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Best World War II Films

Discussion in 'WWII Films & TV' started by JCFalkenbergIII, May 26, 2008.

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  1. Takao

    Takao Ace

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    Concerning "The Thin Red Line", I found the remake, at 170 minutes, to be overly long and drawn out, where as the 1964 original was slightly over an hour and a half. While watching long movies isn't a problem, provided they keep my interest, TTRL just seems to drag on and on. I've watched "Patton", "A Bridge Too Far", and "Das Boot" over and over, but have only been able to tolerate "The Thin Red Line" once. Which is a rather sad admission, considering my focus is on the Pacific War rather than the ETO.

    For that matter, has anyone mentioned "Sink the Bismarck." I loved that movie.
     
  2. IRu

    IRu Member

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    As for the movie "The Thin Red Line".
    I think this is very subjective. Someone is really having fun on the movie "The Fellowship of the Ring." I think it is boring and lengthy.
    There are people who like the book-series Stephen King's "Dark Tower". I like King's book, but "Dark Tower" - is so boring ... I know that the film "The Thin Red Line" someone seems too lengthy.
    So, I liked this movie for:
    1.
    Reality. War - it's not constant actions, it is often really tighten and monotony. It seems to me that the movie is very well conveyed it.
    2. Monologues about war and personality. There's a lot of interesting thoughts. For example: «Each person has his own war»
    3. Cognition. In Russia, very little is known about any other war except Great Patriotic War. Before this film, I knew nothing about Guadalcanal.


    As far as I know the film was nominated for an Oscar in 7 categories, in 1998.
    Saving Private Ryan was released in the same year and eclipsed it.
    But I think they are different movies.


    In Russia, film "The Thin Red Line" appeals to many. And it's very interesting that we perceive films differently. For example: many here mention the film "Enemy at the Gates" as the best. And in Russia, so not many people believe.
    I am very pleased that we have different opinions and the ability to change them here.

    Besides the slowness, what else does not like this film?
     
  3. AWarGuy

    AWarGuy Member

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    The Longest Day
     
  4. Wellington6913

    Wellington6913 recruit

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    Here are my personal favorite:

    A Bridge too far
    The battle of Britain
    Das Boot
    Downfall
     
  5. turkishwolf

    turkishwolf Childish Member

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    sorry but i really prefer german perspective and want to see more german side of ww2
    1 stalingrad
    2 das boot
    3 downfall
    4 the eagle has landed(not made german but so neutral)

    from russian perspective
    come and see is a really great movie...
     
  6. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

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    This is ridiculously hard...There are so many.
    1. Tora Tora Tora
    2. At dawn we dive
    3. Das Boot (Thanks Turkishwolf for reminding me...the book is better still).
    4. Iron Cross (American, but taken from the German's point of view on the Russian front.
    5. And either "Beneath us the waves" or "The flying Leathernecks" or "The Battle of Britain"

    Not in that order though...
     
  7. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    I HATE seeing so many praise SPR because it really aint that good of a film, I think its chosen because it was fairly recently made as compared to classics like: Decision Before Dawn, The Desert Rats, Zulu, Halls of Montezuma-Sands of Iwo Jima, Fixed Bayonets, Pork Chop Hill, Cross of Iron etc, that REALLY do deserve the title as Best War Movies Made.

    Can of worms opened so here is the dis-spoiler: Yeah, SPR was good in the sense that Rangers and 101st guys intermixed but c'mon already, the movie really wasnt THAT good.

    You want to see "Great" war movies, and some that are VERY accurate-try these on for size: Decision Before Dawn, Stalingrad: Dogs Do You Want To Live Forever?, A Time To Love and a Time To Die, Patton, Stalingrad, Battleground, The Big Red One some of the Finnish movies and Russian made movies like Tankova Brigada.

    All these deserve to be tops on any list, no not because these are among my favorite but because these too show the "realism" that SPR had but soon and to use their language: FUBAR'ed. I prefer SNAFU over that other one anytime anyday.

    Decision Before Dawn BECAUSE: ALL equipment, uniforms, badges, insignia, vehicles, bomb-damaged buildings and such--were the real deal. The rubble you saw shown in that movie in whatever city or town they happened to be in-was the real deal left over from WWII. Also, all the German Soldiers, Americans and such, were played by actual vets-minus the all star cast of course.

    Stalingrad: Dogs Do You Want To Live Forever & Stalingrad--respectively-you got the "feel" of what the Germans and Russians both, went through.

    Though: A Time To Love and A Time To Die, was a fictional story, the places that you saw whowing bomb-damaged structurs etc, was also the real deal as left over from WWII. Many of the actors who played German Soldiers in that movie, had served as German Soldiers during the war.

    Patton & Battleground--well, im sure most of you have seen those by now so I dont have to say anything on those. These two as for true line by line accuracy--no--but these are certainly much much better than SPR.

