[CreepingDeth]

Christmas is coming up and I need something for my uncle. He's gotta high-paying job near Philadelphia and he's a History buff. I'm looking for something that he can use on that big ass TV in his living room. Anyone have a couple of suggestions for war movies? He has A Bridge Too Far, All Quite On The Western Front, and Saving Private Ryan. I'd love to get him the Band of Brothers box set (Hell, I'd love to get that for myself aswell), but I only have $40. What are some good war movies he'd like?

Right now I'm looking at a couple choices, not in any order:
1. Tora! Tora! Tora! (Not the greatest, but I like it)
2. Patton
3. Das Boot
4. The Wind and the Lion

Maybe a Civil War movie?

[SafariX]

Gettysburg...long ass movie I saw once in 6th grade. Its rare, so its gotta be good!

Blackhawk Down, We Were Soldiers, Platoon, Four Feathers.

[Spliff]

Full Metal Jacket
Thin Red Line
Gallipoli
Stripes
Das Boot
Patton

[hyperb0le]

Stalag 17 is quite good (although it takes place in a POW camp during WWII, not on a battlefield.) It's quite old, though (1952), and I'm not sure if it exists on DVD.

Glory is also a great Civil War movie about the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, which was an all-black regiment of the Union army.

[CreepingDeth]

Originally posted by hyperb0le:
Stalag 17 is quite good (although it takes place in a POW camp during WWII, not on a battlefield.) It's quite old, though (1952), and I'm not sure if it exists on DVD.

Glory is also a great Civil War movie about the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, which was an all-black regiment of the Union army.

Was that the one with the guy from Ferris with that long scene at the end?

Was Gettysburg that the one divided into 3 parts? I think I saw that one before.

Stripes? No Comedy.

Was Waterloo any good?

[hyperb0le]

Originally posted by CreepingDeth:
Was that the one with the guy from Ferris with that long scene at the end?

I'm not sure who "the guy from Ferris" is, but here's the IMDB listing.

Hogan's Heroes was loosely based off Stalag 17

[CreepingDeth]

Originally posted by hyperb0le:
I'm not sure who "the guy from Ferris" is, but here's the IMDB listing.

Hogan's Heroes was loosely based off Stalag 17

I was talking about Glory. Matthew Broderick was in Ferris and Glory, so it was him.

[macroy]

I actually like "midway". Pretty accurate in telling of the battle (even used authentic footage). But its not exactly a great quality film given its age. Same goes for "Tora Tora Tora" - GREAT movie.

But aside from the one's he already has, "Black Hawk Down" is a great movie from a sound perspective. "The Patriot" is also very good IMO - As well as "Glory" (great story).

I'm probably gonna get flamed for this, but the attack scenes from "Pearl Harbor" is excellent (the rest of the movie is garbage). That shot from the bomb's POV is still one of my favorite.

Wish they made more WWII air to air combat films...

[CreepingDeth]

Originally posted by macroy:
�that shot from the bomb's POV is still one of my favorite.

The one where the camera is of about 10� from the bomb's axis and follows it down to the ship?

That movie was a dud.

[macroy]

Originally posted by CreepingDeth:
The one where the camera is of about 10� from the bomb's axis and follows it down to the ship?

That movie was a dud.

Yes. And yes.

[uberwrensch]

Apocalypse Now

More in keeping with Das Boot as far as the "war" part is concerned. What a great, great film that was only made better with the "recently" released Redux version.

Uber

P.S. Man, what an incredible movie.

[Kilbey]

Another vote for "We Were Soldiers". I love this movie.

[buffalolee]

Bridges Over the River Kwai
Band of Brothers

[Dale Sorel]

Originally posted by buffalolee:
Bridges Over the River Kwai

I just watched this fairly recently. A little difficult to follow, so I plan to watch it again.

Guinness is simply brilliant

[f1000]

Lawrence of Arabia

[SimeyTheLimey]

It's not well known but 84 Charlie Mopic is one of the best I have ever seen.

Other ones: The Longest Day, Stalingrad and of course, Schindler's List or The Killing Fields.

[uberwrensch]

Now that I've seen more and more recommendations for "anti" war films, let me add another:

Grave of the Fireflies

Animated. One of the BEST.

