Favorite War movies?

[Dem4Life1102]

Since it is Memorial Day weekend, was wondering what are everyone's favorite war movies.

My top five are (in no particular order):

Lawrence of Arabia

The Longest Day

The Bridge on the River Kwai

Kelly's Heroes

Patton

[USALiberal]

1. Longe? Nt

[Polybius]

52. What year did that one come out?

Never heard of it.

[Totally Tunsie]

65. Agree.

[Mike 03]

2. How interesting. Lawrence of Arabia is a masterpiece but I'd never actually

thought of it as a war film. I'd certainly put that on my list. My off-the-top-of-my-head picks seem pretty typical:

Apocalypse Now
Full Metal Jacket
The Deer Hunter
Thin Red Line
Casualties of War (with some qualms)


If Dr. Strangelove qualifies, I'd toss that in there too.

Maybe: Coming Home (more of a coming home from war movie)

[GusBob]

3. Breaker Morant and The Hill

I dont know if The Hill qualifies as a war movie as there are no battle scenes or enemies. At least no traditional battle scenes and enemies

[Reader Rabbit]

30. Yes!

I saw Breaker Morant as a teen, and it has never left me!

[Botany]

4. 3 for me

Stalingrad
Downfall
Breaker Morant

[brush]

5. Das Boot.

[mitch96]

17. +1 fer Das boot. All quiet on the western front and Catch 21 come to mind also..

Generally I like them all accept the stuff with John Wayne... Too theatrical.. I like the ones that are close to being historically correct.. Then again inglorious bastards was very entertaining.. As was Fury... I have been watching a PBS drama Masterpiece "World on Fire". WW2, fall of Poland and the resistance.. Very good.
Being born in the Late late 1940's WW2 was still fresh in everybodys mind when I was growing up..
m

[Tipperary]

70. Das Boot is fantastic.

Was there a Catch 21 lol? I only know of 22.

[mitch96]

81. "Catch 21 lol? I only know of 22."

oopsy!! can't type... Or was catch 21 the rehearsal for catch 22???
m

[Tipperary]

85. I bet there is a 21 !

I am sure of it!

[musette_sf]

69. +1 for Das Boot

[Aristus]

6. Kevin Reynold's "The Beast Of War" from 1988.

A favorite among tank crewmen and tank enthusiasts.

Filmed before the end of the Cold War, when the Soviets were still secretive about their tanks' capabilities, the film gives a good look at the Soviet-made T-55.

[Towlie]

89. After 10 weeks of solitary isolation...

[Aristus]

90. HA!

I did the same exact thing once, on a T-55, as a matter of fact.

I served as a tanker in the Army, and when I was stationed in Germany, a bunch of my buddies and I inspected the outdoor tank museum at Hohenfels Training Center. We clambered all over the T-55 on display there, and I pulled this stunt, much to my friends' amusement.

This film can be confusing for anyone trying to learn vehicle recognition. It was filmed in Israel, and used authentic Soviet vehicles and equipment captured from the various Arab opponents in the Six Day War and the Yom Kippur War.

The tank in the film originated as a T-55, but after capture by Israel, was updated from the factory 100mm gun to a British-made 105mm gun. This gave the tank a superficial resemblance to the Soviet T-62. I had a hell of a time getting my buddies to understand that this was an Israeli variant of the T-55, and not a T-62.

Also, sharp-eyed viewers can spot the American-made machine guns, radios, and antenna matching-unit on the "Russian" tank.

[Towlie]

97. What about when the shell mis-fired? That's isn't really called a "cook-off", is it?

[Aristus]

101. Yes, it is.

The military adviser on the film, Dale Dye, had the "Russian" crewmen use American tank terminology, like cook-off, and others. 'Tankers' is another. Russian tank crewmen call themselves 'tankists'.

I never experienced a cook-off or misfire myself, but one of the tanks in my battalion experienced a misfire during live-fire training once. They evacuated the crewmen and shut down the range for a couple of hours until the demolition guys removed the dud round safely and got it off the firing line.

[Wounded Bear]

7. Not sure I can narrow it to five, but...

Zulu

Saving Private Ryan

Glory

Gettysburg

The Longest Day

[hatrack]

8. Come And See (Idi I Smotri)

[brewens]

9. Cross of Iron. A Sam Pekinpah classic. Here's the trailer. Excellent authentic uniforms and

weapons. They even got a couple running Russian T-34 tanks to show off.

