WWII films - what is your favorite?

El Che · Post by **El Che** » Fri Oct 20, 2000 4:07 pm

My favorite war movies are “Cross of Iron”, “Stalingrad” and “A bridge to far”

But I saw one that although is not my favorite at all, none of you had mentioned:

“The Battle for Moscow”

A soviet four hours (yes for hours!) Pre-Perestroika Neo-Stalinist propaganda film made on 1985 (puagh!). I’m serious the movie its a disaster: some times looks like a movie, some other times looks like a documental. During the battles the Russians kill mountains of Germans, so you want to ask “Hey, If you kill that much of your enemies, why are you on full retreat?” And during one battle there is a Russian soldier who say a poem about the courage of the red army. So all the movie is the eulogy of the party in such terms that even the members of the party could understand.

But it have some interesting points:
1- The actor who plays Zhukov its incredible: He looks like Zhukov, he acts like Zhukov, he press his teeth as you imaging that Zhukov did, he dismisses inapt general as you could wait of Zhukov, and he stopped the Nazis at the gates of Moscow as Zhukov.
2- There are a lot (A LOT) of T-34 and Pz-IV fighting in a lot of battles. Although they are a mix of T-34 model 1941, 1942, 1943 and even T-34/85 fighting during the defense of Moscow, and the Pz-IV seems to be models g or f2(s).
3- Finally, the film shows you all the battles fought during the campaign, and even explains you the tactic and strategic importance of each of them.

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No Pasarán!!

Supervisor · Post by **Supervisor** » Fri Oct 20, 2000 5:15 pm

Cross of Iron-the best recreation of havoc on the Eastern Front.

The 2nd best recreation of East Front Fighting is the first 10 minutes of "The Eagle has Landed"

Das Boot

Stalingrad

The Bridge

A Bridge Too Far

The Great Escape

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Grenadier
Matrix Games Technical Writer

JN · Post by JN » Fri Oct 20, 2000 5:27 pm

Originally posted by Fredde:
JN, I agree.. the old version of 'The unknown soldier', the most realistic war movie i have seen.. the newer version isn't bad either. Winter War is also very good.

For me the movie ("Unknown Soldier" old version) captured some of the feelings I myself had when I was in the army. (Except for the parts where people got killed of course

) Especilly the fact that there can be moments of "fun" in all the madness that war really is. A lot of movies fail to capture the comradeship between soldiers. When watching some Hollywood war-movies I just get the feeling that the characters seem to hate everyone else, maybe thats's just the american way

.

xavier · Post by **xavier** » Fri Oct 20, 2000 5:33 pm

The Battle for Moscow”

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Hello El Che

Where can I find this movie ?

Han pasado !

XAAL.

Hauptmann6 · Post by **Hauptmann6** » Fri Oct 20, 2000 6:27 pm

Originally posted by xavier:
I never saw "winter war". Where can I find it ?

XAAL.

I belive I got my copy from Belle and Blade. You won't find it in a video store or rental place unfortunatly.

Haupt

RUsco · Post by **RUsco** » Fri Oct 20, 2000 6:48 pm

To Hell and Back.Audie Murphy

Tora Tora Tora

Sgt. York

Midway

Peregrine Falcon · Post by **Peregrine Falcon** » Fri Oct 20, 2000 7:05 pm

Originally posted by Latka:

Which films do you like?

Not in any specific order:

Das Boot (Director's Cut)
Thin Red Line
Stalingrad
The Last Bullet
Saving Private Ryan
Talvisota (The Winter War)
Tuntematon Sotilas (The Unknown Soldier)
The Burmese Harp
Tora Tora Tora!

Of course, on DVD (most of them)

[This message has been edited by Peregrine Falcon (edited October 21, 2000).]

