What are the Best War Films of All Time?
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June 28, 2011 at 10:40pm
I was at a conference recently--related to teaching and national security. As part of the program we watched The Hurt Locker. This prompted a discussion among some of the participants about war movies in general and ones that might be useful in the classroom (college or graduate level). We had a surprisingly difficult time coming up with--in the end--a not very extensive list. Suggestions?
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Comments:
Jul '10
Re: What are the Best War Films of All Time?
Gallipoli, Breaker Morant, Platoon
Jun '10
Re: What are the Best War Films of All Time?
All Quiet On The Western Front
Black Hawk Down
Saving Private Ryan
The Thin Red Line
Paths of Glory
They Were Expendable
Glory
Gallipoli
Breaker Morant
Das Boot (The Boat)
The Sand Pebbles
Television Series/Documentaries:
Band of Brothers
The Civil War - Ken Burns
Edited on June 28, 2011 at 6:55pmFeb '11
Re: What are the Best War Films of All Time?
Command Decision
The Dawn Patrol
Both ask, "How much can you ask from your warriors?"
Edited on June 28, 2011 at 7:04pmFeb '11
Re: What are the Best War Films of All Time?
The Longest Day is the best WW2 movie. Band of Brothers is a great mini-series about WW2. Pacific is ok, but not as good as Band of Brothers. A Bridge Too Far and Bridge on the River Kwai are the two good WW2 bridge movies.
Jun '11
Re: What are the Best War Films of All Time?
Can I get a witness for Battlestar Galactica?
Otherwise, Kenneth Branagh's "Henry V."
Jun '10
Re: What are the Best War Films of All Time?
Downfall, absolutely the best fin de siecle ever. If you haven't seen Downfall you have nothing to compare a good war film against.
Patton
Das Boot, I enthusiastically second that endorsement.
Apocalypse Now, I like it for the Conradesque impression the film made.
Jul '10
Re: What are the Best War Films of All Time?
Brian Watt: All Quiet On The Western Front
Black Hawk Down
Saving Private Ryan
The Thin Red Line
Paths of Glory
They Were Expendable
Glory
Gallipoli
Breaker Morant
Das Boot (The Boat)
The Sand Pebbles
Television Series/Documentaries:
Band of Brothers
The Civil War - Ken Burns · Jun 28 at 9:49am
Edited on Jun 28 at 09:55 am
Great list. I'm with Cas on Downfall, as well. Too bad for Bruno Ganz that no one is ever gonna give you an Oscar for playing Hitler.
Aug '10
Re: What are the Best War Films of All Time?
Band of Brothers by far. I've met veterans who were there, in Europe, who say it's amazingly truthful.
Das Boot is a good second choice. The original book was by a reporter who experienced the events.
Feb '11
Re: What are the Best War Films of All Time?
The Cruel Sea
Amateur or merchant sailors being made hard by war.
Jul '10
Re: What are the Best War Films of All Time?
If 300 didn't look a bit too much like computer-generated gay porn, I'd put it on the list, too.
Re: What are the Best War Films of All Time?
Das Boot and Das Boot (director's cut). That ending. Man.
Aug '10
Re: What are the Best War Films of All Time?
With the exception of Breaker Morant, Gallipoli, Henry V (and maybe Glory), I'd argue most of these are at best good films, but not great ones. But Brian, I haven't heard of They Were Expendable and The Sand Pebbles. Nor, Cas, have I heard of Downfall. What makes these 3 great?
Another problem I encounter with even the good war films is that they more often than not abstract from the political/strategic context of the conflict. This is often understandable and even sensible if one is telling the story from an ordinary soldier's point of view. But it is striking in any case. Thanks for all of these suggestions.
May '11
Re: What are the Best War Films of All Time?
In my opinion, the list begins and ends with Patton. Honorable mention to Gallipoli, Gods and Generals, Breaker Morant, The Sand Pebbles and All Quiet on the Western Front.
Jun '10
Re: What are the Best War Films of All Time?
Twelve O'Clock High - A study of the key roles leadership, discipline, and morale play in winning wars.
Edited on June 28, 2011 at 8:17pmSep '10
Re: What are the Best War Films of All Time?
Longest Day is a great movie with an unparalled cast. Its portrayal is loaded with actual events and actual characters who were still alive when the film was made. This is in pretty short supply these days.
I also love the movie Midway, I watch it at least once a year and I am never sorry I did.
In Harm's Way I think is great as well.
For Viet Nam, I would recommend the obscure 84 Charlie Mopic. It is very hard to find, but I can remember it being very impactful for me.
Henry V and Sand Pebbles are both awesome flicks, but they are not war movies in the same way the others are.
In some cases (Midway in particular) it is not so much the film itself as the greatness of the event it portrays. My sense is that the Japanese had little chance of keeping their early gains in WW2 and if it was not Midway it would have been something else that was the turning point of the Pacific war. That being said, it WAS Midway that was the turning point and the movie is awsome for its depiction of the turn.
Jul '10
Re: What are the Best War Films of All Time?
Ted Turner or no, Gettysburg is excellent.
Nov '10
Re: What are the Best War Films of All Time?
There are some really great selections here. My (loose) ranking:
Saving Private Ryan
Band of Brothers
Das Boot
Letters From Iwo Jima (Clint Eastwood has evolved into a brilliant director, and this might be his best)
Twelve O'Clock High
Platoon
Bridge on the River Kwai (Sir Alec gave one of the best performances ever filmed)
The Hurt Locker
The Civil War series doesn't really qualify as a movie, but is magnificent.
Edited on June 28, 2011 at 8:41pmNov '10
Re: What are the Best War Films of All Time?
I suppose if you really wanted to generate some discussion among young people, first show them Flags of Our Fathers, then Letters From Iwo Jima.
Nov '10
Re: What are the Best War Films of All Time?
Good Lord, what was I thinking?
Fail Safe and Dr. Strangelove
Edited on June 28, 2011 at 8:48pmAug '10
Re: What are the Best War Films of All Time?
Steven Zoraster: Command Decision
The Dawn Patrol
Both ask, "How much can you ask from your warriors?" · Jun 28 at 9:59am
Edited on Jun 28 at 10:04 am
Steven: Tell me more about these 2 films!