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Post by Andrew Wardroper on Oct 7, 2017 4:54:48 GMT
With the release of the movie ‘Dunkirk’, I think it’s high time to revisit our list of favoirite/best and worst war movies of all time.
Best
Dunkirk is definitely up there. (If only for the chance to see one of the most beautiful of planes, the Spitfire, flying again - even if it took me half the film to realize its gas tank wasn’t bottomless!) Patriotism forces me to mention Canada’s deHaviland Dash8 in the beautiful,plane category...
Waterloo
Saving Private Ryan (for the first 20 or so minutes) [Band of Brothers surpasses it mightily however]
All is Quiet on the Western Front
The Blue Max
das Boot
Glory
Battle of Britain
Lawrence of Arabia
Alfred the Great
Paths of Glory
12 O’clock High
Oh What A Lovely War
worst
the Battle of the Bulge.
any war film with Mel Gibson in it (loved him in Road Warrior so I’m not biased, just adamant)
let’s hear’em
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Post by Ironsides on Oct 7, 2017 14:27:40 GMT
Actually "We Were Soldiers Once and Young" with Mel Gibson is pretty decent and close to the book, though I would otherwise agree with you when it comes to "Braveheart" At Random All Good Movies: Ice Cold in Alex Sink the Bismark Zulu Black Gold Master and Commander A Bridge to Far Patton The Enemy Below Pacific the series.... The Thin Red Line Many Wars Ago-Uomini contro Ran Shout at the Devil, difficult to find an uncut/butchered version but worth it... African Queen Mathilda Beneath Hil 60 Lighthorsemen Gallipoli Too Late the Hero The Long and the Short and the Tall The 300 Spartans, Innocent Days... Alexander, up to a point Centurion Stara Basn, polish Vikings and Slavs worth a look Troy Worst: Quo Vadis..... Most of the cr*p medieval films which were pretty good when I was 6... The Attilla thingy and what could have been a really good film about Mongolian Horesemen and a couple of other realy bad ones, one of which included The Duke.... The ninth legion movies several which I cannot remember the names off.... these have been expunged from memory for all time (dont I wish)  |
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Post by Graeme on Oct 7, 2017 15:10:01 GMT
The trouble with this thread is I'm always kicking myself over the things I forget to put on my list. But at least it's a chance to include the important one I left out last time. So: Waterloo. This would, I think, be confusing to anyone who doesn't know the story but it's my all time favourite because..., well because it's WATERLOO! And because it's done on a monumental scale and looks magnificent. One of the films I watch at least once every year. Master and Commander, if this thread was the most accurate film this would be top of the list. Best depiction of a 19th Century warship ever. Yes I can find some inaccuracies but they're not anything a normal human being is going to worry about. Gettysburg. Another magnificent looking film on a monumental scale. Happily I'm not well enough informed to find anything this film got wrong. As to what it got right? The big Hollywood blockbusters with 50 million dollars worth of CGI can't come close to the brilliance of the battle scenes that this film achieves, on a shoestring budget, with an army of reenactors and some just plain clever camera work. Das Boot. Another for the most accurate list. This film really made me feel like I was in a tin can, 20 fathoms down, having high explosives dropped on me and waiting to be crushed to death by a million tons of water. Sound like your idea entertainment? Watch "Das Boot". Saving Private Ryan. The opening sequence was shown to some D-Day Veterans who said it was difficult to watch because it was like being back there. Nuff said. The rest of the film explored really interesting ethical dilemmas (Yes really, because it's a film not a WWII documentary)."Windtalkers" also did well with regard to ethical questions but the perpetually filled magazines meant it fell down on realism stakes. Catch 22. A work of genius. Buster Keatons "The General", a work by a genius. The Marx Brothers "Duck soup", as above but there's three of them (and Zeppo). Why are those last two on my list of best War Films? because they are two of the best films that will ever be made and they just happen to be set in war time. The Duelists. Fabulous quirky storyline and visually stunning. 2 All time classics that can't be left off anyone's list; Battle of Britain. Zulu. Also: "The Cruel Sea", "Damn the Defiant", "Culloden"," Kokoda" and I enjoyed "The Eagle" and "Centurion", there was a cute Druid in one of those. Good calls on "All Quiet on the Western Front", "Paths to Glory" and "Oh What a Lovely War". Great thread  |
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Post by Graeme on Oct 7, 2017 17:07:44 GMT
