[PaidInFull]

Band of Brothers is awesome!! SPR and Black Hawk Down are tops. The Bridge over the River Kwia (sp?) isnt that much of a WAR movie, its a POW movie, same with The Great Escape.

[BurntHombre]

Originally Posted by PaidInFull

The Bridge over the River Kwia (sp?) isnt that much of a WAR movie, its a POW movie, same with The Great Escape.

You know that POW stands for "Prisoner of War," right?

Just messin' with ya.

[IceHawk]

Dude I totally agree with everyone who says We Were Soldiers needs to be on that list... excellent movie. The Patriot is another awesome movie.

[PaidInFull]

Oh, well is this about war movies that have fighting in them or movies that are during a war??

[trapperjohn]

I don't think MASH belongs in there. I watched the movie and read the book. The movie misses on so much. It's also very ambiguous as to which war it represents. It's supposed to be set in Korea, but the director used many references to Vietnam, as a protest to America's presence in that country. The movie is boring and lacking a fluid story line.

[Diedaily]

M*A*S*H is a great film. Not the best war film ever, but great. Screw a fliud storyline. Plots are overrated anyways. And it being ambiguos? Just look at Apocalypse Now, which is another great film.

And The Patriot and We Were Soldiers- not very good films. Just mediocre.

I'd rather watch The Thin Red Line. I'm a Malick fan ever since I saw Badlands. Can't help but like it.

[Grasshopper359]

Savior, La Chambre des Officiers, Apocalypse Now and The Alamo (2004).

Grave of the Fireflies was a movie that didn't get the recognition that it desverved, and very people have seen it.

I wonder if "Hotel Rwanda" will ever find itself on a list like this.

I doubt it. It probably should, but I doubt that it ever will.

I wasn't impressed by "Thin Red Line"...I understand it was an artistic vision...and I suppose that's my problem with alot of the popular films ("Full Metal Jacket", "Apocalypse Now", and "Platoon" immediate come to mind) is that they tend to be borderline psychological thrillers that are accentuated by the fact that they are set in war.

That's because if a movie were ever made that portrayed war in the most technical sense, nobody would go see it; it's just plain boring and repetitive to watch. What makes war movies sell is action, good vs. evil, patriotism, or any combination of the above factors. And war has very little of any of them.

[Grasshopper359]

Originally Posted by eldestofvic

When I saw The Patriot I remember really liking it - until I remembered that we were the bad guys.

My favorite war movie is still A Bridge Too Far

Us evil Redcoats...Though, actually, I can't claim that, since technically, only Infantry wear scarlet tunics...The rest of us wear blue...

I haven't seen "A Bridge Too Far." That's the one that follows OP MARKET GARDEN, is it not?

[Eriol]

Of the war films I've seen, Gettysburg is probably my favorite. It helps that I'm a Civil War buff, but everytime I see Pickett scream "thats the style Lowe, thats the style!" I can't help my spine from shivering. The Pickett's Charge sequence is incredible.
So heres a list of war movies I like, in no particular order:

Gettysburg - great movie
Gladiator - Russel Crowe is awesome in this
Empire of the Sun - This isn't a war movie really, but it deals with war...a great, terribly underrated movie IMO.
We Were Soldiers - good movie, but no real stand-outs in this movie
Glory - another good Civil War movie
The Great Escape - its too bad most of em died.
A Bridge Over The River Kwai - best whistling tune in a movie

[Grasshopper359]

Originally Posted by Eriol

A Bridge Over The River Kwai - best whistling tune in a movie

Colonel Bogey March. I've marched to that one on more than a few parades.

*dee-dee...dedededeedeedee...*

[Diedaily]

Originally Posted by Grasshopper359

Grave of the Fireflies was a movie that didn't get the recognition that it desverved, and very people have seen it.

Graves of the Fireflies is a great, sad little film. I loved it.

[PaidInFull]

Nothing can beat Band of Brothers...wow. Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg are an amazing team. These movies are riddled with action and the best combat sceens of any movie. The story line is fantastic. If you havnt seen them....GO RENT THEM!!! You will love them....garanteed!!