Uber

[CreepingDeth]

Originally posted by uberwrensch:
Now that I've seen more and more recommendations for "anti" war films, let me add another:

Grave of the Fireflies

Animated. One of the BEST.

Uber

Um�my uncle wouldn't be the guy to buy anti-war hippy stuff for.

[MARINEOSX]

Didn't look at the other posts but I did see full metal jacket in there that one is great but being a marine it makes it better because it is very authentic in nature. I would also recomend Firebase Gloria. This is another movie with gunnery Sgt. Lee Ermy in it. Great war movie and I really liked the patriot with mel gibson that is really good. Good luck on finding one.

[CreepingDeth]

Originally posted by MARINEOSX:
Didn't look at the other posts but I did see full metal jacket in there that one is great but being a marine it makes it better because it is very authentic in nature. I would also recomend Firebase Gloria. This is another movie with gunnery Sgt. Lee Ermy in it. Great war movie and I really liked the patriot with mel gibson that is really good. Good luck on finding one.

I love R Lee, but I don't recall that movie being too realistic.

Come to think of it, why does he have an anti-war movie like All Quite On The Western Front? Oh well.

[Mafia]

not a movie but, band of brothers is great. its one of my favorites. troy comes out soon, it was also a good movie.

--edit for another movie--
enemy at the gates was pretty good. not the realist of simulations but interesting and fun to watch.

[TETENAL]

Uomini contro

This is probably the best (anti-)war movie I have ever seen.

[CreepingDeth]

Unfortunately, I don't have the money for the BoB box set. If I did, that'd be on my list at the way top.

[CreepingDeth]

Originally posted by TETENAL:
Uomini contro

This is probably the best (anti-)war movie I have ever seen.

�probably the movie that he's most likely not to get.


[Read my response to the other dude]

[TETENAL]

Originally posted by CreepingDeth:
[Read my response to the other dude]

I don't see this movie mentioned before. I don't know how "historically correct" it is, but it is definitely a great war movie.

[LeftWingLock]

I'd like to add another vote for 84 Charlie Mopic and also add In Enemy Hands.

[D. Hendrickson]

in order of preference...

Battle Of Britain

Lawrence of Arabia

Das Boot

Patton

Midway

The Longest Day

Tora! Tora! Tora!

[koogz]

Where Eagles Dare
Enemy at the Gates
Das Boot
Enemy Below
Run Silent Run Deep
Saving Private Ryan
Dirty Dozen
Hunt for Red October

Not in any order.

[Randman]

Band of Brothers.

Saving Private Ryan.

[olePigeon]

Can it be fictional?

I liked Two Towers.

[RobOnTheCape]

Kelly's Heroes

[ringo]

Full Metal Jacket ++
Platoon
Bullet In The Head

[residentEvil]

The Great Escape
The Dirty Dozen
Full Metal Jacket

[MARINEOSX]

When I am talking about realistic I mean the boot camp part CreepingDeth. that is very accurate on how it was except they are not trying to pump out Marines as fast now, it is 13 weeks long not 8. Besides Lee Ermy was a staff Sgt. in the Marine corps and then medically discharged for wounds received in Nam after he served as a senior Drill Instructor. He was then later Meritoriously promoted to Gunnery Sgt. by the president for accomplishments after he was back in the civilian world. He was the guest speaker at my Marine Corps ball and is definitely a Marine. He also in my opinion did a wonderful job of portraying what a Senior D.I. is like. The only thing I wish they had was the other 2 or 3 D.I.'s running around destroying the recruits.

[OreoCookie]

1 Das Boot
2 Full Metal Jacket (you really gotta be in the right mood to watch this one)

... after that, I don't know �_

[Spliff]

Originally posted by MARINEOSX:
He also in my opinion did a wonderful job of portraying what a Senior D.I. is like. The only thing I wish they had was the other 2 or 3 D.I.'s running around destroying the recruits.

I'm curious. What is the purpose of abusing new recruits to such a sadistic extent? Is it to annihilate any sense of individuality a soldier might have so that to follow orders absolutely?

