WTF were the people at screenrant.com thinking? In their ranking of the ten best war movies, they also included Das Boot, All quite on the western front and Paths of Glory. Including Private Ryan was okay, but leaving out
The longest day
They were expendable
In Harm's way
is not only inexcusable, it also points to their agenda-driven choices and lack of cinematographic knowledge and taste. Yes, all three of those starred John Wayne, and yes, all were fucking great movies, period. I say all surveys and polls are worth less than the paper they're printed on. Period...
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Das Boot (in the German language version) is great, subtly different than the English version. Saving Private Ryan doesn't stand the test of time with me. Paths of Glory was, like the entire Great War, depressing. Probably my favorite war movies, in addition to your three are The Battle of Britain, Where Eagle's Dare (was there last summer, beautiful place), The Guns of Navarone, Zulu, and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.
ReplyDeleteMark in PA
Agree with your choices. I would also add "12 O'Clock High" and "Run Silent, Run Deep."
ReplyDeleteHonorable mention for "Cross of Iron"? But I agree with previous commenters.
ReplyDeleteShould we include the Indian wars and what about "the Alamo" another great Wayne film.
ReplyDeleteIn no particular order Battle of the Bulge, Where Eagles Dare, Guns of Navarone, Laurence of Arabia, Patton, We Were Soldiers, A Bridge Too Far, The Bridge at Remagen.
ReplyDeleteCould list dozens more.
Anyone remember the superb long running serialised films The Winds of War and War & Remembrance, starring Robert Mitchum, who just happens to be one of my favourite actors.
"They Were Expendable" was really good, I'd include "The Big Red One" in the list too. Schindler's List took place during the war but it wasn't a war movie.
ReplyDeleteThe Great Escape.....best war movie ever!
ReplyDeleteRun Silent Run Deep
ReplyDelete'Tora, Tora, Tora.' Screw everything else, it's the best movie about Pearl Harbor.
ReplyDelete'Away All Boats.' An excellent movie about the Island Hopping Campaign of the Central Pacific. Excellent
'The Big Red One.' Geez, Lee Marvin and a bunch of scroats. The testicle scene still makes me laugh.
'To Hell and Back.' Audey Murphy playing... Audey Murphy. And he toned it down in the violence and heroics.
'George Washington' starring Barry Bostwick. Yeah, a mini-series but the fight scenes are great. Good use of reenactors.
'Last of the Mohicans.' The Best BEST BEEESST movie about the French and Indian War. Find another movie that shows the graphic violence of the 1700s as well ('The Patriot' comes close.)
'Kingdom of Heaven' has some of the best medieval war fighting scenes. Unlike 'Braveheart.'
"Kingdom Of Heaven" directors cut is the best version, the whole story is there.
DeleteBest Years of Our Lives.
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