The "Actual" Greatest War Movie ever

Les_the_Sarge_9_1 · Post by **Les_the_Sarge_9_1** » Sun Apr 21, 2002 11:56 pm

Ok first rule you can only give one title in your post.

Because second place isn't "the greatest" so its not required.

Today I watched a film that so deftly booted what I thought was the "greatest" off the top slot with such incredible ease.

It's not a new film or a really old one (well not old to me I suppose).

I watched Good Morning Vietnam. Bill Maudlin would have been very proud of that film.

It wasn't about cool battle scenes or great effects.

I am voting for it because I cried several times while watching it. An unexpected result certainly. But I have never seen the complete idiocy of war better portrayed on film.

Perhaps we really should have a comedian in the top post of our countries. Maybe they could get everyone to finally see what we are not seeing.

It's just such incredible bitter irony, that a comedian was able to make a better war movie. But being a lunatic in my own way, I know that often comics are naturally more sensitive to insanity.

Gen.Hoepner · Post by **Gen.Hoepner** » Mon Apr 22, 2002 3:00 am

mmm....very difficult question Sarge^__^
let me think........
I'd probably say:"A bridge too far",not because of special effects,it's quite an old movie indeed,but because of the very good picture that is taken for every actor tah took part of that incredible Drama named Market garden
but i'm not so sure about my choice:D

Bernie · Post by **Bernie** » Mon Apr 22, 2002 3:14 am

My choice would have to be "Kelly's Heros" with too many stars in it to name them all, but some great shots of late model Tigers.

Bing · Post by **Bing** » Mon Apr 22, 2002 4:07 am

TLD = The Longest Day. Better the cast, if you can. Actually better in the historical accuracy department than I originally thought - Lovatt really WAS a nut who bopped around the battlefield in a white sweater, hunting rifle slung over his shoulder.

Involves the single greatest military event in modern history. Nothing touchs Overlord as a WW2 subject for epic drama.

Besides, where else can you watch Burton - with his thick Welsh accent - emoting on the lines "At the bottom ... of the channel ..."? And not laugh while reading the line? You KNOW the other guy wants to say,"Oh drat, that means I won't be getting my boots back, doesn't it?" - but doesn't dare. Watch the scene closely - he almost laughs when Burton delivers, you can see it at the corners of his mouth.

Bing

WhiteRook · Post by **WhiteRook** » Mon Apr 22, 2002 4:40 am

Kelly's Hero's gets my vote! This is another great movie that uses comdey to protray how absured war really is!
the preformances of Carol O'Connor and Donald Sutherland are just a major - major treat! and Don Rickels is a scream as always.
There is much to be learned from this movie if you study the charcters....

Goblin · Post by **Goblin** » Mon Apr 22, 2002 4:42 am

Well, you all knew it was coming... Saving Private Ryan . I have agreed with the quality of all of the suggestions thus far, but c'mon now. Special effects, excellent acting, poignant message about the horrors of war, etc. I would, had it been officially a 'movie', have nominated HBO's Band of Brothers . Don't get mad, I only named one actual movie.

Hey Sarge; maybe after a couple days of answers you could do a poll with the top few nominees. I think that would be interesting.

Goblin

Bernie · Post by **Bernie** » Mon Apr 22, 2002 4:48 am

Originally posted by WhiteRook
Kelly's Hero's gets my vote! This is another great movie that uses comdey to protray how absured war really is!
the preformances of Carol O'Connor and Donald Sutherland are just a major - major treat! and Don Rickels is a scream as always.
There is much to be learned from this movie if you study the charcters....

Not to mention Clint Eastwood as "Kelly".

I swear, I still love the scene where Eastwood, Savalas, and Sutherland do a take-off on almost every western movie ever made and walk down the street gunfighter style to face down the Tiger. If you listen close you can hear the sound of 6 "brass ones" clinking as they walk.

