discussion Watching war films.......yikes

[Guest]

And yet another. Caine Mutiny. Pure fiction. First a great book fascinating to read even though there is a bit of romance in it. Read it I suppose 5 times (there were intervals between each read : I am not stupid).

A great film in two halves. First the Sea bit with the Hurricane Mutiny & for the time it was made a good effort in the hurricane scenes. Second the Court Martial nice to the point stuff. very precise you are not kept waiting about.

If you have not seen it you have a pleasure to come. The film just romps along.

Great appearances by Humphrey Bogart & Van Johnson. Not a great lover of USA films as they mostly are hero worship things. In this case it is a serious attempt with no heroes but lots of character human interest stuff. Very little military action and that, that there is, is very incidental. What a relief !

Laurie

 

[flyjoe180]

Gallipoli comes to mind now we are delving into the depths of some older and less-remembered movies. A bit skewed with its view on the British landings of reinforcements north of ANZAC during the August 1915 offensives (and also fails to mention huge sacrifices made by British, French and Commonwealth countries other than NZ or Australia in the south of the Peninsula), but it captures nicely the futility of the charge at the Nek by the Australian 3rd Light Horse. If you have any interest in the futility of the Gallipoli Campaign or indeed any war, you should read John Hamilton's "Goodbye Cobber, God Bless You" which is a historical account of exactly what happened on that day at the Nek and at other places like Chunuk Bair, Lone Pine and Chocolate Hill. The name of the book comes from the epitaph of one Trooper Harold Rush who was killed in the charge, it was apparently the last thing he said to the guy next to him before stepping out into certain death.

And for another aviation themed film, the Blue Max. Some great flying with some very nicely made aircraft. A bit '60s with the womens hair dos and make up but otherwise I enjoy this film. And, on the vintage theme and it's not a war movie, but Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines is a true classic. I love the stereotypical characters!

 

[AlanG]

I actually think some of the best 'War' movies are the ones that follow a human story amidst the conflict and horror.

Films could take note of what the 'Band of Brothers' series did. They in my opinion (especially the ETO series) had enough action scenes and also got you involved with the characters too. I actually cared what happened to people like Dick Winters, Gonorrhea and Joe Toye etc etc. Showed the brutality of war and also the emotional side too.

 

[Guest]

"Murphys War" that had a U boat in it. Thoroughly enjoyable yarn.

Anything with a story of a submarine is a good un.

 

[Guest]

OK Harry if you like submarine films you will like this one.

Good story & clever way of taking the story along by explanation for conversations. The story is straight forward without any clever bits. Very enjoyable film which I regularly revisit.

And the film IS. The Enemy Below. WW11. A US Destroyer (Robert Mitcham) & a German U Boat (Curt Jurgens great acting). The Destroyer is on the tail of the U Boat which is on a mission. Both Captains are very experienced 7 the crux & interest is in the interplay between the Captains.

Laurie

 

[stona]

Ooooh!...... Aussies.....Gallipoli.........new(ish) nation........coming of age.........Official history........Charles Bean.........

I don't want to upset want Aussies who might be reading. We've got to play them at Twickenham on Saturday! We've got some relatives from down under (NZ) visiting too. ANZACs against England or an Anglo-New Zealand alliance against Australia. I don't know but I'm already developing a hang over in anticipation

At the end of the day it's not a bad film anyway

Cheers

Steve

 

[Alan 45]

The dog is pivotal to the story of the dambusters , it had a profound affect on Guy Gibson when it was killed.

And anyway I don't know why it's such a big thing nigger is Latin for black so it's a stupid argument

Now back to war films anyone seen the Red Baron ? The CGI in that was fantastic , I must say though I'm not clued up on the First World War but what I do know that what's in the film is pretty factual

Another good one is passiondale some great battle scenes at the end and based on a true story

 

[stona]

The dog is pivotal to the story of the dambusters , it had a profound affect on Guy Gibson when it was killed.

True, but the name doesn't really matter

It's not the origin of the word, lot's of black dogs were called things like "Nigger" in the 1930s and much later. My family inherited a black Labrador called "Darkey" in the 1960s and we were living in Africa!

Unfortunately we aren't living in the 1930s or even 60s now, but the 21st century. If the name is going to cause offence, and it will, then change it. I'm interested in historical accuracy but frankly don't care what the dog is called, as long as it isn't silly. Making the code word for the destruction of the Mohne dam "Fluffy" might be a step too far

Cheers

Steve

 

[Alan 45]

True, but the name doesn't really matter It's not the origin of the word, lot's of black dogs were called things like "Nigger" in the 1930s and much later. My family inherited a black Labrador called "Darkey" in the 1960s and we were living in Africa!

Unfortunately we aren't living in the 1930s or even 60s now, but the 21st century. If the name is going to cause offence, and it will, then change it. I'm interested in historical accuracy but frankly don't care what the dog is called, as long as it isn't silly. Making the code word for the destruction of the Mohne dam "Fluffy" might be a step too far

Cheers

Steve

Did you know Steve that the only people who get offended by these types of words are white middle class liberals

I lived in Birmingham all my life until the last few years and have had and do have many black friends and every single one of them have said it would be nice if someone asked us if we were offended by what others say.

As mentioned in this thread most of the black community use this word , they've adopted it so it's not offensive to them anymore.

 

[AlanG]

The dog imho has no impact on the mission and the code word never has to be said at all. Peter Jackson had approached Hollywood about the remake but he was given a set of (usual) Hollywood demands of what had to be in the film and he quite rightly told them to go forth and multiply.

The remake is now partly being written by Stephen Fry and 13 full scale fibre glass lancs have been made already. PJ said he would like to get back to the film once he has finished with the Hobbit series of fims

 

[rickoshea52]

All Quiet on the Western Front. Either version. And Oh What a Lovely War.

 

[flyjoe180]

Ooooh!...... Aussies.....Gallipoli.........new(ish) nation........coming of age.........Official history........Charles Bean.........I don't want to upset want Aussies who might be reading. We've got to play them at Twickenham on Saturday! We've got some relatives from down under (NZ) visiting too. ANZACs against England or an Anglo-New Zealand alliance against Australia. I don't know but I'm already developing a hang over in anticipation

At the end of the day it's not a bad film anyway

Cheers

Steve

That would be an Anglo-Kiwi alliance vs Australia. I have no reservations in upsetting the Ockers. It's what we do.

 

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

U571 is on Channel 5 now, it's comforting to know the Americans saved the day ! ( sarcasam )

Adrian

 

[Alan 45]

I don't know if it's been mentioned but brotherhood is a very good film it is Korean though but if you don't mind subtitles you'll love it

It's one of my favourite war films and from what I can tell it's very accurate as well