OT: Happy Memorial Day/Favorite War Movie Thread
My parents took me to see this when I was 11. Despite the adult subject matter, they felt I was old enough to appreciate the story and the message. I remember sitting through the opening minutes, spellbound by Scott's monologue. I still am.
Although I don't giggle now like I did then, when near the end of his speech, he says, "I shoveled shit in Louisiana."
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The Heros of Telemark, Midway, Where Eagles Dare, The Guns of Navarone, Force 10 from Navarone.
Kelly's Heros though and I just watched VR Express last week.
My brother and I would sneak out of bed late at night if "Kelly's Heroes" was on the late show. Always loved it.
Quick story: a couple of years ago during a ball game, I was giving our on-deck hitter a pep talk, telling him he had to believe he could hit this pitcher. I summed it up, in my best Donald Sutherland, "Have a little faith, baby ... have a little faith."
He broke out laughing, recognizing me as a fellow "Kelly's" fan. Of course, it would have been a better story if he hadn't popped out.
was that the cutaway scene after Mike Damone gives that piece of advice about Led Zeppelin IV has them playing Kashmir, which as we all know was on Physical Graffiti, not IV.
I expected better from you, Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
but I figured out my own techniques for not getting laid in high school.
Excellent film, but very hard to watch. I can only stand to watch it every couple of years.
It's not about war, but genocide and one man's efforts to save people from it.
We're doing ribs today, marinating right now in a lime and ginger concoction. They should be exquisite, if the scent is any indication.
As for war films, "The Great Escape" is a cinematic classic and always a favorite of mine. "A Bridge Too Far" holds an interesting place on that list for me - I had family on BOTH sides at Arnhem. "Bridge On The River Kwai" also is highly recommended if you've never seen it. "The Deer Hunter" and "Apocalypse Now" are also right up there, in my opinion. Other folks in the thread have named some good ones too - this is a wide field, I would say.
I watch it when it's on
I have a couple of ones not previous listed on my list. Don't like many of the most recent war films.
I'm a a big fan of the Civil and Revolutionary Wars, which are really underrepresented in the movies. Brutal close range and hand to hand combat.
Patton, The Great Escape, Guns of Navarrone, Saving Private Ryan, The Dirty Dozen, Stalag 17, The Longest Day, Von Ryans Express, The Train, Run Silent Run Deep, Midway, Gettysburg, Patriot, The Alamo (John Wayne version), Glory.
Patriot is due to my love of Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, which appears to be a strong basis for the film.
The Train is Burt Lancaster and his french compatriots saving their nations art masterpieces from being stolen by the nazies at the end of WWII.
Need to have a movie about Nathanial Greene, the most successful general in the revolutionary War.
I'm going to suggest a movie that's not exactly a traditional war movie, and I wouldn't say it's my favorite, but it's good, and I just saw it yesterday at a friend's house: Bridge of Spies.
It stars Tom Hanks as insurance lawyer James Donovan, tasked with defending a Russian spy that nobody else wants to defend. To the chagrin of nearly everybody else, Donovan defends him to the best of his ability, through appeals, all the way to the Supreme Court.
Later. when Gary Powers' U2 plane is shot down, a plan is developed to exchange the Russian spy for Powers. The situation gets complicated by an American student held by the East Germans who Donovan also wants to get released. There are no car chases, gunfire, or anything like that, but it does capture the Cold War mindset, deception, and intrigue quite well.
A friend who visited East Berlin several times in the 1960s said the scenes of Berlin looked accurate to him.
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I'm a big fan of Kubrick's Paths of Glory -- it's a very realistic depiction of WWI trench warfare and an expose of the madness that can take place in war. Of the more traditional flicks, The Dirty Dozen is always an enjoyable watch....
I would also add "The Enemy Below."
The movie from 1957 starring Robert Mitchum as the American destroyer captain and Curt Jurgens as the German U-boat commander is a great battle of wits and does well at showing each side of the encounter.
I watched this on TV with my Dad as a young boy and the movie is as good as I remembered it (not always the case).
Good call on "The Enemy Below." One of the first movies I saw as a kid where the Germans (not the Nazis, the Germans) were portrayed human beings in war, rather than two-dimensional evil characters. At different times, I found myself rooting for both Mitchum and Jurgens.
Two others from that same era (late 50's) come to mind: "Between Heaven and Hell" starring Robert Wagner, with Broderick Crawford in a noteworthy turn as a sadistic company commander of what is a quasi-penal unit; and "Attack!", which is a pretty tough movie for its time, and which has an interesting casting switch: Jack Palance (who so often played the bad guy) as the courageous platoon leader, and Eddie Albert (often the good guy) as the sniveling coward who is his company commander. Also features Lee Marvin as the slimy regimental CO who would do pretty much anything to further his post-war career.
A little off topic but yesterday when I was watching the Green Berets starring John Wayne he said a line that caught my attention. When someone asked him a question he answered,"god willing and the river don't rise." sounds awfully familiar to coach Harbaugh's "god willing and the creek don't rise." I wonder if that is where coach got that.
I love memorial day but everyday should be a day to remember those who made the sacrifice for our country with their service.
/obligatory
very popular saying in late 50s and early 60s. Thinking he probably picked it up from Bo or his dad.
Thanks. I learned something new today. I got so excited when I heard John Wayne say it I had to ask about it.
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Really? I thought it was solid.
Letters from Okinawa is a must-see as well.
Doh! Thanks for the correction.
Great movie. The multiple reactions on Denzel's face when he's getting whipped for desertion is a master class on how to act without saying a word.
Although this may be one of the few times when Denzel isn't the biggest badass in the film. That title goes to Morgan Freeman, when he backhands Denzel across the face and rips him a new one. I can't think of anyone else who could have pulled that scene off.
I know most people don't look upon Gibson very favorably anymore, but man, at the time, that scene was just the epitome of all things American.
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The movie was a washed down remake of braveheart.