war movies anyone?

[pfrsue]

Sirgallahad, I completely respect your thoughts on Black Hawk Down, although as I've said before, I have some issues with that movie.

My two favorites - both already mentioned - are "Glory" and "Bridge Over The River Kwai". I liked "Tora! Tora! Tora!" too. Another one worth renting is "The Lost Battalion" with (of all people) Rick Schroder.

[StarOpal]

Some war movies I like and some I don't. And how that works out can depend on my mood, what I've been watching, or the alignment of the stars....

I agree, Al, We Were Soldiers was really underrated (I think the fact that it came out as a "Double Header" with Windtalkers had something to do with that. If I'm remembering right). Along with the soldiers, I think it stands out with its portrayal of life back in the 'States with the wives and the telegrams, etc.

[Al]

I think it might have been out around the same time as Black Hawk Down, too. Not to mention that being the third Mel Gibson 3-hour historical war epic in less than ten years is enough to make anyone more than a little skeptical.

[StarOpal]

Because I just had to know...

Braveheart (1995)
The Patriot (2000)
Black Hawk Down (2001)
Windtalkers (2002)
We Were Soldiers (2002)

I knew they came out the same year! Huzzah! (Mind you telephone numbers, addresses, and people I actually meet I can't remember, but actors and movies? No problem)

Also the only movie Mel Gibson did between The Patriot (bleh) and We Were Soldiers was the, in my opinion, at best lukewarm What Women Want. Could these two consecutive movies have had something to do with WWS' underratedness? Hmm...

[Lissa]

I've gotta go with Band of Brothers for the best war movie-even-if-it's not a movie. We watched that recently, and WOW. Amazing.

Most war movies I tend to see once, because if they're good, they're too intense to watch again, and if they're bad, they're REALLY bad (Pearl Harbor, I'm so looking at you). But I think my favorite war movie is Jarhead. I was really, really impressed with that one, and I really wish it had gotten more critical attention.

[Ms. Jellybean]

lissa said:

I've gotta go with Band of Brothers for the best war movie-even-if-it's not a movie. We watched that recently, and WOW. Amazing.

Y'know, I keep hearing this from my brother and sister. My sister is OBSESSED with Band of Brothers, but I haven't had the time to sit down and watch it with her yet as she so desperately wants me to. The more rave reviews I've been hearing, though, the more I actually want to see it.

[sirgallahad2]

Well thank you sue. I lost a friend in Iraq and I have to admit, I wouldn't want her death used for entertainment or story-telling purposes either. Oh yeah, Band of brothers is SO awesome. (Spoilers Ms Jellybean, avert thine eyes) When the red-headed Lieutenant suddenly turns into Iron-man when leading his troops to take out the guns and when 1st Lieutnenat Spiers dashes across the german occupied town to link up with the other platoon is just amazing to me. Outstanding piece of work.

[StarOpal]

I think for older movies I'd say Battleground (1949). It's not all smash bang, it's about the 101 Airborne division at the Battle of the Bulge. It's kind of a tough movie to watch as the men trudge along. There's a particularly hard part about a guy who can't find boots that fit and the effects on his feet. It also has some pretty great cadences.

It has one of my favorite war movie scenes ever. At the end the men are marching out as the new guard comes in and they aren't about to show them how tired and beat up they are. They go into a "Jody" cadence (I'm going by memory, so it may not be word for word):

"Your baby was lonely as lonely as could be
[Till Jody provided some company]
Ain't it great to have such a pal
[who works so hard to keep up morale]"

Maybe you have to see it to get it, but it's a really powerful scene.