Topic: Does anyone else like classic war movies? (Read 2084 times)

Elephant_Gunner · « **on:** March 12, 2010, 09:28:22 PM »

I'm just wondering if there's anyone else out there who watch old war movies, like the movies made about WWII or Korea while they were going on. I was raised on these movies, so I might have a special regard for them, but a lot of them have a surprising feel of gritty authenticity that can't be replicated in movies made after the fact. I can't list them all, but here are some of my favorites:

Sahara (1943): One of my top favorites, seems to embody the spirit and sacrifice of the war very well.
Guadalcanal Diary (1943): Great story about the fight for *surprise* Guadalcanal.
Battleground (1949): A good look at the Battle of the Bulge, balances firefights with the personal side of combat well.
A Walk in the Sun (1945): A day in the life of one infantry squad during the invasion of Italy. Decent tactics portrayed in the climax.
Bataan (1943): Good portrayal of the sacrifice our guys made early on in the war, before the big victories in the Pacific came.
Pork Chop Hill (1959): Set in Korea, the message of this movie is that if it's worth spending a man's single life on, its worth staying the course to secure. Good combat scenes.

There are dozens more I don't have time to name or think of. Has anyone else had a good experience with classics like these?

Jäger · « **Reply #1 on:** March 12, 2010, 10:58:21 PM »

One of my favorite film is Where Eagles Dare. Its set in Nazi Germany.

Akimbros · « **Reply #2 on:** March 12, 2010, 11:52:14 PM »

Not sure if "The Battleship Potemkin" counts as a war film, but it has one of the greatest scenes of all time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLEE2UL_N7Q

MJO · « **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2010, 12:07:50 AM »

Diek, yes! Just saw that 1 month ago. Pretty interesting.

Gunnman · « **Reply #4 on:** March 13, 2010, 01:03:22 AM »

Dr Strangelove, anyone? Sure, it all takes place in the Pentegon and a B-52, but's it's one the finest Cold War movies I've ever seen, and one of the funniest satires ever written.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjL9g3s6Fro&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgHSDa2Jwqc

Elephant_Gunner · « **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2010, 09:16:19 AM »

Great to see there are some other classic fans on here. You've linked some great movies, keep 'em coming! One great movie I forgot to list is:
Seargent York (1941): A true story of how one man single handedly killed 28 german soldiers, and captured 132 others along with 32 machine guns. America's most decorated WWI (yes I) soldier.

Wepen935k · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2010, 08:13:19 PM »

if you like ww2 stuff, you should check out the World At War series on the millitary channel. has alot of scenes that i havent seen before. very entertaining.

Jäger · « **Reply #7 on:** March 13, 2010, 10:07:09 PM »

These are few descrete, yet quality films.

All Quiet on the Weasten Front is a fantastic story of a german soldat during WW1.

The Blue Max, is strory of a german airman during WW1.

Gunnman · « **Reply #8 on:** March 14, 2010, 01:08:37 AM »

M.A.S.H is another good satire, both the show and the movie are worth a look.

Catch-22 is also a satire, but I didn't like it as much as Strangelove and M.A.S.H.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHCZeORmxw4

Elephant_Gunner · « **Reply #9 on:** March 14, 2010, 07:50:58 PM »

More great stuff, keep it coming!

I saw the original All Quiet on the Western Front from 1930. Not really my kind of movie, but very thought provoking.

I'm gonna put in another plug for my favorite, Sahara. You can watch it all the way through on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RIR7esT7Mo&feature=&p=8F5B36FAF11BE064&index=0&playnext=1

Jäger · « **Reply #10 on:** March 14, 2010, 09:28:56 PM »

Quote from: Elephant_Gunner on March 14, 2010, 07:50:58 PM

More great stuff, keep it coming!

I saw the original All Quiet on the Western Front from 1930. Not really my kind of movie, but very thought provoking.

I found the 1979 version to be much better. Plus, its in color.

Rampenfest · « **Reply #11 on:** March 14, 2010, 09:33:45 PM »

Quote from: Diek on March 12, 2010, 10:58:21 PM

One of my favorite film is Where Eagles Dare. Its set in Nazi Germany.

