Top 5

Re:Re:Re:Re:Re: Top War Films

Risselada — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 21:47:06 GMT

Or maybe we can have actual battles IN the theater with episodes of The George Lopez show in the background. Or maybe Fox and CNN can have an actual battle between their staff and we can make a movie out of that! Or maybe we can make a bunch of clones of OJ and send him in to fight the Russians... underwater.

Re:Re:Re:Re: Top War Films

FastBoat710 — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 18:51:54 GMT

Very true about the 40's and 50's Joem; how could that have slipped my mind. I can maybe think of two movies from that period that aren't solely centered on America. Then again, that's an easy war to be pro "good guys" with. There was a defined enemy and we were the good out there to stop them. Our troops were heroes to the nation. Since then, though, the line hasn't been as apparent.

And I definitely agree with you about war being infotainment on the news these days. Of course, for the 24 hour news stations, war is no substitute for a poor little white girl being kidnapped or an OJ slow chase, but it's still good for the ratings. Maybe within 20 years we'll be going to the theatres to watch Fox News or CNN show battles in THX.

Re:Re:Re: Top War Films

joem18b — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 04:54:47 GMT

We Were Soldiers has a pretty warlike vibe to me.

Almost all war movies made in Hollywood in the 40s and early 50s, during WWII and Korea, don't play as anti-war. Not pro-war, exactly, but like The Green Berets as pro-America.

The main thing, though, for some percentage of those in the U.S., war itself seems to have taken on some of the qualities of entertainment. The fact that the media has to churn out Iraq war news 24x7 and keep it interesting, in order to maintain market share, together with the fact that most of the audience does not have family or friends over in the conflict or are making any other sacrifice for the war effort, means that most viewers just experience it through the MSM, and now movies too, fictional and documentary.

Especially during the runup to the first Gulf war and this one, and during the early weeks of combat, I know many who definitely related to the whole thing as if in a theater.

Re:Re:Re: Top War Films

Risselada — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 19:06:13 GMT

Great list Ben!

Paths of Glory and All Quiet on the Western Front are both movies I have seen and loved, but it has been many many years since. I need to see them again soon I'd say.

I still have yet to see Das Boot. Maybe you should show it to me next time I'm in your town.

I can't think of many people who really love war as it is for no reason, except maybe like career military generals or someone like that. People might think war is necessary and there is honor within it's context. But I can't think of many people would would really say just having wars is really great. I mean I can't think of a good movie that would say that at least.

I'm not doubting there isn't one though. Maybe I'm just not thinking well enough. I'm not surprised the one you name has John Wayne in it though.

Re:Re: Top War Films

FastBoat710 — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:53:25 GMT

1. I'll throw Das Boot Out there; definitely my favorite war movie. Gripping realism, etc. that make a good war movie. There's one scene in the beginning when they are on the bridge and the Captain tells the photographer to stop taking pictures until the men have their beards, because he doesn't want the British to see they are being killed by children. Unbelievable scene. The only way it could be more realistic is if they tacked on another three hours of just watching people clean.

2. All Quiet On The Western Front. Another anti-war, war movie and another film from this list that is one of my favorite films of all time. There is no glory of war shown in this movie.

3. Dr. Strangelove: I'm never too sure whether I should throw this in the war movies category or not. It's my favorite movie and usually consider it one of my favorite war movies, but can never quite figure out where it belonds.

4. Apocolypse Now: I actually never consider this a war movie until it comes to making a list about war movies. More a movie about what an extreme situation will do to someone and how the executioners are always so much like the condemned.

5. Paths Of Glory: Kubrick is my favorite director and this is one of the reason's.

All the movies on my list seem to be anti-war war movies and thinking a little further on that, I can't think of many pro or neutral war movies. The only pro movie about war I can think of is, The Green Berets, which John Wayne did to shed some positive light on Vietnam. I don't know if it worked, all I know is it kept me from seeing the sexy Mr. Sulu for almost half a season of Star Trek. Any movies someone can think of that are glorifying war?

What about Starship Troopers as one of the best war movies of all time? First time I saw it, I lost interest, but after a couple of years I came back to it and saw all the politics. Verhoeven is a great director and seems to use sci-fi to get to the core of modern politics. And as a sidenote, the novel, Starship Troopers is required reading of Marine Corps officers in military ethics. The question is, can Starship Troopers be a war movie like All Quiet On The Western Front is a war movie? It definitely gives a nod to Western Front for sure, but is it up there in the category of movies such as that?