[koogz]

Originally posted by Spliff:
I'm curious. What is the purpose of abusing new recruits to such a sadistic extent? Is it to annihilate any sense of individuality a soldier might have so that to follow orders absolutely?

Yes. If they don't work as a unit together, then people will die. Individuality is built later on when they accept leadership roles.

[MARINEOSX]

To be able to feel what your brother in arms is going to do and feed off of that in battle is a very good thing because lets face it without it there would be more chaos than there already is in a war. Secondly the way that we are trained is to fight a war not sit back and relax, and the last time I checked the definition of a combat environment is: Unnerving sights and sounds with the possibility of death or severe harm. So yes to be pushed to your limits and then being able to keep going and push your self harder takes a sadistic thought process. I also was not aware of any abuse that I had to go through, the D.I. is not allowed to hit a recruit and we are a volunteer force. If you where to leave right now and go to war watch someone get shot or blown up I bet 99% of people would start to panic and the way that a Marine handles them self is to do whatever is necessary for mission accomplishment and to get that injured Marine home. While also following the Law of war that are enemy does not fallow. There are a million other things that I can go into but this will be the last one for now, you have to earn the title of Marine it is not given! To wear the Eagle Globe and Anchor is privilege, Honor, and something that every Marine is proud of. The Marine Corp has been defending the U.S. before it was the U.S. and we will continue to do so, and to be able to you have to prove that you can handle any situation that is thrown at you with Judgment, Justice, Decisiveness, Initiative, Dependability, Tact, Integrity, Endurance, Bearing, Unselfishness, Courage, Knowledge, Loyalty, and Enthusiasm. This is something that every Marine must be able to do. I doubt that sitting down with a book and saying ok this is what you should do and then sending someone off to war is a good idea. Better to make them prove that they can do it so that they don't choke when/if there leader is killed or injured and the next guy in command can't take charge because he was not trained properly. So yes Full metal jacket is a good movie.

[wdlove]

I don't think that you can go wrong with any of the suggested films. In the end it depends on the amount that you have to spend.

[f1000]

Forrest Gump

[SimpleLife]

Originally posted by uberwrensch:
Now that I've seen more and more recommendations for "anti" war films, let me add another:

Grave of the Fireflies

Animated. One of the BEST.

Uber

I watched it after 9/11. I was crying my heart out... Man that was painful...

"The Battle of Algiers".

Fantastic package: the movie, + 2 DVDs packed full of documentaries. An excellent movie.

One of the most influential political films in history, Gillo Pontecorvo�s The Battle of Algiers (La bataille d�Alger) vividly recreates a key year in the tumultuous Algerian struggle for independence from the occupying French in the 1950s. As violence escalates on both sides, children shoot soldiers at point-blank range, women plant bombs in caf�s, and French soldiers resort to torture to break the will of the insurgents. Shot in the streets of Algiers in documentary style, the film is a case study in modern warfare, with its terrorist attacks and the brutal techniques used to combat them. The Criterion Collection is proud to present Gillo Pontecorvo�s tour de force�a film with astonishing relevance today.

Many interviews from insurgents, soldiers, torturers and survivors; war from all its sides...

Congratulations to Criterion for this release!

[CreepingDeth]

You guys must be thick or something. "No Anti-war movies"

[SimeyTheLimey]

Well, for me, Stripes was the most realistic Basic Training movie. It's filmed at the reception station at Ft. Knox. I watched it the night before I shipped, and 24 hours later, I found myself in the middle of the set.

[finboy]

Originally posted by RobOnTheCape:
Kelly's Heroes

Certainly in the top 10.

Bridge at Remagen
Bridge Too Far

Also, for war movie buffs there's a bio-pic about Cornelius Ryan that you should watch if you get a chance.

[SimpleLife]

Originally posted by CreepingDeth:
You guys must be thick or something. "No Anti-war movies"

It's not anti-war: it presents all side of it!

Isn't that great?

Edit: it also has blood and guts and everything! The real thing!

[Sherwin]

Ice Cold In Alex (WW2).
Ride With The Devil (US Civil War).
Von Ryan's Express (WW2).
The Guns of Navarone (WW2).

[waxcrash]

Another vote for Das Boot. If you end up getting this, get "The Director's Cut - Superbit" version. It will look the best on his big TV.