[gladium et scutum]

53. Very authentic Soviet tanks, small arms and uniforms

They were provided under contract from the Yugoslavian Army. Which at that time, in the early 70s, was pretty much equipped with WWII Soviet tanks, small arms and uniforms.

[brewens]

54. Coburn's exquisitely tailored Greman army sergents uniform was a little ridiculous. Look at any real

pics of German soldiers and they don't fit that sweet. Schell's uniform was likewise, but an aristocratic Prussian Captain could very well have had his uniform custom tailored.

[machoneman]

100. Yes, Cross of Iron was a terrific production, very realistic.

[Norbert]

10. The Big Red One

[crickets]

33. +1

[Nevilledog]

62. Agreed.

[California_Republic]

11. Das Boot.

[DFW]

12. One of my favorites was made about a friend of mine, and TOTALLY misrepresented him

But it was a fun film, all the same:

Other than that, Saving Private Ryan, if for nothing else, then for the incredible opening D Day scene

[Javaman]

13. Stalag 17 and The Great Escape. :) nt

oh also, Run Silent, Run Deap, Action in the North Atlantic and 30 seconds over Tokoyo.

[jcboon]

28. The Great Escape!

[DemoTex]

14. Hamburger Hill

Full Metal Jacket

Platoon

(I'm partial to the Vietnam era movies, since I spent 365 days there)

[cwydro]

15. Those are some of my favorites too.

Have you seen "We were Soldiers Once, and Young?"

Great movie. Gripping.

[greenjar_01]

26. Read the book

The battle they showed in the film was only the first part of the Ia Drang battle. The second part was worse.

[cwydro]

46. Yes, I've read it too.

Really frightening.

[Submariner]

16. Green Berets vs the Canucks

[link:

|

[Coventina]

73. That is such a quality movie, sadly overlooked!!

It's almost eerie how it predicted American paranoia, post 9/11.

[The Magistrate]

18. 'The Thin Red Line', Sir

Far and away the best, and manages to come as close to a 'chick flick' as a movie on the topic can be. It is beautifully shot, and puts you in the events to such a degree their imperatives are communicated clearly.

Hardly resembles the book, by the way, and is far, far better, though Jones was not a bad writer, and much of his content, at least, must have been revolutionary at his debut.

[11 Bravo]

68. A great flick, sir!

I also recommend Hamburger Hill and We were soldiers once if only for coming close to depicting the horror and chaos of close quarters combat.

[irisblue]

105. A second recommendation for this

But it really needs 2 back to back watching to see the details and the craft of the director, cinematography and Jim Caviezel, Sean Penn & Adrian Brody acting is very good

[uriel1972]

19. Das Boot and Stalingrad come to mind

as does Grave if the Fireflies (although I can't bring myself to watch it all the way through)

[ms liberty]

20. Henry V, the Kenneth Branagh version

And The Scarlet Pimpernel, the Merle Oberon/Leslie Howard version. Technically the British may not have been actively at war with Bonaparte during the time frame of the movie's events, so it might not really count, lol.
mr liberty loves the WWII & VN war movies, but I'm a bit over them all.

[Coventina]

74. I think I'm in love with you! I *heart* the Oberon/Howard TSP!!!!

I never thought of it as a war movie, but it really does fit, doesn't it?

Henry V is another great choice as well!!!

[ms liberty]

78. Oh, heck yea it does! I could also have added Sharpe's Rifles

And the other Sharpe's episodes, if teevee had been included...which covers most of the Napoleonic Wars. I love those, Sean Bean was outstanding as Sharpe!

[Coventina]

79. I'll have to check that out. I've never heard of it.

But, I do like Sean Bean!

Thanks for the tip!

[WhiskeyGrinder]

21. The Invisible War

[Hotler]

22. White Tiger

Free on Youtube. it is kind of corny, but an easy watch.

[Aristus]

24. I've got this film. I enjoy it very much.

It's sort of like Apocalypse Now, in that, rather than being an accurate depiction of war, is more of a surreal commentary on the effects of war on the human psyche.

[Hotler]

32. It is a good watch. Tanker is another good one.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

23. The Star Wars Saga

[greenjar_01]

27. ...

[Proud Liberal Dem]

31. I couldn't resist LOL

[TreadSoftly]

25. In Harm's Way and Tora!Tora!Tora! and Darkest Hour

Patricia Neal in In Harm's Way. I remember this as a kid. Something about all the people involved and upturned by the wartime. Director was Otto Preminger so big budget, and stark because it's not a color film.