Colonel Klink · Post by **Colonel Klink** » Fri Oct 20, 2000 8:12 pm

great question and here's my list.. Bing.
(in no particular order)

1. Judgement at Nuremberg - Burt Lancaster puts in a fantastic emotional performance as Judge Ernst Janning. Kudos to Maximillian Schell for an equally (and oscar winning) riveting performance as the Defense Counselor. If you like courtroom drama in a ww2 setting this movie is for you. See a very young william shatner and colonel klink before he was colonel klink (a younger werner klemperer). Spencer Tracy and Marlene Dietrich (fraulein.. Jah!) round out the cast.
2. The Battle of Britain: air war over england
3. Sahara: Humphrey Bogart as a tough US sergeant caught up in Rommel's Desert War. Check out the authentic grant tank. (this film made during the war)
4. Sink the Bismark: naval epic
5. Saving Private Ryan: no text necessary
6. Das Boot (directors cut): same here.. a classic
7. Von Ryan's Express: haven't seen it in ages but an exciting movie
8. Operation Daybreak: Based on the real life event.. brit/polish commandos drop into czechslovakia to assasinate Himmler's deputy Reinhart Heidrich.
9. To Hell and Back: saw this while i was still in diapers. Made a huge impact on me.
10. Patton: saw this one at the theatre. i was about 8 years old.
11. Kelly's Heroes/Battle of the Bulge/The Longest Day/The Great Escape: i've seen these films a zillion times and are all time classics.
12. A Bridge too Far: seen it a zillion times. good movie.. better book.
13. Europa Europa: a fascinating true story
14. Stalingrad: the tank scene is worth the price of admission alone
15. Stalag 17: William Holden shines in this one. also stars a young peter graves.
16. Bridge over the River Kwai: another holden film. brits build a bridge
17. Dr. Strangelove: not ww2 but worth mentioning
18. The Blue Max: ww1 flying over enemy lines. very good
19. Schindler's List: Subject matter worth mentioning and remembering

[This message has been edited by Colonel Klink (edited October 20, 2000).]

Zarquon · Post by **Zarquon** » Sat Oct 21, 2000 12:29 am

Blackadder goes forth

Das Boot
Apocalypse now (not WWII but some cool scenes, realistic or not.)
Actually haven't seen that many war movies, but those two I've seen several times,

Huffy · Post by **Huffy** » Sat Oct 21, 2000 1:31 am

Hey guys....all great movies you've mentioned...but ..anyone know if "The Beast " is out on DVD?...been looking for it for a long time now.
Hey...another thought..how about they re-make the movie "Battle of the Bulge" with the up to date movie technology.
Huffy

jpgr · Post by **jpgr** » Sat Oct 21, 2000 1:47 am

In no particular order...

The Longest Day
The Great Escape
Bridge over the River Kwai
Midway (especially that Rochefort guy

)

However the movie this weekend is
The Last Detail, been yakking a little too
much about it at work.

George
IYADSYAS
President of A.P.A.T.H.E.T.I.C.

panzerfist · Post by **panzerfist** » Sat Oct 21, 2000 1:49 am

when the trumpets fade is pretty good.
i also liked "the big red one". i watched the hell out of that when i was young.
i think, by far the best ww2 movie out in recent times is saving private ryan. i am anxious to see the hbo special he is working on with tom hanks.

M4 Jess Housley · Post by **M4 Jess Housley** » Sat Oct 21, 2000 2:18 am

#1 of all time...

CROSS OF IRON !

Bonzo · Post by **Bonzo** » Sat Oct 21, 2000 2:30 am

My (current) Favs:
Stalingrad (1993 version)
Stalingrad (50's version)
Capitaine Conan (Great French WWI'er)
The Light Horse Men (Anzacs in Palastine)
Is Paris Burning?
When Trumpets Fade

While the special effects of the newer Stalingrad are great, the story of the older version seems better to me. Both share a lot of the same elements.

Bonzo

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Robert (Bonzo) Lindsay, Coordinator
28th (North-west) Battalion Headquarters
http://dreadnaught.home.icq.com
nwbattalion@icqmail.com

mogami · Post by **mogami** » Sat Oct 21, 2000 2:45 am

WHAT????? Not one mention of that classic from Japan "ZERO"???? You people have to get out more this movie tells the "Real" story of WWII in the pacific. Ismael named every movie I like, except "Red Badge of Courge",
"What Price Glory" and Kirk Douglas "I'll take the ant hill" ("Paths of Glory) to repeat some others have mentioned also "Stalag 17", "Pork Chop Hill", "12 o'clock high","Bridge over the river Kwi","Lawerance of Arabria","A walk in the Sun" I could go on and on...........

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I'm not retreating, I'm attacking in a differant direction!

Flashfyre · Post by **Flashfyre** » Sat Oct 21, 2000 4:25 am

I, too, am a "war movie" buff....

Here is my list of greats:

For sheer realism of combat, Saving Private Ryan. However, storyline left something to be desired.