Re: Top War Films

joem18b — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 06:22:42 GMT

a few favorites not yet mentioned:

1. Gettysburg

2. Red Badge of Courage

3. Midway

4. Flat Top

5. Retreat Hell!

6. War Hunt

Re: Top War Films

lukasblu — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 04:30:56 GMT

fave war movies not yet mentioned:

Come and See (1985)world war 2 foreign movie ,kingdom of heaven (2005)from the middle ages

casualties of war (1989),heaven and earth(1993),a bright shining lie(1998)vietnam war related movies

glory(1989)civil war movie

Re: Top War Films

scud — Wed, 16 May 2007 21:32:37 GMT

The Thin Red Line. No need to explain why, really.

Paths of Glory by Kubrick. A masterpiece in black and white showing the madness of war. Based on a short story from a book by a Greek author, it is a strong blow in the face of the war machine. Takes place during WWI from the side of the French.

Kagemusha by Akira Kurosawa.

Ran by the same

Apocalypse Now

Re: Top War Films

azguki — Mon, 14 May 2007 03:01:40 GMT

A few movies yet to be mentioned on this thread.....

Das Boot

Ran

Braveheart

There is also a Korean film about their war called "Taeguki" (effects and camerawork very similar to Saving Private Ryan, mediocre acting, but pure art in its use of symbolism) that is worth watching.

Does The Pianist count as a war film? One of the most powerful films I've ever seen.

Also, I will love Red Dawn until I die....must have watched that film 50 times when I was a teenager.

Re: Top War Films

chesterfilms — Mon, 14 May 2007 00:57:44 GMT

1. Apocalypse Now - It's not only my favorite war film, but one of my favorite films period. It's hard to say anything about this film that hasn't already been said many times before. It's just perfect from the direction, writing, cast and soundtrack. The Ride Of The Valkyries scenes is still one of the greatest ever filmed.

2. The Deer Hunter - A heartbreaking film that's got one of the greatest cast ever assembled. The Russian Roulette scene goes under my top 5 uncomfortable moments.

3. Saving Private Ryan - I know many people consider this to be way overrated, but it's a film that left such an imprint on me.

4. The Thin Red Line - As with all of Malick's films, Thin Red Line is a sobering and contemplative masterpiece.

5. All Quiet On The Western Front - Told from a completely different point of view than most other War films. This thing holds like crazy!

Here are some honorable mentions that almost made my Top 5:
Overlord
Full Metal Jacket
Paths Of Glory

Re: Top War Films

Jymkata — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 02:57:18 GMT

All Quiet on the Western Front was an excellent film that showed war through the eyes of idealistic, nationalistic children - I just watched The Bridge, or Die Brucke, a german film that reminded me a lot of AQOTWF - it was excellent.

Re: Top War Films

josephkuzma — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 02:40:30 GMT

Did anyone mention All Quiet On The Western Front? The original, not the remake. The only thing the remake had going for it was Ian Holm.

Re: Top War Films

Prelude76 — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 16:34:21 GMT

There's a lot of good choices already on here, so let me make a Top 5 with films not mentioned yet.

1. Letters from Iwo Jima : Uses the same production team that gave us 'Saving Private Ryan', but the incredible direction from Clint Eastwood makes this a true WW2 film that Saving Private Ryan always wished it was. It will completely drain you emotionally. I haven't seen its counterpart, 'Flags of our Fathers' yet, but I suspect that Iwo Jima version is the better part, from reviews I've read.

2. Stalingrad : This German film is a masterpiece. Most people know the Battle of Stalingrad from the point of view of the Russians, as depicted in all its Hollywood glory in 'Enemy at the Gates'. I'm not bashing that film, i thought the special fx were incredible, the sniper warfare was great, and the 'one man gets rifle, one man gets only bullets' scene really showed how desperate the Russian side was, just throwing everything at the Germans, in complete desperation. But rest of film just flounders between a love story, a thriller, a hide-n-seek strategy, and battle of egos. The actual Stalingrad battle is hardly dicussed or showed, after the impressive opening scenes. Which is why Stalingrad, the german-made movie, is such an eye-opener, showing what the German troops had to go thru, in extreme winter conditions, with supplies cut-off, and with commanders that blindly followed foolish orders from a deranged and desperate Hitler.

