Favorite War Movies
 

In pursuit of the ultimate DVD collection, I'd like to continue the favorite movie thread with war movies. A few minor guidelines -

Can be TV, cable, or film based
Up to 5 main, 5 honorable mention

Here's my top 5 in no particular order-

"Hell In The Pacific" (Lee Marvin, Toshiro Mifune)
"Fix Bayonets" (Richard Basehart)
"Mash" (Donald Sutherland, Elliot Gould)
Catch-22 (Alan Arkin, ensemble cast)
"Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison" (Robert Mitchum)

Runners-up

"Das Boot"
"Band of Brothers"
"Enemy at the Gate" (Jude Law)
"Stalingrad" (German production)
"Murphy's War (Peter O'Toole)

We've pradickly worn out the VHS copy we have of "Midway".

I would have to put up several:
1. Stalag 17
2. In Harms Way
3. The Dirty Dozen
4. Kelly's Hero's
5. Patton
6. Tora Tora Tora
7. Bridge Over the River Kwai
8. Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

OK - that was more than a couple!!

Dave

Saving Private Ryan
All Quite on the Western Front (original)
Patton
Longest Day
Dirty Dozen
Rat Patrol, and Blacksheep for tv shows

I like the made for TV version from the 70's with Richard Thomas although the original is compelling. If you are a reader, get the book. Written in 1927, it reads as if written yesterday. It is truly fantastic.

Agreed with the above plus adding Full Metal Jacket... :yes:

Scott

1. The Dirty Dozen
2. Where Eagels Dare
3. Midway
4. Patton

I love the smell of napalm in the morning.

Some John Wayne:
The Longest Day
Sands Of Iwo Jima
They Were Expendable
Back To Bataan
And of course,
The Green Berets

Favorite War Movies
 

Here's one no one mentioned: King Rat, a b/w film starring George Segal as a slick hustler from the Bronx in a Japanese POW camp. Came out in the late 50s or very early 60s. Very good flick.

I have to throw my vote for Full Metal Jacket as well. Loved it.

"The Enemy Below". Great U-boat flick. :yes:
Does anyone remember "The World At War" miniseries about WWII? Beautifully done documentary.
Tom

Anybody remember "The Big Red One" ? pretty good flick w/Lee Marvin.-Sandy G.

In no particular order

Das Boot
Patton
Tora Tora Tora
Midway
A Bridge Too Far
The Beast


Tora Tora Tora deserves special mention - the movie seems ahead of its time in its relatively neutral examination of the December 7th attack on Pearl Harbor and the events/mistakes/miscalculations that lead up to it. And the Japanese are portrayed with surprising respect and dignity for an early 70's movie. The recent "Pearl Harbor" cannot hold a candle to Tora Tora Tora.

Also, the soundtrack was remastered on the DVD into Dolby Digital 5.1 with THX enhancements and sounds fabulous, even in plain Dolby Digital. Now that I have a pre-amp with THX decoding, I'll have to watch again - at "THX Reference Level" ;)

My top 5:

"Bridge On The River Kwai" (1957)
"Saving Prvt. Ryan"(1997)
"Band Of Brothers" (HBO series) (2001)
"Go Tell The Spartans" (1978)
"Das Boot" (The Boat) (1982)

Runners up:

"The Longest Day" (1962)
"Air Force" (194?)
"The Red Badge Of Courage" (John Houston version, 195?)
"30 Seconds Over Tokyo" (194?)
"The Bridges At Toko Ri" (year??)

Russ