The Ten Best War Movies of All Times (1 Viewer)

[Louis Badolato]

Let's keep it light and not critical guys. I've ask you for your top ten and I'm currently keeping tabs to determine which movie has appeared the most in the top ten ending tomorrow at the same time I started the thread your first 10 will count only and please keep the thread going after I post my results.

Some others you've missed but they might have been before your times
The Fighting Seabees
The Flying Tigers
Back to Batan
The Fighting Sullivans


Let's keep it fun.......The Lt.

We're the Seabees of the navy, we can fight and we can sing! Yeah, I remember that one.

John Wayne sadly losing his night vision but bravely flying the night mission anyway. Another great one.

Can't say I've seen the other two, but I assume the last one is about the Sullivan boys all dying on that ship.

 

[jrsteel]

There's a movie called "Bataan" that was very good. Not "Back To Bataan" with John Wayne (Although I like that too). This one dealt with the fall of Bataan and a platoon of Americans holding off the Japanese in a jungle outpost.

 

[jazzeum]

Has anyone mentioned Desert Rats, the one with James Mason as Rommel. I don't know if it classifies as a great one but liked it nonetheless.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Has anyone mentioned Desert Rats, the one with James Mason as Rommel. I don't know if it classifies as a great one but liked it nonetheless.

They had that one on a cable channel, I think either the Military Channel or AMC about a month ago, and I really liked it. There are so many great war movies that honor the memory of the young men who served to protect our country and our lifestyle. But for me, the ones that focus on the horror of war, like Saving Private Ryan are the best. Because while honoring the men who sacrificed for us in the past is supremely important, raising a generation of youth that see war as a necessary evil rather than a glorious past time is as important in my opinion.

 

[The Lt.]

Has anyone mentioned Desert Rats, the one with James Mason as Rommel. I don't know if it classifies as a great one but liked it nonetheless.

Brad he also star in the Movie The Desert Fox as Rommel and to this date I still picture James Mason as Rommel.

 

[maddadicus]

Saving private Ryan I 'll agree the story is to Hollywood and some of the lines and stuff aren't that great but as far as battle scenes and cinematography go, it is second to none. I really like when Trumpets fade and the seige of Firebase Gloria to. The Green Berets is another one of my favorites.

You and I must be the only one to have seen Siege at Firebase Gloria. I still have a vhs copy somewher. Very underrated action movie....Is Paris Burning? The Night of the Generals, Ironclads, The Hunley........Have them all and I figure that I can cheat on my top 10 list, by spreading them over several posts...Michael

 

[maddadicus]

There's a movie called "Bataan" that was very good. Not "Back To Bataan" with John Wayne (Although I like that too). This one dealt with the fall of Bataan and a platoon of Americans holding off the Japanese in a jungle outpost.

Great closing scene ,with the head on look of the 50 cal shooting away....Michael

 

[Beaufighter]

Cheers Forum Squadron Members:

Another great WW II movie with a nice touch of humanity is called "A Midnight Clear". It differs from the norm & I found it quite enjoyable with a Winter 19944 setting.

www.lewrockwell.com/gee/gee13.html

Check it out!

Beaufighter

 

[The Lt.]

You and I must be the only one to have seen Siege at Firebase Gloria. I still have a vhs copy somewher. Very underrated action movie....Is Paris Burning? The Night of the Generals, Ironclads, The Hunley........Have them all and I figure that I can cheat on my top 10 list, by spreading them over several posts...Michael

Michael I'm going to want you to verify them for them to count in the final Count Down.............The Lt.

 

[hhenry]

Seems all my favourites have been covered, depending on my mood the time. I might have missed it but A Walk in the Sun surprised me when I first saw it.

Agree that the first half an hour of SPR was outstanding. I think this set the standard for future films.

Also, what was the name of the Vietnam one with Burt Lancaster as a military advisor in the early 60s?

 

[jrsteel]

Seems all my favourites have been covered, depending on my mood the time. I might have missed it but A Walk in the Sun surprised me when I first saw it.

Agree that the first half an hour of SPR was outstanding. I think this set the standard for future films.

Also, what was the name of the Vietnam one with Burt Lancaster as a military advisor in the early 60s?

That Burt Lancaster movie was called "Go Tell The Spartans". I remember "A Walk In The Sun". I think it was set in Italy. Very good.

 

[Leadmen]

I agree with Binder's list of movies. I also like the films made during the 40's.I remember going to see a walk in the sun and Battleground movies with the women in our family whose brothers and husbands were fighting in these battles. From the 101 airborne, 36th infantry, Patton's army and various Navy, Marine and air corp neighbors. I wished I gleaned more information from my uncles.These old movies might not have the computer graphics and dialog of today but to me they represent the true period of the war with propanganda for the homefront to support their battles of evil. In Apocalypse movie the flight of the choppers going into battle stired me up. How did I always seem to sit by open door-ha-ha.Thats something I won't go there. John

 

[binder001]

Sorry my list got so long, but that IS the "light" list As I said, I grew up on war movies. By the way, until it was mentioned I forgot to add "Is Paris Burning" to my list. Lots of good support from the French Army dragging out some WW2 vintage vehicles (including M24 Chaffees dressed up as Panthers!).

If I ever get my tail up to OTSN I'll bring a stack of VHS tapes and DVDs and we can have a movie night.

