War Film recommendations
- Thread starter Harlock
- Start date
A Bridge Too Far IMHO is the best 'war' movie IMHO in its balance between trying to be historically accurate and actually being based on actual events (as opposed to fictional operations within a historical setting like Saving Private Ryan) and while I think later war movies like Saving Private Ryan and Hacksaw Ridge and We Were Soldiers or Platoon might've had just as good if not better action scenes, the ensemble nature of A Bridge Too Far in how it totally drew dozens of different POV's from several clusters of characters I feel far outstrips any other film in its scope and breadth and doesn't really drop the ball anywhere. Except some silly lines by Gene Hackman towards the end there.
Plus the cast was pretty epic. Gene Hackman. Michael Caine. Dick Bogarde. Ryan O'Neal. Maximilian Schell. Robert Redford. Anthony Hopkins. Laurence Olivier. Cliff from Cheers. And that one British guy who is in every British film of that era it seems. *googles* Edward Fox.
Oh crap I forgot about James Caan as well.
Most importantly the battle scenes, especially for 1978 or whenever it was released, were just superb. The assaults across Arnhem Bridge against Frost's battalion. The contested river crossing by American paratroopers to secure the Nijmegen Bridge. XXX Corps having to troop it up the single road through German defensive lines. All of those scenes, especially with their glorious practical effects, were pretty comparable to even the battle scenes of excellent contemporary war films.
The book by Cornelius Ryan was pretty damn good as well. One of the best single battle histories for sure.
Plus the cast was pretty epic. Gene Hackman. Michael Caine. Dick Bogarde. Ryan O'Neal. Maximilian Schell. Robert Redford. Anthony Hopkins. Laurence Olivier. Cliff from Cheers. And that one British guy who is in every British film of that era it seems. *googles* Edward Fox.
Oh crap I forgot about James Caan as well.
Most importantly the battle scenes, especially for 1978 or whenever it was released, were just superb. The assaults across Arnhem Bridge against Frost's battalion. The contested river crossing by American paratroopers to secure the Nijmegen Bridge. XXX Corps having to troop it up the single road through German defensive lines. All of those scenes, especially with their glorious practical effects, were pretty comparable to even the battle scenes of excellent contemporary war films.
The book by Cornelius Ryan was pretty damn good as well. One of the best single battle histories for sure.
Francis Urquhart
Well-known member
Panfilov's 28. The story of 28 Guardsmen in front of Moscow in November 1941 who held a village against a German armored attack just long enough for reinforcements to fill the gap. Allegedly a true story, actually a propaganda forgery. Still very well done and a good lesson in how to stop tanks if you don't have anti-tank guns.
In the same vein, T-34. A group of Russian slave laborers are being used by the Germans to clean the remains of the crew out of knocked-out tanks. One of the Germans has a brilliant idea; use the Russians driving a Russian T-34-85 (stripped of ammunition of course) as a live target for training gunners. Only, the Germans screw up and miss one of the ammunition bins that has four APCR and two HE rounds in it. The whole story is permeated by a sly sense of humor that is rather appealing.
In the same vein, T-34. A group of Russian slave laborers are being used by the Germans to clean the remains of the crew out of knocked-out tanks. One of the Germans has a brilliant idea; use the Russians driving a Russian T-34-85 (stripped of ammunition of course) as a live target for training gunners. Only, the Germans screw up and miss one of the ammunition bins that has four APCR and two HE rounds in it. The whole story is permeated by a sly sense of humor that is rather appealing.
prinCZess
Warrior, Writer, Performer, Perv
'We Were Soldiers' and, of course, 'Apocalypse Now' both rank high-up there as good ones to watch that everyone recognizes and should just for sheer pop-cultural value (Apocalypse Now especially), but also because I think they do a good job of presenting the different 'faces' of the Vietnam war, even while broadly presenting similar anti-war themes. Kubrick, of course, goes reflective and melancholy/pessimistic through the whole thing. While Wallace does as well, there's a considerably different and more sympathetic tone. I honestly think they make good 'companion pieces' as far as films go.
