10 movies to make you a war films expert!

[_____V_____]

http://www.empireonline.com/features/become-a-genre-expert-war

10 of the finest war films ever made. Hats off to Empire for the selection.

Don't miss the "Further Reading" part at the bottom of each page for more fantastic recs. All in all, a worthy read if you are interested in war films.

[TheWickerFan]

No Apocalypse Now = FAIL. Tons of others I can think of that were better than what they chose:

Bridge On The River Kwai
Gallipoli
All Quiet On The Western Front
Full Metal Jacket
The Deer Hunter
the list could go on and on.

[_____V_____]

All of those movies have been mentioned in the article - All Quiet on the Western Front in the first paragraph itself, and the rest in the "Further Reading" parts. Apparently you didn't see them.

And the article specifically says about making one a war films expert, specially for those novices who haven't seen war films yet. These 10 films have war as their central theme, as opposed to others who dwell on other subjects, such as drama, moral ambiguity, etc. And for that, those 10 Empire selections are pretty solid, IMO.

I think another editing is in order. ;)

[Ferox13]

All Quiet On The Western Front for sure...

Also worth mentioning:

Stalingrad

Cross of Iron

Zulu

The battle of Britain

The Big Red One

The Desert Fox

A personal fave is Glory.

And the best civil war film of all time, Duck Soup :-)

[TheWickerFan]

All of those movies have been mentioned in the article - All Quiet on the Western Front in the first paragraph itself, and the rest in the "Further Reading" parts. Apparently you didn't see them.

And the article specifically says about making one a war films expert, specially for those novices who haven't seen war films yet. These 10 films have war as their central theme, as opposed to others who dwell on other subjects, such as drama, moral ambiguity, etc. And for that, those 10 Empire selections are pretty solid, IMO.

I think another editing is in order. ;)

I did read the article Mr. Smarty Pants, and my point was if you're going to select the 10 best war movies (it specifically said no satire, comedy, homefront, or thriller disguised as a war movie ; everything else goes) you could have done a lot better. People generally don't bother to read articles with a Top Ten list sitting in front of them; so the list is the most important aspect of that article and they royally screwed it up IMO.

[neverending]

The list isn't meant to be a top 10, from what I read. Here's the title of the article:

Become A War Films Expert In Ten Easy Movies
Master a genre in just a handful of films…

They did an excellent job of presenting a primer of the major themes explored in the war movie genre, using examples of films from across the globe. They even chose some I'm not familiar with that I look forward to checking out.

[Karl Kopfrkingl]

I think I can see what they were trying to do - pick 10 war sub-genres and then chose their favorite of that sort. It does make it a well-rounded list but by picking la Grande Illusion it automatically eliminates the Bridge on the River Kwai, the Great Escape, Stalag 17 etc. That doesn't make it a true "top 10" but rather "top one of ten types". And I suppose that there may be people who think Platoon is the best Vietnam / modern warfare movie although personally I thought it didn't add anything to the great Vietnam movies already mentioned. Overall, I would say that this list was written by somebody who wanted to appear clever by picking out some relatively obscure foreign films rather than the easy familiar choices. I can't hate them for that, as it does make it more interesting even though the only movie there that would make my personal top ten war film list is Das Boot.

[TheWickerFan]

The list isn't meant to be a top 10, from what I read. Here's the title of the article:

Become A War Films Expert In Ten Easy Movies
Master a genre in just a handful of films…

They did an excellent job of presenting a primer of the major themes explored in the war movie genre, using examples of films from across the globe. They even chose some I'm not familiar with that I look forward to checking out.

I understand what you mean; I just would have picked different films as the initial ten easy movies. I don't know why __V__'s taking it so personally.

[TheWickerFan]

I think I can see what they were trying to do - pick 10 war sub-genres and then chose their favorite of that sort. It does make it a well-rounded list but by picking la Grande Illusion it automatically eliminates the Bridge on the River Kwai, the Great Escape, Stalag 17 etc. That doesn't make it a true "top 10" but rather "top one of ten types". And I suppose that there may be people who think Platoon is the best Vietnam / modern warfare movie although personally I thought it didn't add anything to the great Vietnam movies already mentioned. Overall, I would say that this list was written by somebody who wanted to appear clever by picking out some relatively obscure foreign films rather than the easy familiar choices. I can't hate them for that, as it does make it more interesting even though the only movie there that would make my personal top ten war film list is Das Boot.

Agreed 100%.

[_____V_____]

I understand what you mean; I just would have picked different films as the initial ten easy movies. I don't know why __V__'s taking it so personally.

Personally? Don't think my post indicated anything otherwise than what NE pointed out. A tangent of online typewritten misunderstood communication, perhaps?

Yes, the article is not a Top 10 by any sort - it is a guide for any beginner interested in war films to check those 10 listed first, then go by the guidance the "Further Reading" parts of each page indicate (for that type of war film). Ergo each particular recommendation is followed by particular and typical extra recommendations, instead of just jumbling them up together in the end.

And the list hasn't eliminated Bridge on the River Kwai. Oh boy...

[TheWickerFan]

Personally? Don't think my post indicated anything otherwise than what NE pointed out. A tangent of online typewritten misunderstood communication, perhaps?

Yes, the article is not a Top 10 by any sort - it is a guide for any beginner interested in war films to check those 10 listed first, then go by the guidance the "Further Reading" parts of each page indicate (for that type of war film). Ergo each particular recommendation is followed by particular and typical extra recommendations, instead of just jumbling them up together in the end.

And the list hasn't eliminated Bridge on the River Kwai. Oh boy...

You did respond in a rather condescending manner which made me think you were angry. Neverending, on the other hand, wasn't the least bit condescending. I tend to see the other side of an argument better when I'm not being talked down to.

[_____V_____]

Hmm...let me see if I can clarify this...

Why would I be angry? The list is made by someone else on another website and you voiced out your opinion. You said no Apocalypse Now and named other films missing, which had been clearly indicated by the article maker, which made me think you didn't go through the written stuff and just skimmed through the 10 recommendation pages. It was apparent then, which you clarified later that you had indeed gone through the written parts as well.

If I was being condescending and talking down to you, I wouldn't have added the wink emoticon at the end of that post, would I? ;)

Furthermore, I wouldn't be adding posts to this thread clarifying stuff either at 1:47 AM in the night, half-asleep.

Anyway, time for Mr Smarty Pants to go catch some zzzs...

[TheWickerFan]

Sorry:o, it is very difficult sometimes to read people's emotions in a post. Not that you've ever done this, but it wouldn't be the first time someone has taken a criticism that has absolutely nothing to do with them VERY personally and I tend to go in defensive mode when I think someone is getting upset.

P.S. Das Boot is essential viewing.

[massacre man]

;) s are condescending. :p s are sexy.

[Doctor Loomis]

imo....

1. Platoon
2. Apocalypse Now
3. Full Metal Jacket
4. The Great Escape
5. The Longest Day
6. Saving Private Ryan
7. We Were Soldiers
8. Letters From Iwo Jima
9. Flags of Our Fathers
10. The Great Raid