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Top 10 Lists: The Best War Movies
Which is the best war movie ever released? That will stir always up heated debate. But before the arguing begins, one must ask what makes a good war movie?The first thing is getting the basic things right. These basics involve respect for the soldiers portrayed, and for the right tone (war isn't to be celebrated, but it shouldn't be flinched from either). Second, does it tell the basic story right? Then, one can go into more subjective areas. For instance, is the story one that has been told multiple times before (like D-Day), or does it focus on an area that has been ignored (say, codebreaking in the Pacific theater)? Does it get preachy, or does it focus on telling the story? Does it get little details right (say everything looks like it should for the timeframe), or does it mess things up? Does something from the film stick with the viewer? Below are ten war movies that make the grade, in no particular order. The Gallant Hours (1960): This is a film that does well in several areas: It tells a largely ignored story (the Guadalcanal campaign), it does so from a unique angle (there are no battles, instead, it focuses more on the burdens of command), and it tells the story of William F. Halsey. The story is generally right (the only real discrepancy is fast-forwarding the takedown of Yamamoto to about the time of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal). The scene between a fictional Roy Webb and Halsey says everything about commanding forces in battle. Gettysburg (1993): The model for any war film. Accuracy was a premium (thanks to the assistance of thousands of re-enactors). Both sides are portrayed with respect, and this film boasts one of the more memorable lines in this author's opinion ("There are times when a corps commander's life does not count.") No love story clutters it up (unlike Gods and Generals). When I go to see a war movie, I don't like having the story of the battle interrupted by mush. Black Hawk Down (2002): This is almost up there with Gettysburg in what a war movie should be. A real bonus here is Black Hawk Down pulled no punches in showing the Battle of Mogadishu. Again, the film had a scene that stuck out (Shughart and Gordon volunteering to rescue Durant). Midway (1976): This film is uneven. It gets points for telling a widely-ignored story (the codebreakers, led by Joe Rochefort) and for getting things mostly right (while there were some Corsairs and Helldivers that showed up in place of SBD Dauntlesses, it was outweighed in getting the basic elements of Midway correct). Bonus points for the accurate portrayals of Spruance (the calm, unflappable CO of Task Force 16) and Fletcher (the CO of Task Force 17 who was arguably in over his head). The preachiness about the internment of Japanese-American citizens cancels out the bonus points, though. Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970): The best portrayal of the attack on Pearl Harbor in cinema today. No love story to clutter things up, no expanded coverage. Just the facts about the events leading up to and on the Day of Infamy. Had Pearl Harbor (2001) simply been a remake of this film, the special effects would have placed it in the company of Black Hawk Down and Gettysburg. Operation Pacific (1951): Another one of the ignored stories is that of the American submariners in the Pacific. John Wayne stars as XO (and later CO) of a fictional submarine, the USS Thunderfish. The basic story is correct — showing not only the wide variety of operations (evacuation of non-combatants from occupied islands to lifeguard duty to putting Japanese ships on the bottom), but also the many torpedo problems. It helped that Vice Admiral Charles Lockwood was technical advisor. DC 9/11 (2003): This film is probably the Tora! Tora! Tora! of the war on terror. This is a "just the facts" film that relied heavily on interviews with many of those involved. The research is impeccable, and it would have been a runaway blockbuster had it been released in theaters. If anyone wants to know why we fight, that film is a good place to start. We Were Soldiers (2002): Mel Gibson broke the mold by doing a Vietnam War film that "got it right". Based on the book by Lieutenant General Hal Moore, this film is what should have been done all along for the men who fought in Vietnam. No punches are pulled, and it also covered the home front. Nothing in particular stick out about the film — but that is because it is so superb from start to finish. Windtalkers (2002): This film again focuses on the oft-neglected story of codes in the Pacific War. Here, it is the Navajo codetalkers. While the characters are fictional, the film still shines — if only due to the neglected story that finally gets the attention it deserves. Japan's failure to protect its codes came back to bite them in the rear. The briefing given to Sergeant Joe Enders about his mission ("You are to protect the CODE.") stands in stark contrast. Sink the Bismarck (1960): One of the greatest wartime naval chases is here. While the characters of Captain Shepard and Anne Davis are fictional, the basic story is accurate. This is a film crying out for James Cameron to do a remake of — and hopefully, he will just do a straight remake and not repeat the mistake Jerry Bruckheimer made with Pearl Harbor by adding a gratuitous love-triangle sub-plot. Honorable Mention: The Longest Day (1962), Patton (1975), In Harm's Way (1965), Flight of the Intruder (1991), BAT 21 (1988), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Back to Bataan (1945), Go For Broke! (1951), The Desert Rats (1953), Master and Commander (2003). Also: Zulu!, The Enemy Below, Das Boot, Band of Brothers (HBO), Light Horsemen. Posted by: Steve 2004-12-15 |
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