Close Combat Series :: View topic - What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion):

What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion):

through

[^/[Print]\]

Close Combat Series -> The Mess

#1: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: Rodmorg, Location: Bournemouth

Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 12:53 pm
—
Just want to know. Some WW2 films are great, such as Kelly's Heroes and Force 10: From Navarone. Well, those are my favorite WW2 films. I think the best had to be Dirty Dozen.

#2: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: vobbnobb,

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 1:32 am
—
wikipedia has them listed by date and place of conflict. Even other countries made ww2 movies to my surprise. I would have to say personally the older ones 1950's to the 1980's.

#3: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: dj,

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 6:38 am
—
Bridge Too Far...especially the cast of actors. It showed a different perspective the west was not accustomed to seeing in how difficult it was to fight the Germans. Even in late 1944.

Off-topic...but for WWI, the Military Channel aka American Heroes Channel is showing documentary series called Apocalypse WWI. Amazing footage and history.

#4: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: sod98,

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 9:19 am
—
If you don't mind subtitles, a German movie Downfall. Hitlers last weeks in the bunker based on 3 witness testimonies. One being Hitlers Secretary. Check it out, it's a very easy movie to watch even with subs. It also won lots of awards not that means too much.

The Pianist - based on a Polish Jew and his fight for survival.

#5: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: johnsilver, Location: Florida

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 1:40 pm
—

sod98 wrote (View Post):

If you don't mind subtitles, a German movie Downfall. Hitlers last weeks in the bunker based on 3 witness testimonies. One being Hitlers Secretary. Check it out, it's a very easy movie to watch even with subs. It also won lots of awards not that means too much.

The Pianist - based on a Polish Jew and his fight for survival.

I think (or thought) the movie downfall was supposed to be a direct book to video of Frau Junge's memoir's. If so, it's not really close, tho not a bad movie for a end of times as last gasp of the Reich movies go. Her book was pretty interesting and noticed the movie followed the story in some areas, yet veered away in many others.

As for end of Reich movies, always liked the oldest that had Rutger Hauer and centered around Speer's 1st book: Inside The 3rd Reich.

Will agree with DJ on favorite Military movie.. ABTF is a combination of big budget and military film that was perfection. Rare. It was as great on the big screen when it 1st came out and went to see as it is now and still as enjoyable.

Cross of Iron has to be mentioned also.

#6: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: Rodmorg, Location: Bournemouth

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 8:14 pm
—
Ah yes, vobbnobb, I read that. sod, I've heard of it and I may get it on DVD. But, I prefer WW2 films with some action and some not.That's why I like films such as Kelly's Heroes, Force 10: From Navarone and Escape to Athina. With humor, I would say that The Dirty Dozen has some, as well as action. I found the film a little bit 'ah, he's going to die now' at the end. And yes, I've heard pf Cross of Iron (the game and film Wink

) What I want to know now is what's your FAVORITE film?

#7: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: dj,

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 8:30 pm
—
I remember as a young kid seeing the beginning of Bridge Too Far when it was first released in theaters. Then at the scene where a lot of dead American paratroopers were shown (prior to the soldier putting gun to Doctor's head to save his comrade) my parents removed me from theater as they thought it was too graphic for a little kid to see.

#8: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: HogansHeros,

Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2014 3:49 am
—
I really like The Train (1964) although someone may argue that it is not a "war film" per se but a film using the war as a backdrop like Casablanca does (although I'd argue that the war is more integral to The Train than it is to Casablanca).

Sahara (1943) would have to be high on my list even through it is a bit too full of rah-rah propaganda--understandably so given when it was made.

The Gallant Hours (1960) is a nice change of pace film, almost more of a documentary than a war film.

I forgot The Cockleshell Heroes (1955): not only is Operation Frankton entertaining on its own, but I like how the by-the-book character "wins" for once instead of the usual story where the maverick shows up his stuffy superiors and carries the day by breaking all the rules.

#9: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: sod98,

Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2014 6:24 am
—
I think (or thought) the movie downfall was supposed to be a direct book to video of Frau Junge's memoir's. If so, it's not really close, tho not a bad movie for a end of times as last gasp of the Reich movies go. Her book was pretty interesting and noticed the movie followed the story in some areas, yet veered away in many others.

As for end of Reich movies, always liked the oldest that had Rutger Hauer and centered around Speer's 1st book: Inside The 3rd Reich.

The reason why the movie was so different, it also included the stories of the Peter - one of the last to be awarded the Iron Cross and one of Hitlers staff Officers from memory. You are right - not much in the way of an action movie though.

These are worth a look for action:
- The Big Red One
- Midway
- The Thin Red Line
- The Battle of Neretva

#10: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: Antony_nz,

Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2014 9:50 am
—
Mine are, Downfall.
A bridge to far. ( i think the ending could of represented the situation better.)
Escape from Sobidor.
And longest day.

Abtf and tld were all filmed on location.

Darryl Zanuck is a interesting character. The background story to the longest day is interesting. And its amazing that he manged to make the film.

#11: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: johnsilver, Location: Florida

Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2014 10:03 am
—
Little bit of what I remember about the movie (great btw also) The Battle of Neretva that Sod98 mentioned.

