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

[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.