Tora!Tora!Tora! because of the starkly different directing styles. I understand there were some replacements on the Japanese directors though.

Darkest Hour - I found this movie scary, that it was so difficult to rouse the government to do something and what a narrow escape Great Britain had (but I am aware that GB was not unscathed...took many years to recover).

[Mendocino]

29. Paths Of Glory

Last edited Fri May 22, 2020, 12:32 PM - Edit history (1)

All Quiet on the Western Front

Last of the Mohicans

Northwest Passage

Mister Roberts

Twelve O'Clock High

[davekriss]

34. Saving Private Ryan

Maybe Saving Private Ryan doesn’t qualify as a war movie. I Actually think it’s one of the best anti-war movies of all time.

[Dem4Life1102]

43. It is definitely a war movie

And a war movie doesn't mean that it is pro war. There are a lot of great war movies that are anti-war like MASH or Apocalypse Now.

[Celerity]

35. Ran

[lame54]

36. Apocalypse Now - it's also...

My favorite road movie

[Sancho]

37. Most of the best are already listed, but don't forget these...

[Marrah_Goodman]

38. Band of Brothers and The Pacific

I know they are series and not movies but they were just so well done.

[whistler162]

39. The Enemy Below

[gladium et scutum]

40. Glory, Zulu, Cross of Iron, Tora Tora Tora, Das Boot n/t

[txwhitedove]

41. All these mentioned here and more. Memorial Day started during the Civil War. I recommend

Ride with the Devil, Enemy at the Gates, and even War with Kevin Costner.

[Skidmore]

42. I don't

watch war movies.

[sarisataka]

44. The most accurate war movie IMO

As to how things actually happen is Kelly's Heroes

Others on my favorite list:

A Bridge Too Far
Tora, Tora, Tora
Full Metal Jacket
Hamburger Hill

[greatauntoftriplets]

45. The Bridge on the River Kwai.

The summer that I was 9 or 10, my mother had to take me to see that three times. An excellent anti-war war movie. Plus, Alec Guinness has long been one of my absolute favorite actors.

[Brother Mythos]

47. Full Metal Jacket

[Brother Buzz]

48. The Sand Pebbles merits a mention

I'm guessing I just transitioned from Mad Magazine to underground Comics and totally missed Mad Magazine spoof of The Sand Pebbles.





http://www.thesandpebbles.com/mad_magazine/mad_sequence.htm

[Sewa]

49. Black Book

The Paul Verhoeven Dutch resistance film is my favorite.

[Zorro]

50. Fury

Gripping movie about tank warfare at the end of WWII.

[Backseat Driver]

51. I go w/the more romantic war background movies

1. Lawrence of Arabia
2. Shindler's List
3. The Dirty Dozen
4. Empire of the Sun
5. Unbroken

Honorable mentions to:

The Great Escape
Hacksaw Ridge
Star Wars Saga(s)
Run Silent, Run Deep
The Wind and the Lion
Sink the Bismark
Hunt for Red October
Good Morning, Vietnam
Casablanca
GWTW

[SidDithers]

55. One of my favourites, that most people haven't seen is Kilo Two Bravo...

about a small group of British soldiers caught in a mine field.

Worth the watch.

Sid

[hunter]

56. Starship Troopers.

Maybe Das Boot next.

I'm a pacifist by necessity, not by any natural inclination.

[Coventina]

77. Have you seen the Rifftrax take on Starship Troopers?

It is really great.

(Although, if you take the movie really seriously, maybe not to your taste).

[Trumpocalypse]

57. The Incredible Mr. Limpet

The war movie ever made.

[SeattleVet]

58. Johnny Got His Gun

[SeattleVet]

60. Original trailer:

[Brother Buzz]

86. I read the book and was blown away by it (no pun intended)...

but the film did nothing for me.

Side note: I watched Trumbo on Netflix last night and was reminded of Johnny Got His Gun.

[LeftInTX]

104. I read the book in high school!!

My oldest son watched the movie with me when it was on Netflix. He was really creeped out.

[mokawanis]

59. Apocalypse Now n/t

[Paladin]

61. "Bridge on the River Kwai," "The Big Red One," "Band of Brothers," "Das Boot," "Private Ryan" (nt)

[eleny]

63. A Walk In The Sun

[killaphill]

64. Kelly's Heroes

[Generic Brad]

95. Right there with you

It had that great anti-hero/Ocean's 11 vibe going. We wind up rooting for the bad guys and do so unashamedly. It also makes a loud statement on villainy being wrongly identified as heroism without being preachy. I love that film.