On related note, anyone who hasn't read 'We Were Soldiers Once, And Young' or its follow-up by Galloway really should.
On a less well-known note, 'The Beast of War' (or 'The Beast'? I'm unsure which is actually the title) would be one I'd throw to people. It's a late-80s movie set during the Soviet-Afghan war with a Soviet tank crew and their opposing mujahadeen as the primary characters. I have no idea how accurate any of the military doctrine or behavior is, but its a character study more than anything, and the divides presented between Afghan tribal-members themselves, the PDPA Afghani who works with the Soviets, and the Soviet crewmen themselves are enough to drive the movie.
Oh yeah! And 'Waterloo' is one that should be checked out just for the sheer scale and scope of it as accomplished with practical effects. So many extras and so many wide, panning shots from a helicopter of infantry squares and Napoleonic line-battles it's just impressive to watch.
On related note, anyone who hasn't read 'We Were Soldiers Once, And Young' or its follow-up by Galloway really should.
On a less well-known note, 'The Beast of War' (or 'The Beast'? I'm unsure which is actually the title) would be one I'd throw to people. It's a late-80s movie set during the Soviet-Afghan war with a Soviet tank crew and their opposing mujahadeen as the primary characters. I have no idea how accurate any of the military doctrine or behavior is, but its a character study more than anything, and the divides presented between Afghan tribal-members themselves, the PDPA Afghani who works with the Soviets, and the Soviet crewmen themselves are enough to drive the movie.
Oh yeah! And 'Waterloo' is one that should be checked out just for the sheer scale and scope of it as accomplished with practical effects. So many extras and so many wide, panning shots from a helicopter of infantry squares and Napoleonic line-battles it's just impressive to watch.
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PsihoKekec
Swashbuckling Accountant
''Come And See'' is a very good Soviet film about Partisan warfare in Belorussia. It's not for the faint hearted though, as it deals with one of the worst aspects of WWII
''Secret Army'' is a rather depressing movie about the realities of French Resistance,
''Max Manus'' and ''Flame and Citron'' are Norwegian and Danish movies about their resistance
''Talvisota'' is a Finnish movie about a group of reservists called up for winter war
''Das Boot'' is the best submarine movie ever, there are bunch of cuts and TV miniseries
''Stalingrad'' is a German movie about a group of assault pioneers during assault and then encirclement
''Zulu'' is a great movie about the Battle of Rorke's Drift
''Battle of Britain'' do I need to say more?
''The Front Line'' Korean movie set at the end of the war, it's depressing, like all of their war movies
''Secret Army'' is a rather depressing movie about the realities of French Resistance,
''Max Manus'' and ''Flame and Citron'' are Norwegian and Danish movies about their resistance
''Talvisota'' is a Finnish movie about a group of reservists called up for winter war
''Das Boot'' is the best submarine movie ever, there are bunch of cuts and TV miniseries
''Stalingrad'' is a German movie about a group of assault pioneers during assault and then encirclement
''Zulu'' is a great movie about the Battle of Rorke's Drift
''Battle of Britain'' do I need to say more?
''The Front Line'' Korean movie set at the end of the war, it's depressing, like all of their war movies
GooseActual
We go hard on Earth!
Black Hawk Down is hard to not mention. Stellar film with a top notch cast.
Full Metal Jacket is a classic
Full Metal Jacket is a classic
UltimatePaladin
Well-known member
'Heartbreak Ridge' is a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine, but I quite enjoyed it.
Silverbullet
Active member
Enemy at the Gate anyone? Best sniper duel I’ve seen on film.
'Battle of Britain' is one of my top ten movies of all time. So it's right up there in my book.
Gunner
Mostly Retired Shootist
Of course there’s the ‘new classic’ trifecta of Blackhawk Down, Saving Private Ryan & We Were Soldiers.