Gary

 

[The Lt.]

I agree with Binder's list of movies. I also like the films made during the 40's.I remember going to see a walk in the sun and Battleground movies with the women in our family whose brothers and husbands were fighting in these battles. From the 101 airborne, 36th infantry, Patton's army and various Navy, Marine and air corp neighbors. I wished I gleaned more information from my uncles.These old movies might not have the computer graphics and dialog of today but to me they represent the true period of the war with propanganda for the homefront to support their battles of evil. In Apocalypse movie the flight of the choppers going into battle stired me up. How did I always seem to sit by open door-ha-ha.Thats something I won't go there. John

Hi John it's nice seeing you posting again. It's about time you got back to keep us in line. Hope this finds that all is going well..........Joe (aka The Lt.)

 

[Leadmen]

Hi John it's nice seeing you posting again. It's about time you got back to keep us in line. Hope this finds that all is going well..........Joe (aka The Lt.)

Thanks Joe for the concern. I am doing a little better each day. Last week was bad at home. I am not taking pain meds now. They make me too largetic. I have aspirin and practice walking. My left leg is asleep and have to work muscles back. I did sleep all night in a bed, watched my first whole video and went down stairs to my hobby area for the first time. The leg is the major hangup and oxygen will probably be gone next week. Healing good and glad now it is over. John

 

[vandilay]

like a lot of you i,ve got a lot of war movies I like
my top few would be.

The Great Escape
Saving private Ryan
The guns of Navarone
Bridge over the river Kwai
Blackhawk down
Downfall
lotr Return of the king ,you just cant beat a good cavalry charge.
[and its about as historically acurate as braveheart ] .

 

[The Lt.]

Thanks Joe for the concern. I am doing a little better each day. Last week was bad at home. I am not taking pain meds now. They make me too largetic. I have aspirin and practice walking. My left leg is asleep and have to work muscles back. I did sleep all night in a bed, watched my first whole video and went down stairs to my hobby area for the first time. The leg is the major hangup and oxygen will probably be gone next week. Healing good and glad now it is over. John

John I'm still recouping from a stroke back in 05 have'nt gotten my right leg up to par yet it's been like walking with a peg leg but working at it. It's kept me off the dance floor but I've been able to walk and get around at a snails pace. Hang in there it does get better ......Joe

 

[Fubar]

You guys have just about nailed them all.
Warrior Mentioned Brotherhood of war. See it.
Cross of Iron , definate classic, often overlooked.

Lawrence of Arabia, splendid and yes a war movie.
ZULU dawn is actually a very good movie.Need to find one on dvd.

Empire of the Sun ,not a shooter but always HAVE to watch it when it's on tv." P51 Cadillac of the skies!" lump in throat every time.Make my kids watch it too when they start bellyachin.

LOTR, Not exactly history but is great war movies.{ why in "TWO TOWERS" when the deepining wall is breached and the Nasties have to come through same, do they Archers fire one volley and throw away their only advantage and CHARGE the big nasty buggers?Always buggs me.

Hell to eternity
Battle of Saipan havent seen it in years but I always liked it.

First to fight. Chad Everett with a watercooled Browning chokes the Teneru with Japanese dead.
About all I can remember.I think Gene Hackman shows up later on the next Island campaign as a tough as nails Sgt.

What price Glory , thats the WW1 Marine movie with Cagney

Mr. Rodgers, Again not a shooter at all but I love it.

The Messenger Pretty much a mess but the battle and siege are very cool and Jojvich? Spelling? is nice to look at.
Who wants to come over and play with toy soldiers while a good war movie plays?

Tables cleared.Cant decide what to put out!

Fub

 

[The Lt.]

Just finished tallying the appearences of the movies that you who posted as part of your top ten and not just talked about. The order in which they appear dose not represent that they where your number one choice and is based on how many times they appear in your top ten choices........The Lt.

Appearing 9 times "Saving Private Ryan" (Who would have guessed otherwise)

Appearing 5 times "The Great Escape"

Appearing 4 times in no special order "The Longest Day", "Kelly Heros", "Zulu" and a "A Bridge To Far"

Appearing 3 times "Patton", "A Bridge On The River Kwi", Gettysburg" and "Zulu Dawn".

Appearing twice are "Gladiator", "The Battle Of The Bulge", "The Lost Battalion", "Blackhawk Down", "Schindlers List", "Waterloo", "They Were Expendable" and Stalingrad".

I'm sure you'll note that once again WWII leads the topic that the forum is noted for. Appearing throughout the posting were movies such as Schindelers List" and in my opinon only would not have consider a war movie but a story of events that took place during the time. Also appearing were Western Staring our own John Wayne that I would aso not include as a War Movie. I'm sure you'll note I didn't post my favorites and had I Zulu would have made the list 5 times and Zulu Dawn 4.

I'm sure the results will end up featuring quite a few comments.....The Lt.

 

[Wraith]

.....I'm sure the results will end up featuring quite a few comments.....The Lt.

What the results do seem to show is that they were pretty much getting it right in the 60s and 70s with the big blockbusters. But I'm guessing that doesn't surprise anyone.

It's a shame that there are only 2 or 3 mentioned from the past 10 years of so. More in the mold of SPR please.

Thanks for the thread Lt.

Simon