100 Greatest War movies

[TyeDye75]

By channel 4

http://www.channel4.com/film/newsfeatures/microsites/W/greatest_warfilms/results/100-96.html

1. Saving Private Ryan, 1998
2. Apocalypse Now, 1979
3. The Great Escape, 1963
4. Schindler's List, 1993
5. Full Metal Jacket, 1987
6. Platoon, 1986
7. A Bridge Too Far, 1977
8. Zulu, 1964
9. Black Hawk Down , 2001
10. The Bridge On The River Kwai, 1957

What do you think? Good list? Is there anything missing?

[gpandas]

1. the longest day n/t

[cruadin]

2. That's a pretty good list, but "Patton", "Das Boot",...

"Glory", and "The Dirty Dozen" should all be ranked higher in the standings.

[Zuni]

22. agreed. Patton should have been in the top 5

George C. Scott did a tour de force in that one

[Kellanved]

3. a little Hollywood centered

Das Boot
Stalingrad
The Bridge

:shrug:

[Zuni]

19. Stalingrad, most definetly

I thought that was an incredible film

[muriel_volestrangler]

33. Das Boot #17; Stalingrad #58

No mention of The Bridge, I think. English-language-centered is probably more accurate (I think it was voted for by Channel 4 viewers). We're not good with subtitled films in the UK, I'm afraid.

[TyeDye75]

41. True

but it was a public vote so I guess the films with the most exposure where always going to win

[ThomWV]

4. Interesting List

Your list is insteresting to me in that I think that about half of the movies listed weren't all that good. I say that because I think war movies should accurately portray war for the horror it is. Most of those movies didn't do that at all

I'd keep:

Saving Private Ryan
Schindler's List
Zulu

Platoon almost made it, but just a little too much bullshit in it too.

Thom
RVN '67-'70

[Dhalgren]

5. "A Walk in the Sun"

"Hamburger Hill", "The Battle of Algiers"

[newfaceinhell]

6. I'd have liked to see Paths of Glory in there. nt

[CBGLuthier]

8. It is nt

[newfaceinhell]

10. sorry, I meant in the top 10.

It'd probably be my no.1.

[CBGLuthier]

21. No argument here

It is a great film. One of Kubrick's best.

[Zuni]

20. so would I

[CBGLuthier]

7. A few issues

The Big Red One is way too low.

No way in hell is Cromwell better than The Caine Mutiny.

Breaker Morant should be much higher.

The English Patient is not better then The Grand Illusion.


Haven't seen Troy but all reports have been negative so why is it on the list.

Tora Tora Tora better than Lawrence of Arabia!!! No damn way.



12 O'clock High seems to be missing from the list. It's a pretty damn fine film.

Didn't see Battleground either, another great movie.

Lists like these are good because they serve to start discussions. Most of the movies here belong on the list but disagree about the order.

[Shell Beau]

9. I wouldn't put Saving Private Ryan as #1.

Maybe further down the list but not #1. I really loved the movie The Memphis Belle. I wish it made the list. I believe it was based on actual events.

[Eagle_Eye]

11. I liked Wizards

<>


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076929/

[nuxvomica]

12. I couldn't find "12 O'Clock High"

I must be missing it cuz they can't have a list of good war movies without it.

[muriel_volestrangler]

30. I don't think it's there at all

I watched the programmes, and I don't remember it (I've never heard of it). Remember it's a British audience voting, so some American films may never have been that well known here (especially in the late 40s - I heard recently that there was a hugh push then to produce as many British-made films as possible then, to help the British balance of payments. They did a list of the most-seen films in British cinema, and it included several forgettable British ones from the late 40s that were apparently heavily hyped).

[nuxvomica]

37. That's unfortunate cuz it's one of the better war movies, IMHO

And it takes place in Britain! Your analysis also explains why The Dam Busters rated so high (#11, I think) even though it's a little obscure. Also one of my favorites.

[BOSSHOG]

13. The Enemy Below

Starring Robert Mitchum as a U. S. Destroyer Skipper battling a German Submarine. Outstanding action, solemn meeting of Captains after the battle, burial at sea. Nonsense of War.

Great Movie.

[lpbk2713]

14. Tora! Tora! Tora!

That list doesn't seem to think the Navy was in any wars.

Ed: It wasn't really a "war movie" in terms of combat action but "Hell in the Pacific" with Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune (the only cast) was a very interesting film.

[YankeyMCC]

16. Yes indeed

Also Catch22

[MrSandman]

34. Forgot that one...

I am always thinking of it as a book, even when watching.

