Best war movies

[dignan]

I liked We Were Soldiers a lot more than I anticipated.  And Band of Brothers is excellent, as well (even though it's a miniseries and not a movie).  I also really like Black Hawk Down.

[J-Proof]

10. Gettysburg - Recycled footage anyone? But aside from that, this focused and accurate study of the nation's bloodiest battle was fantastic and heart-felt

09. Tora Tora Tora - It's a classic that is always playing during the Veteran's Day season - and aged very well.

08. Braveheart - It's Mel doing Mel's thing - and I really enjoy it. While one major production goof makes me scratch my head during the charge in the Battle of Sterling, the movie overall (regardless of historical inaccuracies) is solidly executed and very touching.

07. Ben Hur - Chariots, baby. Period. (Okay, I know this isn't actually a /war/ movie..... well... it /is/ in the sense that Indiana Jones could be viewed as a war movie.... but bear with me)

06. The Last of the Mohicans - Daniel Day Lewis is the most underrated actor of our generation, and this movie is a /lot/ of fun. The choreography of Native American martial arts and warfare is something that we don't get much of from Hollywood, and this movie has thus far aged very well.

05. Saving Private Ryan - There are historical inaccuracies that resulted from artistic vision, but it's over-lookable because the movie itself is amazingly well-done.

04. Gods and Generals - I know a lot of people that simply hate this movie, but its faithfulness to history and its devotion to accurate portrayal of character is why I love it. The scene where the two Irish brigades are firing at each other, and causes them to break down in tears is entirely moving. While the novel is definitely better, this movie is still a great accomplishment for Turner Pictures.

03. Gladiator - Almost any movie that portrays ancient Rome is instantly loved - it's a Hollywood rule. All historical inaccuracies aside, it's an enjoyable man-movie with all the right stuffs. It has a damn-near perfect blend of artistry, character, and story.

02. Kingdom of Heaven (Director's Cut) - The theatrical version is heinous - absolutely terrible, and Ridley knew it. He was utterly amazed that the studio wouldn't let him present his actual piece. So he unwillingly cut out just about every decent piece of character development and released to theaters an empty shell of what could have been fantastic. Thank goodness he released the four-disc set, complete with exposition and intermission, and an entire hour of missing footage. David Thewlis' greatest role, and Orlando Bloom's one redeeming character.

01. **THE RETURN OF THE KING** - I'm biased toward the series, but this movie had A.) The Ride of the Rohirrim, and B.) The Siege of Pelennor Fields. That, coupled with mythical beasts and the like, made this my most enjoyed war movie.

Most fun if not taken seriously: The Patriot
Least fun no matter what: Troy
Most hopeful for the near future: 300

[sarcasm_made_Easy]

02. Kingdom of Heaven (Director's Cut) - The theatrical version is heinous - absolutely terrible, and Ridley knew it. He was utterly amazed that the studio wouldn't let him present his actual piece. So he unwillingly cut out just about every decent piece of character development and released to theaters an empty shell of what could have been fantastic. Thank goodness he released the four-disc set, complete with exposition and intermission, and an entire hour of missing footage. David Thewlis' greatest role, and Orlando Bloom's one redeeming character.

yeah i was shocked my dad was so for this movie.  He is a very big history buff, and so when he showed me the DVD (he doesnt go to movies but gets a lot of dvds) i was shocked at the difference. 

03. Gladiator - Almost any movie that portrays ancient Rome is instantly loved - it's a Hollywood rule. All historical inaccuracies aside, it's an enjoyable man-movie with all the right stuffs. It has a damn-near perfect blend of artistry, character, and story.

Hated this movie for two reasons, one this movie is what brought us the shitty "lets put a crap load of cuts into the action sequence in the hopes the audience doesnt realize no one knows what they are doing" style of editing.  And second because the overall movie glorifys death and murder over ethics.  The first point we can argue, second is my opnion and not up for debate

[J-Proof]

03. Gladiator - Almost any movie that portrays ancient Rome is instantly loved - it's a Hollywood rule. All historical inaccuracies aside, it's an enjoyable man-movie with all the right stuffs. It has a damn-near perfect blend of artistry, character, and story.

