Seeing as yesterday was the anniversary of Pearl Harbor, and today is Testosterone Tuesday, I considered it fitting to roll out my selections of the best war movies of all time.
War movies have always been a guy thing, girls may never fully understand. They only see the movie on a cinematical level. They see blood and guts, and hear coarse language and they leave the room. Men have always seen war movies differently. It's not about whats directly on the screen, the blood or the language. It's about the responsibility that a man has to do what's right, and to act bravely in the face of the harshest circumstances. These movies embody the best the war genre has to offer.
Before we begin, let me clarify what I consider a war movie. Braveheart and Gladiator are not war movies, and as such are not included in this list. A war movie focuses primarily on the historical events leading up to a factual battle or campaign that has been fought, with the primary focus being on the tactics and warfare engaged in during the battle.
With all that said, the list:
10. Black Hawk Down
The reason I included Black Hawk Down, is because it gives us probably the best look at what modern warfare has become. I have yet to see some of this year's war movies such as the excellently reviewed "The Hurt Locker". But Black Hawk Down shows us how the rules have changed, and how the arms proliferation across the globe has made combatants out of nearly anyone. I will say, for as superb as BHD is as a film, the original book written by Mark Bowden is superior in nearly every way, for those of you who enjoy reading, specifically reading about the military, Black Hawk Down by Bowden is one of the best reads you will ever have.
9. Glory
My dad and I typically have similar tastes when it comes to war movies. He has always been a history buff, and enjoys his collection of military novels and films. However, he doesn't go for Glory like I do. He finds it excessively depressing and gruesome, whereas I find the performances by Freeman and Washington to be some of the best ever given on the screen. At times Matthew Broderick seems unable to match the brilliance of Freeman and Denzel, but the movie still remains one of the most powerful and touching war films ever.
8. Patton
Someday I will give you my list of top acting performances ever given in a film. A list that includes the obvious (such as Peter O'Toole as Lawrence of Arabia) and the not so obvious (Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday in "Tombstone"), but there is only one performance that ever gets consideration for the top spot in my own personal list, and that is George C. Scott as General George Patton. This movie is not for the casual movie watcher. It is a historical biopic of one of the most enigmatic and brilliant generals of all time. For those that enjoy studying World War II, and especially for those who are interested in Patton, this movie remains one of the favorites of my collection.
7. Gettysburg
Two spots higher than its Civil War counterpart "Glory", Gettysburg is a fascinating look at one of the most crucial battles in American history. Excellent performances all around, but Jeff Daniels as Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain gives a performance that you never could have expected from the "Dumb and Dumber" actor. Also, this film features "Battle Royale" favorite Sam Elliott as Gen. John Buford.
6. The Bridge on the River Kwai
Featuring the superb Alec Guinness a full 20 years before he became Ben Kenobi, Bridge on the River Kwai is low on action, but examines the mental fortitude of POW's in a Japanese labor camp. Excellent plot, excellent movie.
5. We Were Soldiers
Disdain for the Vietnam war can be felt even to this day. John Wayne's "The Green Berets" was widely panned for its "childish" and positive view of the war. Meanwhile, ultra-depressing Vietnam movies have raked in the dollars and awards. Full Metal Jacket, Platoon, Apocalypse Now, The Deer Hunter, heck, even First Blood (Rambo 1) is about a depressed Vietnam vet. Somewhere in between Wayne's admittedly amateurish offering, and the super depressing list I just mentioned. Is "We Were Soldiers", featuring a very strong performance by Mel Gibson, "Soldiers" is powerful without being depressing. It also features Sam Elliott as Gibson's right hand man, but the show is stolen by another "Battle Royale" favorite, Barry Pepper, as a photographer caught in the action.
4. The Longest Day
The Cast reads like a Hall of Fame list. Wayne, Fonda, Connery, Burton, Mitchum, Wagner, and even Red Button and Rod Steiger show up in this one. A great black and white look at the invasion of Normandy and the events that led up to it. For those of you who love war movies, this is one of the best.
3. The Dirty Dozen
Most of the list so far has been fairly serious and somber, but believe it or not, there are a few war movies out there that double as comedies. The Dirty Dozen sports another one of the best casts ever assembled. Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Telly Savalas, Donald Sutherland, Jim Brown, and Ernest Borgnine. The movie wonderfully meshes humor with the reality of war when 12 felons get a chance at redemption at the German's expense.
2. The Great Escape
The great thing about war movies, is that they allow for a multitude of actors to come together. The Great Escape boasts, in my opinion, perhaps the greatest cast of actors ever in one movie. Steve McQueen gets top billing, and is the best thing about the film, but James Garner is likewise excellent, as is Bronson again, James Coburn, Richard Attenborough (Better known for creating Jurassic Park and being Santa Clause), and Donald Pleasence, as well as a superb German and British supporting cast. "The Great Escape" tells the story of the biggest POW escape in World War II, and while it doesn't feature a battle or gunfighting, it is a riveting story which will entertain you thoroughly.
1. Saving Private Ryan
Some will disagree with this choice, however, "Ryan" is one of the most powerful and outstanding movies about World War II and the generation which fought in it. Spielberg's direction is impeccable, much as it was in his previous film about the era "Schindler's List". Tom Hanks is at his brilliant best, he hits a level that very few actors even possess, much less hit as regularly as Hanks seems to. Likewise, the supporting cast is brilliant. Damon is good as Private Ryan, but his screen time is limited. The rest of the cast was not known for their outstanding dramatic performances, but nonetheless deliver some of their best work. Vin Diesel is excellent in a supporting role, Tome Sizemore and Ed Burns are likewise outstanding in their roles, and once again, Barry Pepper steals every scene he is in, even from the outstanding Hanks. Saving Private Ryan is different from the movies directly above. I can watch Dirty Dozen or Great Escape time after time. Saving Private Ryan is different, you have to absorb it, its not for pleasure, its about the call of duty, and the men who answered.
That's my list, feel free to share your comments.
-Latin
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