OT: Favorite War Movies

[Raellus]

I generally prefer to read non-fiction books about war than watch movies. After you've read a lot of eyewitness stuff, war movies just seem so... phony. Even when I was growing up in the '80s and early '90s- before I'd read quite so many war stories and military histories- I knew how cheesily bad most war movies made during those decades were. I just could never get into Missing in Action and Commando. I'm not even sure those should be categorized as war movies. There are still a couple war flicks that I've enjoyed, though.

Under the Radar:

Lesser known but still pretty good- at least as a teen when I taped them off of the TV and watched them over and over on my VCR- are:

Uncommon Valor
Attack Force Z

Overrated:

Maybe it's because I love the books so much (I've read BHD at least half a dozen times and WWSO at least three) but I really disliked the movie versions of Black Hawk Down and We Were Soldiers... I also did not like the movie version of Thin Red Line. The book was much better.

I really liked A Bridge Too Far and the Longest Day when I was a kid. After I read the books, the movies lost some of their luster.

Like:

Unlike several folks here, I really like Saving Private Ryan. I also really like Band of Brothers; The Pacific, not so much.

I'm not sure whether it should be considered a war movie, but I really liked Inglorious Basterds.

I risk getting flamed for this one- I know it's very "Hollywood"- but I enjoyed Behind Enemy Lines.

[RN7]

Originally Posted by Raellus

I'm not sure whether it should be considered a war movie, but I really liked Inglorious Basterds.

I liked it too, but I wouldn't know if it should be categorised as a war movie, a horror movie or a comedy! Brad Pitt pulled off a good redneck in it tough and Christopher Waltz was just class.

[RN7]

Originally Posted by Raellus

II risk getting flamed for this one- I know it's very "Hollywood"- but I enjoyed Behind Enemy Lines.

I thought Behind Enemy Lines was a good movie, and I'm not a big fan of Gene Hackman, although I did like him in Mississippi Burning. It wouldn't be one of my favorites but I though the storyline and the special effects were generally good.

[RN7]

Any one ever see the British techno-thriller the Fourth Protocol, with Michael Caine and Pierce Brosnan. Brosnan plays a KGB agent who is on a mission to set off a nuclear bomb in a USAF base in England. Not a war movie and a bit slow moving but I thought it was quite good.

Or another British film Who Dares Wins with Lewis Collins; a well know British action actor of the 70's and 80's who was one of the Professionals, but who's star has faded since. Its about the SAS and was inspired by the Iranian Embassy Siege in London. It started well but then sort went off the rails and and only in the final scene do you see the actual SAS in action.

[Rainbow Six]

Originally Posted by RN7

Any one ever see the British techno-thriller the Fourth Protocol, with Michael Caine and Pierce Brosnan. Brosnan plays a KGB agent who is on a mission to set off a nuclear bomb in a USAF base in England. Not a war movie and a bit slow moving but I thought it was quite good.

Or another British film Who Dares Wins with Lewis Collins; a well know British action actor of the 70's and 80's who was one of the Professionals, but who's star has faded since. Its about the SAS and was inspired by the Iranian Embassy Siege in London. It started well but then sort went off the rails and and only in the final scene do you see the actual SAS in action.

Seen them both a couple of times, although not recently. The Fourth Protocol was OK, although I thought the book was much better.

[kota1342000]

Heres a few I dont think have been mentioned yet...

Come and see (Ive only seen the Russian version without subs so far)
Bat 21
Boys of Company C
MASH

....and one for just the sheer fun of CHEESE....
Megaforce

[James Langham]

A few more:

* The Dam Busters - just remember when watching the final scene that Richard Todd had written all too many letters to next of kin in real life.

* Breaker Morrant

* The Dogs of War (although not a patch on the book which really is a manual for taking over a small African country and essential for Merc players).

* Sands of Iwo Jima

* Carry on Sergeant - first and best of the series. Gives me the idea of starting a campaign where the characters are just starting training...

[Legbreaker]

"The Odd Angry Shot" - a brilliant film about SAS troops in Vietnam.
One of the more memorable scenes is the VC burning to death after being on the receiving end of a WP grenade.

[Targan]

Originally Posted by Legbreaker

"The Odd Angry Shot" - a brilliant film about SAS troops in Vietnam.
One of the more memorable scenes is the VC burning to death after being on the receiving end of a WP grenade.

"Should we shoot him?"

"Nah, let him burn!"

Classic.

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by Rainbow Six

Seen them both a couple of times, although not recently. The Fourth Protocol was OK, although I thought the book was much better.

In almost every case I can think of in any subject, the book is better than the movie. No producer, director, scriptwriter, or FX wizard can ever hope to match your imagination.

[Targan]

A bit OT but I have to say, if this guy's story was used as a work of fiction in a film, it would be considered over the top and a bit ridiculous.

http://www.badassoftheweek.com/lucas.html

I'd never heard of Jack Lucas before reading that article but I'm glad I have now. Jumping on one grenade to save your brothers in arms is one thing, surviving it and making a full recovery is quite another. But lying on two grenades, surviving the blast and still being conscious. Say what?

[WallShadow]

http://www.homeofheroes.com/profiles...les_young.html

This is what Robert Heinlein's story of "Starship Troopers" was really about and why he chose the song for his protagonist's recall beacon: it's not about the super weapons, not the Ubermensch Super-Soldiers, not the rabidly fanatical political mental drones, but about the Little Guy with a lot of heart, the geeky, nerdy schlub in the trenches who does more than anyone ever expects of him or anyone.

A half-blind, half -deaf small town kid who looks like Radar O'Reilly. This story really needs to be told.

[Graebarde]

Originally Posted by Targan

A bit OT but I have to say, if this guy's story was used as a work of fiction in a film, it would be considered over the top and a bit ridiculous.

http://www.badassoftheweek.com/lucas.html

I'd never heard of Jack Lucas before reading that article but I'm glad I have now. Jumping on one grenade to save your brothers in arms is one thing, surviving it and making a full recovery is quite another. But lying on two grenades, surviving the blast and still being conscious. Say what?

Seems he had a death wish that was never fulfilled.

[Fusilier]

Originally Posted by Raellus

I just could never get into Missing in Action and Commando.

It has been said that Commando is quite possibly the greatest cinematic achievement ever.

Originally Posted by Raellus

I risk getting flamed for this one- I know it's very "Hollywood"- but I enjoyed Behind Enemy Lines.

I enjoyed it... all except for the cheesy ending.