[Acts Chapter 2]

I like the fact that on this list is splattered a number of movies from accross time not just the most modern. But I think that just asking for the top 10 best war movies of all time is just too wide open a subject. I suppose that you could nail down a solid top 10 list but what are you judging on. If your looking for pure entertainment then the list will be differnet then if you are looking for reality. I see some people are bothered that SPR didn't appear on the list. This goes to show that non real war movies touch our hearts more then real ones. Also, the movies that are mentioned all deal with moddern war. I can think of great war movies that are much older. I fear taht this list is a bit too popular too although there was an attment to stay away from pop movies such as SPR and We Were Soldiers. But if one was going for the most realistic war films of all time permit me to make a few succestions.

Hamburger Hill- this movie came out in 1987 and is the best and most real movie about Vietnam to date. I am not ruling out We Were Soldiers when I make this judgement but WWS is a battle that could take place in any ware at any time. The issues surrounding the Vietnam War in 1965 were not as important as in 1969. Most of the people in the US supported the war and while Hal Moore was defending LZ X-Ray he had the support of the people in the US. The 101st Airborne troopers that battled on hill 937 (named because of humanity getting ripped apart by mg fire like raw hamburger meat) didn't have that support. When most people think of great Vietnam War movies they think of Platoon and Full Metal Jacket which have thier place but both those movies are biased and have a political aim to them. Hamburger Hill trys not to. There are statements in the movie that one could argue against my above statement but from what I understand in doing follow up research on the movie is that what is stated by the soldiers is real to the psychology at the time and place. This isn't to say that after they returned to the world they didn't become protesters but at that time in that place their statements are real. It is also important to note that this movie was directed by an engilshman who is noted for trying to show things from the soldiers perspective.

Porkchop Hill- As long as we are on a food theme here but in all honesty... Porkchop (named for its shape) hill was the last battle fought in the Korean war. The movie is right on with the UN chatter as well as the battle. The hill showed what many battles in that war were like. The US v. thousands and thousands of Chinese. The men would fight their way up a hill and hold it as long as their ammo was there then they would be overrun. This happend many many times. This movie shows the war like it was.

We Were Soldiers- Im not going to expound on this too much simply because many of you already have and because I mentioned it in the above read out on Hamburger Hill. But the book We Were Soldiers Once and Young is well writen and true to the events in the I Drang Valley of South Vietnam in 1965. The movie more or less follows the book and does a good job of it. There are changes made and a few people are composites or are left out leaving Mel Gibson to look all the more impressive but the movie is a good one and follows the book which is pretty strait forward as to what happened when.

Spartacus- The Roman military is still in military history argueably the best fighting force ever. Never rule them out when thinking of anything about war. Spartacus is a movie that tells of a slave revolt in Rome during the days of the republic. Spartacus was a historical figure and although the movie lacks in some areas of history the general gist of things is gathered. The final battle in the movie is one of interest. Spartacus was a pretty good general and was ready to take on the fighting force of the Romans or at least one Legion of them but not 3 and in the end he is over powered and thousands of slaves are crucified along the roads of Rome. All of this is grasped in the movie. But what is most important is the sense of polotics. The historical event is one of Spartacus rampaging around with his slave army. The Republic needs to get rid of the thorn in its side so Crassus volenteers to deal with it. He was not a great general but he was a rich man and baught himself an army. Spartacus was able to alude him knowing that Crassus wasn't a great general but was still dangerous because the Romans (even not so smart ones) still had a basic knowlege of battle and to take a Roman Legion head on was suicide. Eventully he was forced to because the Republic began taking armies from the front and generals who knew what they were doing down to take him out. Spartacus then was forced to fight the weakest of the Romans and was distroied. Much of this is in the movie. I hope you can see why it is a realisitic one. (A bit of a side note, although it is more action and entertainment then history Gladiator is a pretty good flick as far as Roman tactics. The opening battle is good and quite real but like Saving Private Ryan the reality of the movie is compermised for entertainment.)

