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OT: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/23/2019 10:12:28 PM   
Timotheus

 

Posts: 481
Joined: 12/13/2013
Status: offline 		After seeing someone post praises of "Battle of the Bulge", I did not know how to react. The scene where american boys light down and roll barrels of fuel down a hill slope - AND THAT'S HOW THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE WAS WON AND PANZERS STOPPED IN '44 - I had a gag reflex.


Easily, the best american war movie is the least known. The best portrayal of superior officer chasing glory - veteran subordinate noticing the BS and trying to salvage the situation. The most realistic WW2 battle scenes seen in ANY movie (and I watched not just American movies, but Soviet, Russian, Yugoslav and South Korean).

Really, must stress this:
Best battle scenes, WITH ALL EQUIPMENT BEING HISTORICALLY ACCURATE (no M60 tanks for panzers, actual T34's used, masses of them).

That movie is, of course

CROSS OF IRON
Directed by the late, great Sam Peckinpah, Mr. Action Movie himself
Starring James Coburn, perhaps the most underappreciated actor in American cinema's history.

< Message edited by Admiral DadMan -- 7/23/2019 10:19:41 PM >

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RE: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/23/2019 10:18:00 PM   
mind_messing

 

Posts: 3393
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Status: offline 		Ironically enough, I'd suggest Letters from Iwo Jima as the best American war movie.

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RE: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/23/2019 10:28:10 PM   
mrchuck


Posts: 165
Joined: 8/4/2011
Status: offline 		Not so much for realism maybe, but certainly for the strength of the acting and the interest of the protagonist: Patton.
There's a good reason this movie won 7 Oscars--it, and George C Scott especially, are awesome.

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RE: OT: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/23/2019 10:37:46 PM   
warspite1


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From: England
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Timotheus

After seeing someone post praises of "Battle of the Bulge", I did not know how to react. The scene where american boys light down and roll barrels of fuel down a hill slope - AND THAT'S HOW THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE WAS WON AND PANZERS STOPPED IN '44 - I had a gag reflex.

warspite1

Wasn't that an American movie made for Americans? No dumbing down there...... (sorry I couldn't resist ).

quote:

ORIGINAL: Timotheus

That movie is, of course

CROSS OF IRON

warspite1

An excellent movie - loved the theme music, the acting, the script, the feel of the movie, and the nasty but fitting end that befell the resident Nazi.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Timotheus

Starring James Coburn, perhaps the most underappreciated actor in American cinema's history.

warspite1

Coburn was a fine actor - but one has to ignore his portrayal of Sedgewick in The Great Escape. The worst Australian accent in the history of accents? YES!!


< Message edited by warspite1 -- 7/23/2019 10:38:37 PM >

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RE:OT from OT: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/23/2019 10:42:07 PM   
mrchuck


Posts: 165
Joined: 8/4/2011
Status: offline 		Best British war movie!

2 choices in my opinion:
Lawrence of Arabia (of course)
The Hill. Obscure but excellent, good turn by Sean Connery.

And maybe a third if you want so much stiff upper lip it's almost a parody: In which we serve.

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Post #: 5
RE: RE:OT from OT: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/23/2019 10:45:26 PM   
Anachro


Posts: 2506
Joined: 11/23/2015
From: The Coastal Elite
Status: offline 		Well, Bridge over the River Kwai is my favorite and it's apparently a British-American movie. So here's to the special relationship!

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RE: OT: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/23/2019 10:55:43 PM   
mind_messing

 

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Status: offline 		If we're considering non-American movies now, "Come and See" absolutely tops the list.

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RE: OT: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/23/2019 11:02:59 PM   
warspite1


Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline 		Schindler's List
Battle of Britain
Waterloo
Conspiracy
Operation Daybreak

I've no doubt forgotten something big, but when I think of the best war movies these are recurring themes....

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Post #: 8
RE: OT: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/23/2019 11:10:24 PM   
geofflambert


Posts: 14863
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From: St. Louis
Status: offline 		Paths of Glory and All's Quiet on the Western Front both count as American and they have to be considered.

