discussion Whats your favourite war film?

[Guest]

Has anyone ever seen Letters from Iwo Jima directed by Clint Eastwood? Damn good film and probably the first one where we see the Japanese as real humans. Das Boot was the first of its kind to portray the Germans in the same way. Das Boot really suffers with the English translation though

 

[jspitza]

"The thin red line" Undoubtedly, the best I've ever seen.....

 

[Guest]

Das Boot is definitely one of the best-all the fake glory stripped away to show unwilling men just doing the job that fate had landed them with. And I agree with Paul, never watch it with the dubbed speech-original German & subtitles is the best way!

Patrick

 

[stona]

Das Boot - fantastic. I was working,at the time, at the studios in Munich where much of it was filmed and was lucky enough to get a "tour" from one of our German colleagues of the full size replica (complete with plastic vegetables festooned everywhere). What it must have been like on the real thing at sea beggars belief. Very brave men.

A most enjoyable day supposedly at work.

I don't have more than a slight knowledge of German but I think "Das Boot" should be watched in the original language,you just have to put up with the subtitles. Same applies to "Downfall" another excellent film not yet mentioned.

Steve

Steve

 

[Guest]

I first saw Das Boot when I was about 16-spent the next few days shouting "ALAAARRRMMM" at every possible opportunity!

Interesting that most films mentioned so far are WW2-based!

Patrick

 

[jspitza]

"Downfall"

Wow, forgot that one too. My Wife is a doctor, does not get shaken easily. She had nightmares that night.

 

[Guest]

Steve, I'm jealous that you got the tour around the studios I first saw Das Boot as a 6-parter in the days when my German was basic. After studying it at uni and living there for four years, i plucked up the courage to watch it again and that time i felt the emotions that dubbing and to an extent subtitling miss.

As for Der Untergang (Downfall), that too is a great film. I saw that at the cinema in Germany a few years back when it was first released. That film did initially cause a lot of controversy among the Germans as a large portion of the film portrayed Hitler as caring human being. German acting at its best in that film.

Another great war film which hasn't been mentioned here, at least in my opinion for the utter carnage is Black Hawk Down.

Here's a question for everyone: Next year, a new version of The Dambusters will be released. Whilst looking forward to it, i am somewhat a little sceptic. Does anyone else know about this?

 

[Guest]

A new dambusters film?? I've not heard of that so I just googled it & it's going to be produced by Peter Jackson of LOTR & King Kong fame. I'm in too minds about it myself, although the reports that it will feature Barnes-Wallis's struggle to get the bouncing bomb idea approved sounds good coz that man was a true hero-Britain's build on slightly mad inventors in their sheds! Do you think the dog will still be called 'Nigger'? Patrick

 

[Guest]

Oh yeah, i was shocked when i heard the dog's name in the original Due to PC, hte name will probably be changed to something like Tiddles or Lollipop

 

[Guest]

lol on one of the sites I looked at, the same question came up & some poor PC-obsessed soul had tried to convince everyone that the name was actually 'Niger' which he believed was the French word for 'black'! How I laughed!

Actually I think the dog won't appear-if it does, it certainly it won't meet the same grisly fate of the original & as for the name, why not have the part played by Snoop Doggy-Dog? He can call himself n*****r then! :shocking:

Patrick

 

[Guest]

For the Dambusters remake Jackson has had 12 full size Lancasters built (non flying), seen the first one on TV, can't tell it from an original. Incidentally He collects flyable WW1 aircraft, has over 20 now. If you want to see what one of his companies is up to have a look at http://thevintageaviator.co.nz

 

[Guest]

I don't know if you can call it a "war film", but Band of brothers does it for me.

 

[stona]

For the Dambusters remake Jackson has had 12 full size Lancasters built (non flying), seen the first one on TV, can't tell it from an original. Incidentally He collects flyable WW1 aircraft, has over 20 now. If you want to see what one of his companies is up to have a look at http://thevintageaviator.co.nz

He also produces what I am told are excellent WW1 model kits. It's not my thing but WW1 airplane fans went nuts when his company (Wingnut wings) released its first kits earlier in the year. I saw one made up (unpainted) on a site somewhere and it was most impressive.

The rigging on those things scares the c**p out of me!

Back on topic, not a favourite but a great film is "All quiet on the Western front",the 1930 original.

If you've got the stomach for a very dark,bleak and hopeless anti-war film "Johnny got his gun". Not one for Jspitza's wife.

One of my all time favourites,maybe bending the category a little, is "Slaughter house 5". The film is a more than decent effort at Vonnegut's brilliant novel. Don't forget that Vonnegut was a POW in Dresden at the time of the (in)famous bombing.

Good thread this,it's made me think of films I've enjoyed in the past and may well revisit. I haven't watched "Apocalypse now" for years!!

Cheers

Steve

 

[spanner570]

He also produces what I am told are excellent WW1 model kits. It's not my thing but WW1 airplane fans went nuts when his company (Wingnut wings) released its first kits earlier in the year. I saw one made up (unpainted) on a site somewhere and it was most impressive.The rigging on those things scares the c**p out of me!

Back on topic, not a favourite but a great film is "All quiet on the Western front",the 1930 original.

If you've got the stomach for a very dark,bleak and hopeless anti-war film "Johnny got his gun". Not one for Jspitza's wife.

One of my all time favourites,maybe bending the category a little, is "Slaughter house 5". The film is a more than decent effort at Vonnegut's brilliant novel. Don't forget that Vonnegut was a POW in Dresden at the time of the (in)famous bombing.

Good thread this,it's made me think of films I've enjoyed in the past and may well revisit. I haven't watched "Apocalypse now" for years!!

Cheers

Steve

I agree Steve, this is a good 'thinking thread' It seems you like the more obscure films....I know I have mentioned them before here, but apart from Saints and Soldiers, do give Days of Glory a go, superb!

They are both on eebeegeebeebay for buttons.

Ron

 

[Guest]

I would agree with most films mentioned already, but nobody mentioned Tora, Tora, Tora, cmon people think straight, if you have not seen it you must

 

[stona]

"Tora,Tora,Tora" is a good one,much better than the truly awful "Pearl Harbor". I do like a film that makes me think but not one that insults my intelligence. I could say the same about "U 571".

There are some good, less heavy films, though it is always difficult to treat such a serious topic lightly. I've watched and enjoyed the oft' mentioned "Kelly's heroes" many times. "Good morning Vietnam" is another lighter film that properly fits in this category.

There is a film version of the late,great Spike Milligan's "Hitler-my part in his downfall" but sadly it fails to do the original book justice.

Steve

 

[Guest]

I agree that "Tora,Tora,Tora" is a good film-in my opinion because it's done in kinda a 'documentary' style & so avoids falling into the trap of trying to say something deep & meaningful about war or conflict. That's why, although I like the sense of realism, I can't get too excited about 'Saving Private Ryan'. Plus I don't like their comment about us Brits 'drinking tea' rather than fighting in Normandy! That myth needs to be debunked! I didn't see the US forces fighting the SS panzer divisions!! ok calm down, calm down!

Ahhhh Patrick

 

[Guest]

war film

Only one stands the test of time

"The longest Day"

All the others are fantastic but this one you can watch time and again

 

[stona]

I don't think it's the only one to stand the test of time. It's a damned good film and may be the longest!!

Steve

 

[Guest]

letters from Iwa Jima was a good one,

What about more modern war films ie, Platoon or Full metal jacket or Apocalypse now, The scene with the Hueys flying in with flight of the Valkyries booming out etc, awesome.

Regards Sub.