towerman
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Post by towerman on Feb 14, 2006 19:22:56 GMT
Isn't it strange that the three best war films ever made,in my opinion,"All quiet on the Western Front""Das Boot" and "Downfall" are all told from the German side.The American and English films,with a few exceptions,all seem too "gung ho" to me.
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Post by chris on Feb 14, 2006 19:48:17 GMT
If "Saving Private Ryan" is counted as a war film, then that is my number one.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2006 19:57:20 GMT
Isn't it strange that the three best war films ever made,in my opinion,"All quiet on the Western Front""Das Boot" and "Downfall" are all told from the German side.The American and English films,with a few exceptions,all seem too "gung ho" to me. I'm glad to hear that as I have recently ordered Das Boot, The Mini Series, from Amazon, where you get to choose between subtitles or an English language dub voiced by the original actors. Should be on my doorstep tomorrow. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2006 21:46:30 GMT
'Das Boot' is just simply the best war film I've ever seen. I remember watching it when it was first shown on British television in the 1980s. I couldn't watch it any other way than in German with English subtitles. *Must buy it on DVD*
My Grandfather was on Atlantic Conveyors in WW2 and he couldn't watch 'Das Boot'; it was too realistic and his memories of pulling German Sailors from the sea were still as vivid in the 90s as they were in 1942. He got the DSM for his troubles.
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towerman
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Post by towerman on Feb 14, 2006 21:52:44 GMT
Saving Private Ryan is a great film for the first half,but it gets a bit schmalzy when they find him.
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towerman
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Post by towerman on Feb 14, 2006 21:54:53 GMT
Re Das Boot,my colleague brought in a DVD last week of said film,German overdubbed in English.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2006 22:04:33 GMT
I have quite a collection of war films. Longest Day, Dunkirk, Kellys Heroes, Heartbreak Ridge are a few examples. I have also Das Boot [the unedited nearly 5 hour version] and Downfall.
Colditz Story is another one thats buried somewhere...
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2006 23:37:34 GMT
Which is the war film where it's like on a bridge from the German POV. It ended by that guy stood against a cross getting shot, asking who's the bombers were and the reply was 'theirs, they will be here any day' great film  |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2006 1:29:37 GMT
Which is the war film where it's like on a bridge from the German POV. It ended by that guy stood against a cross getting shot, asking who's the bombers were and the reply was 'theirs, they will be here any day' great film The film you are thinking of is "The Bridge At Remagen". Correct me if I'm wrong, but the guy stood up against the post facing the firing squad (actor Robert Vaughn) looks up at the sky and asks "are they ours or theirs" The reply he gets is "They are enemy planes" To which he replies "But who is the enemy" |
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Post by traveller1030 on Feb 15, 2006 5:43:23 GMT
"Downfall" is probably one of the best WWII films produced in modern times, IMHO. I found it simply stunning and captivating to watch.
Being a football fan, "Escape to Victory" is one 'war' film I never tire of watching, although that's stretching the definition a bit. The Nazis were never going to do over Mooro and Pelé, although Sly Stallone wins the 'shortest 'keeper in the world' title hands-down!!! ;D
Apart from that, stick me in the cooler with Steve McQueen and put on "The Great Escape", another film I never tire of watching.
I guess what this shows is I like a fair dose of humour with my war films, but agree with the thrust of the original post.
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Post by chris on Feb 15, 2006 9:56:32 GMT
Schindlers List is fantastic. Not exactly a direct combat war film, but moving all the same.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2006 10:12:19 GMT
Being a football fan, "Escape to Victory" is one 'war' film I never tire of watching, although that's stretching the definition a bit. The Nazis were never going to do over Mooro and Pelé, although Sly Stallone wins the 'shortest 'keeper in the world' title hands-down!!! ;D I find 'Escape to Victory' very entertaining too. |
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Post by ikar on Feb 15, 2006 11:10:34 GMT
From my opinions the best war movie is: "Battle on the river Neretva" (1969) Showing real-life stories of people who were defending the country from Germans. It was nominated for Oscar, was playing in New York for 10 years... www.imdb.com/title/tt0064091/ |
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Post by CSLR on Feb 15, 2006 11:33:17 GMT
When discussing war films, do not forget the oddity 'It Happened Here'. Plenty of transport shots in it including an interesting sequence at Edgware station.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2006 0:00:50 GMT
Which is the war film where it's like on a bridge from the German POV. It ended by that guy stood against a cross getting shot, asking who's the bombers were and the reply was 'theirs, they will be here any day' great film The film you are thinking of is "The Bridge At Remagen". Correct me if I'm wrong, but the guy stood up against the post facing the firing squad (actor Robert Vaughn) looks up at the sky and asks "are they ours or theirs" The reply he gets is "They are enemy planes" To which he replies "But who is the enemy" that's the one. I made the last bit up because I couldn't remember it  |
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Post by deckchair on Feb 16, 2006 13:02:28 GMT
Stalingrad is another good war film. Strangely enough its another one told from a German perspective. One of my all time favourites has to be "A Bridge Too Far"
Can i stretch things a little and include "Band of Brothers" even though it is not a film?
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Post by CSLR on Feb 16, 2006 13:07:02 GMT
Can i stretch things a little and include "Band of Brothers" even though it is not a film? Sounds like the name of a Norwegian group in the Eurovision song contest. |
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towerman
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Post by towerman on Feb 16, 2006 20:28:55 GMT
A couple of good British ones both made during the war.Went the day well? and In which we serve,although they may appear dated to modern day tastes.
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towerman
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Post by towerman on Feb 16, 2006 20:30:21 GMT
Almost forgot one of the best films about convoy patrols The cruel sea.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2006 21:17:44 GMT
Almost forgot one of the best films about convoy patrols The cruel sea. Never seen the film, but have read the book. I would imagine that the film would be good though. When was it made? |
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towerman
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Post by towerman on Feb 16, 2006 22:42:42 GMT
Around 53/54.
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Post by CSLR on Feb 16, 2006 23:06:51 GMT
I have got a vague memory of a storyline I heard somewhere.
It involves two sides who have been fighting for so long that no-one can remember who started the original argument (both sides blame each other). They fight it out in trenches around a major capital city and although one side occasionally breaks through into the other's territory, both have pretty much held their ground for as long as anyone can recall.
I think one lot parades in maroon and the other in green - I just cannot remember what this story is called.
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Phil
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Post by Phil on Feb 17, 2006 10:12:31 GMT
I have got a vague memory of a storyline I heard somewhere. It involves two sides who have been fighting for so long that no-one can remember who started the original argument (both sides blame each other). They fight it out in trenches around a major capital city and although one side occasionally breaks through into the other's territory, both have pretty much held their ground for as long as anyone can recall. I think one lot parades in maroon and the other in green - I just cannot remember what this story is called. That was certainly a storyline in an early Star Trek, and I think one of the original Doctor Who's had something similar..... |
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towerman
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Post by towerman on Feb 18, 2006 22:15:21 GMT
One of the most harrowing scenes in The Cruel Sea is when the Chief Engineer has told the Chief Petty Officer that he is going to propose to the CPO's sister,but when they get back to Liverpool and turn the corner to her street,there's just a big hole in the ground where the house had been and they're told by an ARP warden that there were no survivors.
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Post by deckchair on Mar 2, 2006 10:32:35 GMT
Good news everyone!
Downfall is on Channel Four tonight at 9pm.
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