In addition, check out Battle: Los Angeles. It’s pretty good for a scifi war movie. Also, Behind Enemy Lines 3 I recall being surprisingly good as well. The original Red Dawn of course. The Patriot. Men of Valor. Also ‘The Longest Day’, if you have an entire half of a day to kill.
Defiance is good as well. And Band is Brothers for a series. I didn’t really care for The Pacific.
In addition, check out Battle: Los Angeles. It’s pretty good for a scifi war movie. Also, Behind Enemy Lines 3 I recall being surprisingly good as well. The original Red Dawn of course. The Patriot. Men of Valor. Also ‘The Longest Day’, if you have an entire half of a day to kill.
Defiance is good as well. And Band is Brothers for a series. I didn’t really care for The Pacific.
If you can bear the Shakespearean dialogue, Kenneth Branagh's Henry V has a pretty gritty Battle of Agincourt and that final battle scene definitely left an impact on me. Super impressive and the classic theater dialogue actually accented the film.
As for a more recent release, Coriolanus, directed and starring Ralph Fiennes. I've seen a number of Shakespearean films and while I was younger it wasn't my thing, even when I was older the original plays dialogue and delivery kinda bothered me but not with Coriolanus. How it was presented and the line delivery and acting and all of it... it was great and really made the movie better. Plus... it is something of a war film. It definitely has a military theme... and political ones as well. Ralph Fiennes hit it out of the park with his performance but it was all good. Made Shakespeare on film not just watchable but truly enjoyable and riveting.
As for a more recent release, Coriolanus, directed and starring Ralph Fiennes. I've seen a number of Shakespearean films and while I was younger it wasn't my thing, even when I was older the original plays dialogue and delivery kinda bothered me but not with Coriolanus. How it was presented and the line delivery and acting and all of it... it was great and really made the movie better. Plus... it is something of a war film. It definitely has a military theme... and political ones as well. Ralph Fiennes hit it out of the park with his performance but it was all good. Made Shakespeare on film not just watchable but truly enjoyable and riveting.
GooseActual
We go hard on Earth!
Dunkirk, while not a classic war firm, still was probably the most stressful movie experience I’ve had. Edge of my seat the whole time.
PsihoKekec
Swashbuckling Accountant
Especially the scene where the pilot is drowning in his cockpit.
Erwin_Pommel
Well-known member
Gettysburg and Waterloo are both quite good, of course, Gettysburg gets the edge because it was made with pure CivilWaraboo sweat and tears.
You forgot about Sean Connery. How can you forget that?
Vargas Fan
Head over heels in love :)
Battle of Britain gets another recommendation with a star studded cast
Where Eagles Dare
Pacific Battleship Yamato
The DVD has the option for English subtitles
Where Eagles Dare
Pacific Battleship Yamato
The DVD has the option for English subtitles
Yes Gettysburg and Glory are probably my favorite American Civil War films. They might be some of my favorite films in general actually. I can't recommend either more then enough. Gods & Generals is... okay... but for some reason the production values actually seem lower in that film then in Gettysburg which came out like more then a decade earlier. But even Gods and Generals is worth a watch... though you might wanna equip yourself with a fast forward button just in case. Both Gettysburg and Glory have some amazing action/battle sequences and the films all around are just a great treat to watch.
There's two movies I remember from my childhood, North and South (a miniseries) and Ironclads (a 1991 made for TV movie) which I seem to recall being pretty cool to watch but I haven't seen them in so long I don't trust my memory to recommend them. Now that this thread has piqued my curiosity I'm going to have to ponder looking into those again.
Working off of that tangent.
Henry V was a great battle scene.
Being bracketed by excellent acting before and after was just bonus.
Coriolanus didn't have any real notable or standout action scenes... but it was brilliantly presented Shakespeare. Wasn't bored for a minute watching it.
Oh... looks like how the country greeted General Petreaus at New York University or during his Congressional testimony. 😇
