Wartime Epics?

[filkertom]

A new Harris poll says that the most popular films of all time include SF epics and war movies.

The "war" movies they cite are Gone With the Wind, Casablanca, and The Sound of Music.

None of which I think of as "war" movies.

I mean, yeah, they've all got wars as backdrops, even as primary motivators... but they're all character pieces, romances even. To me, it's like saying Raiders of the Lost Ark is a war movie. The Lord of the Rings is definitely a war movie in its way, although I'd be loathe to sell it as one.

Discuss. And, if you like, name your favorite war movies. Mine would definitely be Patton.

Comments

[tcgtrf.livejournal.com]

I had a minor in military history, so the movie has to at least make some sense for me to be interested in it.

My favorites:

Das Boot--It sends chills up my spine every time I think about it.

Band of Brothers--Historically accurate and extraordinary human. It's probably the best piece of work ever done on WW2.

Saving Private Ryan--My father landed on Omaha Beach just out of camera shot to the right of Tom Hanks' landing craft. He spent his first night on the continent with the 2nd Rangers. Spielberg screwed up in the tank-representation towards the end of the movie, but I'm willing to forgive that.

Enemy At the Gates--The Soviet Union lost more civilians in Leningrad than the US lost soldiers in the entire war. We need more movies about their contribution.

Schindler's List--Evil has always been easy to understand. Good is a lot more complicated, especially when it's completely against one's self-interest.

Casablanca--Many battles are not won by rifles, but by ideas. The "battle scene" between the Nazis and the rest of Rick's Cafe using music is one of the most memorable ever on film. It is notable that when this movie was made, the US and the Allies were losing the war, badly. I consider this not only the best war movie, but the best overall film ever made. As far as I'm concerned, it is a perfect movie the way Hamlet is the perfect play. Not a word, not a scene, not a glance out of place, and so many lines have been adopted into our culture that it will last forever.

TC

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Saving Private Ryan, I like, respect, and admire. Schindler's List, I love and weep over. What a movie. What a movie. Anne, Leslie, and I stood out in the parking lot -- I mean, we didn't even get to a restaurant like we usually do, just stood out in the parking lot for over an hour talking about that film.

Lots of people agree with you regarding Casablanca. Heck, I used to be one of 'em, until Peter Jackson made TLotR. But it took twelve hours of that to supplant less than two of Casablanca, and not by much.

And, yes, the dueling anthems scene is gripping and stirring and you can feel every drop of tension as everyone in the place starts to wonder what will happen next. Fabulous filmmaking.

[zibblsnrt.livejournal.com]

The Soviet Union lost more civilians in Leningrad than the US lost soldiers in the entire war. We need more movies about their contribution.

Do you know of any other movies from their perspective?

[tcgtrf.livejournal.com]

There are several on this list:

http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/dvdandfilmresources/tp/aatpww2dvdef.htm

I can personally vouch for Cross of Iron and the subtitled version of Stalingrad as being both interesting and historically accurate.

Ballad of a Soldier is wonderful, but concentrates more on the changes that war makes in people.

I haven't seen the rest, but Kanal is supposed to be very good.

TC Trumpinski