Supervisor · Post by **Supervisor** » Mon Apr 22, 2002 5:11 am

Patton, To hell and back, Guns of Navarone, Bridge over the river Kwai, Kelly's hero's, Apocalypse Now, Platton. So many good ones to choose from. It's all a matter a preference I guess.

Goblin · Post by **Goblin** » Mon Apr 22, 2002 5:21 am

Originally posted by gmenfan
Patton, To hell and back, Guns of Navarone, Bridge over the river Kwai, Kelly's hero's, Apocalypse Now, Platton. So many good ones to choose from. It's all a matter a preference I guess.

HE SAID ONE! We all bit our tongues and just named one (my mini-series doesn't count;) ) Jeez, moderate the board, and you can do whatever ya want.

Goblin

Supervisor · Post by **Supervisor** » Mon Apr 22, 2002 5:29 am

Ok fine, Kelly's Hero's. Happy, I swear you post here and you think you can push the moderators around.

:rolleyes:

FNG · Post by **FNG** » Mon Apr 22, 2002 2:28 pm

Glory.

A war film and so much more.

M4Jess · Post by **M4Jess** » Mon Apr 22, 2002 3:35 pm

The Cross of Iron. (the factory sceen is 2nd to none!)

M4

CaffeineAddict · Post by **CaffeineAddict** » Mon Apr 22, 2002 3:47 pm

I'd vote Band of Brothers but that's a mini-series so I vote A Bridge to Far.

Saving Private Ryan was a good movie with a crappy plot.

mogami · Post by **mogami** » Mon Apr 22, 2002 4:11 pm

Hi "Dirt mixed with body oils can make you water proof"
You just don't get lines like that in many movies.

"I hate all stinking officers" That and Sam Peckinpaugh slow motion action make "Cross of Iron" my favorite. I am a big fan of James Colburn and James Mason. Saving Private Ryan is way to cliche Hollywood. It is well directed/acted/filmed but it follows the required Hollywood format of unsupported American unit, having to fight impossible odds. Like the USA would not know what unit Ryan was in and in 3 days had made no radio contact blah blah blah. What was medic doing attacking MG-42? Why did they not just use that sniper or better still lob a rife grenade into it?
Whats the big deal over that little bridge? Blow the **** thing and forget about it. The US could rebridge it in around 20 minutes. blah blah blah Hollywood soap. Runner up is "Paths of Glory" Kirk Douglass "I'll take the anthill" (he don't)

Gary Tatro · Post by **Gary Tatro** » Mon Apr 22, 2002 4:21 pm

But the best war movie has to be the full 8 hour epic of "Lawrence of Arabia"

Don Doom · Post by **Don Doom** » Mon Apr 22, 2002 4:42 pm

The Bridge, gets my vote. Those kids did me in.

Unknown_Enemy · Post by **Unknown_Enemy** » Mon Apr 22, 2002 4:53 pm

Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket.

No other war movies can compare with it...

jlaurila · Post by **jlaurila** » Mon Apr 22, 2002 5:06 pm

Talvisota hands down

thats winter war for all u nonfinns

Lars Remmen · Post by **Lars Remmen** » Mon Apr 22, 2002 5:12 pm

Tough one... Die Brücke or Das Boot?

A handful of kids hopelessly defending a bridge against the US Army or an experienced U-boot crew facing hopeless odds?

Probably Das Boot...but it's a close race...

Regards,

Lars

Saviola · Post by **Saviola** » Mon Apr 22, 2002 5:31 pm

the longest day is really a legend...the grand cast is uncomparable for all other movies...
the bridge over river kwai and the thin red line are also good portrayal of the world war two battlefields.
saving private ryan...hahaha,that's funny. I have watched the first 30 minutes over and over again, that's great...and after that...what a creep.
despite all are ww2 film... i think black hawn down is very good also

The "Actual" Greatest War Movie ever

The "Actual" Greatest War Movie ever

Cross of Iron

Sorry to say