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The 20 Greatest War Movies of All Time

Not sure which movies I'd take off, though.

I'd probably replace Schindler's List with Patton, because the former isn't a war movie. But other than that ... there are some pretty good movies on the list.

Another honorable mention would have to go to Gettysburgh.
 
Bridge Over the River Kwai was left off too, excellent movie. EDIT: Nevermind, there it is.

I disagree with Saving Private Ryan in the top 20. It was definitely an awesome movie, but was a little too Hollywood to be considered in the top 20. I also disagree with Schindler's List - fantastic fantastic movie, but not really the same genre, IMO.

I'm very happy they left off A Thin Red Line...that was an 18 hour snoozefest, lol.
 
I'd also have to mention Zulu. Heck, I'd probably put that in my top 10.
 
O.K., I'm going to stick a personal favorite in here-it'll probably seem an odd pick, but I just like this movie a lot.

Go Tell The Spartans-1978 with Burt Lancaster, Craig Wasson, Jonathan Goldsmith, and Marc Singer
 
How the Hell can you leave off Patton and 12 O'Clock High?

And although it's not a movie, Band of Brothers beats 'em all
 
Any '20 Greatest War Movies' list is doomed to failure.

There are 20 that aren't on the list you could argue belong there. It's like a top 5 fighters of all time list - ridiculous to argue...

As to validate my point, they've already expanded the list to thirty :)
 
One of my favorites, 'Hell in the Pacific'...

Lee Marvin and Toshirô Mifune (both of whom actually served in the Pacific during WWII) star as stranded combatants on a Pacific Isle.

Little dialogue, but a gripping and touching movie about war.
 
Guys! I cannot believe no one has mentioned the fantastic job Ben Afleck did in Pearl Harbor! Travesty!
 
fail nothing. MASH the television show until just recently had the highest rated episode viewed ever. the movie doesnt even come close to that.

alan alda was amazing on that show. and you had 4 different camps for fans. you had the Henry Blake or Sherman T Potter fans and then you had your Frank Burns or Charles Emerson Winchester III fans.

plus just the still they had made in the swamp alone was worthy of praise.

dont get me wrong though..the movie was cool but the show was just a few steps above it.

I guess its a matter of opinion, but I'm going to respectfully disagree. M*A*S*H the movie was a fantastic dark comedy, and I'm a big fan of that type of humor. The TV show was funny also, but it was more slapstick-type comedy.
 
As far as war movies go, I do not believe M*A*S*H should be on the list, even though I think it is a good movie and better than what the TV show turned into after Mclean Stevenson and Wayne Rogers were gone. If others are going to exclude movies like Schindler's List because it is not the traditional "war movie", M*A*S*H would have to be excluded as well, so should Casablanca and perhaps the Deer Hunter. The Deer Hunter, as great a movie as it is, was less about the war, although it has one of the most intense war scenes ever, as much as it is was about the town from which they came.

Now, the movie I think was neglected that should definitely be included is The Big Red One. Before Saving Private Ryan came along, I think this movie had some of the best D-day scenes to date.
 
Somehow managed to overlook this thread until now. After a quick read, some quick comments:

1) M*A*S*H* the movie and the TV serial were great. Differerent vibes, different agendas, both great in their own right.

2) Memphis Belle. Probably wouldn't include it in a "greatest 30" list (not sure what I'd remove from the existing list), but it was a gripping movie and I think deserving of mention here.

Just for edification: http://www.memphis-belle.com/index.htm

3) War is hell. War movies rock. :cool:

4) I wonder if we can nominate Outlaw Josey Wales? I mean, it kinda starts as a war film ...
 
Om, if you lobby for The Outlaw Josey Wales-an extraordinary movie, I agree-I'm going to insist on The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Civil War, y'know? :)
 
Seems to me we have the making of our very own list ...

BGO's Top 50 "War" Movies :)
 

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