The Best War Movie?
War movies are one of the best tools of historical reflection we have. They give us perspective on periods of history steeped in emotion and oftentimes controversy, they entertain us, and they usually reflect the climate of the period in which they were made.
Is there any form of entertainment that so closely defines for us the meaning of heroism, leadership, and teamwork; is there any form that so readily reminds us of where we've been, and where we're headed?
For my money, the title of "Best War Movie" is between Glory, Schindler's List, and Apocalypse Now. Out of those three, I think Glory embodies the most classic sense of the war movie, illustrating perfectly all the values I listed above. Schindler's List I think is one of the most well-made movies of the century. And Apocalypse Now perfectly illustrates the ability to take a classic tale, Conrad's Heart of Darkness, and use the metaphor of a "modern" war to make it relevant.
What do you think? What is your favorite war movie?
- (2)
Patton is the greatest war movie ever made, and George C. Scott WAS Patton! Anyone else would have been a joke!
That's funny: I can never think of George C. Scott without thinking of him as Ebeneezer Scrooge. But I agree, Patton is a classic.
What about Lee Marvin in the Dirty Dozen?
I love Platoon. That movie was my introduction to Tom Berringner and Willem DaFoe, both were absolutely amazing.
#1 BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER KWIA
# 2 KELLY'S HEROS
American Revoloution- The Patriot
American Civil War in order of how good they were.
1.Gettysburg
2.Glory
3.Gods and Generals
WWII
1.Band of Brothers
2.A Bridge too Far
3.Batte of Britain
4.The longest Day
5.The Flying Tigers
6.Sands of Iwo Jima
7.Letters from iwo jima
8.Saving private Ryan
9.Flags our fathers
Vietnam
1.Missing in action
2.Missing in action 2 the beginning
3.Bradock Missing in action 3
Desert storm relations and time period- Black Hawk Down
Black Hawk Down is my favorite.
Saving Private Ryan is good, but when Ted Dansen appears
in the movie I instantly lose my depth of being drawn into
the movie.
The Deer Hunter was also good.
As far as the romantic sense of war goes as being and honorable and just thing no movie beats Gettysburg. As far accurately potraying the modern sense of chaos and brutality that is modern day war Apocalypse Now and Black Hawk Down I feel are the best examples.
Absolute favorite war movie of all time: The 1956 original black & white version of The Burmese Harp, directed by Kon Ichikawa. NOT the vastly inferior color version later from the same director.
Also, Full Metal Jacket (people in the miliary say this is the film that got it right) and On The Beach with Gregory Peck & Fred Astaire.
For more patriotic films: Midway, The Longest Day, and Patton.
PATTON!!!
Full Metal Jacket
Paths of Glory
Apocalypse Now
We Were Soldiers
Braveheart. Back when people fought wars with, at least, some chance of getting the real bad guy. Now the people who start the wars are trading stocks and laying off workers.
I am suprised that no one has mentioned "Platoon" as one of the best war movies. I think that it is just as good as Full Metal Jacket.
I think that a very good movie is The Blue and the Gray. The best on that i like is In Harms Way,
For the real story watch All Quiet in the Western Front
For the real story watch All Quiet in the Western Front
Gettysburg, Full Metal Jacket, We Were Soldiers, Platoon, Band of Brothers and Patton are good movies but the one movie that portrays the utter chaos, terror, and brutality of combat is Saving Private Ryan. It has everything, The beach landing, house to house, and hand to hand fighting. all equally brutal in their own way.
I always favor oldies you have to give credit, platoon is great and so is full metal jacket.