 10.

 

[Harrytheheid]

I love them too; another collection for me. You definitely should see Galipolli; I would put it in or near the top 10, along with Breaker Moran, which I would put in the top 10.

If we're talking about movies featuring the Australians - then surely we can't leave out "The Lighthorsemen"..??

"Bit of good luck Sir, only 19 of our blokes bought it"
"Yeah, too bad if you were one of the 19"

Can't remember if those were the exact lines but I think they're pretty close - and oh so true....

Regards
H

 

[Spitfrnd]

I thought Born on the 4th was okay, but didn't OS direct another much better movie about Nam - "Between Heaven and Earth" (Think that was its title).

Cheers
H

Yes Heaven and Earth was released in 1993 as the final movie in Oliver Stone's Vietnam trilogy. It follows the true story of a Vietnamese village girl who survives a life of suffering and hardship during and after the Vietnam war.

 

[Spitfrnd]

If we're talking about movies featuring the Australians - then surely we can't leave out "The Lighthorsemen"..??

"Bit of good luck Sir, only 19 of our blokes bought it"
"Yeah, too bad if you were one of the 19"

Can't remember if those were the exact lines but I think they're pretty close - and oh so true....

Regards
H

I would not forget that one, it would also be high on my list.

 

[redhugh]

I thought Born on the 4th was okay, but didn't OS direct another much better movie about Nam - "Between Heaven and Earth" (Think that was its title).

Cheers
H

That was a good film , haven't seen it in years though, so probably worth a rewatch, Stone is going to do another Vietnam film called Pinkville " Army general William R. Peers (Willis) investigates the My Lai Massacre, an event in which several hundred Vietnamese civilians were killed by U.S. soldiers."

He's also doing one on George Bush called "W" (can't wait to see that one), and another on the life and time of Pablo Escobar! Now that should be another interesting one

 

[VIRIATO]

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

Hi Harry,
Thanks, that's it, Dances with Wolves, my memory is getting older. Agree with you on Schindlers list: liked it but it's one of those moral/historical must see. From Spielberg I prefer «Empire of the Sun» or «Saving Private Ryan»: the SPR opening scenes on Omaha Beach are pure cinema History. The Thin Red Line has great music and the way it is filmed is very arty I'd say, it has a special unique atmosphere typical of Malick's films I guess. I also remember that Bruno Ganz, who impersonates Hitler in «Berlin...», had a tremendous performance with that role.

Regards,
Paulo

 

[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

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

Didn't see it.

 

[debrito]

Didn't see it.

It is a great movie about Vasily Zaytsev one of the greatest Russian sniper who had more than 150 kills in the Battle of Stalingrad.

Viriato, esse filme é um dos melhores filme sobre WWII até hoje, muito bom, lhe aconselho de ve-lo.

Se cuide.

Rod.

 

[Cardigan600]

It is a great movie about Vasily Zaytsev one of the greatest Russian sniper who had more than 150 kills in the Battle of Stalingrad.

Viriato, esse filme é um dos melhores filme sobre WWII até hoje, muito bom, lhe aconselho de ve-lo.

Se cuide.

Rod.

Yo Trooper, really excellent movie. To add another, and have seen punishment like it given out, boy us Brits are tough. "THE HILL"
Bernard.

 

[Dickbuttons]

I can't argue with the list - everyone has their favorites. After all, that's why they make so many different kins of wallpaper. But for pure enjoyment with a touch of reality, I still enjoy watching (over and over): They Were Expendable, A Walk in the Sun, Objective Burma, Action in the North Atlantic, The Purple Heart, Bataan, Sahara and Norhwest Passage, to name a few.

Dick.

 

[Spitfrnd]

This thread has been interesting and informative and presented many compelling and impassionate arguments for respective member favorites. It has for the most part focused on the more serious and graphic examples of the genre. No question those are important and deserve credit and attention. Depicting the grim realities and sacrificial aspects of war, as well as giving tribute to those who made those sacrifices is an important cause for our respect; the best of these should be mandatory viewing by all those who commit others to a war they will not directly experience. For that purpose, the Battle of Britain and Zulu will always rank at or near the top for me, as well as some of the others most mentioned.

However, equally important for me and I think for the rest of us who have put our lives on the line in such conflicts, as well as those who care, are the movies that treat war with a healthy touch of irony and humor. In that vein, I think Mash and Kelly’s Heroes deserve a high rank on anyone’s list.

Mash was nominally about the Korean war but of course was really an allegorical depiction of the Vietnam war. As well as launching one of the most successful US television series of all time, it was and remains a true classic. Ironically, it was the last movie I saw before I went on active duty and one I turned to often while I was in. I still do.