Going from memory of course.. Think at the time that was the biggest budgeted Czech movie they had ever had. Well done also. Yul Bryenner headlines the non stars in this one, think he plays Tito. Lots of action and kind of plays out as an WW2 type Spaghetti western. Not an insult, cause was not lacking for multiple plots.

There is another nice Czech WW2 film that has Richard Burton headlining the list of other non stars: The Battle of Sutjeska. It's not as good however.

With you Anthony_NZ on escape from Sobibor, tho it's is/is not a war movie being a POW type movie. Rutger Hauer can put on some commanding performances in some of his movies, that was another one there.

#12: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: sod98,

Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2014 1:16 pm
—
That list vobbnobb was talking about. Here's a link, contains most war movies. Copy and paste guys http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_war_films_and_TV_specials

#13: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: vobbnobb,

Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2014 3:52 pm
—

sod98 wrote (View Post):

That list vobbnobb was talking about. Here's a link, contains most war movies. Copy and paste guys http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_war_films_and_TV_specials

It's here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_World_War_II_films

#14: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: sod98,

Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 8:58 am
—
It's here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_World_War_II_films[/quote]

Yes that's a bigger and better list of WW2 movies - cheers.

Trying to find a copy of Road to Baghdad. Is it still being sold - even preowned ?

#15: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: Ramcke,

Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2014 12:41 am
—
Eagle has Landed, all star cast

#16: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: Antony_nz,

Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2014 10:14 am
—

johnsilver wrote (View Post):

With you Anthony_NZ on escape from Sobibor, tho it's is/is not a war movie being a POW type movie. Rutger Hauer can put on some commanding performances in some of his movies, that was another one there.

Looks nothing like the real person. But he was the man in this film.
You can argue that it is a war movie. The Jews in the death camp do end up taking up arms against Nazis.

I saw parts of Tora Tora Tora. Looks pretty good. Apparently it follows events before and during and after the attack. As detailed as a documentary.
I have never herd of Battle of Neretva. But i will check it out.

#17: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: Ivan_Zaitzev,

Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2014 11:00 pm
—
As some others mentioned, A Bridge too far.
Also, Come and See, Stalingrad (the german one), Talvisota, When trumpets fade, Brest Fortress, The thin red line.

#18: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: Antony_nz,

Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2014 11:48 pm
—
They need to finish the Thin Red line.
I think the director died during production. ( ok a google search shows he didnt) :)

The Thin Red Line needs to be re-released with all the deleted scenes added. Basically the film was raped during post production.

#19: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: dj,

Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2014 4:31 am
—
Wondering about Fury...probably won't make it to the upper echelon of best WWII films. However very impressed they were the first to ever use a real Tiger tank. If they had Tiger II that would really be saying something.

#20: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: johnsilver, Location: Florida

Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2014 6:13 am
—

dj wrote (View Post):

Wondering about Fury...probably won't make it to the upper echelon of best WWII films. However very impressed they were the first to ever use a real Tiger tank. If they had Tiger II that would really be saying something.

I was going to say impossible in the US DJ, but the model that was formerly at the Patton museum, now awaiting it's new home at the Fort benning musem is now whole once again..

For those who viewed it at the Patton establishment.. It was sliced in half.. left side on display and now, it's here on a tank transporter (scroll down) at Fort Benning, whole and complete once again.. They sent the Tiger 1 from Aberdeen to the UK and got it running in the UK, it's headed back to Fort Benning and it was in poor shape. A sliced in half KT, just as rare been any harder?

King Tigers Left

#21: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: Ramcke,

Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 4:14 pm
—
russian filmmakers made a huge Stalingrad movie, not bad but not great

Downfall has some nice scenes, i remember the SS unit all in correct camo(lol,holliwood never has germans in correct uniforms)

Brad Pitt is doing a tank movie, coming out in Oct in UK

#22: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: Tippi-Simo, Location: Helsinki

Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 4:11 pm
—
Last one I saw worth mention is "Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter" / "Generation War"
It is actually a 3 part miniseries.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1883092/

#23: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: agidol,

Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 7:46 pm
—
Surprised no one mentioned Saving Private Ryan or Letters from Iwo Jima.

they are not exactly movies but the band of brothers and the Pacific are also worthy of watching!

#24: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: Rodmorg, Location: Bournemouth

Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 9:43 pm
—
Agidol, I've heard of SPR and seen it, but not my favorite. I prefer the films from the 60's-late 80's films.

I'm hoping that Fury would be a nice film when it comes out in mid October.

#25: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: Antony_nz,

Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2014 2:29 am
—
Letters of Iwo Jima was good. But theirs one thing that completely screwed the movie up. Filter! !!!!!!
God Dam it. The whole entire movie was filmed in a blue filter. Cant watch it. Everything looks gray or green or orange or blue.
So many movies do it these days. Just show us what was actually filmed in real life. I saw a behind the scenes photo of Eastwood and a Japanese soldier. And it looked awesome with out the filter!

