The Best and the worst film about war

[Zed]

I think that this topic may be interesting.
The movies "Enemy at the gates" and "Pearl Harbour" has generated a lot of comments about war movies.
There are good ones and bad ones (and terrible ones), so I want to hear you.
Some good films: Apocalypsis now and The red thin line are two of my favorites. Kanal of Andrew Watja (spealling???) was also good.
Between the worst films Rambo III (what the #$%#% was that) really deserves a mention.
Ok, it's your turn.

[kerryanne]

Good and bad war films huh? Let me just start off with the bad...
ANY WAR MOVIE WITH CHUCK-WALKER-TEXAS-RANGER-NORRIS(this man cannot, I REPEAT,CANNOT act.)

Good ones:
Full Metal Jacket
Saving Private Ryan(let the bashing begin)
Hamburger Hill
U-571
Apocolypse Now
The Patriot
The Hunt for Red October
Crimson Tide
Patriot Games

Will have more later /ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by kerryanne (edited 02-25-2001).]

[ak]

Bridge on the River Kwai is my favourite, it is absolutely stunning, and very powerful.
I also really like Full Metal Jacket, it is really very funny in the beginning, then it turns serious, and also powerful to look at.

Worst...hmmmmm...have to get back to you on that one.
I think Enemy at the Gates is going to be pretty bad, through test screenings so far there has been a negative word. I wasn't very taken with the trailer either.

[edonline]

While its not a "war film" per se (no battlefield action), I'd recommend a 1959 German film called "Die Brucke" (The Bridge).

It takes place in 1945 and a group of high school boys want to do their part for their country, and enlist. Their teacher goes to their commander and tries to get them an easy mission. The boys' mission is to defend a small bridge into their town, which is small and not vital in the war. When the allies come through, the young men decide to fulfill their duty to all cost. It's a very moving picture which shows the finality of war.

[MrWhite]

A good war film is SAVING PRIVATE RYAN
A bad war film is THE TRENCH.
Simple as that!

[loner]

Paul Verhoeven's Soldier of Orange. Best film about war ever made. Hands down. But for a more "action film" type war movie, I like Where Eagles Dare.

[emmozanjo]

Good heavens... so many to choose from.

I like the WWII films that began to be made as character studies/anti-war films:

Das Boot (I know... pretentious... but I defy anyone to cite me a better representation of depth-charging and the claustrophobic conditions of a sub)

Kwai, definately

Kelly's Heroes (in its own way it was an anti-war film, I think... with the defection of the German tank officer at the end... also the battle in the town was aped by "Private Ryan" for their last scene)

I still think the tv version of "All Quiet..." holds up well. Of course the original rocks.

Galipoli. For sure.

Zulu. Very vivid battle portrayals, and both sides were treated (by the filmmakers) with respect.

The Cruel Sea... it doesn't preach too much (especially for a movie of its time).

The Caine Mutiny (Bogart's strongest villain... because he wasn't really a villain after all).

Good call on The Bridge.

[rupert_pupkin]

I think Das Boot is the best ever.
Or maybe Bridge on the River Kwai
Or maybe Apocalypse Now

The worst ever is Braveheart

[playgames]

Patton
The boys in company C
Platoon
full metal jacket
the killing fields
hamburger hill
Midway
A. now
deer hunter
Bat 21(great actors)

Forgot to mention that I liked Kellys heroes too,but haven't seen it in ten years.

[This message has been edited by playgames (edited 02-28-2001).]

[Zed]

Hey, playgames!!!
Tell me something about a war movie that you didn't like.

[Deckard]

Some of the Best (hopefully that havent been mentioned)

John Sturges The Great Escape
Don Siegels Hell is For Heroes
Brian de Palma Casualties of War
The Longest Day
Peckinpahs Cross Of Iron
Kubricks Paths of Glory
Terence Malicks Thin Red Line
The Battle Of Britian
Wolfgang Petersons Das Boot
Oliver Stones Salvador
Akira Kurosawa's RAN
The Hughes Brothers Dead Presidents
Stanley Kramers The Men

Some Of The Worst (hopefully, not mentioned)

U-571
The Patriot
Crimson Tide

Fun topic Zed.
Great choices Emmo, all high quality war films.

[Steveamos]

all of you folks are insane, i can't believe you put "the patriot" on your best war films list. here's mine....let the replies come.

grave of the fireflies
apocalypse now
platoon
grand illusion
ran

the worst:
u-571
the patriot

most manipulative:
saving private ryan

[Gore 4 All]

Favorites

Full Metal Jacket
Saving Priavte Ryan
Platoon
Braveheart
Das Boot
Apacolyspse Now
Bride of the River Kwai
Glory (best Civil War movie ever)

Worst

Casulties of War (I Hate this movie with a passion)
All Delta Force movies