Favorite Military Movies

The Washington Times ^ | Oct. 10, 2003 | John McCaslin, Inside the Beltway

[EdJay]

 Our item on retired and active military members being asked by USAA Magazine to rank their all-time favorite military movies (the most popular, in order, were "Twelve O'Clock High," The Bridge on the River Kwai," "The Longest Day," "Patton," "The Deer Hunter," "Saving Private Ryan" and "We Were Soldiers") generated considerable response from within the ranks.

 "I saw that article ... and wondered how they came up with those movies. Then I saw the writer was a retired Air Force officer. Well, no wonder," writes retired Army officer Bob Thomas of Guthrie, Okla.

 "Soldiers would choose a different set of favorite war movies, as would sailors and Marines. I can't believe no one mentioned 'Black Hawk Down,' 'Flight of the Intruder,' 'Gettysburg,' 'Memphis Belle,' or 'Full Metal Jacket.' "

[GeronL]

'War of the Worlds'.. lol.. kind of halfway kidding

[top of the world ma]

The 26 episode series "VICTORY AT SEA" documentary about the Pacific Theatre in WWII is now available from A&E on DVD.

[dr_who_2]

Never heard of that one. There was that one with James Cagney playing Admiral Halsey. Not bad.

[GeronL]

RED DAWN

no?

[Nateman]

No mention of Where eagles dare?

[dr_who_2]

Oh that's right. Battleground, not Battlefield. Good one.

[KrisKrinkle]

Major Dundee.

[GeronL]

The BEAST was very intersting. I like all of the movies you guys have listed.

[TomServo]

Nobody has mentioned, "Boys In Company 'C'".

I believe it was R. Lee Ermey's first film.

Maggots.

[Calvin Locke]

Forgot about O'Neal.

I do remember the lousy pr appearances by Gould on all the entertainment talk shows.

[R_Kangel]

Me Thinks....."PATRIOT"..... was a fine war movie.

[Ogmios]

I noticed that no one put down "At war with the Army" Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.

OK, OK, in all seriousness.

Patton, above all else, there is no other war movie that ever came close for me.

[STFrancis]

Wild Geese is a good one...

Since I am german I will bring some GREAT movies in that some of you might not have seen:

The Iron Cross
The Iron Cross II - (Don't remember the U.S. Titel)
STALINGRAD - Go get it at Blockbuster and if not available through Netflix
Die Bruecke - German Movie
Hunde wollt Ihr ewig leben - German Movie
Das Boot - of course

[hosepipe]

My favorite movie(military) genre is "Kellys Heros".....
Blockbuster celebritys at their best.....

Not a bad scene in the whole thing... even "Kojak" was at his very best... and Love Boats Captain was UGH.. very very different.. Donald Sutherland filled a role no other could have.. so many more too... Don Rickles was well, Don Rickels BUT in a role that fit, he spent the rest of his public life liveing up to this role..

My favorite military movie and thats saying something... if you never saw it, RENT IT, you will not be disapointed. i watch it a couple of times a year, beats boredom... see something different every time...

[exit82]

Patton-1970
Gods and Generals-2003
A Wing and a Prayer-1944
Guadalcanal Diary-1943

Also liked "Band of Brothers"--excellent series.

[dfwgator]

Every time I watch The Dirty Dozen I somehow keep hoping that Jim Brown makes it.

[T'wit]

Three I like:

The Battle of Britain
Patton
Zulu

Three more not necessarily thought of as war flicks...

Don't go near the water
The Caine Mutiny
Mr. Roberts

[KneelBeforeZod]

USAA is great insurance. Both me and my friend have gotten calls from insurance companies saying they could save us money. When we told them we have USAA, they say "oh actually we cant beat that"