Yes! Kicking myself. Ironsides posted "The African Queen" while I was typing my list. I should have included that, one of the all time classics. Good call on "Beneath Hill 60" too, great film. I was going to mention "Dunkirk" too. WARNING, don't read further if you haven't seen it yet. Of course the rivet buttoners on all the forums found every fault that completely passed me by when I watched the film but I went to see this with my Sister. She doesn't have any interest in military history and doesn't like war films. Most women don't. At the end of this film she told me "That might be the best film I've seen". Because for the vast majority of normal people out there who can't tell a PIAT from a pilum that film just did a very good job of putting this important story across. I've read some minor gripes (not really criticism) about the ships. Apparently this director doesn't like using CGI, he prefers using real ships and planes. And apparently he didn't use the correct types of ships that were actually at Dunkirk. Well, given the fact that the correct types of ships that were actually at Dunkirk were all broken up for scrap and recycled into coffee pots some time last century I think he's got an excuse. I've heard Other criticisms, "It didn't show the Battle of France", "It Didn't show the Germans", "It didn't show the French", "it didn't show 300,000 troops on the beach". Who cares? I liked the way it focused on one small incident over a short period of time and showed us that incident from the perspective of several different small groups of people. We saw the struggle to get off the beach in microcosm and the bigger picture was inferred. It was clever and a bit different, and that's good. I liked the way the only evidence we had of the Germans was the sound of the bullets that killed all the other blokes in a mans section, or Stukas screaming out of the sky to drop bombs on a pier full of men who have nowhere to run. Detached, impersonal, and very, very menacing. Not soldiers, not an army, just death engulfing you from out of nowhere. And one scene at the beginning shows us French troops manning a barricade. One gesture and the look on a Frenchman's face tells us everything we need to know about French troops defending the perimeter of Dunkirk and does it brilliantly. it couldn't have been done better in fifty scenes. Great film. On the subject of button riveting the one thing I pulled the film up about was the fact that the Spit. pilots were waiting for the enemy planes to come into their sights before firing instead of pulling a lead on them. Every time we got into position I pressed the firing button on my air joystick and was most frustrated to find my eight synchronised Brownings seemed to be on a five second time delay.  Did it spoil my enjoyment of the film? No it just added to the tension so it was, unintentionally, quite a good cinematic device. |
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Post by steve on Oct 7, 2017 19:20:48 GMT
I must be missing something as I thought Dunkirk was disappointing after all the hype It seem to drag out the different stories & the out of fuel spitfire shooting the stuka down was very poor but to my best war films in order the Battle of Britain , Cross of iron, waterloo, Zulu, saving private Ryan but for the best ww2 action it would be hard to beat the band of brothers series. |
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Post by Graeme on Oct 8, 2017 2:20:58 GMT
Agreed Steve, that Stuka at the end was the one piece of gung ho b.s. that really stretched credulity, but by that stage I was ready for it. I'd had more than enough of those nasty little beggars and someone really needed to fry one of them.
As for being disappointing after all the hype, to be honest "Dunkirk" really wasn't the film I expected it to be. So I just watched the film that it was instead.
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Post by Ironsides on Oct 8, 2017 9:40:46 GMT
Haven't seen New Dunkirk yet and dont really have any expectations so can't comment, though I did watch the original 1958 recently and still feel its a Great film thats hard to beat which would also be on my list.... which is perhaps why I dont have any expectations for a modern remake... By the way I only included Films not on Mr Wardropers list most of which I would also put on a Great War Movies list... however The Battle of the Bulge I dont feel deserves Worst Film, but on that we can agree to disagree.. another Film based around the same theme "Castle Keep" was pretty good... San Demetrio London We Dive at Dawn  |
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Post by jock52 on Oct 8, 2017 9:51:51 GMT
Some that don't get mentiond much if at all:
Pacific, from the same stable as 'Band of Brothers'
Gods and Generals, 'Gettysburg part 1', pity part 3 didn't get made.
