There's plenty to pick from here. Most people would consider "Paths of Glory", "The Bridge on the River Kwai", "The Guns Of Navarone", "Lawrence of Arabia", "The Longest Day", "Dr. Strangelove", "The Dirty Dozen", "The Deer Hunter", "Apocalypse Now", "Platoon", "Full Metal Jacket", "Schindler's List", "The Thin Red Line" and "Saving Private Ryan". I'm sure there's many others including ones made during actual wars. I'm not going to bore you with any other thoughts, but why don't you share some personal opinions with us. I think that this a pertinent discussion, especially from now on, in our current state of war on terrorism. I wonder, does that mean that "Exodus" was a war movie?

All the picks on your list are good and off the top of my head I can think of "Three Kings" and "Life is Good" (a French film) to add.

I hate watching war, so I generally don't watch war films. Besides Three Kings, I think the only sort of war film that I enjoyed was "Jacob's Ladder." And that's not necessarily a war film, so much as psychological thriller that's war related.

Don't forget "Heartbreak Ridge," and "Band of Brothers."

There's Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor, which looks like a war movie, but is in fact simply a Hollywood blockbuster about Ben and Kate and a really loud background.

If Schindler, what bout Pianist? Both are more Holocast films.

Or Coming Home and Born on the 4th of July. Anti-war movies.

Dr Strangelove, I dunno, then WarGame, which really isn't. A better choice would be Fail Safe.

Aliens is a war movie.

Battle of Algiers, France's Nam.

Killing Fields.

The Mission. Spain's conquest of Mexico

Aguirre, the Wrath of God. Peru

and if we're going this route, Cheyenne Autumn. The Indian Wars.

And not to forget the great war films of Robert Aldritch and Samual Fuller, who were there during the creation.

I agree with KT, Jacob's Ladder is not a war picture, but is great nonetheless.

I was under the impression that most, not all, of the films which I mentioned were anti-war films. I just brought up some which came to mind. I want to hear about all the others which people want to share. I definitely think that "The Pianist" is a great war movie. For that matter, so is "Night and Fog", but I've mentioned that one several other places. I also agree that "Aliens" is a war movie so that reminds me of "Starship Troopers." I'm not going to go into anything else, except maybe research what "The Mission" is really about.

3 kings is great.

here are two everybody should check out, really stellar war movies

Ashes and Diamonds - Adrezj wazda

and The Cranes are Flying - Mikhail kalatozishvili

the first is czech (I think) the second is russian. some of the best cinematography I've ever seen.

also Marriage of Maria Braun by Fassbinder, a take on the effects of WWII on german post-war society. much more interesting than it sounds, tongue in cheek dark humor

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Hattoori_Hanzo,

quote:

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Originally posted by Hattoori_Hanzo:
here are two everybody should check out, really stellar war movies

Ashes and Diamonds - Adrezj wazda

and The Cranes are Flying - Mikhail kalatozishvili

the first is czech (I think) the second is russian. some of the best cinematography I've ever seen.

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Yes, HH, I've seen those. "Ashes and Diamonds" is Polish. "The Cranes are Flying" reminds me of another Russian film, "Ballad of a Soldier."
There are several non-English-language war films of note. I liked "The Four Days of Naples" and "No Man's Land." I also think that "Ran" could be called a war film. Let's keep it going. I'm not trying to "glorify" war.

Oops! That just reminded me that "Glory" is a great war film. And on a different note, "The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp" takes the main character through the Boer War, the Great War and WWII, but focuses on romance and friendship, often between "enemies." It also tells how war tactics changed from "gentlemanly" to decidedly-underhanded. Great film.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mark f,

I have no prob re-opening this discussion. I wanted to bring up "Patton", long before Jerry Goldsmith's death, since it qualifies as one of the most complex war films and may contain the greatest performance in a war film- George C. Scott in the title role. The only acting I can even think in the genre which might compare is Bogart in "The Caine Mutiny". Now, something interesting about that film, Van Johnson, an actor, whom I believe gets no respect, must have really gotten into Bogie's persona because he is almost as incredible and the only one who can hold the screen with Queeg at times. Oh, maybe, I should include Jose Ferrer. "The Caine Mutiny", 50 years old, a great film!

Channel 4 (UK) are currently conducting a poll of the Top 100 War Films which I imagine will be on the tele soon.

Link

Platoon or the Thin Red line would get my vote, although admittidly I've only seen a small portion of films on that list.

VOID, that was really fun and a great collection of films. Initially, I was pissed I could only vote for 10, but then I just went back and voted for all that I thought were worthy. Too bad I won't get Channel 4 when they show them. Do they show them uncut w/o commercials? Anyway, everybody should check that site out and vote.

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Originally posted by mark f:
[color:YELLOW]Do they show them uncut w/o commercials?

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Channel 4 is a commercial channel so there are adverts every 15/20 mins or so for a few minutes. Not quite on the scale of the American channels just yet

I think that The Thin Red Line was amazing. It reached a different level than most other war movies. It combined powerful poetry as well as great performances from an all star cast. It was also highly overlooked because it came out at the same time as Saving Private Ryan.

The award for the worst war movie goes to Pearl Harbor. I would love to see an aerial view of a bomb getting dropped on Michael Bay's head. I didn't think he could get any worse after Armageddon.

The Killing Fields is my favorite war film. Not only did it show the horror of what happened in Vietnam/Cambodia, but it was also a very heart-felt story (and a true one at that) about two friends.

The Pianist is quickly moving up my list as one of my favorites.

One of my other all time favorites that I can't believe no one has mentioned is The Great Escape! Come on guys...there can be comedy in a war film too.

That would be nice if The Great Escape was a war movie, but it's not. It's a prison movie.

Dude...seriously. This IS a prison movie...THAT TAKES PLACE IN A NAZI CAMP DURING WWII!!!

Dude...seiously. Seriously dude. Dude.

I love you

If I could send you a sloppy kiss via email, I would.

Are you two dudes sure you're not from The Valley, dudes? Give my best to Spicoli.

P.S. I vote that "The Great Escape" IS a war movie. The same goes for "Stalag 17." So, if anyone gives a flip, that makes the vote 2-1. Later, dudes.