Saving private Ryan was obviously a great war movie. Got me into ww2 in a major way. I loved it. But i was just a kid.
SPR was more of a emotional roller coaster than a representation of a military operation.(for my taste) I could post some more criticisms of SPR. But ill leave it at that. There are also general criticisms of Spielberg that could be discussed. Despite the fact he is a great director.

#26: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: johnsilver, Location: Florida

Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2014 12:06 pm
—
Before there was Das Boot.. There was this odd little movie about sea faring German sailors before and after the war. Starts off with career in peacetime, ends with fall of Germany.

One of the 1st Naval books read from WW2. Movie cut out many areas and can be hard to find now on the net, though is still a hard-hitter for it's time.. "Sharks and Little Fish"

Sharks and Little Fish

Edit:

My favorite part in the book is where Teichman reports to the old Minesweeper for the 1st time, an old grizzled cook greets him as he's trying to report, says nothing except: Moses, you idle bastard.. Get busy and peel those spuds"

Teichman knew he was in for a world of hurt.. Had to knock jack boots upside down to get the cockroaches out of them before putting them on after waking up before each shift. The author put so many truths into wooden hulled old relics and old grilled sailors into this story (book) tho the movie left some out. The story is an incredible set of tales and lives, mostly true it seems.

#27: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: HogansHeros,

Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2014 5:09 pm
—
The Battle of the River Plate/Pursuit of the Graf Spee (I hate when movies change names for an American release) deserves a mention. It made a commendable effort for realism with the ships used: HMS Cumberland and HMNZS Achilles [having been sold and recommissioned INS Delhi] both appear as themselves in the film. HMS Jamaica filled in for HMS Exeter and HMS Sheffield for HMS Ajax. The real big, but understandable, variance was USS Salem pretending to be Admiral Graf Spee--which added the complication of US Navy prohibitions on using Nazi insignia aboard.

While the battle itself is entertaining enough (though the timeline obviously gets fudged a little) the diplomatic wrangling after the battle was just as interesting to me in part because that is a side of things not often shown in war films. I could have done without the bits about the prisoners aboard Graf Spee but the idea for the movie was based on a book by one of them so I guess they had to be included--plus they add a self sacrificing human interest hook, but I still could have done without it.

#28: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: vobbnobb,

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2014 7:08 am
—
just found this
http://www.filmy-wojenne.info/index.php?film=infantry_movies&f=13

#29: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: johnsilver, Location: Florida

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2014 9:00 am
—

vobbnobb wrote (View Post):

just found this
http://www.filmy-wojenne.info/index.php?film=infantry_movies&f=13

Original Zulu on that list is one of the best movies ever made IMO. Young Michael Caine.. Loaded with great actors. Remake in the late 70's ain't bad either. Highly recommend watching both versions back to back. TONS of supporting actors. They had to spend a fortune making both.

#30: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: HogansHeros,

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2014 6:07 pm
—
Paths of Glory is a good--maybe great--film but again I'm not sure it is exactly a "war film". Maybe it is a war film but not a battle film if you grasp the distinction.

#31: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: platoon_michael, Location: Right behind you

Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 3:17 pm
—
Cant say its a best but the Monuments Men was fairly good.

#32: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: Uberdave, Location: Kansas, USA

Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 8:18 pm
—
Ugh, I thought Monuments Men felt more like a documentary than a movie. Confused

As for anything American-made out in the last five years, I'd say 'Fury'.

#33: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: platoon_michael, Location: Right behind you

Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 11:37 pm
—
If you look at the task they had at hand how could you expect anything more than a documentary type of film?
For some reason what they did isn't considered Glorious.
And yet how can you consider it to be any but Glorious?

The importance of the film is not the film itself, but what those men accomplished and the circumstances in which they had to do their job.

Lets not forget the fact that not only did somebody had the foresight to not only think of such historical importance and strive to save it, but put their lives on the line for it.

This isn't a movie made to entertain you.

Its a movie made to enlighten you.
No different than those depicting the Concentration Camps. Such as how they did with Band of Brothers.

It just doesn't receive that amount of attention.

Look at how the Allies focused on the amount of Gold that was captured rather than the amount of Art that was saved. That was a True National broadcast from back then.
The amount of Gold captured was national Headlines.

Not the Amount of Art that was obtained.

There was so much more to WWII,other than killing.

Look at the statement at the end of the film for an example.

"Will anybody remember the men who died to save art 30 years from now"?

#34: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: sod98,

Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 11:20 am
—
Another good Pacific War movie - Oba. You need to get a copy that has subs for the Japanese audio which is about half the movie. Closest other movie to it would be Letters from Iwo Jima.

A mini series ( 3 episodes ) - Generation War. From the German perspective also.

Also await releases that look good - Unbroken and the Mighty Eighth. Off the topic a little - 71.

#35: Re: What is the best WW2 film made (in your opinion): Author: sod98,

Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 1:05 am
—
A new WW2 movie - April 9th. Based on the German invasion of Denmark in 1940. Uses pretty authentic Dane and German weapons, armoured cars and tanks of the era. Overall a very good watch as long as you don't mind subs as it is Danish.

Close Combat Series -> The Mess

output generated using printer-friendly topic mod. All times are GMT

Page 1 of 1