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what is the best military movie?
- Thread starter Ricky
- Start date
Here is the top ten movie from pass to future.
10. A Bridge Too Far (1977)
“Out of the sky comes the screen’s most incredible spectacle of men and war!” is how the movie poster sold it way back when. Featuring more stars than a box of Lucky Charms, “Bridge” tells the story of Operation Market Garden, the Allies’ botched attempt to break through the Nazi lines in the Netherlands during World War II.
The film mixes archival footage with memorable performances from the likes of James Caan, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Gene Hackman, Anthony Hopkins and Robert Redford. Arguably one of the best war films of the modern era, its absence from the ballot should be a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
9. The Dirty Dozen (1967)
“Train them! Excite them! Arm them! ... Then turn them loose on the Nazis!” might sound like overstating the point, but “The Dirty Dozen” delivers all that and more. Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Telly Savalas and Charles Bronson star in the story of 12 military prisoners, all serving life sentences or awaiting execution, who are offered a chance to trade their punishments for a suicide mission aimed at disrupting the German chain of command before the D-Day invasion.
If they make it out, they go free.
Good enough to land at No. 65 on AFI’s 2001 list of “100 Years ... 100 Thrills,” the movie failed to crack the greatest hits list, or even the ballot. Hard to believe, considering it was nominated for four Oscars (with one win, for best sound effects) and was a huge box-office success for MGM.
We demand a recount.
8. The Great Escape (1963)
“The Great Adventure! The Great Entertainment! The Great Escape!” In this movie based on real events, the most notorious escape artists of the Nazi prison system are placed in the Alcatraz of POW camps, where they promptly make plans to tunnel their way to freedom.
Starring Richard Attenborough, Steve McQueen, James Garner and Charles Bronson, the film takes some liberties with the truth, but still manages to deliver a wild romp (and an incredible motorcycle chase scene, as McQueen makes a run for Switzerland).
The AFI folks were smart enough to include “The Great Escape” on the ballot, but the voters missed the target.
7. Top Gun (1986)
“Up there with the best of the best.” Indeed, “Top Gun” belongs at the top, if only for giving us such memorable catchphrases as “I feel the need ... the need for speed.”
For the three people out there who haven’t seen it, “Top Gun” is the story of military pilots — sorry, naval aviators — honing their dog-fighting skills at the Navy Fighter Weapons School. The tragic loss of a main character reminds us all that life is far too fragile.
Not a war movie, you say? Blasphemy. You don’t consider entering a 4G inverted dive with a MiG-28 over international waters as “combat.” Tell that to Cougar. He couldn’t handle it, turned in his wings. That’s how Tom Cruise and Anthony Edwards (leaders of an ensemble cast that includes Val Kilmer, Kelly McGillis and Meg Ryan) ended up at the school in the first place.
Alternately cliché and charismatic, “Top Gun” is a must-see.
6. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
Perhaps it was just too new?
Clint Eastwood is all over the Top 400 ballot, as both an actor and a director, but somehow the AFI pollsters managed to miss one of his greatest efforts. “Letters from Iwo Jima,” the story of the American assault on the tiny Japanese island during World War II, shows the battle from the viewpoint of the Japanese defenders.
A companion piece to “Flags of Our Fathers” — a decent movie in its own right, although James Bradley’s book was far better — the film succeeds in illuminating the complexities of war. As the movie clearly illustrates, there are always two sides to every story.
Expect to see “Letters” make the list down the road, once the new-movie smell wears off.
5. The Caine Mutiny (1954)
Think “Crimson Tide,” but better.
“The Caine Mutiny” tells the fictional story of a wacko Navy captain relieved of command by his crew during World War II, and of the subsequent trial of the mutineers. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Herman Wouk, the film raises serious questions about the chain of command and blindly following orders.
Nominated for seven Oscars, “The Caine Mutiny” had the misfortune of running against Marlon Brando in the classic “On the Waterfront,” and was shut out at the Academy Awards. Nonetheless, Humphrey Bogart shines alongside then-newcomer Lee Marvin in a supporting role.
That the AFI team left it off the ballot should inspire mutiny, too.
4. Glory (1989)
An account of racial prejudice during the Civil War, “Glory” tells the true story of the Army’s first all-black regiment.
Starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman, the film depicts two struggles — one against stereotypes, the other against the Confederate Army. “Glory” earned Washington an Oscar and a Golden Globe for
10. A Bridge Too Far (1977)
“Out of the sky comes the screen’s most incredible spectacle of men and war!” is how the movie poster sold it way back when. Featuring more stars than a box of Lucky Charms, “Bridge” tells the story of Operation Market Garden, the Allies’ botched attempt to break through the Nazi lines in the Netherlands during World War II.
The film mixes archival footage with memorable performances from the likes of James Caan, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Gene Hackman, Anthony Hopkins and Robert Redford. Arguably one of the best war films of the modern era, its absence from the ballot should be a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
9. The Dirty Dozen (1967)
“Train them! Excite them! Arm them! ... Then turn them loose on the Nazis!” might sound like overstating the point, but “The Dirty Dozen” delivers all that and more. Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Telly Savalas and Charles Bronson star in the story of 12 military prisoners, all serving life sentences or awaiting execution, who are offered a chance to trade their punishments for a suicide mission aimed at disrupting the German chain of command before the D-Day invasion.
If they make it out, they go free.
Good enough to land at No. 65 on AFI’s 2001 list of “100 Years ... 100 Thrills,” the movie failed to crack the greatest hits list, or even the ballot. Hard to believe, considering it was nominated for four Oscars (with one win, for best sound effects) and was a huge box-office success for MGM.
We demand a recount.
8. The Great Escape (1963)
“The Great Adventure! The Great Entertainment! The Great Escape!” In this movie based on real events, the most notorious escape artists of the Nazi prison system are placed in the Alcatraz of POW camps, where they promptly make plans to tunnel their way to freedom.
Starring Richard Attenborough, Steve McQueen, James Garner and Charles Bronson, the film takes some liberties with the truth, but still manages to deliver a wild romp (and an incredible motorcycle chase scene, as McQueen makes a run for Switzerland).
The AFI folks were smart enough to include “The Great Escape” on the ballot, but the voters missed the target.
7. Top Gun (1986)
“Up there with the best of the best.” Indeed, “Top Gun” belongs at the top, if only for giving us such memorable catchphrases as “I feel the need ... the need for speed.”
For the three people out there who haven’t seen it, “Top Gun” is the story of military pilots — sorry, naval aviators — honing their dog-fighting skills at the Navy Fighter Weapons School. The tragic loss of a main character reminds us all that life is far too fragile.
Not a war movie, you say? Blasphemy. You don’t consider entering a 4G inverted dive with a MiG-28 over international waters as “combat.” Tell that to Cougar. He couldn’t handle it, turned in his wings. That’s how Tom Cruise and Anthony Edwards (leaders of an ensemble cast that includes Val Kilmer, Kelly McGillis and Meg Ryan) ended up at the school in the first place.
Alternately cliché and charismatic, “Top Gun” is a must-see.
6. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
Perhaps it was just too new?
Clint Eastwood is all over the Top 400 ballot, as both an actor and a director, but somehow the AFI pollsters managed to miss one of his greatest efforts. “Letters from Iwo Jima,” the story of the American assault on the tiny Japanese island during World War II, shows the battle from the viewpoint of the Japanese defenders.
A companion piece to “Flags of Our Fathers” — a decent movie in its own right, although James Bradley’s book was far better — the film succeeds in illuminating the complexities of war. As the movie clearly illustrates, there are always two sides to every story.
Expect to see “Letters” make the list down the road, once the new-movie smell wears off.
5. The Caine Mutiny (1954)
Think “Crimson Tide,” but better.
“The Caine Mutiny” tells the fictional story of a wacko Navy captain relieved of command by his crew during World War II, and of the subsequent trial of the mutineers. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Herman Wouk, the film raises serious questions about the chain of command and blindly following orders.
Nominated for seven Oscars, “The Caine Mutiny” had the misfortune of running against Marlon Brando in the classic “On the Waterfront,” and was shut out at the Academy Awards. Nonetheless, Humphrey Bogart shines alongside then-newcomer Lee Marvin in a supporting role.
That the AFI team left it off the ballot should inspire mutiny, too.
4. Glory (1989)
An account of racial prejudice during the Civil War, “Glory” tells the true story of the Army’s first all-black regiment.
Starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman, the film depicts two struggles — one against stereotypes, the other against the Confederate Army. “Glory” earned Washington an Oscar and a Golden Globe for