Military Movies
I’m sure everyone will say I left out one of their favorites. War movies and movies about the military seem to be very personal in their impact. And that’s easily remedied when you list your forgotten favorite in the comments!
I left out ancient wars so Spartacus and Henry V were too far back I thought. “Master and Commander” is close to the line but is such a good movie I couldn’t leave it out. Although it would still show up in an action category and a list of movies about the sea. Of course, I was restricted to movies I’ve seen and I can’t claim to have seen most war movies.
- Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944) 3
- The Story of GI Joe (1945) 3
- They Were Expendable (1945) 3
- The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
- Fixed Bayonets! (1951) 3
- Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951) 3
- From Here to Eternity (1953)
- Pork Chop Hill (1956) 1
- The Gallant Hours (1960) 3
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962) 3
- The Longest Day (1962) 3
- The Great Escape (1963)
- Zulu (1964)
- Battle of the Bulge (1965) 3
- In Harm’s Way (1965) 3
- The Dirty Dozen (1967)
- Battle of Britain (1969) 3
- Patton (1970)
- A Bridge Too Far (1977) 3
- Big Red One (1980) 3
- Das Boot (1981)
- Full Metal Jacket (1987)
- Gettysburg (1993) 3
- Saving Private Ryan (1998) 2
- Band of Brothers (2001) 2 *
- Black Hawk Down (2001)
- Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
- Downfall (2004)
- Letters From Iwo Jima (2006) 3
- American Sniper (2014)
- Dunkirk (2017)
*(TV Series)
1 Master Diver
2 Tom D
3 War Pig
I would add Pork Chop Hill(1956) Starring Gregory Peck, with an uncredited cameo by Audi Murphy, playing a wounded soldier who still wants to fight, whom Peck’s character chides “Who do you think you are, son? Audi Murphy?”
I forgot about Pork Chop Hill. I’ll add that one in.
Having a father who was a Platoon then later a Company commander in the 101’st in 1944, I’m prejudiced to Band of Brothers and Saving Pvt Ryan. But otherwise, you got most of my favorites. Das Boot and Master and Commander being especial favorites, all time, not just genre restricted.
Since I had the full Parris Island experience in 1969 and Full Metal Jacket comes as close to replicating that as anything else I’ve seen, that’s a personal favorite too.
Tom, I didn’t add “Band of Brothers” because it’s a series. But in retrospect it can’t be neglected. I’ll add it in. I liked parts and characters in “Saving Private Ryan” but Tom Hanks gets on my nerves. Also Spielberg goes over the top sometimes.
Hard leftists irritate me too but you have to admit that Hanks has done a brilliant job in several of his roles, Forrest Gump comes to mind.
There are a large number of actors so far left that I refuse to see anything they are in. George Clooney being a principal example.
I thought he did a good job in “Road to Perdition.” But his politics annoy the hell out of me.
* The Longest Day
* Battle o/t Bulge
* Battle of Britain
* In Harm’s Way
* The Gallant Hours
* Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
* The Story of GI Joe 1945
* Das Boot
* They Were Expendable
* Letters From Iwo Jima
* Fixed Bayonets!
* Big Red One
* Saving Private Ryan
* Lawrence of Arabia
* Csptain Horatio Hornblower – Gregory Peck version
* Gettysburg 1993
* A Bridge Too Far
What was “Letters From Iwo Jima” like?
There’s a book by the same name that inspired the movie. I read it before seeing the movie. If you were ever all ra-ra, kill the Jap, reading of seeing either will upset your world view.
The book was written by a Japanese author, unlike another excellent book from the Japanese view on the Battle of Midway , Shattered Sword. Both books are non-fiction
I can’t speak for WWII but the Japanese in my family are good folks. I think there are good and bad in every part of the world. I’ve found the acid test is whether they like me or not. Anyone who recognizes my wonderfulness must be a good person.
So you have Japanese in your family. My Uncle used to sneak out and have a little nip every now and again.
Ah, the classics.
What was that school yard ditty?
Whistle while you work
Hitler was a jerk
Mussolini was a meanie
Tojo was the worst.
Shakespeare, eat your heart out.
Good. Different seeing the battle from the Japanese view.
I’ll have to get ahold of it.
I won’t watch Blackhawk Down as I was a friend of the Delta operators Shugart and Gordon.
It’s a tough story.