    As for opinions on Thin Red Line, I strongly disliked the original but that one was 100% better than the stinker of a remake.
     
  8. Overkilll

    Overkilll Member

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    A Bridge Too Far, about operation market garden, is a very good movie. Also, very realistic (I am looking at you Saving Private Ryan).

    Overall, movies became less realistic with time, as the war fells more distant, and look more like fantasy flicks (Saving Private Ryan is almost fantasy, specially the premise).
     
  9. Diana Köhler

    Diana Köhler Dishonorably Discharged

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    im seekin a movie,where a little group of childs die defending a bridge, they were from the VolksSturm and i remember that the most important part of the movie was, when they fought against usa soldiers adn 2 tanks, the childs defeated the attackin US force. then just 2 or 3 survived, can you pls tell me the name of the movie :)
     
  10. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    Its Die Brucke (The Bridge) and is on DvD.
     
    Diana Köhler likes this.
  11. gst121

    gst121 Member

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    My Top 5
    1) Band of Brothers ( I know its a series , but there good movies)
    2) Saving Private Ryan
    3) Defiance. I love how it is about the resistance.
    4) Tora, Tora, Tora
    5) Inglorious Ba*tards
     
  12. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    Ill almost bet that either your a youngster, or one who faielry recently got interested in WWII-or both.
     
  13. gst121

    gst121 Member

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    Yes I am a bit young, but I've loved world war 2 since i was about 6 or 7. I think I know why you thought I was young. Is it because of my last pick? The only reason I like that movie is because its kind of a comedy/action movie. I know its horribly unrealistic, but its just one of those movies I like and I dont know why.
     
  14. belasar

    belasar Court Jester

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    gst121, stick by your guns. If you like them there is nothing wrong with that. Just keep an open mind to some of the more obscure films out there, there are some real gems out there.
     
  15. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    The choices made-as Bel says, nothing wrong with them BUT, give some of the older ones some due credit. Movies like: Decision Before Dawn, Twelve O' Clock High, The Longest Day, Battleground, Back To Bataan, Guadalcanal Diary, Hell To Eternity, Halls of Montezuma, Dunkirk, Pork Chop Hill etc, are ultimately better than SPR* and I.G. One of the few relatively new war movies that have real value to them and one that you listed is Defiance. Tora Tora Tora is also good--that is, IF you want truth and historical accuracies and such. The ones I listed, I didnt list because they might be favorites of mind or because of their casts, its because they are really THAT good. Movies liks SPR and I.G, turn back the clock 50 or more years back to the days of those silly Warner Brothers movies and in THEIR stereotypes of German and Japanese Soldiers and Civilians. The movies I list, give you a more truthful situation-NOT crap like IG does. One thing I HATE about SPR, is that EVERY German Soldier in it were presented as murderous baby-killers and skinheads-thats PURE B.S.
     
  16. gst121

    gst121 Member

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    I know that the older ones are much more accurate than the newer one because Hollywood tries to create its own history. I just recently watched the Battle of Britain and that ranks up there. Also some of the older movies are a little hard to find at Blockbuster. Next time I rent a movie, I'll keep those in mind though.
     
  17. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    There's hope for you yet ;-))

    But seriously, those movies or some of them, should make some positive impressions for you. Also, add: A Time To Love And A Time To Die, as well as: From Here To Eternity, The Train, Stalingrad: Dogs Do You Want To Live Forever and Die Brucke--to your possible viewings list. In doing so, I can guarentee you will not be disappointed. Also, some mentioned do not contain lots of figting but are listed because of their excellent stories. An honorable mention for good viewing are: The Bridge Over the River Kwai, Von Ryans Express, Stalag 17 (which actually should be on of the first of these you might watch as the script and some of the actors-were really PWs in WWII and they give you a good "feel" for what they went through.
     
  18. belasar

    belasar Court Jester

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    Looks like Carl has taken you under his wing with some good selections. May I also suggest, 12 O'Clock High, Hell is for Hero's, A Soldier's story, In Harm's Way are some of my favorites.

    Also The Hill with Sean Connery is worth a look.
     
  19. lwd

    lwd Ace

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    I remember enjoying A Walk in the Sun but haven't seen it in years so it may not be as good as I remember. Anyone know if it's based on a real incident or not? 633 Squadron and The Dambusters also stick in my mind as I recall the former was flashier but the latter was very accurate. Both worth watching again from what I remember.
     
  20. judge death

    judge death Member

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    My fave movies I think are the best ones, based on how realistic and accurate they are:
    1 Cross of iron: To me a real masterpeice and shows a good picture of how German soldiers were and how they lived and how cruel the eastern front was.
    2: Das boot: Realistic and fantastic uboat movie.
    3: the finnish winter war: very realistic and big movie
    4 battle of britain
    5:tora tora
     

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