Best War Films?

[Falko]

We Were Soldiers is one I like. I like how it doesn't shy away from the Americans mistakes during Vietnam (Not as much as Platoon, but at least it doesn't depict them as gods like most films) There's a scene where an American radio operator calls in a napalm strike but gets the co-ordinates wrong, and drops it on some US soldiers. It leads to another scene which is still one of the most fucked up scenes I've seen. A soldier finds his friend whose been completely fucked up from the napalm. He tries to carry him away but the skin on his legs peels away like wet paper.

 

[-Samurai-]

Hm. No mention of 2008s Defiance. While not really a story about the war itself, it is set in WW2 from the perspective of Russian Jews that vow revenge on the Nazis that killed their parents. It's based on a true story and stars Daniel Craig. A truly brilliant movie that doesn't focus on the fighting(though there are battles) and instead focuses on the people that couldn't fight for themselves, and just wanted to survive the Nazi tyranny.

 

[TartanLlama]

Come And See takes it easily for me. Fantastically filmed and chillingly realistic.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Kelly's Heroes is another good one. Clint Eastwood and Donald Sutherland hunting Nazi Gold.

Also, The Dirty Dozen. Fantastic movie.

 

[Superkatt]

Band of Brothers was pretty EPIC.

I cant believe that Band of Brothers were mentioned fist in the 14th post. Should have been the first! I know that it isnt a warmovie, but its one of the best WW2 related series ever made. Following a single company from boot-camp to the end of the war. Its awesome! I deeply, DEEPLY recommend checking it out.

I believe that the german movie "Der Untergang" shuld also be mentioned in this forum. A film from german perspective about the last days of the war in the fuerer-bunker. A real gripping film.

 

[ImSkeletor]

I am surprised Glory hasn't been mentioned. It is a great film set during the Civil war. It has Matthew Broderick and the main guy from the princess bride along with morgan Freemen

 

[Nannernade]

Black Hawk Down, I've seen it like three times and it's still great, plenty of action, emotion mmm... I kind of want to watch it now. >.<

 

[Kajt]

Best one I've seen so far is Talvisota [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talvisota_%28film%29].

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

Generation Kill and Band of Brothers are both great war-centric miniseries.

For movies.....I don't know. Hurt Locker was pretty good.

 

[Bobbovski]

* Stalingrad
* Das boot
* A bridge too far
* Der untergang
Are my favorites I think.

I like German war movies because they usually don't show war as something glorious. Most war movies tries to show the horrors of war but no matter how grim the war seems the "good side" wins (at least in WW1/WW1 movies) in the end. So the soldier's sacrifice isn't in vain. But in German movies the soldiers recieve allot of shit and then in the end they have all died for nothing. And that gives you a better picture of what war is like I think.

 

[Shock and Awe]

3. Saving Private Ryan
2. Full Metal Jacket
1. Patton, though its closer to a character piece than a war movie.

 

[JRShield]

Pffff, where to start?

Saving Private Ryan
The longest day
The guns of Navarone
Force 10 from Navarone
Kelly's heroes
Schindlers List
The pianist
Stalingrad
Enemy at the gates
Cross of Iron
A bridge to far
Bridge over the river Kwai
Pearl Harbour (for the shot of the Japanese plane dropping that bom)
Flags of our fathers
Letters from Iwo Jima
Inglourious Bastards (or however you spell it)
Where the eagles dare
The Untergang
Valkyrie
The great Escape
Soldaat van Oranje (Yeah, dutch ww2 movie)
Zwartboek (also dutch)
Escape from Sobibor
The thin red line
Das boot

And I am sure I'm forgetting some great movies, but I don't have a list or something

Please say you did mean WW2 movies only, else I really have to open the registers...

 

[JRShield]

3. Saving Private Ryan
2. Full Metal Jacket
1. Patton, though its closer to a character piece than a war movie.

Patton, how could I forget that one!

 

[JRShield]

btw, does anybody now the name of the chinese movie about the occupation of, ehm, either Beijing or Shanghai. It's the movie with the good nazi ambassador.

 

[emeraldrafael]

Watch The Steel Helmet. Its just... its really powerful, cuase it was written by a WW2 vet. So its pretty good.

 

[Baron_Rouge]

Life is Beautiful, if it counts. Set during a war, although it's not really a war movie in the traditional sense, it's still massively powerful. Although for god's sake, get the Italian version with the English subtitles, rather than the English dub.

Also, Un Long Dimanche de Fiancailles is pretty awesome. I think it's called "a very long engagement" in English.

 

[The Amazing Tea Alligator]

Anybody else really liked All Quiet on the Western Front? Especially the ending,

Spoiler

in how trivial his death is?