Best Movie Battle scenes? (1 Viewer)

[gk5717]

I watched Gettysburg last night for about the 100th time and while watching it I could not decide if Picketts Charge or the Omaha landing in SPR , which one was the best battle scene of all time.
I think beyond a doubt those were the two best, tho which is number one, I can,t decide.
Anybody else think another was better than those two?
Gary

 

[sceic2]

The final battle of the "Red Badge of Courage" staring Audie Murphy was great not just because of the battle but the sense of battle and the death that comes. I also think that the original version and the remade version of "All's Quiet on The Western Front" are very moving. The invasion scene in SPR was truely amazing. I also like "Johnny Got His Gun" the Playboy produced version. It was a very, very valid anti-war statement. While I love to collect toy soldiers, I always remember the real soldiers and the unknown number of lives lost and changed forever. I can not remember who said it but, just think of the unwritten novels, the unwritten songs, the unfull-filled lives that could have changed our world - all gone. It is my personal experience that movies tend to soften the realities of what war is really all about. Soon we will not have warriors facing each other and seeing their individual faces, they will operate at a distance with remote weapons that will kill antiseptecially (spelling - 5 points). Depressed, naw, just real.

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

The battle for "Little Round Top" in "Gettysburg" when Chamberland yells "Bayonets" the hair on the back of my neck stands up !

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

You guys have got to rent "A Very Long Engagement" if you want to see great WWI battle scenes...these are as good as any movies to date!

 

[DMNamiot]

All of the aforementioned films were really well done but dont forget the battle scenes from Band of Brothers ,Zulu and the original 4 Feathers.

Dave

 

[Dragoon]

I'd also have to go with " ZULU ". Seeing that movie in the theater as a child really sparked my imagination. I think the final assault scene which starts with the Zulus singing in mass, countered by the British singing "Men of Harlic", is quite stirring. Very romantisied I'm sure, but also very effective.

 

[DMNamiot]

I will also add the German film Stalingrad it was pretty intense. There are a lot of really good ones to pick from out there so this should generate a lot more discussion.

Dave

 

[Winky]

Really great choices. I've never seen "Johnny Got His Gun," but sounds like a good rental.

I think my final vote would also go for the original "All Quiet on the Western Front." Very powerful. SPR, "Enemy at the Gates," and the Korean film, "The Brotherhood of War," would get very close also rans. I'll have to take another look at "Gettysburg."

Dick

 

[binder001]

It's hard to pick one battle scene...

"Big" battles - 19th Century- a choice between the thunderous opening barrage of Pickett's charge in "Gettysburg", and the climax of the charge.

"small" battles - 19th century - the final Zulu assault on Rourke's Drift from "Zulu".

Infantry combat - WW1 - "The Lost Battalion" still holds a small edge over "Alls Quiet on the Western Front" in my book.

Infantry combat - WW2 - I still like the German early morning attack from "Battleground". It captures the uncertainty and surprise of a small unit action. Of course "Saving Private Ryan" has several good scenes. I really enjoy the battle for control of the bridge, while the invaision sequence is the most historically accurate.

Infantry combat - Korea- the struggle of Gregory Peck's company in "Pork Chop Hill"

Infantry combat - Vietnam - the climactic action of "We Were Soldiers".

Infantry combat - modern - the Rangers struggle in "Blackhawk Down".

tank battles - small - the scene in "The Tanks Are Coming" when the Shermans meet their first "Panther" (actually an M36 TD). 2nd choice is the attack on the 88 at the river crossing.

tank battles - large- who can resist the tank charge at the climax of "The Battle of the Bulge". Hoaky as can be, but all those "Shermans" (M24 Chaffees) versus the "King Tigers" (M47s) maneuvering, shooting and mixing. A good child-like view of armored combat, but a guilty pleasure to watch.

air battles - WW1- "The Blue Max" has several

air battles - WW2 - "Battle of Britain" has several good scenes, but the classic "Twelve O'Clock High captures the tension of "sweating out" a battle from the ground.

air battles - jet - how can you beat "Top Gun" for pure jet fighter thrills?

naval battles - sail - a toss up between "Master and Commander" and "Captain Horatio Hornblower" (the Gregory Peck version)

naval battles - WW2 surface - I still like the climactic surface battle from "In Harms Way". Not historically accurate, but the models are quite good.

naval battles - WW2 submarine - "Das Boot" was good, but the running battle of "The Enemy Below" is still my favorite.

Those are some that I can pick off the top of my head. All are just personal favorites over the years.

Gary

 

[sceic2]

"Johnny Got His Gun" is a horrific story of a WWI combat soldier told through his thoughts and memories. He has been so badly wounded that he has no legs, no arms, no ears, no nose, no mouth, no eyes; only a body and a formless head. The only way he can communicate with his nurse is when she taps on his chest and he moves his head in a particular direction.

He tells the story of his going into the army to fight the last big war to save the world. It really is an indictment of modern medicine that can save a person dispite the worst wounds. It really is disturbing and very, very antiwar. And well it should be. It came out toward the end of the Vietnam era and made quite a flash. Some of the WWI movies, like "The Lost Battalion," and "All's Quite on the Western Front" have great battle scenes with a great comment on the uselessness of war and the horror it inflicts.

But I still love to collect miniature soldiers.