You'll Want To Enlist After Watching These!
Sep 07 '02
The Bottom Line The indomitable fighting spirit of the American GI has lasted throughout history and kept our country free.
Throughout history, the American soldier has displayed an indomitable fighting spirit. He has endured everything imaginable, and he done so at a price most are not willing to pay themselves. Yet we all benefit from that sacrifice.
10. The Bridge on the River Kwai
William Holden and Alec Guiness portray the daily battle--both physical and mental--fought by prisoners of war. Interestingly enough, I cannot recall any blood in the movie, demonstrating that a war film can be graphic without being gratuitous in its use of violence. A camp of mostly British prisoners wage psychological warfare against their Japanese captors. The prisoners appear to be winning that battle until the very end when their commander comes to the shocking realization that he very nearly became an enemy collaborator. It is a very stirring film and a classic way before I ever got around to recommending it.
9. Patton
The ultimate warrior, General George Patton, portrayed by George C. Scott, got more from his men than any other commander because he knew what the American fighting man was capable of. He led by example and did not compromise. Of course he had one political train wreck after another, but the Allied forces always knew he was their "go to" guy. This film makes the list because it combines action sequences, strategy sequences, and a human interest theme. It leaves us wishing that Patton would just agree to "play the game" but secretly glad he won't. The greatest tank commander in history, Patton remains a legend in the US Armed Forces.
8. The Battle of the Bulge
This film tells the story of the last great offensive by the German army in WWII. The story unfolds from the perspective of both sides and their respective beliefs as to what were critical objectives. Henry Fonda and Charles Bronson give memorable performances. The tank battle at the end and the race to the fuel depot are wonderfully done.
7. Gettysburg
The largest most tragic battle of the American Civil War was fought near the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This film makes it clear why this was the last war that used Napoleonic fronts (groups of soldiers just walking like cattle toward the opposing army's line). Martin Sheen, Sam Elliot, and Jeff Daniels play their parts well. You find it difficult, if not impossible, to root for just one side. Gettysburg is very historically accurate. Go to any civil war website and you'll find that few mistakes were made in the making of this film. The scenes depicting the battle at Little Round Top alone make this movie worth seeing.
6. The Hunt For Red October
The only Cold War movie to make the list--or even come close, this film wonderfully documents the fears and attitudes during the cold war through a fictional story. Alec Baldwin and Sean Connery are very convincing, as is James Earl Jones--don't you just love his voice! The film has you on edge the whole time it reveals the humanity of the characters. Great movie.
5. Saving Private Ryan
I can think of no other film that is so acclaimed by the men who actually fought in the battles portrayed. This movie opens with the D-day invasion at Normandy. This movie does something that no WWII had done before: it showed that the wounds suffered were just as bad in 1944 as they were in Vietnam in 1969. I don't think American moviegoers were prepared to see a WWII movie where a mortar shell actually tore a man in half. We've previously been conditioned not to expect to see any blood. The early hours on those beaches must have been horrifying. Tom Hanks leads a squad of men in search of the one surviving of four brothers--Private Ryan (portrayed by Matt Damon). This movie climaxes with an intense battle for a bridge. Tom Hanks prepares his men as best as he can, all the while knowing they have neither the man power nor the equipment to win. This fact coupled with the task of trying to keep Private Ryan alive is a visible burden to him. This film is a "must-have" for every video library.
4. We Were Soldiers
This is the only Vietnam era film to make the list--and for good reason: It does not misrepresent the American GI. Hollywood seems to love to mislead us into believing that drug use was commonplace in Vietnam--it wasn't. Hollywood seems to love to portray lieutenants as idiots--they weren't. I am on the board of directors for a veteran's museum and have talked with numerous Vietnam vets. Overwhelmingly, they scoff at and despise movies like "Platoon." We Were Soldiers has a documentary film feel even though it is almost entirely comprised of battle sequences. It's a new film, but already a classic. Kudos to Mel Gibson--I didn't think he'd be any good in his role, but I was wrong. He is quite convincing.
3. A Bridge Too Far
A movie dedicated to the failed Operation Market-Garden. An all-star cast portrays the leadership of the various British, Polish and American forces that tried to carry out the doomed mission. Sean Connery is most impressive. Elliot Gould has a brief appearance as an American colonel who directs the building of a Bailey Bridge in an effort to get the attacking force moving again. The stars share the stage and simply tell the story as it happened. A force that tried to go a bridge too far yet almost succeeded.
2. The Great Escape
This movie documents "the great escape" from Germany's Luft Stalog 3. A camp filled with mostly British prisoners planned to get 250 prisoners out in a single escape attempt. They began digging 3 tunnels simultaneously. At the same time they began preparing the necessary documents, ID cards, travel permits, civilian clothes, and maps. One of the tunnels is discovered, the second is abandoned, and third came up 20 feet short. They still managed to get 76 prisoners out of the camp, tying up literally thousands and thousands of German personnel who had to take the time to search for them. Ultimately, most of the escapees were recaptured, and tragically, 50 of them were executed in an effort to teach the remaining prisoners a lesson. Steve McQueen is repeatedly put in the cooler where he does his famous bounce-the-ball-against-the-wall routine. McQueen also does most of his own motorcycle riding in an excellent chase scene. A great film which serves as a reminder that a captured soldier is not a defeated soldier.
1. Midway
Could there be any doubt?! Glenn Ford, Henry Fonda, Charlton Heston, Robert Mitchum, and Tony Curtis have the biggest roles, but the movie is literally littered with big names. Erik Estrada is a fighter pilot with about five lines in the whole movie. Tom Selleck is a marine on the island of Midway and has barely more than a cameo appearance.
The movie begins with a carrier battle in the Coral Sea and then escalates to the battle of Midway. Carrier fighter tactics are explained through the course of the movie so the viewer can appreciate why we ultimately won. The Japanese actors are very compelling. Actual footage from American gun cameras is incorporated into the film. So you can actually see what the USS Enterprise, the USS Hornet, and the USS Lexington looked like. This battle was the turning point in the war in the Pacific. The movie is a great telling of a great story.
Movies that didn't make the list but worth mentioning:
Sink the Bismarck - Almost squeaked in as #10.
Guns of Navarone - Another candidate for the #10 spot.
The Longest Day - Too John Wayne-ish to make the list, but still good.
Where Eagles Dare-Entertaining but not a classic
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Epinions.com ID:
wadesam
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Member: Wade Samuelson
Location: Centralia, Washington
Reviews written: 34
Trusted by: 34 members
About Me:
Where do you stand in the Valley of Decision?
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