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Thursday, July 4, 2013

Top 10 War Movies.

Happy Independence Day everyday! Last year I made a list of best Patriotic Movies for the 4th of July, so here is an updated list of my favorite war movies, because what's more patriotic than war movies? Even though there have been a few good war movies from the past years, most of the best ones were made before the 80s, and those are my many of my favorites. To qualify in the war genre a film must take place around a war from any era, however I have decided to exclude Braveheart, Captain American: the First Avenger, and The Dark Knight Rises because they are not necessarily war films, but they would certainly rank high on the list.

At Number 10: Saving Private Ryan
The opening D-Day scene is classic, there is not little more to be said.




At Number 9: Sergeant York
My favorite Gary Cooper film and an underrated classic from the era, Sergeant York is based on the life story of Alvin York, a reluctant war hero. Classic American values at its finest, and York is an all around great character.



At Number 8: The Dirty Dozen
The Dirty Dozen basically started the now clichéd "Men on a Mission" format. Take a ragtag team of criminals on death row and send them on a suicide mission for their freedom. Despite many rip-offs and sequels, nothing tops the original Dirty Dozen.



At Number 7: Gettysburg
One of the longest films on this list, Gettysburg is an excellent telling of the bloodiest battle in American history and one of the Nation's darkest hours. Originally set to be release as a TV mini-series this over four hour long epic was edited into a theatrical released film and flopped at the box office. Gettysburg is not for those with a short attention span but will satisfy any history buff like myself with its historical accuracy.    



At Number 6: Patton
Patton, based on the true story of General George S. Patton, and won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1977. George C. Scott gives a career defining and Oscar winning performance as the great General, which he no doubt deserved. Definitely one of the best biopics ever made and it actually made the subject matter entertaining were other such films often fail.


At Number 5: The Bridge on the River Kwai
The Bridge on the River Kwai is a unique World War II POW film, it deals more with the psychological side opposed to the physical, yet remains interesting enough to keep it entertaining. Alec Guinness' amazing performance was the core of the film's success, which he rightfully won as Oscar for.



At Number 4: Lawrence of Arabia
Over three hours in length and featuring some of, if not, the best cinematography from the era, Lawrence of Arabia is the definition of an film epic. There is not much else that needs to be said, basically watch the film if you are either a classic film buff or enjoy historical epics.

At Number 3: The Great Escape
The Great Escape is based on a true story of WWII POWs escaping from German prison, although do not expect a dark and realistic take on the events but more of a entertaining Hollywood flick. Many of the characters are likable from the all-star cast particularly Steve McQueen gave as Captain Virgil Hilts "The Cooler King". Who can forget his iconic motorcycle chase through the German country side.


At Number 2: Kelly's Heroes
Out of all the films on this list, Kelly's Heroes has probably been seen by the fewest people. Kelly's Heroes is an unconventional war film because it is more of a comedy, but does have some fun action scenes throughout. Donald Sutherland's character Oddball is hilarious! He really steals the show and Clint Eastwood is awesome as always as Kelly. There is some great satire in the film of Clint Eastwood's westerns and war films in general.

At Number 1: Inglourious B------
Inglourious is an unconventional choice, albeit a popular one for Quentin Tarantino fans. It is not your typical war film, Inglourious has a style all its own and is packed with well written and suspense dialogue scenes. While it is somewhat for some, I found it to be fantastic, a truly great film with a perfectly twisted sense of humor. *Major Spoiler* Inglourious is not realistic by any means, they end up killing Hitler by the end of the film, but that is what makes it so great because it is so unique, unpredictable and over-the-top. *End Spoiler*
 
Honorable Mention: Caine Munity, Black Hawk Down,
 
What are your favorite war films? Please comment below and happy 4th of July!
 
 
 
If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

29 comments:

  1. Interesting choice for number 1 but I like it!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, I have never been one to go with a conventional choice.

      -James

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  2. Is it sad that I've only seen Saving Private Ryan?

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    Replies
    1. From my review its obvious liked When Were Soldiers as well. However in my mind it was the weakest of the great Vietnam movies, Ap Now, Platoon, and Full Metal Jacket.

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    2. Also somewhat sad, you should probably watch some of these, especially the Great Escape.