Flags of Our Fathers and A Letter fron Iwo Jima, really these two should be watched back-to-back.
Thin Red Line.
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Post by Chris Dodson on Oct 8, 2017 11:08:27 GMT
Most already there.
Cross of Iron. Real men and real bangs.
Stalingrad, similar.
Downfall, Bruno was Adolf.
Kingdom of Heaven for the flags and battles, not the script.
Blue Max, George was Bruno and the flying was real.
All quiet, real explosions!
American Sniper, gutsy action.
Generation war, not a film but the Russian Front horrors in full swing.
Too many more to mention
Chris
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fredg
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Post by fredg on Oct 8, 2017 11:44:56 GMT
The films were so good he named them twice  Edit: And then someone deleted the double post  |
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Post by Ironsides on Oct 8, 2017 13:53:15 GMT
Some that don't get mentiond much if at all: Pacific, from the same stable as 'Band of Brothers' Gods and Generals, 'Gettysburg part 1', pity part 3 didn't get made. Flags of Our Fathers and A Letter fron Iwo Jima, really these two should be watched back-to-back. Thin Red Line. "Pacific" which in my opinion is truly inspired, is on my list right above "The Thin Red Line" a Great film, I think the problem with "Pacific" compared with "Band of Brothers" is that it doesn't follow the same narrative style and each episode is more individual, though they do cross over this may have put some off... "Gods a Generals" I thought pretty good and better then "Gettyburg" and as you say its a shame the trilogy was never completed, I think the final episode would have made the series.... I watched both "Flags of our Father" which I thought very good and "Letters from "Iwo jima" which was an education to say the least... I think the style is more Docu-Drama though and probably not for all... Where Eagles Dare The Eagle has Landed Kellys Heros Fury |
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Post by steve on Oct 8, 2017 22:18:20 GMT
I could never really get into the Pacific it spent too much time away from the fighting. Another good war film released this year was hacksaw ridge it wins my vote for the worst place to be in ww2 you would not want to be up there when all the Japanese come swarming out of the fox holes I felt a chill run down my spine. It was based on a true story as well with an interview with the actual medic at the end, He was a bit geeky which goes to show not all hero's were macho men like Hollywood likes to portray. |
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Post by gerd on Oct 9, 2017 21:13:19 GMT
Hello,
my favorite war movie is not a typical "War movie"...but a wonderful film with a great story.
Look for "A very long engagement", a french movie from 2004.
Original french titel; Un long dimanche de fiançailles
This film shows what happens with many soldiers in World War I; the loss of mind and soul...as result of all the horror..
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Post by richard on Oct 9, 2017 23:04:14 GMT
Maybe not a war film as such but...Last of the Mohicans is a classic.
