Best War / Military Movie of all Time

[Brand X Hog Fan]

I know there are many more good ones but these represent several eras and styles. Thought I would post it in "Vets" to ask the experts and lighten the thread up a bit. My favorite is Glory.

Thanks vets and all you currently serving.

[Brand X Hog Fan]

I picked the Patriot, but it's been forever since I've seen any of those. I just watched Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima last week. Great movies.

I need to watch Letters from Iwo Jima. I enjoyed Flags of our Fathers as well. The guy that played the Indian is a great actor. He stars in the HBO movie "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" and does a wonderful job there too.

[LSUFan]

Patton, hands down.

[BlackKnightHogFan]

Saving Private Ryan

[SquirrelMasterFunk]

Patton.

George C. Scott is General Patton reincarnate.

[Brand X Hog Fan]

Come on guys . . . Glory was awesome!

These movies are all some of my favorites so I can agree with everyone!

[hydrophonic]

Of the movies on the list, I like Apocalypse Now the best.  That is, it disturbs me the most.

My favorite war themed movie is probably The Battle of Algiers.

[jwdento3]

Patton:  "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country.  He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country."

What can I say...I'm a fan of simplicity.

[mrcrowley]

patton....

the sand of iwo jima
is classic

[Tmac813]

Glory is arguably one of the greatest military movies ever done.  It was based on actual events.  The letters read in the movie are from the National Archives.  Written by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw.  The battle sequences were as close to real as it gets.  You guys should check out the book "One Gallant Rush"  that give actual accounts of the troops assault on I think it's fort Wagner(South Carolina) don't quote me on that.  Anyways, I gave honorable mention to Platoon, and Apocalypse Now(Martin and Charlie Sheen played key parts in each one of those movies).

[cubsfan5150]

If Band of Brothers qualifies, that is hands down the best production that any television screen has ever seen.

[Brand X Hog Fan]

If Band of Brothers qualifies, that is hands down the best production that any television screen has ever seen.

Band of Brothers was awesome, especially the episode about the Battle of the Bulge and the Ardennes. My son would agree with your heralding it the best TV production. I would argue that Lonesome Dove beats it.

[cubsfan5150]

If Band of Brothers qualifies, that is hands down the best production that any television screen has ever seen.

Band of Brothers was awesome, especially the episode about the Battle of the Bulge and the Ardennes. My son would agree with your heralding it the best TV production. I would argue that Lonesome Dove beats it.

And I would argue that you must be considerably older than I am.

[Brand X Hog Fan]

If Band of Brothers qualifies, that is hands down the best production that any television screen has ever seen.

Band of Brothers was awesome, especially the episode about the Battle of the Bulge and the Ardennes. My son would agree with your heralding it the best TV production. I would argue that Lonesome Dove beats it.

And I would argue that you must be considerably older than I am.

Daaaaaaaang! Watch it sonnyboy! I'll whack you with my cane! +1!













Oh, and by the way, I guess being a Cubs fan you've learned to settle for little less than the best. Hey now, I can talk . . . check out my moniker before you smite me.

[Albert Einswine]

Patton is great!  The opening 20 minutes of Saving Private Ryan is epic and then it tails off, save for a few gripping scenes.

I haven't seen the film since the mid '80s, but the Big Red One was a favorite.  I bet I saw it a dozen times.

[mike7156]

Off the list posted I have to go with the longest day. I enjoy the classics the most. I like the Big Red One a lot and Patton was number two for me. My all time favorite war movie is Midway, Good movie plus star power. Then it would have to be just about any John Wayne war movie. Almost forgot the dirty dozen also.

[RedSatinHog]

How in the world Full Metal Jacket isn't on a voting list for favorite all-time war movies is beyond me.  That was possibly the most-watched war movie ever.

[riccoar]

Saving Private Ryan of those on the list.  Haven't seen Flags of our Fathers yet.  I just finished the book, excellent read.  Gave a lot of insight into what my grandfather saw and indured.

[dman]

I saw Patton the day after I got out of basic at Lackland; I was ready to kick a@# and take names. 

[Conway Cool Daddy]

Not mentioned :

  Sands of Iwo Jima

  Gettysburg

  Kelly's Heroes

  Memphis Belle

  30 seconds over Tokyo

  Tora, Tora, Tora

  Green Berets

There was a great one with Jimmy Cagney that I can't remember to save my life. (WWi era)

[mrcrowley]

Not mentioned :

  Sands of Iwo Jima

  Gettysburg

  Kelly's Heroes

  Memphis Belle

  30 seconds over Tokyo

  Tora, Tora, Tora

  Green Berets

There was a great one with Jimmy Cagney that I can't remember to save my life. (WWi era)

Cagney was in Mr.Roberts with Henry Fonda.

The Sands of Iwo Jima was mentioned a few posts ago.

Crimson Tide was a good one

[fritolayhog]

A Bridge Too Far

Bridge Over the River Qwai.

Midway.

[Conway Cool Daddy]

Not mentioned :

  Sands of Iwo Jima

  Gettysburg

  Kelly's Heroes

  Memphis Belle

  30 seconds over Tokyo

  Tora, Tora, Tora

  Green Berets

There was a great one with Jimmy Cagney that I can't remember to save my life. (WWi era)

Cagney was in Mr.Roberts with Henry Fonda.

The Sands of Iwo Jima was mentioned a few posts ago.

Crimson Tide was a good one

The Cagney movie was " The Fighting 69th"
I had to go look the darn thing up.

[msudawgs64]

Patton, hands down.

agreed.

I finally watched the entire series of Band of Brothers this weekend.  I kept hinting to the wife I really wanted it but apparently that went unheeded.  If you have not seen this, pick it up, sit back and watch all 10 episodes and the special features interviews.  Well worth it.