[diva77]

66. "The Best Years of Our Lives"

[marked50]

67. Gallipoli should be added-n/t

[winstars]

71. The Story of G.I. Joe, Battleground and The Big Red One besides many listed above

[Coventina]

72. Paths of Glory, All Quiet on the Western Front.

Heartily agree with Lawrence of Arabia and Bridge on the River Kwai.

[Coventina]

75. Wait, I don't see "Casablanca" yet?

How is this possible?

Please add that to my previous list!!

[Baclava]

102. Casablanca, I agree, and war movies should be filmed in black and white

[jmg257]

76. We were soldiers and young... hamburger hill - longest day

Glory, Gettysburg, Inglorius Bastards

[Dr. Strange]

80. The best:

Modern trailer:

[Dem4Life1102]

91. Not sure they are considered war films

since they don't depict a real war. Sort of like Nazis were not really Socialists despite calling themselves National Socialists.

[bluestarone]

82. Longest Day, Hacksaw Ridge, Windtalkers!!

All good ones! Dirty Dozen as well!

[Mike 03]

83. Greatest war film NEVER made:

Stanley Kubrick's screenplay for Napoleon. But I digress.

[IcyPeas]

84. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (David Bowie)

this also won awards for the musical score by Ryuichi Sakamoto

[Polybius]

87. Platoon Leader

[dware]

88. Don't need to watch war movies,

I live it during 2 tours in Vietnam and Desert Storm.

[Dem4Life1102]

92. Thank you for your service.

[GusBob]

93. Made for TV movies

Murphys War with Peter O’toole ( he of Lawrence fame)

Too Late The Hero with Michael Caine

The Lost Battalion

[GusBob]

94. The lesser filmed wars?

I been thinking of Civil War movies: does Cold Mountain count?
GWTW
The Red Badge of Courage
Others?

Revolutionary War movies?

Korean or Spanish American Wars?

American Indian Wars
Son of The Morning Star
Does Dances With Wolves Count

[txwhitedove]

110. Definitely Cold Mountain. Memorial Day is for all lives lost, not just the soldiers, just as war

Isn't only about battles but the cost of lives and dreams.

[bhcodem]

96. Joyeux Noel

I'm a musician, what can I say. It's about the Christmas Eve truce where soldiers from all sides got together out of the trenches!

I also like Miracle at St. Anna. As well as a lot of the others mentioned already.

[llmart]

98. I liked the message in this one...

Born on the Fourth of July

[nolabear]

99. Paths of Glory, Catch-22, Apocalypse Now

I’m not a fan of war.

[ananda]

103. Saving Private Ryan

Those you posted are so great also!

[irisblue]

106. Monuments Men , it gripped me. Saving a civilization.

[geralmar]

109. My favorites not mentioned:

The Bedford Incident (1965). Kubrick was a wuss. This is the real deal.
Attack (1956). The Defense Department refused cooperation after reviewing the script.
The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954). Skip the soap opera/service comedy first hour. The last 45 minutes are harrowing.

The Enemy Below Below (1957). Superior cat and mouse in the Pacific.
The Long and the Short and the Tall (Jungle Fighters). Based on a stage play.
Time Limit (1957). Based on a Stage Play.
Hell is for Heroes (1962). Except Bob Newhart's telephone skit seems misplaced.
The Gallant Hours (1960). Weird; like a two-hour interior monologue.

The Steel Helmet (1951). Cheap but potent.
Men in War (1957). Ditto.

Any thoughts on Eastwood's two recent WWII movies? I haven't seen them.
Beach Red (1967). Another one I haven't seen but am curious about.

The Green Berets (1968). I enlisted anyway.

[EX500rider]

112. Both of Clint's Iwo Jima movies were very good i thought.

"Letters from Iwo Jima" was told from the Japanese side.

[PlanetBev]

111. The Best Years of our Lives

It’s on TCM tonight. I must have seen it twenty times. A truly wonderful movie about the impact of war on families.

[BannonsLiver]

114. A tremendous film.

Have seen it about that many times myself. I’m also related to Hoagy Carmichael who plays Uncle Butch.

[GusBob]

113. 1917 will be a classic someday