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Sikander
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Boulder, Colorado, United Snakes of America
Jan 2000
time: 22:29
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I'm pleasantly surprised that Paths of Glory has gotten so many mentions. It's a terrific film, but it's old and isn't strictly a combat movie.
One film I like personally is an obscure film from 1962 called "Hell to Eternity". (No, it's not "From Here to Eternity". ) It tells the story of Guy Gabaldon, an orphan from East LA who is adopted by a Japanese-American family in the thirties. When the war starts his family is shipped off to concentration camps, which pisses him off, so he refuses to enlist. His two brothers end up in the 442 (Go for Broke!) in Europe. He finally decides to enlist after talking to his mother, and is accepted despite a perforated eardrum because he speaks Japanese. He goes to Saipan with the 2nd Marine Division and wins the Navy Cross for heroism in combat. He also manages to save several hundred Japanese civilians and soldiers by talking them into surrendering instead of committing suicide.
The film is a bit corny, and the combat scenes (where they don't use WW2 combat footage) are as laughable as most films of the era. Why do I like this film? Because it is the first film that I ever saw that dealt with the internment of Japanese Americans in a realistic fashion. The whole issue of race is dealt with really well in this picture IMO. It's also a true story, filmed on Okinawa (where I lived as a kid for six years) with the 3rd Marines and Okinawan civilians used as extras. The characters are interesting and likeable and believable. It's very hard to find a copy of, but fortunately for me we have an excellent video store here in Boulder, who have a copy for rent.
Another good film is "Pork Chop Hill" with Gregory Peck. It is based on the book of the same name by SLA Marshall, whose name should be familiar to those who appreciate military history and combat doctrine. It is perhaps the most realistic war film of the decade of the 1950s, with technical advice from several veterans of the battle, including the main character who commanded the rifle company that made the assault.
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Pekka
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em seu burro dos pais!
Feb 2002
time: 07:29
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I still need to see Paths of Glory and Iron Cross, those have been recommended by my buddies so I must check them out, as they seem to enjoy popularity here too.
Hamburger Hill is one of the better Vietnam movies IMO too. And of course Good Morning, Vietnam is a good one.
VetLegion, SO! You did not answer my question. Either you have seen the film now, but didn't like it at all, or you didn't see it. Which one is it? 
Patton I also enjoyed. I have read about him some, but he wasn't number one subject in our history classes for obvious reasons (can't focus on every countries war heroes). He was quite a character, and I think the movie was pretty decent. I enjoyed it.
About FMJ.. I liked the boot camp part better too. I did like the rest of it too, but the ending was kind of.. it was a good scene, but it lacked something. Like 30 minutes more action. Something. I kind of wanted it to end to a big combat scene, a huge battle, like the Platoon ended. I think it would have suited the movie.
There's a coming movie of our hero, Mannerheim btw. Going to be directed by the average hollywood action director Renny Harlin. I'm afraid it will suck though.. because it's hard to make a movie to make the justice he would deserve. He fought for Russia and Czar something and was all the way to China and all, then came here, lead the winning side of Civil War here (kicking out commies), and then leading Winter War and succesful defense. He also made tough choices, like not obeying Hitlers wishes about the Jewish question and also not cutting the main supply route, that would have made Stalingrad even more unbareable (knowning the war would end, and there would be price to pay for that). Also had the famous Mannerheim-line, simular to Maginot line. Never was penetrated. After that he became the President too. He was quite a character too. Perfect gentleman, liked women and was little bit weird in his own ways, but I guess all geniouses are little bit weird.
Should include lots of combat and all that, but I'm afraid it will suck. There was even some speculation that Sean Connery would play him, but I don't think so, just rumours. Harlin can get pretty much anyone though..
I'll be waiting with excitement, unfortunately it will take few years at the very least, maybe more.
Concept is interesting though. He is fighting his old master with weaker forces, and Russian leaders and him had a weird relationship. Enemy leaders respected him and he respected them in perfect gentleman way, but were still the worst enemies. Like if they met in a field, they'd have a drink and talk good about the other and shake hands, walking different directions not trying to cheat and then next day coming out and trying to take out each other. It was very weird. I hope they can show that in the movie.
Last edited by Pekka on 09-07-2003 at 17:49
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Pekka
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em seu burro dos pais!
Feb 2002
time: 07:29
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I'd like to see a war movie from one mans perspective. He would go to fight, and then toughen up. He'd do all kinds of dangerous missions, and see horrible things. Then at the end of the movie he would fall apart like Pacino in Godfather III, and right at that moment when he starts to recover from his sadness, he'd get shot by enemy troops, surprising, fast, and wake up in POW camp, where the enemy intel knows who he is and what he has done and they make him pay for it. And he doesn't get released or free but die there sad, lonely, slowly and in horrible pains. And then credits starts rolling. I'm tired of 'happy' endings in war movies.. I need the main character to die and get the worst price of them all.