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RE: OT: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/23/2019 11:21:32 PM   
Canoerebel


Posts: 21100
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From: Northwestern Georgia, USA
Status: offline 		Schindler's List
Gettysburg
Stalag 17
Mister Roberts
Letters from Iwo Jima

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Post #: 10
RE: OT: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/24/2019 12:52:48 AM   
Chickenboy


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From: San Antonio, TX
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quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Schindler's List
Battle of Britain
Waterloo
Conspiracy
Operation Daybreak

I've no doubt forgotten something big, but when I think of the best war movies these are recurring themes....


Yes, you did forget something big. The title of the thread. With the exception of Schindler's List, are any of those American War movies?

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RE: OT: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/24/2019 2:40:06 AM   
NigelKentarus


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From: OH, USN 20 yrs, & FL
Status: offline 		Mr. Roberts ??????? Why not Kelly's Heroes? BTW, I like both of them.

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RE: OT: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/24/2019 2:54:48 AM   
Duck Doc


Posts: 693
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Status: offline 		Twelve O’Clock High

(Drops mic and exits stage right.)

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RE: RE:OT from OT: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/24/2019 3:04:58 AM   
BBfanboy


Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
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quote:

ORIGINAL: mrchuck

Best British war movie!

2 choices in my opinion:
Lawrence of Arabia (of course)
The Hill. Obscure but excellent, good turn by Sean Connery.

And maybe a third if you want so much stiff upper lip it's almost a parody: In which we serve.

Surely The Cruel Sea should be on the list? Love the scene where Captain Lockheart returns to find his house bombed out and goes to a bar (or the Officer's Mess for a drink. He is having a drink with his Number 1 (XO, to Americans) and learns that the latter's wife has left him for a foreign soldier (IIRC) that she met while he was away at sea. Lockheart puts it simply "Damn the war." Best summary of the side-effects of war that I have ever heard.

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RE: OT: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/24/2019 5:05:30 AM   
warspite1


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Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy


quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Schindler's List
Battle of Britain
Waterloo
Conspiracy
Operation Daybreak

I've no doubt forgotten something big, but when I think of the best war movies these are recurring themes....


Yes, you did forget something big. The title of the thread. With the exception of Schindler's List, are any of those American War movies?
warspite1

No, I just followed posts 5,6 and 7.


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Post #: 15
RE: OT: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/24/2019 7:34:04 AM   
jdsrae


Posts: 2716
Joined: 3/1/2010
From: Gandangara Country
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy


quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Schindler's List
Battle of Britain
Waterloo
Conspiracy
Operation Daybreak

I've no doubt forgotten something big, but when I think of the best war movies these are recurring themes....


Yes, you did forget something big. The title of the thread. With the exception of Schindler's List, are any of those American War movies?


Probably a new “American War” movie to many of you: The Odd Angry Shot.
Australian made and set in Vietnam, hence I am submitting on the basis that it was an American war and this was a movie about it.
Haven’t seen it in years but some great scenes and lines in it, should give you a few laughs if you can find a way to watch it.
Pretty good marks for realism and accuracy from a mates Dad who served there, including the spider vs scorpion fight and the often repeated line “you can set your watch by this f$&@ing rain!”


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RE: OT: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/24/2019 8:13:00 AM   
Yaab


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From: Poland
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quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

If we're considering non-American movies now, "Come and See" absolutely tops the list.


Imagine watching that in a cinema.

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Post #: 17
RE: OT: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/24/2019 9:14:53 AM   
LeeChard

 

Posts: 1099
Joined: 9/12/2007
From: Michigan
Status: offline 		Cross of Iron is definitely on my list but I think, even though it seems like people like nit-picking it,
I liked Saving Private Ryan.
12:00 O'clock High and Tora,Tora,Tora. If that counts as American.

