War Movies

I'm not a big fan of war, but I have apppreciated a lot of war movies. I like to think that some of the movies that have been produced, put together with modern news coverage, has helped 20th and 21st century understand more about the horrors, destructiveness, and sometimes even futility of war.

Anyway, here are my top 5 favorite war movies:

1. La Vita è Bella
2. Braveheart
3. Saving Private Ryan
4. The Last Samurai
5. Enemy at the Gates

This topic has reminded me of a movie called A Midnight Clear, which I saw, but don't really remember (which is unfortunately typical for me). Here is the plot synopsis from IMDb:

Set in 1944 France, an American Intelligence Squad locates a German Platoon wishing to surrender rather than die in Germany's final war offensive. The two groups of men, isolated from the war at present, put aside their differences and spend Christmas together before the surrender plan turns bad and both sides are forced to fight the other.

I might have listed this movie as one of my favorites if I could only remember it!

Comments

[Just Me]

GONE WITH THE WIND!!!!!
Braveheart
Glory
The Great Escape
Patton
I fell asleep during "Catch 22" - but loved the book - I was really tired at the time.
and
"Life is beautiful" though I don't really think of it as a "War" movie

I don't know whether or not I've seen A Midnight Clear, or just heard so much about it that I think I have.

[Jennie]

Braveheart
Catch 22
War Games
Life Is Beautiful
Gone With The Wind

[Just Me]

What is "War Games?" Why do I think I should know that?

[Bill]

lol...I don't know that War Games should count. It's the one with Matthew Broderick and the computer saying, "Do you want to play a game?"

Here is a link.

[deborah]

I can only think of two war movies I liked: Schindler's List and Rosie the Riveter.

[Bill]

I think I forgot about Schindler's List when I was writing this one. I gave it four stars. Excellent movie!

[Heather]

Does "I Was a Male War Bride" count? JK

Life is Beautiful
Great Escape
Gone with the Wind
Casablanca
Masada

and if any of those don't count as War Movies, I'll add in Braveheart.

[Adam]

I would have to disagree with you (Bill) about the effect of modern film and current media coverage on our understanding of the "true" nature of war. War itself has changed dramatically over the last 200+ years, obviously even more so in the last 100, but when has man ever not understood the horror, or destructiveness of war. And I would argue that "futility" is in the eye of the beholder. As far as the media is concerned, I think they delude the public as to what "WAR" is more than anything else.
Okay, I know, blah, blah, blah:
1) Life is Beautiful
2) Great Escape
3) Escape to Victory
4) Braveheart
5) Glory
(I also liked Jarhead as a depiction of soldier mentality during the Gulf; Kingdom of Heaven was good too, but not too accurate I'm told)

[Ken]

How about:
Blackhawk Down
Apocalypse Now
Platoon

[Jennie]

I forgot about Courage Under Fire - I really liked that movie

[george]

Battle of the Bulge
Guns of Navarone
The Great Escape
Band of Brothers (mini-series on HBO)
MASH

I know I'm forgetting a couple

[Bill]

The Great Escape is a good one. I only saw the first few episodes of Band of Brothers, but it was good.

[Keith Demko]

A Midnight Clear is indeed one of the oddest, and best, war movies I've ever seen, but my favorite would have to be MASH

[Bill]

Thanks for the comment, Keith. I like your site. I've added you to my bloglines.