El Cid- With the Kingdom of Heaven still out in theatres perhaps this movie needs to be recognized. El Cid is a Spanish folk hero. He was an actual person but as with so many great generals of the time is now a bit of a myth. At any rate what he did is fantastic and is shown in the movie. El Cid is a crusader who has no interest in the holy land but in ridding Spain of Islam. His polotics were increadable. He used Islamic warriors agaisnt Islam. He also united them with the Christian armies. His command was somewhat hindered by the distain for his tactics by the Catholic Church but because of his leadership and fighing skill he was able to ignore the Pope and do what he knew to be best.

(Troy- As long as we are looking at ancient battles and tactics Troy may as well be metioned. I put it in () because this isn't one of my realistic movies and suffers from modern movie making as well as the need for Brad Pitt to have a romantic interest. But putting aside the changes in story and the influence of pop culture there are cirtain battle scenes which are well thought out and sequnced. The one I am thinking of is when the Greeks attack the walls of Troy after battle of Menilaous and Paris. [This btw was poorly done and not with the story of the Illiad at all] The Greeks attack the walls and run into a line of Trojan defenders set right to the range of the arrows from the walls. When I saw this I was pleased. This one scene gives the onlooker and idea of the genious of the Greeks and the Romans. My father [a Vietnam vet 69-71 and now pastor who has studdied war with just as much passion as I do] said to me onece "The peak of ancient war was the Romans. The Legion X under J. Caesar could have taken any army of the middle ages and destroied it." By watching the Greeks and Trojans battle it out you will see why. This scene is well done and there are others too, it is ashamed that the movie was plauged by popular movie making.)

Gallipoli- Most people outside of the Aussies wouldn't care about the battle on the Gallipolian Penensula during the First World War. The reason that this movie may be found in video stores today is simply because Mel Gibson is in it before he made the explosion int US pop culture (he is a fine actor and I am not nocking him in any way. I like his performance in many movies this one included). The way the story goes is that the Brits used the ANZAC (Australia New Zealand Contingent) as cannon fodder while they attempted to take the glory and did a crappy job of it. In 1915 while fighing the Turks the Brits had a bit of a problem. There is no way to open shipping lanes into the Black Sea without controling both sides of the gateway. The Boisterous and Dardanelles. The ANZAC infantry supported byt the 10th Australian Light Horse (mounted infantry from Western Territory) were to make a series of attacks on the Turkish Trenchline as a diversionary tactic while the Brits sliped in up the coast and landed elsewhere. The coordenation was very poor indeed and you can imagine the condition of the ANZAC infantry at the end of the frist waves and the first day of fighting. The next attack was made by the 10th Light Horse to the same end. The story is a sad one but the movie is dead on (pun non intended) balls accurate with its history. The emotion put into the film is just as bold. Perhaps some liberties were taken with characters but it is tastefully done. I saw this for the first time when I was 10 or 11. Dad and me were having one of our guys movie nights while the girls in the family were away with my beloved aunt Donna doing what ever it was that girls do. Even at taht age I didnt' cry too much in movies and dad even less. At the end of this one we wept

All Quiet On the Western Front- This movie is similar to the one mentioned above only it isn't the eastern war agaisnt the Turks. Also, this takes a look at trench warfare from a bit of a different angle. Again in this movie you see the worthlessness of it and the cost of it on the world but unlike Gallipoli there is little or no emotion. This paints a picture just as bold. For all intents and perposes WWI was a non sasifying war. For all of you who think SPR shows the worthlessness of battle thanks to the great depiction of the normandy landings (as much as I nock SPR the first 30 minutes are right on. The rest of the movie is lacking, if you would like to hear my reasons feel free to email me at marinesniper68@yahoo.com the movie was good by movie making standards but all the hpye that it got left me down right angry as to how bad it was when I left the cinima with my father. Dad said it plainly, "if it were that bad during the first 30min I would have asked for our money back") watch All Quiet and see how that is set. When I was putting together my top 10 list I chose this over Gallipoli simply because it relates to more people in history. Gallipoli the Brits wanna just brush under the rug and the USA really dosn't care coz we were in no way ever looking at the eastern front but All Quiet gives the Germans someting to wonder at (ths story is told from their side) and the French/British and in some ways us Yanks.