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Post #: 18
RE: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/24/2019 9:15:27 AM   
Leandros


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Joined: 3/5/2015
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quote:

ORIGINAL: mrchuck

Not so much for realism maybe, but certainly for the strength of the acting and the interest of the protagonist: Patton.
There's a good reason this movie won 7 Oscars--it, and George C Scott especially, are awesome.

Hmm, judging a movie's quality by its Oscar awards...

Fred


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RE: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/24/2019 9:29:05 AM   
Leandros


Posts: 1740
Joined: 3/5/2015
Status: offline 		For tactical scenes, The Thin, Red Line does it for me. Not necessarily because the actors were directed to show excellent, what we in Norwegian call "feltmessig opptreden" - proper behaviour in the field, if you like, but when the GIs approached the bunker line with Colt.45s and Garands, shooting when advancing - and the "pling" of the empty ammo clip leaving the Garand - that did it to me.

Interesting to see, too, how that rowdy actor (can't remember his name, was it Lee Marvin?) fires his Colt pistol - no two-hand grip there, which I believe is correct for the period. One-hand grip, that is.

Fred

< Message edited by Leandros -- 7/24/2019 9:42:44 AM >

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RE: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/24/2019 9:34:10 AM   
Fishbed

 

Posts: 1822
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From: Beijing, China - Paris, France
Status: offline 		As of late, I have to say that I have been pleasantly, although belatedly surprised by Task Force (1949) starring Gary Cooper. A very underrated take at carrier warfare in the Pacific that didn't get the sort of recognition you'd expect, especially when one considers the much better-known and still rather underwhelming movie that is 1976's Midway.

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RE: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/24/2019 12:15:57 PM   
BBfanboy


Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Leandros

For tactical scenes, The Thin, Red Line does it for me. Not necessarily because the actors were directed to show excellent, what we in Norwegian call "feltmessig opptreden" - proper behaviour in the field, if you like, but when the GIs approached the bunker line with Colt.45s and Garands, shooting when advancing - and the "pling" of the empty ammo clip leaving the Garand - that did it to me.

Interesting to see, too, how that rowdy actor (can't remember his name, was it Lee Marvin?) fires his Colt pistol - no two-hand grip there, which I believe is correct for the period. One-hand grip, that is.

Fred

Nick Nolte was the angry Colonel. Sean Penn played a Sgt. Either one could be considered "rowdy".

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RE: RE:OT from OT: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/24/2019 12:24:24 PM   
Simulacra53


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quote:

ORIGINAL: mrchuck

Best British war movie!

2 choices in my opinion:
Lawrence of Arabia (of course)
The Hill. Obscure but excellent, good turn by Sean Connery.

And maybe a third if you want so much stiff upper lip it's almost a parody: In which we serve.


The Hill is a great movie about behavior, the war is just background.
Far ahead of its time, all good acting.
Must admit it belongs to my top 10 all time favorite movies.

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Post #: 23
RE: OT: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/24/2019 12:30:05 PM   
Macclan5


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From: Toronto Canada
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quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Schindler's List
Battle of Britain
Waterloo
Conspiracy
Operation Daybreak



Very good choices sir - in line with some of my own favorites - good choices.

I am uncertain if the following are considered American / British or combined; and despite (some or numerous) inaccuracies I would add to the list:

1) Dunkirk - thoughtful

2) Bridge at Remagen - inaccurate about battle circumstances but strong on the human element of war

3) Bridge too Far - very interesting perhaps accurate portrayal of command structure decisions - again the human civilian cost is noted.

4) Patton - as noted above - historical study in Human Character.

5) Saving Private Ryan - noted many times here

6) Hacksaw Ridge - not a cliff face - a ridge - but a great tale of (a) human courage

7) Monument Men - not especially a war movie - well acted interesting story about the Wars affect of culture

--

8) Bridge over River Kwai

9) D Day - the old classic version where Germans speak German - French speak French - British speak a 'kind of English' - Americans speak English. I know all the faults of the film yet its timeless tribute to one of the most important battles for the sake of Democracy - nostalgia still draws me to watch again and again despite so many accuracy issues.

