Top 10 War Movies

Discussion of all non-horror films. Oscar-nominees, Razzie-winners, we won't judge.
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DancesWithWerewolves
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Re: Top 10 War Movies

Post by DancesWithWerewolves »

Monster wrote:Too soon to say exactly where it'll land but I'm pretty sure Dunkirk will make my top 5. Wow.
Squeezed in between Full Metal Jacket and Hacksaw Ridge for me, right at #5.

Someone I know through the arts council around here who also used to write reviews for the local paper claims it might be the best movie he's ever seen. I don't even think it's the best Chris Nolan movie I've ever seen (I ain't jumpin on that bandwagon, nope). :p

However I do see how it's his most Oscar friendly movie, so I understand that buzz.
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Headhunter
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Re: Top 10 War Movies

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I think it gives Nolan a Mount Rushmore of classic films. Memento, The Dark Knight, Inception, now Dunkirk. That's a nice group and a testament to his versatility.
Not removing until John Elway is fired.
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Monster
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Re: Top 10 War Movies

Post by Monster »

I ranked it third on my list.
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zombie
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Re: Top 10 War Movies

Post by zombie »

Headhunter wrote:I think it gives Nolan a Mount Rushmore of classic films. Memento, The Dark Knight, Inception, now Dunkirk. That's a nice group and a testament to his versatility.
i think that the prestige should be included on that list.
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Re: Top 10 War Movies

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zombie wrote:
Headhunter wrote:I think it gives Nolan a Mount Rushmore of classic films. Memento, The Dark Knight, Inception, now Dunkirk. That's a nice group and a testament to his versatility.
i think that the prestige should be included on that list.
Pretty good movie. Only four presidents on Mt. Rushmore tho.
Not removing until John Elway is fired.
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zombie
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Re: Top 10 War Movies

Post by zombie »

Headhunter wrote:
zombie wrote:
Headhunter wrote:I think it gives Nolan a Mount Rushmore of classic films. Memento, The Dark Knight, Inception, now Dunkirk. That's a nice group and a testament to his versatility.
i think that the prestige should be included on that list.
Pretty good movie. Only four presidents on Mt. Rushmore tho.
fair enough. if we're only picking four, i guess those four were the most well received.
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Headhunter
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Re: Top 10 War Movies

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zombie wrote:
Headhunter wrote:
zombie wrote:
Headhunter wrote:I think it gives Nolan a Mount Rushmore of classic films. Memento, The Dark Knight, Inception, now Dunkirk. That's a nice group and a testament to his versatility.
i think that the prestige should be included on that list.
Pretty good movie. Only four presidents on Mt. Rushmore tho.
fair enough. if we're only picking four, i guess those four were the most well received.
Oooooh, do I detect some subtle snark.. :P

Well received by me since it's my list, is what I'm sure you meant. ;)
Not removing until John Elway is fired.
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zombie
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Re: Top 10 War Movies

Post by zombie »

Headhunter wrote:
zombie wrote:
Headhunter wrote:
zombie wrote:
Headhunter wrote:I think it gives Nolan a Mount Rushmore of classic films. Memento, The Dark Knight, Inception, now Dunkirk. That's a nice group and a testament to his versatility.
i think that the prestige should be included on that list.
Pretty good movie. Only four presidents on Mt. Rushmore tho.
fair enough. if we're only picking four, i guess those four were the most well received.
Oooooh, do I detect some subtle snark.. :P

Well received by me since it's my list, is what I'm sure you meant. ;)
well, i thought you were talking more in general, not just your personal tastes. sorry. :P
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Reign in Blood
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Re: Top 10 War Movies

Post by Reign in Blood »

zombie wrote:
Headhunter wrote:I think it gives Nolan a Mount Rushmore of classic films. Memento, The Dark Knight, Inception, now Dunkirk. That's a nice group and a testament to his versatility.
i think that the prestige should be included on that list.
Have you seen Dunkirk to make these wild claims and accusations filled with snark?
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Jason
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Re: Top 10 War Movies

