Worst modern war film of all time

[CaptBeefheart]

Big B: That's some interesting insight from your brother, and major props to him for screenwriting some great flicks. Why doesn't Hollywood like real stories? The truth is usually far better than the crap Hollywood feeds us.

The trailer in the lead post, for instance, says "inspired by true events." That's Hollywoodese for "this flick is not even in the same county as what really happened."

We have a channel on Korean cable called "The Movie." It consists of 50% old westerns and 50% old war movies. Sometimes I'll come back from a night out with the lads and "A Bridge Too Far" or "Patton" will be on. Obviously the channel doesn't pay a lot of royalties for the content. The missus was changing the channels the other day and the title in the upper right corner was "bulge" something-something in Korean. Sure enough, it's Germans cavorting around the Spanish countryside in M47s. "Honey, go ahead and change the channel to your favorite Korean reality program where the mothers of washed up stars from the past tut-tut about their offsprings' current misadventures. That would be an improvement."

Cheers,
CB

[spence]

There have been some excellent war movies made in the last few years: you guys who have been hoping for something out of Hollywood; are to be honest, stupid. Hollywood precisely fits the Lenin quote, "We will hang the last capitalist with a rope he sold us".

So if you want to watch a good war movie you'll have to look in another place for several reason and a problem with any naval oriented movie these days is the fact that the ships that fought in WW2 (and would be so equipped) would be 74 years old at a minimum (even Coast Guard Cutters aren't that old).

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

1. Kelly's Heroes: Hippies from the '60s step back in time, giving World War II a groovy vibe that makes those who relish historical accuracy, not only in plot, setting and equipment but also in character and true-to-the-era acting, nauseous. Many good Forumites love this movie, but a number of them will add, "I don't even consider this a war movie." Enough said.

Zackly. Its a bank heist set in a wartime scene.[:D]

I've stayed out of this thread because I didn't want CR's characterization of my favorite movie of all time to trigger me.

I'm decidedly not nice when I'm triggered.

However, since others have come to its defense I'll add that it was given the greatest compliment of all, mimickery, when a modern day version was created. Bet many of you have never seen Three Kings. George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg and one of the rapper guys turned actor (Ice Cube IIRC) go on a personal mission to get Saddam's gold. Its Kelly's Heroes set in Iraq.


Best line in Kelly's Heroes: "Maybe he's a Republican"

[Canoerebel]

Hollywood of recent vintage doesn't always whiff. Schindler's List, The Pianist, The Book Thief, Saving Private Ryan (admittedly more warts in that one) and Letters from Iwo Jima.

Letters is an interesting example. I don't believe I've ever read a criticism of it's historic accuracy or portrayal of the battle. I can't recall anybody not liking the movie. I think nearly everybody likes the movie but that it's nobody's "favorite." Very good but not great movie?

Eastwood is kind of a caricature, due to his movie roles ("Go ahead, make my day.") But he seems head and shoulders above Gibson as a director.

[rustysi]

Favorite movie? Nah, but worth a watch.

Again for the RL story.

[rustysi]

I've stayed out of this thread because I didn't want CR's characterization of my favorite movie of all time to trigger me.

I wouldn't characterize it as my all time favorite, but I like it when it comes up in these discussions, as it reminds me to watch it again.[:D]

Bet many of you have never seen Three Kings.

Its Kelly's Heroes set in Iraq.

I've seen it, but never made the connection. 'Til now. Good call.[:)]

[zuluhour]

How about some of the best, I really liked (watched the opening episode three times) the documentary on WW1 by the BBC, Not at home so can't name it but the first
flick dealt with the first contact with the hun by some infantry at a bridge, the second was the tanks....not sure why but I found it highly entertaining as well as accurate
as I could picture it being.



Eureka! "OUR WORLD WAR"

[spence]

I think the series was called "Our World War". IIRC the series had three episodes: the first one dealt with the Battle of Mons, the 2nd one concerned the Pals Battalions, the battle of the Somme, and firing squad among the Pals, and third one was the ones with the tanks (it was really interesting to see the inside of one of the British tanks - especially since my grandfather served in a French-made FT-17 in WW1). It seems to me that there was also an interactive game where one is put into the place of a British soldier advancing through enemy territory.

Incidentally there is another great BBC docudrama (2004 I think) about "Dunkirk" which is a really tremendous big picture of the battle. Having watched that one I'll say I was much more able to follow the sequence of the more recent 2017 movie. You'll also see Capt William Tennant in his earlier assignment (before HMS Repulse and probably the reason he got that job).

[Apollo11]

HI all,

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
Thin Red Line: Hippies from the '70s grow weary of war and step back in time to WWII to frolic with the aboriginal inhabitants of Guadalcanal, while modern US Navy frigates patrol the waters offshore. This movie is as historically accurate in the characters being true to the era as was Dances with Wolves. Bleck.

I really don't know why so much hate for the "The Thin Red Line"?

IMHO it has one of the the BEST combat sequences in all modern WWII movies (almost like opening scene of "Saving Private Ryan")! [:)]

I understand that some people don't like the "human" side of the story but overall this move was great!

BTW, I simply hate the the "Fury" it is 100% unrealistic and idiotic... [8|]


Leo "Apollo11"

[HansBolter]

Apollo 11 to each his own. In my not so humble opinion TRL was the worst war movie ever made.

Frankly, I can't even remember that there WERE any combat scenes.

All I can recall was that the entire movie was one extremely over long philosophical musing.

[Canoerebel]

There's room for many opinions here, and we are passionate about our movies, pro or con.

