Please, help me save the world...

I generally refer to these small moments as "Ugh Anecdotes" (think Charlie Brown). They are those little moments in everyday life where mankind makes you drop your head and you die a little inside, fearing for our future. Especially in regards to historical events.

Recently, and periodically, a top ten list appears rating WW2 films by some outside source and many on the forum debate about, or more or less, agree with its absurdity. I always feel that they are created just to start a debate. Also, many of these movies get considerable air time, which baffles me. Ladies and gentlemen, I am baffled no more.

Today I was sitting in the faculty lounge talking and exchanging pleasantries with the crowd that gathered. Suddenly, a conversation originated where a teacher was explaining to another how much her young student loves WW2 history. My ears perked up, always enjoying seeing the young interested in any type of history, especially the Second World War. The conversation turned towards the latest History Channel offering, the World Wars (which I have watched only two episodes), and how the student was encouraged to watch it. I was about to chyme in when two other educators began talking about WW2 movies. Again, intrigued I just sat back to listen. The following exchange actually happened:

"Lots of good war movies on this time of year. Just saw one of my favorites. Pearl Harbor. What a great movie, did you ever catch that one."
(gulp)
"Yes, I love that movie, it's so historically accurate. Ben Affleck played a great part."
(eyes welling)
"Yeah, it just kept you engaged throughout the movie. I watched it a couple of times, haven't seen it in awhile. Forgot how great the movie was. I think it should get more airtime. I always catch it when it's on."
(tears)
Others now joined into the conversation...
"You know, I just watched that for the first time Sunday night. What a good movie. I loved it."
(full sobs)

At that moment, I packed up my lunch and left.

Help...

*If you enjoyed the flick and you found my anecdote offensive, I apologize.

 

I feel your pain, brother...

 

I'm sure a lot of American fighter pilots took leave to join the RAF and then came back and shot down a dozen Zeros at Pearl Harbor with their superior P-40's and then switched to bombers because that fighter plane thing was getting dull, all while banging a nurse that was also banging their best friend.

That part is spot on accurate, except that WWII nurses were a lot more "bosomy" than Kate Beckinsale.

 

I know, I failed. Believe me, it was against my better judgment to leave without dropping some knowledge of the War with them. In the future, with them being teachers and all, I will provide a visual presentation with handouts if the situation presents itself again.

 

Never watched Pearl Harbor the combination of the names Bay and Affleck stopped me cold. After reading KodiakBeer's post I went to check Wiki's plot synopsis. It hurt. A lot.

As to the teachers their knowledge of WW2 probably extends to the 3 pages in their history textbook and that's it. Your probably better off just talking to the student.

 

Just don't use reenactors as your visual aid. While most can tell you the correct tag markings and stitch count on a uniform or piece of equipment, they also have their flaws and pet beliefs they take as gospel, repeat as truth, but have no basis in fact. As for movies, most can be nit-picked to death, the one mentioned by the OP just has more to nit-pick than most. There are several that I have seen dogged on this forum that I think are really better, more realistic portrayals of soldiers than some that people swear are great but I find the behavior and actions of the soldiers completely unrealistic. Just personal preference and biases I guess.

 

You can always use reenactors for your visual aid.

By 1945, the German Army was composed mostly of Hitler Youth or old men

 

My personal favorite

General Sherman in action during the American Civil War.

 

Yeah, but you'll never get them replicating the effects of a few years of rationing!

Looks like most of them have been manning the Goulashkanone rather than any other sort of kanone...

 

I wouldn't have packed my lunch. I would have lost my lunch. Worst movie ever

I caught about 2 minutes of 'The World Wars' last night. Saw Capt Patton riding on the back of a Stuart tank in WWI and coming to a stop in front a Brigadier General Douglas MaCarthur. Mac was directing a bunch of doughboys under fire who were carrying SMLE No 1 Mk IIIs

 

And stopping mid - battle to introduce themselves to each other.

 

That is a ferocious fighting force.

 

Dont judge a book by its cover...fatal mistake.

 

Ahhh! That's your problem right there.

You were watching the "Alternative History Channel" again. How many times do we have to tell you not to.

If you want to kill brain cells, alcohol is not near as painful.


"The World Wars" on the Alternative History Channel: Synopsis of Part I
General George S. Patton is sent back in time to kill his arch-nemesis Erwin Rommel, to aid in Patton's quest his is given the use of an M-3 Stuart light tank. While, Patton fails to locate Rommel, he does inadvertently save the life of a then unknown Douglas MacArthur.


Tune in next week for Part II, having defeated the entire German Army, Patton & MacArthur must join forces to battle the next great threat to the American way-of-life, the dreaded "Bonus Army"!

Hilarity ensues!

 

(Laughter)

 

It's funny that I happened to catch that scene when I clicked over to it.

Brain processed "M3" = "Good" and sent a clicking interrupt to thumb. Then it all went downhill from there.

 

For awhile the acting was alright, I could stomach the man playing young Hitler, but at some point I must of had a wildly confused look over my face because my wife walked in and asked if I was OK.

 

"I'm sure a lot of American fighter pilots took leave to join the RAF and then came back and shot down a dozen Zeros at Pearl Harbor with their superior P-40's and then switched to bombers because that fighter plane thing was getting dull, all while banging a nurse that was also banging their best friend." lol
...Geeze, WW2 sure sounds like it would have been a lot of fun. Except the girlfriend banging my best friend part.- Why would they put that in, it ruins everything.

 

It was a simpler time, Poppy. Young American men grew up hunting squirrels, souping up Model T's and banging each others sisters. Then when they went to war they souped up their Sherman (or P-40 as the case may be), and banged the nurses. Only there wasn't enough nurses to go around because most women were back at home riveting or posing for riveting posters, so some sharing was inevitable out there on the front lines in Honolulu.

I'm sure it was similar in Canada, only with more hockey sticks and less riveting.