[Zuni]

26. Tora Tora Tora was magnificent

[gollygee]

15. I like From Here to Eternity better than they do

they put it as #54

My husand's favorite is The Great Escape, followed closely by Tora! Tora! Tora!

My dad's favorite is The Bridge On the River Kwai

I don't think of Casablanca as a war movie but I guess it really is. That is one of my favorite movies of all time of any type.

[Dukkha]

17. a lot of these are not war movies

they're just movies that use war as a backdrop

[Zuni]

24. Schindler's List was NOT a war movie

it is a story of an unspeakable tragedy, but it only takes place in wartime.

[Ravenseye]

40. Exactly...was the Diary of Anne Frank a war movie?

I mean come on..I loved that movie and think everyone should be required to watch Shindler's list at least twice...

but it isn't a war movie.

[AngryAmish]

18. El Cid

I haven't seen it in twenty years, but it was pretty cool when I did see it.

[Beware the Beast Man]

23. While not technically a movie, I vote "Band of Brothers"

By far the best war series ever, because it's a pretty unflinching portrayal of war.

[Zuni]

25. BoB was truly incredible

I think it deserves mention.

[chelsea0011]

29. You are right about this

[chelsea0011]

27. SPR shouldn't even be in the top 50!

When "Grand Illusion" and "The Deer Hunter" can't make the top ten, you have to question the list. "Das Boot" might be the greatest ever made. Was "A Midnight Clear" on the list?

[henslee]

28. Where Eagles Dare, Guns of Navaronne, Dirty Dozen,

[MrSandman]

31. Mine, in no particular order...

Patton
Das Boot
Tora, Tora, Tora
The Enemy Below
Midway
Paths of Glory
All Quiet on the Western Front
Casablanca
Gettysburg
Mission of the Shark
Mr Roberts
The Longest Day
Caine Mutiny
Crimson Tide

[Steel City Slim]

32. Hamburger Hill, Das Boot

Hamburger Hill was based on a true story.

Private Ryan didn't impress me that much.

[NYCGirl]

35. My favorite, "The Story of G.I. Joe" — great performance by Bob Mitchum...

great direction by William Wellman. An unexpectedly moving and sensitive film.






from allmovie.com:

The Story of G.I. Joe was based on the columns of Scripps-Howard war correspondent Ernie Pyle. Though already past 40, Pyle insists upon marching along with an Army infantry unit during the Italian campaign. He befriends several of the soldiers, including commanding officer Robert Mitchum (his breakthrough role), family man Freddie Steele and would-be romeo Wally Cassell. The "plot" of the film is moved forward by the progression of the war itself; basically, however, G.I. Joe is an anecdotal collection of comic, dramatic and tragic vignettes. Some of the more memorable moments include Freddie Steele's ongoing efforts to listen to a recording of his infant son's voice; Mitchum's casual reactions to his many field promotions; and a wedding ceremony which is "punctuated" by an air raid. Many infantry veterans consider The Story of GI Joe to be the single most realistic Hollywood war film of the 1940s, eschewing big stars, phony heroics and overblown battle sequences in favor of the everyday trials and tribulations of the humble foot soldier. Ironically, Ernie Pyle, who acted as technical adviser (when he wasn't busy on the front), was killed by an enemy sniper shortly before the release of this film. -- Hal Erickson

[NewJeffCT]

36. All Quiet on the Western Front #33?

I thought many critics had that as their #1 war movie of all time?

[NewJeffCT]

38. I would put "The Killing Fields" in my top 5

No film, not "Saving Private Ryan", "Schindler's List" or my first porn movie ever left me so emotionally drained at the end.

[greeneyedpookie]

39. "We Were Soldiers"

My father was in Vietnam and was in the same regiment as these boys were, just 3 years later. He said that this movie was the closest to the war that he has ever seen.

GEP

:bounce:

[SaveElmer]

42. "Troy" above "Glory"...puhlease

Glory and Patton should both be top ten in my view

[AllegroRondo]

43. The Deer Hunter should be top 10

[blindpig]

44. Cross of Iron

best ever about the Eastern Front. As always, the best war movies are antiwar movies.

[Ryano42]

45. Battleground

Incredibly realistic depiction of the Battle of the Bulge...much better than the Movie named for it...

James Whitmore was amazing as the Sarge.

Even though it was not a movie...Band of Brothers has to mentioned...

[WI_DEM]

46. "All Quiet on the Western Front" and "Paths of Glory"

Two great anti-war films.

[Twillig]

47. I didn't see "The Blue Max" on the list.

It's a cruel world, Stachel.