Interestingly I have never yet seen Thin Red Line.

For some reason - I have meant to view it many times but just never got to it yet.

PS Lawrence of Arabia - perhaps one of my 3 most favorite films is WW1 not WW2

< Message edited by Macclan5 -- 7/24/2019 12:36:11 PM >

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RE: RE:OT from OT: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/24/2019 12:38:31 PM   
Simulacra53


Posts: 632
Joined: 5/16/2015
Status: offline 		Cross of Iron, although it features Coburn and was directed by Peckinpah, it is not really an American war movie.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_of_Iron

Good movie, but Imo disappointing as book adaptation.
Of course this is where the Iron Crosses grow.

With hindsight I find most American war movies pretty cringe worthy, in modern times I make an exception for the series Brothers in Arms, Saving Pvt Ryan and honorable mention to The Beast (of War) - some good combat scenes in the beginning - The Hurt Locker and Black Hawk Down.

The Thin Red Line has some memorable scenes mixed with some extremely poor scenes (especially anything with miscast John Travolta in it, but also “pretty hair” Sean Penn). Cavaziel is something special in that movie, some hints as being Jesus-like - which I told my wife back then. Some of his scenes ate what lifts the movie, but otherwise some of the hazy flashbacks I found extremely boring.

IMO a great war movie is a great movie first and a war movie second, the war is the environment not the story.

When the war IS the story, we enter the realm of docudrama, with the inclusion of the latter spoiling history and the reenactment being pretty dry for a long sitting.

Tora Tora Tora, I later found out I like the scenes directed by the Japanese director / team, but I find the US side standard and not that interesting.

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Post #: 25
RE: RE:OT from OT: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/24/2019 12:44:26 PM   
Macclan5


Posts: 1065
Joined: 3/24/2016
From: Toronto Canada
Status: offline 		Damn .. to many movies...

Interesting I have also never seen Cross of Iron - another "I intend to" but never done.

Thanks for note on "Thin Red Line"

Tora Tora Tora - damn - how did I miss - especially noted above. Great movie with thoughtful vignettes about Japanese and American Command Structures... put it near the top.

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Post #: 26
RE: OT: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/24/2019 1:10:11 PM   
Apollo11


Posts: 24082
Joined: 6/7/2001
From: Zagreb, Croatia
Status: offline 		Hi all,

It is "shame" that one of my favorite war movies - "Aces High" (1976) is British...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aces_High_(film)


Leo "Apollo11"

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RE: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/24/2019 2:21:23 PM   
Lovejoy


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From: United States
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Fishbed

As of late, I have to say that I have been pleasantly, although belatedly surprised by Task Force (1949) starring Gary Cooper. A very underrated take at carrier warfare in the Pacific that didn't get the sort of recognition you'd expect, especially when one considers the much better-known and still rather underwhelming movie that is 1976's Midway.


+1 to this. It's the best naval war film that I've ever seen, and a great look at the Interwar US Navy

I'll also throw in The Wings of Eagles about the life of Spig Wead.

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Post #: 28
RE: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/24/2019 3:37:33 PM   
Jorge_Stanbury


Posts: 4320
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From: Toronto and Lima
Status: offline 		Some of my favorites US war films:

Platoon
Full Metal Jacket
Black Hawk Down
Tora Tora Tora
Midway
Patton
Letters from Iwo
Saving Private Ryan
Paths of Glory
Gods and Generals (Gettysburgh too)

Great but not really war movies, more like movies set in war time:
Caine Mutiny
Empire of the Sun
Thin Red Line

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Post #: 29
RE: Best American War movie? EZ Peasy - 7/25/2019 6:59:42 AM   
warspite1


Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline 		This was an excellent opening sequence with some great footage and the excellent mix in the music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sqwkpiFg4c

Demarcation!! and another excellent piece of music to accompany the scene
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbX1ZIuD0ac

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 7/25/2019 7:06:38 AM >

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