war movies

TSDguy · Post by **TSDguy** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:55 am

Between the apparently avid movie watchers and military vets/fans on these boards, I'm anxious to watch some new movies. Feel free to agree with suggestions already made, then list an un-named one.

In my opinion, THE war movie that nothing can compete with is Black Hawk Down. It is one of the minority of - IMO- completely objective war movies. It is horrifyingly heroic and tragic at the same time. It even addresses humanitarian concerns that would compel a hippie to watch it.

MikeK · Post by **MikeK** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:20 am

BHD is a favorite of mine. The Big Red One - The Reconstruction edition. It puts back 45 minutes that were cut from the original. Also Band of Brothers.

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:51 am

I liked Black Hawk Down, partly because it was fairly true to life. And it is so relevant to where we are today with al qaeda, terrorism, etc.

One of my favorite war books of all time is The Killer Angels (Michael Shaara, 1974). I understand it won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1975. It was made into the 1993 movie Gettysburg. I didn't see the movie, but those who have tell me that it was true to the book. When I was done with The Killer Angels, I almost went into withdrawal.

- Bill

TSDguy · Post by **TSDguy** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 4:04 am

Speaking of Gettysyburg, Glory has a similar feel to BHD. The thought that people were actually BEING that selfless instead of being imagined that selfless is what makes those two movies.

I've never even heard of the movie Gettysburg, I'll rent it ASAP.

Edit: Re BoB. One of my grandfathers was in the 101st. The other received a handwritten apology from the squadron leadrer of the attack on Pearl Harbor (but that movie SUCKED. Do NOT watch "Pear Harbor", watch Tora Tora Tora.)

Diremind · Post by **Diremind** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:17 am

Gettysburg is incredible. It's a very long movie but feels so realistic and the acting is so superb that you can't stop watching. I've heard of Killer Angels but have never read it. I'll put it on my list of books to read and hopefully get around to it sometime soon.

-Ross

AAAhmed46 · Post by **AAAhmed46** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:20 am

Enemy at the gates.

I enjoyed that alot, especially the nikita Kruschev scene.

Stryke · Post by **Stryke** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 6:02 am

Lawrence of Arabia , particularly poignant in the difficulty of uniting the Arab tribes agaisnt the Ottaman empire

classic

MikeK · Post by **MikeK** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 1:49 pm

Almost forgot one that I always find hard to watch, We Were Soldiers. Excellent film.

mikemurphy · Post by **mikemurphy** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:45 pm

The movie Gettysburg is great and stays true to the book (Killer Angels). BTW Bill, I liked the Fullest Measure even better as a book. It was supposed to be made into the third movie, but I haven't heard about it being done as of yet.

Another BTW, I thought the acting of Martin Sheen (Robert E. Lee) in Gettysburg was an awful portrayal of the man. If you wish to see a better Lee, watch Gods & Generals with Robert Duvall as Lee. He does a much better job.

mike

Mary S · Post by **Mary S** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 12:20 am

Oh my total fav - Apocalypse Now (Director's Edition)

...I love the smell of napalm....the horror the horror...

Bruise* Lee · Post by **Bruise* Lee** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:40 am

Patton would be my favorite.
I like PATRIOT with Mel Gibson.
MEMPHIS BELLE and THE GREAT ESCAPE since my dad was both a B-17 pilot and a POW at Stalag Luft III.
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN is a must see at least once - my 15 year old son went to Europe this summer and went to Omaha Beach at Normandy, so I made him watch the movie before going.

jfinnivan · Post by **jfinnivan** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 1:38 pm

Yes, "Saving Private Ryan" is great. When it first came out, I went and saw it with my father. He's a WW2 vet, and he was impressed.
"Patton" is fun, and one of George C. Scott's best, though his performance in "Christmas Carol" is outstanding.
I used to watch "Combat" and "Rat Patrol" on television when I was a kid.
For pure laughs, "Army of Darkness" is a hoot, though not really a war movie...

f.Channell · Post by **f.Channell** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 1:03 am

Some old school.
Gunga Din
Sergeant York
Ran (didn't have to be western did they?)

F.

AAAhmed46 · Post by **AAAhmed46** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 3:26 am

Hotshots with charlie sheen is an awsome movie.

As well as the rambo series.

Rambo is cool.

IJ · Post by IJ » Sun Feb 25, 2007 1:26 am

Just saw Flags of our Fathers. Eh. It was ok. Once away from Iwo Jima it lost focus... What was good was already in Saving Private Ryan. Meanwhile, waiting for Letters from Iwo Jima to hit video--supposed to be excellent, and a Ken Watanabe fan from earlier work.