The WAR genre in the film industry

[mattyem]

With war being such a popular genre in the entertainment industry. I was curious on everyones opinions of what has been released over the many years of the industry.

Some personal Favourites of mine being;
-band of brothers
-kelly's heros
-saving private ryan
-black hawk down
-tears of the sun

 

[ari]

Band of brothers is one of my favourites too. Theres another one called Generation Kill which is a 7 part series that recounts, though not shot from his point of view, the experiences of a rolling stones journalist during the first stages of the iraq war in 2003. The jounalist is embedded with the United States Marine Corps' 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. Its easy enough to find on the internet if you know where to look

 

[Firn]

Personally I like far better a good documentary, but there are some good movies too. I tend to avoid most American movies which share some unfortunate treats.

Personal favorite:

-Das Boot 1985

Anyway if you are really interested in warfare here is a good documentary to counteract the "Hollywoodian" portrayal of war:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVo-2jfeoMM&feature=PlayList&p=D9C13F8EA1D4F9A0&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=8"]War of the century[/ame]

 

[canned happines]

With war being such a popular genre in the entertainment industry. I was curious on everyones opinions of what has been released over the many years of the industry.

Some personal Favourites of mine being;
-band of brothers
-kelly's heros
-saving private ryan
-black hawk down
-tears of the sun

I think alot of war movies lack realism. Having said that, i love the genre. I would like to see some more decent sniper movies.
Enemy at the gates is another great movie. I definately agree about Saving private ryan and Black hawk down, along with enemy at the gates and We were soldiers, these are some of my favourite movies of all time. I would give them 10/10.

I have not seen band of brothers or kelly's heroes, Ill have to check them out. Thanks for letting us know of them. lately I have been raiding the weekly rentals at blockbuster and i am starting to run out of war movies to watch.

Although not all of these are strictly war movies they may interest you. I added my rating : ).
Shooter, 9.5/10
Full Metal Jacket, 9/10
Rules of enguagement, 7/10
Marksman, 6/10
Behind enemy lines 1,2&3, 6.5/10
Flags of our fathers, 7/10
Hart's war, 8/10
Apocalypse now (very long), 4/10
The rock, 7.5/10
Wind talkers, 7.5/10
American soldiers, 6/10
The new Rambo, 9.5/10
Tigerland, 8.5/10
Jarhead, 8.5/10

Just out of interest, what do you think of medievil type war movies? eg braveheart, 300, troy etc. I like those just as much. Anything with fighting is good.

P.S has anyone here seen B.U.D.s, the doco on navy seals training, its awesome.

 

[ari]

for those that have seen Band of Brothers and enjoyed it, there's a sequel coming out called 'The Pacific', should be out by March 2010.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyN7mCuDu94"]HBO: The Pacific Trailer[/ame]

 

[riksavage]

Unfortunately most modern war films sacrifice historical accuracy for sensationalism, even Saving Private Ryan had the wrong units in the wrong place, but then again most people don’t care. The worst example has to be U571, which was so far from the historical truth it should have been characterised as a Science Fiction movie. The following are my personal favourites for both enjoyment factor and historical accuracy:

Dien Bein Phu - 1992 - Director Pierre Schoendoerffer. French and Vietnamese armies contributed, best parachute scenes put to celluloid. Make sure you buy a version with subtitles unless you speak French.

The Hill -1965 – Sean Connery’s first movie about a military prison in North Africa in 1942 – makes you sweat just watching it.

Paths of Glory – 1957 – Director Stanley Kubrick based on the WWI French Mutiny

Das Boot – 1981 – Director Wolfgang Peterson WWII U-Boat epic based on Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock, the captain of U-96.

To End All Wars – 2001- True-life events of Ernest Gordon of the Sutherland Highlander's whilst in a Japanese POW camp on the Kwai. The end of the movie shows him visiting the Kwai in 2000 accompanied by one of the prison guards.

 

[Falstaff]

Most have already been mentioned, but I'd like to add two favourites of mine:

- Letters from Iwo Jima (2006), which, IMO, is the better one of the double feature (Flags of Our Fathers)
- Thin Red Line (1998)- I like this one very much, it's visually very impressive, also great cast.

 

[canned happines]

Just started watching band of brothers. I was shocked to see it rated PG. Needs more blood and guts. Other than that its pretty good.
Does anyone know the rating of the new series The Pacific?

Has anyone seen BROTHERS AT WAR?
If so is it any good??

 

[canned happines]

Most have already been mentioned, but I'd like to add two favourites of mine:

- Letters from Iwo Jima (2006), which, IMO, is the better one of the double feature (Flags of Our Fathers)
- Thin Red Line (1998)- I like this one very much, it's visually very impressive, also great cast.

How could I forget thin red line. great movie

 

[mattyem]

Just watched the NatGeo release of RESTREPO, amazing doco! goes hand in hand witht he book titled war Written buy Sebastian Junger! Sure to be added to the many people's movie movie/doco lists!

 

[rip]

Just watched the NatGeo release of RESTREPO, amazing doco! goes hand in hand witht he book titled war Written buy Sebastian Junger! Sure to be added to the many people's movie movie/doco lists!

The greatest war movie of all time is a comedy “Dr. Strange Love” it isn’t about war and it isn’t about truth but sarcasm has a power all of its own.

But if you want realism I would vote for the movie Zulu "the Battle of Rorke's Drift of 1879" and the movie Gettysburg made in 1993.

 

[ari]

Just watched the NatGeo release of RESTREPO

That was a good doco, that should be played to anyone thinking about joining the military. Not to deter them, but just to shatter their misconceptions of the military. It was really sad during the part 'Rock Avalanche' and that one soldier was just having a breakdown after his best friend was KIA, felt so bad.

 

[T.C.P]

you guys should check out "the pianist" its a great movie about the struggles of Polish Jewish pianizt after the Nazi invasion.