Heck yes! I tried watching the original All Quiet on the Western Front...I got throught about half of it.

RLB · « **Reply #12 on:** March 15, 2010, 11:22:10 AM »

Quote

I'm just wondering if there's anyone else out there who watch old war movies, like the movies made about WWII or Korea while they were going on ...

A number of movies being mentioned were made years after the actual war took place, which is not what the author is asking about.

Elephant_Gunner · « **Reply #13 on:** March 15, 2010, 12:21:15 PM »

Quote from: RLB on March 15, 2010, 11:22:10 AM

A number of movies being mentioned were made years after the actual war took place, which is not what the author is asking about.

Thanks RLB. I was gonna overlook that, but thanks for steering the thread back on topic.

RLB · « **Reply #14 on:** March 16, 2010, 01:04:53 PM »

In the war movie genre you are asking about, I'm partial to John Wayne movies:

"The Flying Tigers" (1942)
"The Fighting Seabees" (1944)
"Back to Bataan" (1945)
"They Were Expendable" (1945)

Blake22222 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 16, 2010, 01:53:05 PM »

Quote from: RLB on March 16, 2010, 01:04:53 PM

In the war movie genre you are asking about, I'm partial to John Wayne movies:

"The Flying Tigers" (1942)
"The Fighting Seabees" (1944)
"Back to Bataan" (1945)
"They Were Expendable" (1945)

..........The Longest Day? How could you forget that!

RLB · « **Reply #16 on:** March 16, 2010, 02:35:29 PM »

Because "The Longest Day" was made in 1962 so does not count in the context the author has referenced. Can't you read?

Blake22222 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 16, 2010, 02:41:23 PM »

Quote from: RLB on March 16, 2010, 02:35:29 PM

Because "The Longest Day" was made in 1962 so does not count in the context the author has referenced. Can't you read?

No, I can't. Funny how I can type and everything.

Several of the previously mentioned films were not made at the time of the war. Blue Max is about WWI, but was made in 1964. Sgt. York was made in 1941, but was set in WWI. Obviously, the author does not consider the whole "Made during the war" thing a rule of sorts.

RLB · « **Reply #18 on:** March 16, 2010, 02:43:57 PM »

Quote from: RLB on March 15, 2010, 11:22:10 AM

A number of movies being mentioned were made years after the actual war took place, which is not what the author is asking about.

Quote from: Elephant_Gunner on March 15, 2010, 12:21:15 PM

Thanks RLB. I was gonna overlook that, but thanks for steering the thread back on topic.

Obviously, I guess you still can't read.

Blake22222 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 16, 2010, 03:02:44 PM »

Quote from: RLB on March 16, 2010, 02:43:57 PM

Obviously, I guess you still can't read.

Ah, I guess not. I still say Longest Day, for movies outside of the war. 30 Seconds Over Tokyo for during the war.

Elephant_Gunner · « **Reply #20 on:** March 16, 2010, 04:59:31 PM »

Quote from: RLB on March 16, 2010, 01:04:53 PM

In the war movie genre you are asking about, I'm partial to John Wayne movies:

"The Flying Tigers" (1942)
"The Fighting Seabees" (1944)
"Back to Bataan" (1945)
"They Were Expendable" (1945)

Those are all great, but I really liked They Were Expendable. It really captured the desperation felt in the days and weeks following Pearl Harbor. Glad you brought that one up!

Blake, lol! Their are days I can't read either

! Longest Day was great, 30 Seconds Over Tokyo was pretty good, but so far as the air war in the pacific goes, I liked "Wing and a Prayer" (1944) better. If you haven't seen it, look it up!

RLB · « **Reply #21 on:** March 16, 2010, 08:24:28 PM »

My father was a 'guerilla' in the Phillipines fighting the Japanese during World War II. It has given me some keen insight to 'freedom fighters' fighting a hostile force occupying one's country.

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Author Topic: Does anyone else like classic war movies? (Read 2084 times)