      -James

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  3. Happy 4th of July!! :D I haven't seen any of the films on the list yet, but I do want to at some point. I also really enjoy war movies or shows that show them, since I love history :D. My favorite war movies/shows are - North and South, Downton Abbey(the second season dealt a lot with WWI which was really well done), and I liked what I saw of this mini series Winds of War which dealt with WWII. There are more but the names are escaping me at the moment.

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    1. Happy 4th of July to you! :D My mother and father told me about how Downton Abbey was about the war, I need to watch it some time. :) Sounds good, I will probably try and watch some of these eventually. :D

      -James

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  4. I've seen all except your #2 and #1 picks. Interesting! My list would be:

    1. The Great Escape
    2. Hell is for Heroes
    3. Operation Pacific
    4. The Longest Day
    5. Gettysburg
    6. The Sands of Iwo Jima
    7. The Bridge on the River Kwai
    8. Defiance
    9. Where Eagles Dare
    10. Enemy at the Gates

    Good subject!

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    Replies
    1. Hamlette, I like your 9 and 10. I will have to consider Enemy at the Gates in my own list. Where Eagles Dare was already there.

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    2. Great list Hamlette, Defiance is another movie I enjoyed, it should have made my honorable mention list. I need to watch Where Eagles Dare, I actually have it recorded on my DVR. You would probably like Kelly's Heroes also.

      -James

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    3. I'm a big fan of Clint Eastwood, so it's actually kinda weird that I've never seen Kelly's Heroes. Must remedy that!

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  5. Good post, James! :D LOVE Saving Private Ryan! :D :D My number one would probably be We Were Soldiers! That's an amazing war movie! :D The Longest Day is another good one! :D

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    1. Thanks Rebecca! :D Yes, I know you that movie, a lot. I saw We Were Soldiers, it was OK, but not my favorite. I need to watch the Longest Day.

      -James

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  6. Great List James, and I have seen all the movies on your list.

    My list from 1 to 10
    Apocalypse Now
    Saving Private Ryan
    Bridge over the River Kwai
    Platoon
    Where Eagles Dare
    Kellys Heroes
    The Great Escape
    Lawrence of Arabia
    Battle of the Bulge
    Patton

    Honorable mention goes to the John Wayne propaganda movie The Green Beret. If you have not seen it check it out, near the end of the movie they use the same plane pickup used later in the Batmann movie in Hong Kong.

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    Replies
    1. I just remembered Memphis Belle, another movie that could easily be a top ten pick.

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    2. Great list, while I have seen most of Apocalypse Now, it has been a very long time so I do not remember much about it. Except for Platoon, and Where Eagles Dare, I have seen all of these films, unless that is a different Battle of the Bulge than the old one I watched.
      Yes, I have seen Green Beret, it has been a while, but I remember enjoying. I have heard of Memphis Belle, it is on my watch list.

      -James

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    3. James there is a directors cut version of Apocalpse Now. It adds in several long muguffians. Not sure if you should watch it before you watch the original. Yes Battle of the Bulge is the old one with Henry Fonda. Platoon is a must see.

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    4. Ah yes, the Redux version, I believe I have heard of it, thanks for the recommendation. I will also need watch to Platoon.

      -James

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  7. I like your choice for # 1. One of Tarantino's best.

    B2B.

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    1. Thanks B2B, I need to watch Tarantino's other films.

      -James

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  8. I like Sergeant York and Kelly's Heroes was good but I really loved Patton. :)

    ~Jamie

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    1. Patton was really good. Thank you for recommending it! :)

      -James

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  9. Ohh Saving Private Ryan is good :D

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  10. If there was a favourite TV show I think it should be Hogan's Heroes. Seriously one of the funniest TV shows ever! Also I love the Great Escape, it is the only one I have seen out your entire top ten. :)

    God Bless,
    Vellvin.

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    1. I love Hogan's Heroes, I watched it a lot when I was a kid. :)

      -James

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    2. I love Hogan's Heroes too! Have you seen the movie it's based on, Stalag 13? That's probably honorable mention on my movie list. It's much darker comedy than HH, but has some of the same characters around, albeit not played by the same actors IIRC. Stars William Holden, and I like him even better in it than in River Kwai.

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    3. I looked up Stalag 13 and could not find it, but I did find Stalag 17. Is that the one you where talking about? I do want to see it though, it sounds interesting.

      -James

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    4. BAH! Yes, silly me. I was confusing it with HH, which is in Stalag 13.

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