Run Silent Run Deep- Before there was the Hunt for Red October there was RSRD (I would mention HFRO but it really isn't a war flick though watch it if ya havn't its fantastic). RSRD follows an American Sub against the Japs during WWII. The depiction of sub surface warfare is beautfully done.

Das Boot- The Germans can make war movies too. This is a well done movie by all standards. Not only is it right on with its warfare but the way the U boat crew thinks and acts is men at war.

Stalingrad- Again this is a German film. We Americans like to think only of the Western War in Europe during WWII. Stalingrad shows the war in the east at its best (or worst depends on how you look at it). The brutality on both sides is heart renching. It is also historically accurate (the other movie that is similar but different in story is the Cross of Iron. I don't remember too much of this movie and it is harder and harder to find these days. I remember my father enjoying it and what i do remember is good. Also classed in here is Enemy at the Gates. This like Gladiator and Troy is a well done movie that has enough reality in it to make it worth quite a bit but the way the Russian sniper is writen out into the movie isn't correct at all. Also the romance is something that was thrown in to make the movie interesting. Truth is the two snipers were for the most part clones of each other.)

Waterloo- One of the best war genre movies is the way great leaders are portraied. This movie would have been best viewed in a cinima because of its vastness but the truth is it is a pretty good movie. Not only does it do a good job of showing the battle of Waterloo as history tells us it is but the way the whole movie is layed out is fantastic.

Patton- Many of you metnioned this movie as one of the best. There is grounds for it. It is well done and history will show you how accurate it is. There is much to Patton that isn't mentioned in the movie but over all it is correct.

Henry V- Okay those little known screen writers are the best right , this could be a cheap shot because it is more Shakespeare's writing then anything but Kenneth Branagh brought it to the screen and to life (sorry Sir Laurence Olivier the young kid beat ya on this one). The battle of Agincourt has never been shown so well on screen as it is here. The outnummbered Brits destroied a French army of more then twice their size. This was done a number of times in history because of the British use of the long bow. The yomen would fire over the heads of the knights taking out infantry support as the cavalry battled under the arrows. It is important to note that this is not a new concept. The Roman general Pompey used such a tactic a number of times when his legions were outmanned and J. Caesar makes mention of such tactics in his war comentaries.

Laurence of Arabia- This could very well be the best WWI movie of all time. And I am sure there are those who would say it is the best war movie. Personally it tops Patton and Napolean on my list and that is saying quite a bit. Worthy of its 7 oscars it shows that it is a good movie, but how about reality. Its not bad at all! Laurence's ability to unite the Arabs is unmatched (take a look at the world today). THis isn't just the story of a great man however, this shows politics and how it plays out in war. Vietnam was never the only war where the political relms overlooked the military.

Gettysburg- Because this is on the list I won't say so much about it. It is based off of the book Killer Angles and does a good job of following it. Somebody mentioned the prequil to this "Gods and Generals" but G and G was lacking and didn't follow the book near as well as Gettysburg. At any rate this film is dead on as far as the battle and although pieces are left out because of the mass of it what is shown is well thought out. There are many great performances in there too and I am sure that is part of the films greatness coupled like Laurence of Arabia with an awesome score.

This is it I suppose. It is important to note that some of the movies on the list first posted (I have seen most of them) I have serious problems with. If any of you would like to know why again feel free to pop off and email marinesniper68@yahoo.com

here are the movies I have a serious problem with on the list or mentioned on the just missed...

Platoon
Saving Private Ryan
Apocalypse Now
The Thin Red Line

There are also movies that I have a beef with but are not all bad...

