The Best War Movie Ever? You Decide, Stars & Stripes
With “American Sniper” grabbing six Oscar nominations and lots of public support, we at Stars and Stripes thought we’d ask: What is the best war movie you’ve seen?
Scroll through the original movie posters for additional details (the stars and directors) of each film. We offer 22 of our favorites. Some, such as “Schindler’s List,” we left off because it’s not strictly a war film, and others you might puzzle over. If you don’t see your favorite, let us know in the comments!
We'll let you know the pick for best war movie — as selected by the real experts, Stars and Stripes readers - on Hollywood’s big night: The Academy Awards, on Feb. 22, 2015. Thanks for playing!
Comments
So many great films its hard to choose but I will pick two of my favorites
World War II - A Bridge to Far
I have watched this film many times. It shows how no plan survives contact with the enemy and the incredible bravery of the troops in Market Garden.
Vietnam - Go Tell the Spartans
I like this film as it is a great introduction to the war and highlights some of the ideas and values that drew us deeper and deeper into the war.
When I was young I would have said Patton. At one time I would have said Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket. Later I would say Blackhawk Down.
I think today I prefer Dr. Strangelove, Kelly's Heroes, The Dirty Dozen, and Mash.
But- Breaker Morant deserves mention and I'd say Apocaplyse Now has new meaning to me today as well.
1. Master and Commander - a small war at sea
2. Cross of Iron (Director Sam Peckinpah) on the Eastern Front WW2
The link provided did not work here, this one did: http://www.stripes.com/news/us/the-best-war-movie-ever-you-decide-1.325…
So many classic movies from the "Cross of Iron," "The Battle of Bulge," "The Bridges at Toko-Ri," "Das Boot," to "We Were Soldiers Once," and yet another movie that did not seem to attract much attention at the time, but nonetheless its message resonated with me was "Gardens of Stone."
It only addressed the Vietnam War indirectly by focusing on the Old Guard. One of the key characters was a young and idealistic enlisted man who wanted to get Vietnam. He eventually went to OCS and was killed in Vietnam. The Sergeant with multiple combat tours who mentored him and others in the Old Guard, was deeply pained by his loss. Although he didn't think the war was winnable, he still felt compelled to return to Vietnam out of a sense of duty to his fellow soldiers. He had the experience to keep others alive, and wanted to keep as many young men alive as possible. The movie addressed a lot of tensions (moral dilemmas) that soldiers have always dealt with. I have seen ratings for this movie range from 2 stars to 4.5 out of five, so clearly it won't appeal to all.
I'm going to just name one movie, otherwise I wound name too many, so I posit Rules of Engagement. If follows two marine officers, played by Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L Jackson, from the big war in Vietnam, through a smaller, all too common modern engagement, to a court room battle where politics and morality, and neccessity collide. While the movie pulls a punch or two (it eventually makes the key events clear, rather than ambiguous), its a well acted, thought provoking film, penned by ex Marine come presidential hopeful Jim Webb. It failed to find favor at the box office, likely because it is not a rah rah pro war movie nor is it a preachy, anti war vilification, but I think you all will like it.