Favourite "War Movies" on DVD?

[space1999]

Lot's of great war movie ideas on this thread. In particular I'm going to have to check out 'Downfall'.

Regarding my favourite war movies on dvd the ones that are the best, IMHO, perfectly combine and balance story, acting, action, effects along with a stellar print and sound.

Using this criteria my hands-down favourite has to be:
Apocalypse Now REDUX - a mesmerizing film that is a longer than the original and the additional scenes work well and expands Martin Sheen's character so that he becomes more identifiable and likeable.


Enemy at the Gates - understated cat and mouse war drama.

Das Boot - I don't have it on Superbit yet but given the big sale on right now at Futureshop and positive comments I think I will.

Lawrence of Arabia - I actually just bought this on Superbit last night and it looks great. I do notice minor pulsing variations in the light level but clarity, colour and detail is very nice.

Full Metal Jacket - Kubrick takes you to the Vietnam battlefield and leaves you there.

Schindler's List - Not the same kind of war movie as the others but still an important film and my choice over Saving Private Ryan anyday.


Other historical conflicts:
Ben-Hur - nice picture quality, great movie
Braveheart - down right gritty and stirring
Gladiator - the starting battlescene vs the Germanic barbarians is so strikingly modern that you almost don't notice they are using only bows, arrows and catapults

[skypilot]

Originally Posted by space1999

Gladiator - the starting battlescene vs the Germanic barbarians is so strikingly modern that you almost don't notice they are using only bows, arrows and catapults

Although not one of my favourites, 'Kingdom of Heaven' has a great scene toward the end of the movie where Jerusalem is under attack. There, too, it felt very modern-like. It's worth having a look at.

[CasinoGuy]

Tears of the Sun. The plot was dumb, but the action was great.
The Beast. Late 80's about the Russia/Afgan war.

[birdman]

Originally Posted by space1999

Gladiator - the starting battlescene vs the Germanic barbarians is so strikingly modern that you almost don't notice they are using only bows, arrows and catapults

The soundtrack uses the Zulu war chant from the movie 'Zulu' mixed in with the Germanic tribes chants. Next time you view this scene pay attention to the chanting and you can pick up this chant in the background. Along with the music score and the visuals of this epic battle the whole experience is one of the best, great stuff indeed!

[Q]

not a movie

band of brothers

[MitchM]

Until I watched The Thin Red Line, I would have said The Search For Private Ryan was my favourite war-type movie. They are both great, but the latter now must take a close second place position behind TTRL....an amazing movie in my opinion. Great cast, visuals and storyline, and the sound in DTS is totally fantastic. I found the DVD at FS for $9.99 and regard it as one of my all-time best DVD purchases for both price and quality.

[james99]

Actually it's Saving Private Ryan

What version of Thin Red Line you referring to? I believe the original is closer to the novel written by the same dude that wrote From Here to Eternity.

[MitchM]

Originally Posted by james99

Actually it's Saving Private Ryan

What version of Thin Red Line you referring to? I believe the original is closer to the novel written by the same dude that wrote From Here to Eternity.

Oops! I meant to say Saving Private Ryan!....I guess I got it confused with Searching for Seargent Bilcoe which is a slightly lesser known wartime movie!
The version of The Thin Red Line that I was referring to is the 1998 remake - directed by Terrence Malick. I have not read the novel, but intensely enjoyed this movie.

[cyclocommuter]

Favorite war movies (WWII and up) in no particular order:

1. Apocalypse Now Redux
2. Full Metal Jacket
3. Platoon
4. Saving Private Ryan
5. Das Boot
6. Black Hawk Down
7. Enemy at the Gates

Growing up as a kid, I watched the WWII documentary "The World at War" on TV. I might buy this set on DVD one of these days. I also enjoyed watching the Band of Brothers when it was on TV a few years ago.

[MitchM]

Originally Posted by cyclocommuter

Growing up as a kid, I watched the WWII documentary "The World at War" on TV.

This may be slightly off-topic but is related in a sense -

LastBestChance.org is giving away free DVD copies of the HBO presentation of Last Best Chance - a docudrama about the so far fictional but highly plausable threat of global terrorists obtaining weapons of mass distruction.

You can order the free DVD at:

http://www.lastbestchance.org/

[Darkman]

Murphy's War. Stars Peter O'Toole.

[cyclocommuter]

Originally Posted by Darkman

Murphy's War. Stars Peter O'Toole.

I remember watching that as a kid too. I recall it was about a fight between a German sub and a seaplane piloted by Murphy after the supposed cessation of hostilities. Nice movie...

[Atlantic Xpat]

I'm a sucker for black and white British classics (being British) so would include....

The Dambusters
Battle of the River Plate
Sink the Bismark!
Ice cold in Alex (Ambulance through North African desert, avoiding the Germans)

Then, and in no particular order....

The Enemy Below - classic submarine action
Das Boot - the definitive submarine movie
Guns of Navarone / Force 10 from Naverone
Where Eagles Dare (Broadsword calling Danny Boy......)
The Eagle has landed
The longest day
Battle of Britain
The Great Escape
633 Squadron
Memphis Belle
Enemy at the Gates (For Bob Hoskins peformance as Kruschev alone!)
Blackhawk down.
Kelly's Heroes
The Heroes of the Telemark


The one I cant stand is U571, despite owning it. I object to the rewritten history whereby the US captured the first Engima machine when in fact a British destroyer did!

[james99]

Originally Posted by Atlantic Xpat

The one I cant stand is U571, despite owning it. I object to the rewritten history whereby the US captured the first Engima machine when in fact a British destroyer did!

This has been discussed a few times on this forum. The DVD does a good job correcting the history.

[RigPig]

.....Das Boot is my favorite, i have pretty much all of them: the original flipper, the SuperBit and the latest and for me perhaps the best, the full 6hr miniseries. ( i also have it on laserdisc lol!....so i guess it's a safe bet i will buy on Blu-Ray too )

I also like Platoon and FMJ very much. One you don't hear a lot about 'When Trumpets Fade',
quite good.