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Re: Best war movie ever?

Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 11:03 am
by Karl Heidenreich
RF;

I didn´t mention the atrocities of the Soviets because they never claimed themselves as "pristine christian warriors" but on the contrary. The German behave like animals with them, so I imagine they had that coming. But with the "crusaders" of the West is whole new story. A spooky one.


About:

Operation Market Garden was not primarily an American operation, the land forces involved were British, with British, Polish and US airborne forces used to try to seize the river bridges.
The British were the main driving force having involved an airborne division (1st British, that by the way was wiped out at Arnhem), and the whole bulk of Horrocks´s XXX Corps. But the zones of Eindhoven and Njmegen the airforce Divisons were American: 101 under Taylor at the former and 82 under Gavin for the latter. In both zones US paratroopers work with the British armor to fight out numerous German units. That´s what despicted in that chapter of Band of Brothers.

Re: Best war movie ever?

Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 1:15 pm
by RF
Karl Heidenreich wrote:
I didn´t mention the atrocities of the Soviets because they never claimed themselves as "pristine christian warriors" but on the contrary.
They claimed to be liberating Germany from the ''fascist beast.'' Some liberation, more like Gotterdamnerung......

Re: Best war movie ever?

Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 1:16 pm
by RF
Karl Heidenreich wrote:
The British were the main driving force having involved an airborne division (1st British, that by the way was wiped out at Arnhem), and the whole bulk of Horrocks´s XXX Corps. But the zones of Eindhoven and Njmegen the airforce Divisons were American: 101 under Taylor at the former and 82 under Gavin for the latter. In both zones US paratroopers work with the British armor to fight out numerous German units. That´s what despicted in that chapter of Band of Brothers.
Point taken.

Re: Best war movie ever?

Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:06 pm
by dfrighini
I suppose its down to personal prefernce, so here goes...

1) Das Boot, existential and gritty reality, very good book as well.
2) A Bridge Too Far, another great anti-war film, one should also read Ian Kershaw's book 'It Never Snows in September'.
3) Cross of Iron, very dark ending.
4) Der Untergang (downfall).
5) Stalingrad, an accomplished film.
6) Dr. Strangelove (How I learned to Stop Worrying or Love The Bomb), the best of dark satires.
7) The Thin Red Line, this film has a soul.
8) The Desert Fox, about Erwin Rommel (Black & White).
9) The Counter Fitters (not strictly a war film, but about the era).
10) The Bridge at Remagen (1969).

and one for luck...

11) The Tenth Man

regards )))

Re: Best war movie ever?

Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:21 pm
by RF
There was also ''All Quiet on the Western Front'' which was sufficiently influential for the Nazies to ban it.

Re: Best war movie ever?

Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 4:13 pm
by dfrighini
RF wrote:There was also ''All Quiet on the Western Front'' which was sufficiently influential for the Nazies to ban it.
Arrhh, you reminded me, have seen this, very good film. I should also probably mention 'Blue Max', one of the few films in that era which did not make the Germans out to be a bunch of idiots. Thanks for the reminder. )))

Re: Best war movie ever?

Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 4:53 pm
by marcelo_malara
Don´t forget Battle of England!!!

Re: Best war movie ever?

Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:36 am
by dfrighini
marcelo_malara wrote:Don´t forget Battle of England!!!
Battle of Britain 1969?

Re: Best war movie ever?

Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 11:49 am
by marcelo_malara
Yes, sorry for the mistake.

Re: Best war movie ever?

Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 1:30 pm
by RF
Yes, but even here the German portrayal was not 100% realistic, particulary Goering and Kesselring. I also noticed that the very small part portrayal of Kriegsmarine sailors wasn't right either.

Re: Best war movie ever?

Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 1:34 pm
by RF
Oberwarrior wrote:
Arrhh, you reminded me, have seen this, very good film. I should also probably mention 'Blue Max', one of the few films in that era which did not make the Germans out to be a bunch of idiots. Thanks for the reminder. )))
Also of course Zeppelin, with the German raid on a Scottish castle.

Re: Best war movie ever?

Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 5:26 pm
by dfrighini
RF wrote:
Oberwarrior wrote:
Arrhh, you reminded me, have seen this, very good film. I should also probably mention 'Blue Max', one of the few films in that era which did not make the Germans out to be a bunch of idiots. Thanks for the reminder. )))
Also of course Zeppelin, with the German raid on a Scottish castle.
I presume you mean 'Zeppelin' made in 1971 with Michael York, this I have not seen, but sounds interesting so will watch it at some point, thanks. )))

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068014/

If you like old films with Michael York 'Riddle of the Sands' is quite good, forgotten British TV classic, books also very good! regards

Re: Best war movie ever?

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 12:53 pm
by RF
Oberwarrior you are exactly right in your presuimption. This film is well worth seeing, and shows the huge scale size of these airships very well, starting with the opening titles.

Re: Best war movie ever?

Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 8:58 pm
by Kyler
Gettysburg
Saving Private Ryan
A Thin Red Line
A Bridge To Far
The Dirty Dozen
Midway
All Quiet on the Western Front
Lawrence of Arabia
Miniseries "Band of Brothers"

I have a few more but these are my favorite off the top of my head

Re: Best war movie ever?

Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 11:19 pm
by Karl Heidenreich
Gettysburg is a very good movie, specially the scenes of Little Round Top and Pickett´s Charge. My favorite character is "Old Pete" Longstreet which could easily be catalogued as the best US General ever.

The book (Killer Angels), in this particular case, is much the same as the movie because the screenplay is faithful to the original source. The writer, Jeff Shaara, died but his son, Michael, wrote two more books, a prequel and a sequel of Gettysburg concentrating in Chamberlain and in Lee. The first part, Gods and General was made a movie but not as good as Gettysburg.

I do wonder how long is going to take before the southern cause will be despicted in a distortionated way and movies like Gettysburg or the Birth of a Nation would be banned for being political incorrect?