Post by Jason »

1) Brothers
2) American Sniper

I hold American Sniper in higher regard, though. Since it is factually based.
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Headhunter
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Re: Top 10 War Movies

Post by Headhunter »

I didn't see Brothers but isn't that more in the Deer Hunter category of "externalities of war" than war itself?
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zombie
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Re: Top 10 War Movies

Post by zombie »

Reign in Blood wrote:
zombie wrote:
Headhunter wrote:I think it gives Nolan a Mount Rushmore of classic films. Memento, The Dark Knight, Inception, now Dunkirk. That's a nice group and a testament to his versatility.
i think that the prestige should be included on that list.
Have you seen Dunkirk to make these wild claims and accusations filled with snark?
i haven't seen dunkirk. nowhere did i say that the prestige should be included at the expense of dunkirk. :P
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Headhunter
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Re: Top 10 War Movies

Post by Headhunter »

well which one should :?:
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zombie
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Re: Top 10 War Movies

Post by zombie »

:P i refuse to say which of those i prefer the prestige to.
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Jason
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Re: Top 10 War Movies

Post by Jason »

Headhunter wrote:I didn't see Brothers but isn't that more in the Deer Hunter category of "externalities of war" than war itself?
Haven't seen Deer Hunter. :p

But yeah, it's less about the war itself and how a person and families function. Great flick. Natalie Portman's best role.
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Re: Top 10 War Movies

Post by Headhunter »

Jason wrote:
Headhunter wrote:I didn't see Brothers but isn't that more in the Deer Hunter category of "externalities of war" than war itself?
Haven't seen Deer Hunter. :p

But yeah, it's less about the war itself and how a person and families function. Great flick. Natalie Portman's best role.
Damn son. You're a classic aficionado, figured you had to have seen that one. Powerful film.
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Jason
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Re: Top 10 War Movies

Post by Jason »

I do have a few "can't believe you've never seen it" movies that I need to see. Finally watched all the Star Wars movie a couple years ago. Had only seen IV and I. Still haven't seen any of the new ones.
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Re: Top 10 War Movies

Post by showa58taro »

showa58taro wrote:Excluding Samurai films which tend to come up at the same time gives me:

1. Schindler's List
2. Downfall
3. Battleship Potemkin
4. The Hill
5. The English Patient
6. Full Metal Jacket
7. The Deer Hunter
8. Das Boot
9. The Bridge over the River Kwai
10. Hell in the Pacific

Honorable Mentions should go to the likes of Platoon, Braveheart, Paths Of Glory, Patton, Letters to Iwo Jima/Flags of our Fathers, Casualties of War, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, All Quiet on the Western Front, Tora! Tora! Tora!, Hacksaw Ridge, The Hurt Locker, Good Morning Vietnam and The Pianist.

Tough category to narrow things down in. Lots of films in this genre I love.
On the basis that deer hunter isn't even a war movie per the discussion I'd probably go:

1. Schindler's List
2. Downfall
3. Battleship Potemkin
4. Dunkirk
5. The Hill
6. The English Patient
7. Full Metal Jacket
8. Das Boot
9. The Bridge over the River Kwai
10. Hell in the Pacific
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Re: Top 10 War Movies

Post by showa58taro »

I doubt anything will move Schiners List from the top spot for me. Seen it dozens of times, has three all-time great performances in Kingsley, Neeson and Fiennes, and is intense and profound.

Downfall is a pretty good lock at second almost exclusively on the back of the strength of Bruno Ganz and his epic portrayal of Hitler, who I have a strong fascination with and have done from age 11 I think. So that one sits strongly.

Potemkin is a fantastic entry for me but is clearly dated. Could revisit but I think it was a very critical part of cinematic history and is Eisensteins best film.

And then I put in Dunkirk. It's impressive for it to dislodge The Hill which I do really love. But Dunkirk captured an intensity about war that is hard to see replicated.
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Jason
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Re: Top 10 War Movies

Post by Jason »

Brothers/American Sniper, imo.
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