Saving Private Ryan
Full Metal Jacket
MASH

Also, I failed to mention a few of my favorites as well as some mentioned by others and also on the list. Here are movies that I wouldn't mind discussing (a few I think were mentioned as the just missed catagory on the first list)

Black Hawk Down
A Bridge Too Far
Glory
The Deer Hunter
Paths of Glory
Prisoners of the Sun (Fits with Paths of Glory and brings up some moral issues about war that are so far unmatched in style by any other movie that I have seen).
Midway (The air war is a new concept in history. There are reasons that none of the movies I have mentioned are from the war in the air. Midway and Battle of Britain are the two I would choose that match the air war)
The Battle of Britain
Tora! Tora! Tora!
Battleground
HBO's Band of Brothers
The Great Escape
Schindler's List
The Patriot (I figure this will be a hot one)

[Diedaily]

Originally Posted by Acts Chapter 2

Hamburger Hill

I've been meaning to see this film. I just haven't found it around here yet.

Das Boot- The Germans can make war movies too. This is a well done movie by all standards. Not only is it right on with its warfare but the way the U boat crew thinks and acts is men at war.

This is a classic.

Napoleon- ONe of the best war genre movies is the way great leaders are portraied. This movie would have been best viewed in a cinima because of its vastness but the truth is it is a pretty good movie. Not only does it do a good job of showing the battle of Waterloo as history tells us it is but the way the whole movie is layed out is fantastic.

Isn't this the silent film?

The Deer Hunter

Another freakin' classic.

The Great Escape

I checked it out once from the library, but from some reason never saw the whole thing. I'm gonna check it out again.

And while on it, there's also Battleship Potemkin, another one of the classics. I just got it, will probably see it later.

[Acts Chapter 2]

Here is my top 10 list... these are not to be ranked and to be honest some are not the best movies ever but they may represent a bunch. With only 10 choices you don't need the best ones you need the right ones.

1. Black Hawk Down- This shows not only the true events of what happened in Mogadishu Somalia in 1993 but gives an idea of the politics and problems with fighting a modern war such as the continued struggle in Iraq.
2. Das Boot- Not only a good movie by movie making standards but this movie is a great depiction of naval warfare on many different levels. Das Boot represents everything from Sink the Bismarck to Run Silent Run Deep.
3. Enemy at the Gates- This movie although not always historically accurate gives an idea of the brutality of the eastern front of WWII. It represents such movies as Cross of Iron and Stalingrad but this also has another underlying story that goes deeper then WWII and explores the nature of war itself. The story is of a German sniper sent to kill a Russian sniper. They knew each other and their sole purpose became killing the other. This mono a mono confrontation has been around since Cain killed Abel and is the driving force behind some of the Iliad and Beowulf.
4. Gettysburg- This is the best depiction of the American Civil War. The American Civil War was the first modern war ever fought. And there is no way that you can make a warfare list without it.
5. Henry V- There is a reason that this play by Shakespeare has lasted so long. It is an example of military tactics at its best as well as ancient warfare. This movie also represents the constant fighting between England and France of the 100 year war. And the fighting didn’t stop there. All the way to Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo friction between those two powers erupted into constant warfare.
6. Lawrence of Arabia- It was a hard choice to put this as the sole representing movie from WWI but I find it has all elements of the First World War in it. Lawrence’s attack and taking of Damascus from the desert was to avoid the fortification and trench lines of a frontal assault. It was constant trench warfare that ripped apart Europe during the war.
7. Pork Chop Hill- This represents many different war movies actually. I chose it because it is a similar situation as We Were Soldiers and it is an example of political bickering that came to highlight the cold war. Although it doesn’t necessarily show the frustration of such political bickering on the soldiers fighting like Hamburger Hill does it gives enough taste of it.
8. Prisoners of the Sun- Here is a superb example of the conflicts between the east and the west as far as culture (Shogun) and it gives a taste of war crimes trials (Judgment at Nuremburg, Schindler’s List). It also presents some interesting moral questions as well as the necessary evils of war and sometimes peace. And it too highlights the conflict between contemporary politics of the time and war.
9. Spartacus- This is the best depiction of war from Roman times. It is hard to have a list about war without mention of the Romans. Ancient warfare peaked with them. It is historically accurate for the most part and gives a taste of how Rome operated.
10. Zulu- Zulu deals with colonial powers and the friction created by it. This movie also represents any kind of warfare between the aboriginal people of a location and invading powers. It is relatively objective and strait forward.