Favorite War Movies?

[Groggy]

How about a cogent defence of Lean's film's instead of an insult?

Why should I bother?  I didn't mean to offend you Juan, but really, you seem to dislike "Lawrence" for the same reasons that I like it, so what would the point be?  I'm not going to change your opinion by spouting off here.

If you must, here's my IMDB comment.  I don't think I can really say much more:

http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0056172/usercomments-346

[Juan Miranda]

A nice review, and very well put Groggy. Indeed you have pretty much summed up the majority of people's opinions on Lean's movie.

For me though I just find the thing boring and empty (BRIDGE... even more so). Even Freddie Young's obviously superb cinematography becomes waring. It's my best friend's favorite film, and we often have the odd good humoured spatt about it down the pub, so perhaps my origional anti-Lean post a little too verhment?

[dave jenkins]

Wow, Groggy, that IS a great review. You've made the case for Lawrence about as well as anyone could hope to.

Lawrence has its virtues (all Lean films with the exception of Ryan's Daughter have something to recommend them), but I find the second part of the film redundant (everything the film has to say is manifest in the first half). I keep waiting for a pay-off that never comes. That said, Lean's use of Lawrence to introduce viewers to the strange world of Arabia (played by Spain and Jordan) is masterful. No other film has transported me like that one has. So, The Arabia of Lawrence (part 1) is a success, while Lawrence of Arabia (part 2) doesn't quite measure up (IMHO, natch).

BTW, has anyone ever noticed that Kubrick remade the film as 2001? The Lawrence role was divided between HAL and Bowman, the vastness of the desert was translated into a limitless star field. Note that both films end by referencing their beginnings, that little is revealed about their central characters, that both films posit a contest between men and machines (in Lawrence the machine wins, in 2001 the man does). This is apropos of nothing, except perhaps to indicate how great an influence Lean's film has had.

[dave jenkins]

COME AND SEE (The most traumatic fiction film I've ever encountered)

THE THIN RED LINE (Staggering. When I'm in a good mood, my favorite film ever)

APOCALYPSE NOW (say no more. War as seductive spectacle as well as "the horror")

RAN (Rarely has a sheer hell on Earth been so beautifully filmed)

KOMMISAR ( A peace film about war. It's Soviet backers hated it so much it was supressed for decades)

PATHS OF GLORY (A Kubrick masterpiece)

A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH (A miracle of a cinema from Powell and Pressburger, known as STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN in the USA)

DR. STRANGELOVE (Kubrick again. The absurdity and infantilism of war held up to perfect ridicule)

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF COLONEL BLIMP (Yet another masterpiece from Powell and Pressburger. A film made in WWII in Britain so radical that Churchill wanted it banned)

ZULU (Sheer existential madness. Not historically accurate, but tremendous film making)

That's ten already?? No time to mention ATTACK!, ICE COLD IN ALEX, VACAS, CROSS OF IRON, A CANTERBURY TALE, MAP OF THE HUMAN HEART, THE GREAT ESCAPE, GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES.....

Everyone is free to interpret the subject of this thread in any way they see fit, of course, but this list strikes me as Favorite War Movies For People Who Don't Like War Movies.

[The Firecracker]

speaking of which I'm surprised that I forgot casualties of war, and that no one else has mentioned it.

I did. Its on my list.

[Banjo]

I was disappointed when i recently saw Zulu to find that Michael Caine didn't actually say to the attacking Zulu warriors "Stop throwing those bloody spears at me".Now that would've been classic

[Banjo]

Everyone is free to interpret the subject of this thread in any way they see fit, of course, but this list strikes me as Favorite War Movies For People Who Don't Like War Movies.

It would appear that way but theres some movies on that list i wouldn't mind seeing myself!

[Juan Miranda]

this list strikes me as Favorite War Movies For People Who Don't Like War Movies.

[Banjo]

Well maybe he cudda phrased it different but i got the general gist!

[Groggy]

Wow, Groggy, that IS a great review. You've made the case for Lawrence about as well as anyone could hope to.

Lawrence has its virtues (all Lean films with the exception of Ryan's Daughter have something to recommend them), but I find the second part of the film redundant (everything the film has to say is manifest in the first half). I keep waiting for a pay-off that never comes. That said, Lean's use of Lawrence to introduce viewers to the strange world of Arabia (played by Spain and Jordan) is masterful. No other film has transported me like that one has. So, The Arabia of Lawrence (part 1) is a success, while Lawrence of Arabia (part 2) doesn't quite measure up (IMHO, natch).

I don't agree, but I understand where you're coming from.  Quite a few people seem to feel the same way.  The first half of LoA is really more of a journey film, whereas the second "half" is mostly plot/story-driven.

[grandpa_chum]

I did. Its on my list.

my mistake firecracker... I did read your list, but at the time I had not yet realized that I had forgotten casualties(although I should have once I saw it on your list)... by the time I remembered I had forgotten it was already mentioned.... that's it in fewer than 500 words.

even odder... after seeing all the lists with the big red one, I can't believe I left that one out too.

[The Firecracker]

even odder... after seeing all the lists with the big red one, I can't believe I left that one out too.

Well I am at fault as well. I thought I was the only one who wrote down "The Big Red One".

Its ok Chum.

[Juan Miranda]

Absurd but true BIG RED story. During the "video nasty" ruckus in Britain in the 1980's, police seized copies of THE BIG RED ONE from video rental shops all over the country because...

they thought it was a porno film.

[The Firecracker]

Absurd but true BIG RED story. During the "video nasty" ruckus in Britain in the 1980's, police seized copies of THE BIG RED ONE from video rental shops all over the country because...

they thought it was a porno film.

well with a title like that, who could blame them.

[dave jenkins]

Absurd but true BIG RED story. During the "video nasty" ruckus in Britain in the 1980's, police seized copies of THE BIG RED ONE from video rental shops all over the country because...

they thought it was a porno film.

You mean they thought the film was really called The Big RED One?