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

War Pictures

[hvideo.livejournal.com]

They called Casablanca a "WWII Romance", so they seemed aware that WWII was a setting, not the star of the show. It's still an all-time classic. Gone With the Wind, too. South Pacific and Mr. Roberts and M*A*S*H likewise have the war more as a setting than as a centerpiece.

Patton, The Great Escape, The Battle of the Bulge, Stallag 17, Twelve O'Clock High, The Devil's Brigade, The Dirty Dozen, Kelly's Heroes, Zulu, Apocalypse Now, The Battle of Britain, Das Boot, Run Silent Run Deep, The Sand Pebbles, these would be more War Pictures that I'd put up for repeated viewing.

Dr. Strangelove was mentioned - yes, some great lines, but also much that doesn't appeal to me. Along the same general lines (a very short nuclear war) I prefer Fail-Safe.

There are many good films that just don't draw me back for repeated viewing. Tora, Tora, Tora and Saving Private Ryan are examples. I intellectually recognize that they have merit but they nonetheless don't attract me the same way that the ones I put above do.

Re: War Pictures

[gan-chan.livejournal.com]

Ohh yeah, I forgot Run Silent, Run Deep. That's a great one. The book it's based on is good too.