For armchair-gripping, teeth-chattering suspense, Das Boot.

For all-star casting and unabashed glory(Allies nations), A Bridge Too Far.

As an old Navy man, a tie between In Harm's Way and Midway. Too bad John Wayne didn't do both.

For outstanding special effects and cinematography, Full Metal Jacket. The scene in the head made the whole movie.

For great scripting and storyline, The Bridge on the River Kwai. Technicals a bit off, tho.

For best historic piece, Gettysburg. If you study the American Civil War, this one hits on all shots.

Overall, my favorite one would have to be A Bridge Too Far. So many great actors, so many great lines, so much great scenery. A winner.

El Che · Post by **El Che** » Sat Oct 21, 2000 4:54 pm

Originally posted by xavier:
The Battle for Moscow”

Well Xavier, I live in Argentina, and I saw this movie here in a theater specialized in films form Russia, Poland, and other east Europeans countries. Where do you live? Spain? May be you could look in some video store specialized in east European films.

This film was also exhibited on cable TV some years ago, and I think that I had video recorded it. But I’m not sure... I’ll take a look in my collection (is not going to be very easy because I had moved one year ago and I threw a lot of things. If I didn’t lost it and you can not found it may be I can send you a copy.

“Das Boot”! How could I forget this one!!

There was another good one (not that good, but very good) about submarine war fare, I don’t know the original title in English, in Spanish they translated it as “El zorro del mar”, “The sea fox”. Is one on which Robert Mitchum is the captain of a US navy ship which fought against a German sub.

Saludos,

El Che

PS.
Sí, lo sé. No sólo “han pasado”, si no que hasta se podría decir que “lo han hecho por encima nuestro.”

Pero siempre se puede levantar una nueva barricada y resistir con el mismo grito.

El Che · Post by **El Che** » Sat Oct 21, 2000 4:57 pm

Originally posted by Mogami:
WHAT????? Not one mention of that classic from Japan "ZERO"???? You people have to get out more this movie tells the "Real" story of WWII in the pacific. Ismael named every movie I like, except "Red Badge of Courge",
"What Price Glory" and Kirk Douglas "I'll take the ant hill" ("Paths of Glory) to repeat some others have mentioned also "Stalag 17", "Pork Chop Hill", "12 o'clock high","Bridge over the river Kwi","Lawerance of Arabria","A walk in the Sun" I could go on and on...........

Wait! I saw ZERO!! It's really good, isn't it?

What about Memphis Belle?

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No Pasarán!!

GI Seve · Post by **GI Seve** » Sat Oct 21, 2000 8:17 pm

OK some of my favorites in random order :

Finnish "Talvisota"
allso finnish movie "Tuntematon sotilas" (Wich I really hope would be remade with modern way as Talvisota was made ... awesome explosions and shooting scenes .. really see bullets on night fights)
"Stalingrad"(no need to say more of good movie)
"Thin red line" (one of best I recon)
"Full metal jacket"
"Saving pvt. Ryan" (Way too much Hollywood shit after that awesome landing scene)
"Kelly's heroes" (best is that scene when those Shermans run out of railroad tunnel into middle of amazed gerries

)
"Big red one" (nice film)
"Gettysburg" (nice film about US civil war thought I saw it only as tv-serie cut in 3 parts)
"Hamburger hill"
+ Some other wich names I can't remember right now ..
Films that I don't really like happend to be those wich glorify some country too much (ahem ... US .. krh .. US .. trr.. US ... )and one finnish movie called "Rukajärven tie"(IT SUCKS)
I really wish to see movie "Patton" one day ...
Some nice(not exactly good) movies were "Guns of Navarone" , "Eagles are listening"(maybe got name wrong) and "
Bridge over the River Kwai"

Some offtopic stuff:
Damn Im frustrated fighting hotseat fight with friend on yrs -44,-45 with Germans .. damn that morale/experience loss they get

If I get regular infantry I get some serious boot from Guards infantry and if I pick SS/Fallschmirjaegers I have too small amount of infantry

.Same bad morale/exp eats BIG part of German tanks efectiveness.

Fuerte · Post by **Fuerte** » Sat Oct 21, 2000 8:27 pm

I'm not expert on this but here it goes:

* Talvisota (Winter War)
* Deerhunter
* Killing Fields

I realized that I was out of topic on the last two.

[This message has been edited by Fuerte (edited October 21, 2000).]