Worst war film-Deer Hunter. I will never get that time back
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Post by Ironsides on Oct 10, 2017 9:16:16 GMT
Downfall, Bruno was Adolf. Blue Max, George was Bruno and the flying was real. Chris Downfall, a very thoughtfull film and Bruno Ganz was Brilliant... Blue Max certainly one of my Favourites... Other WW1 Aerial combat films: Wings 1927, best picture 1927 Hells Angels, dated but worth a watch if you have the time, try watching "The Aviator" (Howard Hughes film bio) as well, it puts it in perspective and a pretty good movie in its own right, lots of aerial (cgi) sequences.... Aces High, underated... Flyboys has its moments and some of it really happened.... The Red Baron, could have been brillant, but they got so much of it wrong in an attempt at revisionist history... but for the casual viewer who wants a good action film its pretty good.... |
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Post by Graeme on Oct 10, 2017 12:42:07 GMT
"Downfall" was a most remarkable and fascinating film, and Ganz was excellent. "Cross of Iron", fabulous film. A real sense of realism to that one. I think the biggest problem with "The Pacific" was it was shown after "Band of Brothers", which people compared it to. Looked at in it's own light it's great. I think the same goes for "Gods and Generals" and "Gettysberg" I was going to mention "Aces High" and "The Red Baron". Perhaps neither will be voted best film ever made but they were enjoyable and the planes are beautiful. "The Aviator" was a good film, I liked the Katherine Hepburn characterisation. I'm happy to watch anything with WWI biplanes in it. Same goes for WWII Royal Navy films. "The Cruel Sea" is perhaps the best but I also have "In Which We Serve", "Battle of the River Plate", "Sink the Bismark" and I'd also put "Malta Story" in this category. I'm always on the lookout for any other 50's/60's titles in this vein. I see "The Long and the Short and the Tall" listed. Great play, and as I recall the film was a very good adaptation. I recently picked up the DVD for $10 so I'll be able to watch it again. At the same time, and same price, I got Chauvel's 1941 film "Forty Thousand Horsemen" but I haven't watched it yet. This is the original film about the Light Horse at Beersheba and it's kind of movie Royalty here. Patriotism forces me to mention Canada’s deHaviland Dash8 in the beautiful,plane category... Ah yes, the Dash8. That's the one with the wing over the cabin tube. and the engines mounted under the wing, and the landing gear that comes out of the engine cowlings. Which means, if you're sitting in one of the seats under the wing you can look out of your window while the plane's coming in to land and see the flames and smoke coming of the tyres when the wheels hit the tarmac  ... That's a great first time experience. Fully agree about the Spitfire. There just aren't enough films with Spitfires in them. |
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Post by fredg on Oct 10, 2017 16:13:07 GMT
The Red Baron was even more historically wrong than Braveheart, a very difficult trick to pull off. They could at least have had the correct CGI planes, it's not as if anyone had to fly them.
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Post by Ironsides on Oct 10, 2017 16:51:02 GMT
The Red Baron was even more historically wrong than Braveheart, a very difficult trick to pull off. They could at least have had the correct CGI planes, it's not as if anyone had to fly them. What makes you think the aircraft were wrong, they were certainly more right then most of the planes in most of the other movies... no it wasn't the aircraft that was the problem.... |
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Post by fredg on Oct 10, 2017 16:56:11 GMT
Sorry but I don't think the planes were wrong. I know the planes were wrong. |
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Post by Ironsides on Oct 10, 2017 17:26:26 GMT
Which ones?
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fredg
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Post by fredg on Oct 10, 2017 17:46:45 GMT
The film is total tosh to put it mildly. If they hadn't called it the Red Baron and used actual historical characters' names they may have got away with it. As it is just read a WW1 air combat book and you'll see which planes.
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Post by C Dodson on Oct 10, 2017 18:29:36 GMT
Hi Mr Fred.
I am intrigued!
The film was total nosense agreed.
However the aircraft from a brief ( too long) looked as if they were ment to be Albatrosses, Dr1s, SE5a's Camels etc all of which were around from mid / late 1917 onwards.
Nevertheless, a bonkers film with little historical fact. I saw a bit where Brown and the Baron were having a chat in a field. Who makes this stuff up?
Best wishes,
Chris
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fredg
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Post by fredg on Oct 10, 2017 19:31:49 GMT
.............However the aircraft from a brief ( too long) looked as if they were ment to be Albatrosses, Dr1s, SE5a's Camels etc all of which were around from mid / late 1917 onwards........... Best wishes, Chris Chris, Lanoe Hawker was shot down by MvR while trying to break off due to low fuel on 23rd November 1916. There's a clue if needed He was flying one of these at the time.  |
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Post by C Dodson on Oct 10, 2017 21:09:23 GMT
HiI,
Yes Mr Hawker was flying a FE2 when shot down by the Baron.
I assumed the film was based in the later part of the war where the types seemed relevant.
If it was earlier then they are not.
Either way, it's a film probably best left forgotten along with Flyboys.
Best wishes,
Chris
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fredg
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Post by fredg on Oct 10, 2017 21:37:02 GMT
I'd say better buried too Chris.
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... That's a great first time experience.