I am partial to movies based on WWII but I also like some Vietnam era movies, really liked We Were Soldiers.

[hilljack]

I'm gonna have to change my vote to the new Transformers movie for the 15 seconds of AWACS fame.

[Brand X Hog Fan]

Not mentioned :

  Sands of Iwo Jima

  Gettysburg

  Kelly's Heroes

  Memphis Belle

  30 seconds over Tokyo

  Tora, Tora, Tora

  Green Berets

There was a great one with Jimmy Cagney that I can't remember to save my life. (WWi era)

Good ones all but if Gettysburg is on the list then Gods and Generals needs to be there as well. Robert Duvall is great in that movie. Anyone know if Last Full Measure is on Ted Turner's "to do" list?

[AirForceHog]

Glory is probably one of my all time favorites.

[Kodiak]

Bridge to Far & In Harms Way! Oh yea!  We were soldiers.

[ThisLittlePiggie]

Battleground

Bridges at Toko Ri

The Great Escape

Stalag 17

To Hell and Back

Run Silent Run Deep

Where Eagles Dare

The Guns of Navarone

The Victors

The Train

Sergeant York

A Midnight Clear

The Dirty Dozen

Das Boot (The Boat)

[LyonHog]

I went with Saving Private Ryan because it showed the events that the soldiers faced but also showed how the veterens were attempting to cope with seeing the graves of those who gave their lives to save that one soldier.  The last scene is heart wrenching

[PulledPork]

I think I was most impacted by Full Metal Jacket but Hamburger Hill was good, as was We Were Soldiers

oh, and I almost forgot Firebase Gloria




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[Hawg_Heaven]

If Band of Brothers qualifies, that is hands down the best production that any television screen has ever seen.

I agree.....I would put it above all the war movies I have seen.

I also agree with whoever posted Full Metal Jacket. That would have taken my vote for movies.

[PulledPork]

although no real military scenes in it, I liked Taps.

Prolly the  first war movie I ever saw was The Longest Day with John Wayne.



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[bnepro]

we were soldiers.
hands-down the closest representation i've
ever seen (or probably put on film) of that
moment of utter panic when you are hugging
the ground as close as you can not knowing
who/what/where/when the enemy is or how
in the hell you might shoot them w/o getting
blown away.

[BigDPiggie]

Patton. It might not be the most exciting war movie ever made and it's as much drama as it is action, but, based on what I know, it's pretty close to the truth. It fleshed out Patton to a tee and George C. Scott delivered on of the top 5 performances in movie history. For the extreme opposite (and a good laugh), watch "The Last Days of Patton". If Band of Brothers were a movie, it would be a close second.

[BigDPiggie]

The Big Red One is an underrated war movie that most may not be familiar with.

[Brand X Hog Fan]

I went with Saving Private Ryan because it showed the events that the soldiers faced but also showed how the veterens were attempting to cope with seeing the graves of those who gave their lives to save that one soldier.  The last scene is heart wrenching

I remember sitting in the theater at that last scene trying to hide my tears from my son and my wife. I also remember a deep hatred for skinheads and neonazis coming over me. Absolutely gripping. I don't think I moved from my seat until way into the credits.

[PulledPork]

agreed!  the cemetary scene was emotional! I also got a big lump in my throat during the slow-mo scenes when they were trying to blow the bridge at the end.
oh, how could I forget the beach scene....I was truly glad that I never had to personally endure that and honor anyone who did.




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[MysticHog]

Shooter

[Brand X Hog Fan]

Shooter

Just saw it the other night. Great movie! Probably Ned Beatty's best performance since Deliverance.

[RazorWire™]

Patton, hands down.

Signed

[clifflee4mvp]

Well I like Full Metal Jacket and Enemy at the Gates. Also Saving Private Ryan. I am a sucker for Snipers! Although the Movie "Sniper" sucked. Shooter was a good movie but I wouldn't consider it a war movie. Any John Wayne war movie is worth watching. Patton was great, Apocolypse Now was great (I love the smell of Napalm in the morning.) I love war movies. Jarhead was weak, Good Morning Vietnam was amazing and should've been on the list.

[Conway Cool Daddy]

I was watching Sands of Iwo Jima the other day and I noticed there were some guys who were just awful when it came to acting.
I read up on it and found out that since the movie was shot a few years after WWII a ton of actual Iwo vets
were used in the shooting. The Lt who leads the patrol in the movie was the actual guy who did it in real life. They even gave him a speaking role.
Ira Hayes and a couple of other of the second group of flag raisers were in the final scene in which the flag is raised on Mt Suribachi.

[hydrophonic]

I read up on it and found out that since the movie was shot a few years after WWII a ton of actual Iwo vets
were used in the shooting.

The same thing is done in "The Battle of Algiers", with devastating results.

[64hogs]

Hamburger Hill is one of my favorites. But I would have to go with Full Metal Jaket as my all time favorite.

[Kodiak]

Thanks guys!  This has reminded me of some GREAT movies.

[The NewEra]

I'm a huge fan of movies based on real life characters.  As others have mentioned here "We Were Soldiers" is a must see, based on actual events.

Two others that also fall into this category, "BAT 21" and "A Bright Shining Lie", are must see movies.

You can add "Sergeant York" to my list of all time favorites.

[PulledPork]

The Fighting Sullivans was the original "Saving Private Ryan"...good movie.



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[Jowls]

Very little "war" type action, but I was always fond of Heartbreak Ridge.

[LyonHog]

Very little "war" type action, but I was always fond of Heartbreak Ridge.

Coach Kelly made us watch that movie my freshman year.  Mainly for the philosophy of "ADAPT, IMPROVISE, OVERCOME!"
I wish i had the same fondness