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Sir Og
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Lurking in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Jun 2001
time: 07:29
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When you are tolking about war movies, especialy about WW2 movies you should mention Come and See/Idi i smotri . The movie depicts the atrocities of the nazis in USSR during the war. The images are very strong and show the full horror of WW2.
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Arrian
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Kneel before Grog!
Jul 2001
time: 00:29
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All Quiet on the Western Front
Oh, What a Lovely War!
Das Boot
Hamburger Hill*
FMJ
Apocalypse Now Redux
Good Morning, Vietnam!
Bridge on the River Quai
Glory
I'm sure I missed a couple. I'm leaving movies like Braveheart out of it. Dunno why, I just am.
* - I've only seen part of it, but it was the last part, and it was enough. I got the point(lessness).
FMJ is more entertaining in the beginning, and gets wierd at the end, but it's good nonetheless.
Good Morning, Vietnam is similiar in that it's funny as hell in the beginning and then gets heavy.
BotRQ was good largely because of Alec Guiness. I can't help but smile when his character switches over to "Right! We're going to build this bridge, and do it properly!" mode. It's just so... British.
Glory, for similar reasons as LotM. Along the same lines, I enjoyed The Tuskegee Airmen.
I liked Saving Private Ryan, and I think the battle scenes were well done, but it gets to "Hollywoody" at the end.
Never saw Black Hawk Down, and am surprised it even got mentioned. Is it worth watching? I expected a flag-waving pukefest.
-Arrian
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Cruddy
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quote:
Originally posted by VetLegion
...anyone seen that one where a russian T-72 is fleeing afghanistan, chased by the locals? interesting. |
I am pretty sure you are talking about The Beast of War. Went straight to video (at least in the UK) but is a good movie. Was actually filmed in Israel with a captured Soviet tank (if I remember the credits).
The Muj characters are a bit like cardboard cutouts but the Russian characters are actually quite different. Liked it a lot - but if you want run-of-the-mill Hollywood, look elsewhere.
FMJ is my favourite war movie. Much more impact than Apocalypse Now. The latter is the better movie (more story, hughly better sound and slightly better directed) but FMJ just haunts me.
Das Boot was EXCELLENT, the bits I saw of it. The BBC chopped it into little bits for broadcast and I still haven't seen the beginning. What I did see I liked a lot.
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lord of the mark
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FUKCOV - Former United Kingdom Colony of Virginia
Dec 2000
time: 00:29
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quote:
Originally posted by GePap
I have to disagree: the roman army of the period was still a army based on legions: in that battle scene the cavalry is shown as the main striking arm, with the infantry as support, and as that, mainly using archers: that is not accurate at all: In fact, I cvan;t even remember that many legionares on foot using short stabbing swords but spears, and they barely use their shields! |
In the film they held the infantry in the center, in front of the archers and catapults, which were used to soften the attacking Germans. then used cavalry sweeping from the flanks to mop up. Infantry in full testudo defensive formation. Not a typical engagement to be sure, but not unrealistic, and since the idea was to show the main character as a particularly creative general, its seems reasonable that he use a different battle plan. Hes using combined arms, and the roman army of the period was certainly equipped to do so.
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Kramerman
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UT, Austin - The live music capital of the world
Jun 2002
time: 23:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
quote:
Never saw Black Hawk Down, and am surprised it even got mentioned. Is it worth watching? I expected a flag-waving pukefest. |
It's a wonderful movie, IMO. Not very flag-waving either. Sure it focuses on American forces, but there isn't like an Iwo Jima moment or anything. |
I highly recommend the book. Excellent, one of the best I've ever read. The story is told very matter of factly, no Bull ****, adn its MUCH easier to follow than the movie. The author, David Bowden, poured hundreds of hours into research of the battle, and the resulting story is like you are there watching the battle unfold before your eyes. I dont know how people could have enjoyed that movie had they not read the book before hand, i would have been utterly confused.
Why did they have to cast Josh Heartnet?
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cinch
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Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Jul 2002
time: 22:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Full Metal Jacket. Apocalypse Now is good too, but not as good overall. Also, The Killing Fields. |
YES, The Killing Fields was a fantastic movie. Ngor, Waterston, and Malkovich were all brilliant. Great choice.
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09-07-2003 12:18
its just insane how much it seems we are alike... unlike minkspider... the bizzaro kramerman
Excuse me man, but Soviet war movies are total propaganda crap. I mean, EVERYONE still laughs after seeing a motorcycle with a carriage on the street. Why? Because German troops (esp. motorcycle troops) were shown as complete and utter morons, and motorcycles rolled over at the first sound of Russian rifles.
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