Hated this movie for two reasons, one this movie is what brought us the shitty "lets put a crap load of cuts into the action sequence in the hopes the audience doesnt realize no one knows what they are doing" style of editing.  And second because the overall movie glorifys death and murder over ethics.  The first point we can argue, second is my opnion and not up for debate

Haha =) - yeah Gladiator brought a nitty-gritty feel to th action sequences in my opinion. The "nobody knows what they're doing" argument kind of helps the film feel more realistic I think. But yeah, the overall message was one of glroious death, and that takes us to an entirely different conversation

In this opinion of yours that cannot be argued I find that I agree with you. But I liked the film anyway haha. I didn't feel like it was trying to be a historical film, the way that Gods and Generals tried to portray itself (and found success), or the way Kingdom of Heaven tried to portray itself (and failed).

[SaucyRossy]

No one has mentioned "Glory" yet.

Really a very powerful movie.

[sarcasm_made_Easy]

nah you want realism you go teach your actors for a year how to do it.  like in old swashbuckling movies, they actually had to learn how to use a rapier.  

The other problem is that hollywood wouldnt know what is real if reality ran them over in a truck.  So they got all these phonies teaching these medicore actors how to throw a punch and of course none of these teachers understand self defense so the movies are starting to look less and less real, and its been bugging me.  

[J-Proof]

nah you want realism you go teach your actors for a year how to do it.  like in old swashbuckling movies, they actually had to learn how to use a rapier.  

The other problem is that hollywood wouldnt know what is real if reality ran them over in a truck.  So they got all these phonies teaching these medicore actors how to throw a punch and of course none of these teachers understand self defense so the movies are starting to look less and less real, and its been bugging me.  

It's okay man - Hollywood bugs everyone

I just try to have fun and appreciate the movies in regards to how we are intended to view them. Something like Ridley's theatrical release of Kingdom was /not/ successful at being historically accurate OR at being interesting =P

[sarcasm_made_Easy]

but throwing a punch inst a hard thing, and they still look like amatuers.  Which would be fine unless they are supposed to know kung fu coughneocough

[J-Proof]

but throwing a punch inst a hard thing, and they still look like amatuers.  Which would be fine unless they are supposed to know kung fu coughneocough

Interesting - which war movies you have in mind?

[sarcasm_made_Easy]

lol touche


no with war movies it usually something different.  the example we were using is gladiator, where they tried to disguise the fact he didnt know how to use a sword with bad editing. 

[J-Proof]

lol touche


no with war movies it usually something different.  the example we were using is gladiator, where they tried to disguise the fact he didnt know how to use a sword with bad editing. 

Actually my "historical" problem with the sword-handling in Gladiator was that they created more technique than Roman soldiers were trained with (which is probably the flaw you are noticing). There were only five main sword motions employed by a Roman soldier (two over the top of his shield, two around the side of his shield, and one thrust up from beneath his opponent's shield). In Gladiator, dang, they went CRAZY. Hah - it was a whole new invented style that wasn't mature - purely theatrical. Though when I don't let the inner historian out of his cage, I can still enjoy Gladiator =)

** You know that scene where Joaquin Phoenix is practicing his swordplay around five dudes and tries to look cool? I think we can both agree that sucked.

[dignan]

lol touche


no with war movies it usually something different.  the example we were using is gladiator, where they tried to disguise the fact he didnt know how to use a sword with bad editing. 

Actually my "historical" problem with the sword-handling in Gladiator was that they created more technique than Roman soldiers were trained with (which is probably the flaw you are noticing). There were only five main sword motions employed by a Roman soldier (two over the top of his shield, two around the side of his shield, and one thrust up from beneath his opponent's shield). In Gladiator, dang, they went CRAZY. Hah - it was a whole new invented style that wasn't mature - purely theatrical. Though when I don't let the inner historian out of his cage, I can still enjoy Gladiator =)

** You know that scene where Joaquin Phoenix is practicing his swordplay around five dudes and tries to look cool? I think we can both agree that sucked.

All this talk about Gladiator vexes me.  I'm terribly vexed. 

[sarcasm_made_Easy]

hey we are still on topic, its got war in it

[Pak-Man]

Star Wars!

[dignan]

hey we are still on topic, its got war in it

I know, just quoting Joaquin Phoenix in Gladiator.