I don't like Thin Red Line, but others do. Obvert, for instance, is a fan, and I think his profession makes him a more insightful movie critic than a backwoods southern lawyer might be ("don't trust your soul to no backwoods southern lawyer....").

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

There's room for many opinions here, and we are passionate about our movies, pro or con.

I don't like Thin Red Line, but others do. Obvert, for instance, is a fan, and I think his profession makes him a more insightful movie critic than a backwoods southern lawyer might be ("don't trust your soul to no backwoods southern lawyer....").

Haha! I was keeping quiet, but I love that you remembered. [;)]

I do like Terrance Malick's early films a lot, (Badlands, Days of Heaven), but struggle with his sprawling later work. The Thin Red Line is somewhere between, and I like that it focuses on a potentially confused but insightful main character, an outsider who sees the environment of war as if from outside it while actually being in it. I don't mind inaccuracies since it's for me a timeless concept, more universally human than rooted in a particular history or period, even though it takes place in a WWII Pacific era. I also like that the cast includes so many great actors playing small parts well, happy to not be the center of attention, and Nick Nolte is a classic in this one.

It could be a Roman war film for all I care; I'm more interested in the fact he chose to create film characters noticing the world and wildlife around them in the middle of shock and trauma, moments of extreme peace surrounded by chaos. I've not been in war, but I've been in the world long enough to know that even big eventful moments in our life can be experienced so differently by different people in those situations.

[Canoerebel]

Real Red Tomoates

[mind_messing]

My understanding of Malick's work was that he does great films, when he has a strong editor. IIRC, there was a round-table discussion with a lot of the stars of TTRL and the consensus emerged that when Malick's work is managed by a strong editor, he gets a good film out. When it doesn't, the quality dips. TTRL was one of the latter, as a significant chunk of that film ended up on the cutting room floor.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

I think Thin Red line neither belongs to worst war movie nor best war movie

I would argue it is not even a war movie, but some philosophical movie set on a war theatre, I remember I liked it, but I won't see it again

[Anachro]

I've stated my views on TTRL before and Jorge's view is probably most apt in my opinion. It isn't a war movie, but unlike Jorge I did not like the film on my initial viewing; like him, I won't be seeing it again.

I'm going to drift from war movies to historical TV shows and state that the HBO Rome series is awesome and I will forever be incredibly sad it was cut after 2 seasons (too costly, a GoT budget ahead of its time, not enough viewers to justify); and the second featured an incredibly reduced and quickened sequential state of events because they had to rush so much to get to a conclusion. Initially, the plan was many seasons telling a story from Caesar's civil war to the second triumvirate and that eventual civil war. Too bad.

Recently, I read Robert Harris' Cicero trilogy, a very good historical series tracing the downfall of the republic through Cicero's (or more accurately his slave and freedman Tiro's) eyes. I've also read many of Cicero's works, speeches, and his collected letters. An excellent man, a defender of liberty, and an amazing personality - I'd much like to see a new Roman movie or series on his life. Unfortunately, ancient history stuff (Rome, etc.) doesn't seem to be much in vogue in Hollywood at the moment.

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Apollo 11 to each his own. In my not so humble opinion TRL was the worst war movie ever made.

Frankly, I can't even remember that there WERE any combat scenes.

All I can recall was that the entire movie was one extremely over long philosophical musing.

The combat scenes in the "Thin red line" are masterfully shot and they are quite lengthy!

Out of my head:

#1
First failed attack on enemy held hill (and bunkers)

#2
Second attack on the enemy held hill - this time successful - destruction of main enemy bunker

#3
Assault on enemy base - running battle and close quarters combat


Leo "Apollo11"


P.S.
Also please read the book - it is very different from the movie (the book is most definitively NOT "politically correct")! [8D]

[Canoerebel]

It seems that some have the mental flexibility to appreciate a film apart from it's visual setting. Thus there are fans of Kelly's Heroes and The Thin Red Line, among others. They don't see them as war movies.

I'm stuck in a more literal and concrete world in which I cannot separate theme and setting. Thus movies like Cold Mountain, Dances with Wolves, and the two listed above, grate on my nerves. Cold and Dances would have much to commend them, too, if I could separate them from the settings.

[BBfanboy]

I agree that Kelly's Heroes wasn't really about war, but I liked the movie as a comedic bank heist/treasure hunt using a tank as the quest horse.

The Thin Red Line literally put me to sleep with it's long, slow "nature" insertions. I read the book when I was a teenager and I remember a gritty story set in the Guadalcanal Campaign that featured both soldier and naval aviator characters. They were all green at the start of their journey and the book depicted their change from the innocence of youth to the grim kill-or-be-killed attitude to combat. There was not quarter given in RL Guadalcanal and no distracting sentimentality about beautiful nature and normal life. I don't recall any stuff about incompetent commanders seeking their own glory/promotion. I hated the movie because I could not see any of the book in it.

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I agree that Kelly's Heroes wasn't really about war, but I liked the movie as a comedic bank heist/treasure hunt using a tank as the quest horse.

The Thin Red Line literally put me to sleep with it's long, slow "nature" insertions. I read the book when I was a teenager and I remember a gritty story set in the Guadalcanal Campaign that featured both soldier and naval aviator characters. They were all green at the start of their journey and the book depicted their change from the innocence of youth to the grim kill-or-be-killed attitude to combat. There was not quarter given in RL Guadalcanal and no distracting sentimentality about beautiful nature and normal life. I don't recall any stuff about incompetent commanders seeking their own glory/promotion. I hated the movie because I could not see any of the book in it.

The difference between the film and book is like that between Apocalypse Now and Heart of Darkness.