Memorial Weekend: What’s your Favorite War Film?

Hello, there! How did everyone spend Memorial weekend?

Though half the staff is oblivious about the date, our American writers — namely our favorite TCM movie-watching droid Marya — asked the whole staff what their favorite war films were.

Here are the results~

Juan

I know Marya will take The Thin Red Line no matter what, so can I claim Apocalypse Now. This is the greatest Vietnam war film of all time. Coppola manages to truly recreate some of the experience of being there with breathtaking scenes and an excellent story.

Marya

The Thin Red Line – The greatest anti-war war film of all time. It’s about the importance of maintaining your humanity even in face of the utter atrocities of war.

The Longest Day – One of the greatest ensemble casts ever assembled. An ambitious production that takes a look at a single day during WWII — “D Day”, 6 June 1944 — from multiple perspectives.

All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) – Another great anti-war war film, this time taking a look at the horrors of WWI. Beautifully shot and exquistely acted.

I would pick more, but those are maybe my top 3 (I could probably do a top 30, I love war films)

Rodrigo

I vouch for:

Schindler’s List – Very captivating film that is enhanced in a big way thanks to Steven Spielberg’s directing, as well as excellent performances from Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes.

Life is Beautiful (La Vita É Bella) – Great film that balances humor and drama, while Roberto Benigni gives out a standout performance as the father who protects his child’s innocence during World War II.

Inglourious Basterds – It is a fictional film, but violent and entertaining enough as one would expect from Quentin Tarantino. Christoph Waltz and the rest of the cast makes it worth the watch.

Julyssa

How about Letters from Iwo Jima?

Amy

I can vouch for City of Life and Death (since Julyssa already took Iwo Jima xD). The grittiness of Nanjing, Nanjing (the original title) makes it both raw and very human. The opening sequence, which has most of the “war” part, tears your heart apart as the people of Nanjing try to stand up to the Japanese Imperial Army.

I also hear Tae Guk Gi is good, but I haven’t had the opportunity to watch it.

Your turn~

What are you picks for war films?

Did you watch any this past weekend?

7 Responses

  1. oh man I could add Von Ryan’s Express, The Dirty Dozen, The Guns of Navarone, Sahara (1943), Platoon, Saving Private Ryan, The Great Dictator, Five Graves to Cairo, The Search, Stalag 17, The Great Escape, Mister Roberts, Where Eagles Dare, The Bridge on the River Kwai, etc. etc. and that doesn’t even count all the films that take place during WWII, but in America like The More the Merrier, The Best Years of Our Lives and Since You Went Away. or dramas that take place during the war in Europe like Au Revoir, Les Enfants and The Last Metro. or combo war/dramas like The Deer Hunter. or ones that deal with the aftermath of war like Hiroshima Mon Amour or The Third Man. I guess Gone With The Wind, The Birth of a Nation and The General are all war movies too. and Casablanca. and Battleship Potemkin. man I could just keep going but this comment is already insane, so I think I’ll just stop.

  2. Camiele says:

    The Pianist. That’s probably because I don’t do war films, really. Those are actually the hardest for me to watch. But The Pianist is just an incredible film. It could be in my top 20 list, if I ever atualyl get around to making one…

  3. Camiele says:

    @amy, Oh I believe you. It seems like one of those films you see and things just dramatically change for you. I can’t believe I’ve seen Akira like nine times and have seen GOF… 0! What’s up with that?! But, now that you’ve said something, I might have to watch it this week-end. It seems so brilliant.

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