Kelly’s Heroes was another favorite while I as in and now. It had some of best acting and best writing of any war movie I have seen (and I have seen a lot). Who can forget classic lines like:
“…these tanks are the fastest tanks in the ETO, forward or reverse. We like to feel we can get out of trouble faster than we got into it…’
“…we got our own ammunition filled with paint; when we fire it, it makes pretty pictures…”
“…What does that mean, he’s ready to go, he’s a nut….Well, we’re all nuts or we wouldn't be here…”
“…Have you got the time straight with Mulligan….Yeah, I got the time straight, whether Mulligan can tell time is another question…”
“…Booker, did you loose my aerial photographs…”
“…Suppose the bridge ain’t there?....Oh man, don’t hit me with those negative waves so earlier in the morning…”
“…I tell you where the front is, its thirty miles further forward then you thought it was…”
“…But you the American army….No man we ain’t…”
I turn to this one often and whenever I need a lift; I have nearly worn the DVD out. One should never overlook the healing power of laughter.

 

[VIRIATO]

It is a great movie about Vasily Zaytsev one of the greatest Russian sniper who had more than 150 kills in the Battle of Stalingrad.

Viriato, esse filme é um dos melhores filme sobre WWII até hoje, muito bom, lhe aconselho de ve-lo.

Se cuide.

Rod.

Hi,
Were did you learn Portuguese ( with a Brazilian accent )?

Bem, vou ter de procurar mais esse filme em DVD. Mais uma colecção, como alguém já disse.

Adeus e um abraço,
Paulo

 

[debrito]

Hi,
Were did you learn Portuguese ( with a Brazilian accent )?

Bem, vou ter de procurar mais esse filme em DVD. Mais uma colecção, como alguém já disse.

Adeus e um abraço,
Paulo

Oi Paulo, beleza? Eu sou brasileiro mas vivo aqui no Canada a mais de 17 anos...um puta congelador...

Vamos trocar umas ideais aqui no forum, nao se esqueça de alugar o Enemy at the Gates, você vai gostar...

Se cuide

Abraçao

Rodrigo.

 

[damian]

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.

Well Reb
Spare a thought for the odd South African appearance. It is usually a minor villain who gets dispatched quite quickly by afore mentioned shaken not stirrred Bristish secret agent. I seem to remeber hearing a South African accent in one of the recent Bond movies.

 

[UKReb]

Well Reb
Spare a thought for the odd South African appearance. It is usually a minor villain who gets dispatched quite quickly by afore mentioned shaken not stirrred Bristish secret agent. I seem to remeber hearing a South African accent in one of the recent Bond movies.

Damian

My sincerest but I can still beat your quote.
When WB Studios wanted two South African arch villians for Gibson's Lethal Weapon II who did they recruit? It wasn't any of your countrymen!
Arjen (Aryan) Rudd was played by Joss Ackland and Pieter (Adolph) Vorstedt was played by Derrick O'Connor both stalwarts of the Royal Shakespeare Company and as British as roast beef (although O'Connor was born in Ireland he came to London as a small child and stayed.)
Both British actors portraying two very nasty Dutch Afrikaaners with dodgy accents.
The defense rests m'lud!
Apart from "Bond- James Bond" every other British actor going to Hollywood is destined to become a villain in the movies.
Reb

 

[Harrytheheid]

Damian

My sincerest but I can still beat your quote.
When WB Studios wanted two South African arch villians for Gibson's Lethal Weapon II who did they recruit? It wasn't any of your countrymen!
Arjen (Aryan) Rudd was played by Joss Ackland and Pieter (Adolph) Vorstedt was played by Derrick O'Connor both stalwarts of the Royal Shakespeare Company and as British as roast beef (although O'Connor was born in Ireland he came to London as a small child and stayed.)
Both British actors portraying two very nasty Dutch Afrikaaners with dodgy accents.
The defense rests m'lud!
Apart from "Bond- James Bond" every other British actor going to Hollywood is destined to become a villain in the movies.
Reb

"Apart from "Bond- James Bond" every other British actor going to Hollywood is destined to become a villain in the movies."

I 100% agree with your point Reb, but, well, ummm.....What's wrong with that like..??


N'anyway, personally I prefered Bond - Brooke Bond......Remember him..??


Cheers
H

 

[redhugh]

"Apart from "Bond- James Bond" every other British actor going to Hollywood is destined to become a villain in the movies."

I 100% agree with your point Reb, but, well, ummm.....What's wrong with that like..??


N'anyway, personally I prefered Bond - Brooke Bond......Remember him..??


Cheers
H

Was that the PG Tips guy

 

[Harrytheheid]

Was that the PG Tips guy

I know where your coming from with that one RH. This could start off yet another series of in-jokes by Commonwealth members that are totally incomprehensible to most of our friends across the Pond. No offense meant, of course.

N'anyway, wasn't it the monkees at the zoo that did PG Tips..??

You know, I can't quite remember who did the "My Name is Bond - Brooke Bond" series of sketches. Wasn't Tommy Cooper.....Russ Abbot, maybe..??
Bet you I waken up kicking and screaming around 02:00AM - with the guy's name buzzing around my heid.

Cheers
H