Top ten war movies

[jimmymagick]

Missed "Battleground," an absolute classic 1949 film about the Battle of the Bulge with just about every great stock actor MGM had under contract at the time.

And I really liked "We Were Soldiers." Lord, I was drained at the end of that film.

[wfontenot]

No one mentioned Apocalypse Now - that is a classic!

Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers - tied for the best war movie.

[20to20K]

No one mentioned Apocalypse Now - that is a classic!

Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers - tied for the best war movie.

Apocalypse is VERY high on my list...don't know how I forgot it. This is a very polarizing film. I've found that people either love it (like me) or hated it...kind of like Tarrentino movies. I'm sure not everyone on this thread is in the hate it category so it looks like I'm not the only one who forgot it.

I just remembered another great foreign war film. "Bullet in the Head" by (then) Hong Kong director John Woo. Kind of a Hong Kong version of Deer Hunter. Very realistic and distrubing...and educational. I didn't realize Hong Kong played such a significant role in the Vietnam War. Of course it was still just a movie...

[Defshep]

I'm glad someone finally mentioned We Were Soldiers. A war movie with lots of heart. Doesn't really take sides. Kinda shows how both sides were fighting for what they thought was right. By the way, what the soldier fights for is not always the same reason as the government's. Did that make sense? Great film.

[20to20K]

I'm glad someone finally mentioned We Were Soldiers. A war movie with lots of heart. Doesn't really take sides. Kinda shows how both sides were fighting for what they thought was right. By the way, what the soldier fights for is not always the same reason as the government's. Did that make sense? Great film.

Great war movie without politics or social commentary. Brilliant battle scenes, great acting, and real emotion both on the battle field and on the bases were the woman were anxiously waiting.

Powerful stuff.

Now that I've added Apocalypse to my list to push Casualties of War off (no brainer) it's hard for me to remove any of the others (like Deer Hunter) to replace it. I guess it's #11 for me.

Another one that hasn't gotten a mention (perhaps because it's not thought of as a war movie) is "Dances with Wolves". I know that there are a lot of Costner bashers out there and that may have something to do with it too, but that is a great film and should garner some consideration.

[paul_pci]

Great war movie without politics or social commentary. Brilliant battle scenes, great acting, and real emotion both on the battle field and on the bases were the woman were anxiously waiting.

Powerful stuff.

Now that I've added Apocalypse to my list to push Casualties of War off (no brainer) it's hard for me to remove any of the others (like Deer Hunter) to replace it. I guess it's #11 for me.

Another one that hasn't gotten a mention (perhaps because it's not thought of as a war movie) is "Dances with Wolves". I know that there are a lot of Costner bashers out there and that may have something to do with it too, but that is a great film and should garner some consideration.

I like Dances with Wolves too, but perhaps off of everyone's radar because it's a movie that seeks strategies for getting along and forging cooperation rather than creating confict. This is why it's important that Costner's character is a soldier: here's a man accustomed to war and conflict, but yet, can learn an alternate method for interaction with another culture tha does not include violence.

[20to20K]

I like Dances with Wolves too, but perhaps off of everyone's radar because it's a movie that seeks strategies for getting along and forging cooperation rather than creating confict. This is why it's important that Costner's character is a soldier: here's a man accustomed to war and conflict, but yet, can learn an alternate method for interaction with another culture tha does not include violence.

Perhaps the most telling line Costner has in the film is(paraphrasing):

"Everything I've been taught to believe about these people is wrong...."

That pretty much sums up any conflict who's foundation is based on ignorance, mistrust, and fear.