One of the great things about holidays like Memorial Day is the airing of war movies for several days on cable channels. Some channels invite you to rank war movies. So, I'll take a shot at my top 10. Before embarking on my top 10, a little on my rubric for selection is in order. First, war movies--with the notable exception of Patton--should not be about a particular person (I realize all stories and movies focus on characters, but it is more important to note the characters role in the particular conflict than to focus on the character). Second, war movies do not have to be gory affairs. Blood, severed limbs, guts hanging out may add "reality" whatever that means, but dead is dead whether you show me the dying persons internal organs or just show me soldiers falling down or being blown up, etc. Third, the good guys do not have to win, but it helps. Fourth, good casts make good movies regardless of what type of movie.
10) The Horse Soldiers. There must be at least one John Wayne movie (probably will be more). But don't forget the supporting cast. William Holder and Constance Towers were great.
9) They Were Expendable. Robert Montgomery, John Wayne and Donna Reed. Almost a fun movie, but good action, and great acting.
8) The Great Raid. Not quite authentic to the actual raid on Cabantuan, but it is a story about heroes--as any POW is a hero, and anyone who goes on a rescue mission of this type is a hero. First thing with Benjamin Bratt in it that I actually enjoyed.
7) Gettysburg. Great ensemble cast, good recreation of the details of the battle. Being a Southerner, I cried.
6) Letters from Iwo Jima/Flags of Our Fathers. A tie here as these movies tell the tale from both sides of the fight. Valor and honor and courage on display from both the Japanese and U.S. forces. Clint Eastwood directed both and are in my humble opinion his best directorial efforts.
5) In Harm's Way. John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Patricia Neal. Great movie with good casting.
4) All Quiet on the Western Front. The 1930 version, not the remake from the 1980s. We all will do well to remember that war is nasty.
3) A Bridge Too Far. Monty's plan did not work out the way it should on paper. The British lost a large portion of their paratroops, and the allies did not make it to Berlin by Christmas 1944. Attenborough did a fine directing job. Sean Connery and Ryan O'Neil were particularly good in this movie. One question, does anyone buy Gene Hackman as a Polish paratroop commander?
2) We Were Soldiers. One of the best film adaptations of a book about war that I have ever seen. Like or dislike Mel Gibson, this movie is fine work about a battle in a war that still causes tensions in the hearts of citizens of the U.S.
1) Patton. Ok, so he is one of my favorite generals of all time. George C. Scott did his finest acting ever. The opening monologue is great (actually it is from 5 speeches made between 1935 and 1942). This one breaks my caveat about war movies not being about particular characters.
The effort to make a top 10 is challenging. There are a dozen more war movies that are as good as any of these. I will, however, stand by my top 10. What movies make your top 10 war movies list?
10) The Horse Soldiers. There must be at least one John Wayne movie (probably will be more). But don't forget the supporting cast. William Holder and Constance Towers were great.
9) They Were Expendable. Robert Montgomery, John Wayne and Donna Reed. Almost a fun movie, but good action, and great acting.
8) The Great Raid. Not quite authentic to the actual raid on Cabantuan, but it is a story about heroes--as any POW is a hero, and anyone who goes on a rescue mission of this type is a hero. First thing with Benjamin Bratt in it that I actually enjoyed.
7) Gettysburg. Great ensemble cast, good recreation of the details of the battle. Being a Southerner, I cried.
6) Letters from Iwo Jima/Flags of Our Fathers. A tie here as these movies tell the tale from both sides of the fight. Valor and honor and courage on display from both the Japanese and U.S. forces. Clint Eastwood directed both and are in my humble opinion his best directorial efforts.
5) In Harm's Way. John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Patricia Neal. Great movie with good casting.
4) All Quiet on the Western Front. The 1930 version, not the remake from the 1980s. We all will do well to remember that war is nasty.
3) A Bridge Too Far. Monty's plan did not work out the way it should on paper. The British lost a large portion of their paratroops, and the allies did not make it to Berlin by Christmas 1944. Attenborough did a fine directing job. Sean Connery and Ryan O'Neil were particularly good in this movie. One question, does anyone buy Gene Hackman as a Polish paratroop commander?
2) We Were Soldiers. One of the best film adaptations of a book about war that I have ever seen. Like or dislike Mel Gibson, this movie is fine work about a battle in a war that still causes tensions in the hearts of citizens of the U.S.
1) Patton. Ok, so he is one of my favorite generals of all time. George C. Scott did his finest acting ever. The opening monologue is great (actually it is from 5 speeches made between 1935 and 1942). This one breaks my caveat about war movies not being about particular characters.
The effort to make a top 10 is challenging. There are a dozen more war movies that are as good as any of these. I will, however, stand by my top 10. What movies make your top 10 war movies list?
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