3. Downfall : Another german-made masterpiece. It shows the last days of Hitler's reign in Berlin, as the Russians are approaching the city. There aren't many full scale war scenes as found in Hollywood productions, but the close-quarters urbarn warfare are breathtaking to watch, as is the insanity going on with all the generals and Hitler as they approach their final demise. Another aspect I liked is how this story is taken straight from the journal and dairies that Hitler's secrety took, so accuracy, assuming we are to believe her story, seems to be on this movie's side. The acting from all involved, espcially Bruno Ganz who played Hitler, is flawless.

4. Children of Men : Another recent movie that just came out. Although it doesnt deal with a historical war, it's depiction of urban warfare in modern times is amazing. I especially loved the 10+ long minute shots, all done with hand-held camera, near the end of the film. The cinematographer makes you FEEL like you're right there in the middle of the conflict.

5. Tora! Tora! Tora! : The real story of Pearl Harbour, not like that brainwashing garbage called 'Pearl Harbor', where Japanese sneak up and bomb a love triangle in order to put a tortured audience, suffering from too much exposure to bad acting, out of their 3 hour long misery.

Re: Top War Films

Jymkata — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 13:29:25 GMT

I agree specifically with King Rat and Stalag 17 - Stalag 17 is one of my favorite movies regardless of genre and if anybody doubts that George Segal used to be a very vibrant young actor they should see King Rat (plus it has really good turns by Tom Courtenay and James Fox). I agree they should be included with great war movies even though they could be more specifically be grouped as POW films ( like Empire of the Sun and Bridge on the River Kwai)

Re: Top War Films

quint — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 13:27:27 GMT

My dad tells a story about flying to Vietnam in 1967 watching King Rat on the airplane. Ominous. Always wanted to see it.

Re: Top War Films

josephkuzma — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 10:15:01 GMT

I agree with a lot of these picks (specifically Dr. Strangelove, Platoon, Full Metal Jacket and Apocalypse Now) but I'm surprised that no one mentioned King Rat, Stalag 17 or Slaughterhouse Five. Maybe not specifically "war movies" but still war-related and still excellent filmmaking.

Re: Top War Films

Rock — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 18:56:50 GMT

Everyone has listed very good war films.

But let's not forget movies like

Re: Top War Films

Risselada — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 19:39:34 GMT

Jymkata:

Boy, sometimes it is hard to explain why a certain movie just grabbed you and didn't let go. It's been a while since I last watched it, but I can preface this by saying I LOVE deep focus photography. This is one of the early examples of great deep focus photography like you see in Citizen Kane. I think it is a very layered film, thematically - it's not just a anti-war film. The film can be interpreted about being about the grand illusions (like war, class structure, etc.) that force desperate people to do insignificant things for self presevation. It is only through the sacrifice of one's self that these illusions can disappear and bring about true redemption of the soul.

Plus I love Jean Gabin, Pierre Fresnay,and Erich Von Stroheim in this film.

That's a good answer!

Re: Top War Films

Jymkata — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 01:14:09 GMT

Boy, sometimes it is hard to explain why a certain movie just grabbed you and didn't let go. It's been a while since I last watched it, but I can preface this by saying I LOVE deep focus photography. This is one of the early examples of great deep focus photography like you see in Citizen Kane. I think it is a very layered film, thematically - it's not just a anti-war film. The film can be interpreted about being about the grand illusions (like war, class structure, etc.) that force desperate people to do insignificant things for self presevation. It is only through the sacrifice of one's self that these illusions can disappear and bring about true redemption of the soul.

Plus I love Jean Gabin, Pierre Fresnay,and Erich Von Stroheim in this film.

Re: Top War Films

Risselada — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 19:37:05 GMT

Jymkata:

I know it is technically a miniseries, but I think Band of Brothers is the best war picture about America's involvement in WWII. In my opinion Come and See is the most sobering look at the horrors of war and Paths of Glory and Grand Illusion are the greatest artistic statements with war as a subject matter.

By the way, I loved Joseph Heller's book, but I really liked the film version of Catch-22 - it had that anything goes, anarchic spirit that was possible in the delirious '70's (Can you imagine a big studio production of it today?). I also really dug Alan Arkin as Yossarian (perfect casting for that place and time IMO)

Interesting. I'm reading Catch 22 right now. I'm sure I'll see the movie when I'm done regardless of what anyone says one way or another, but thanks for making me more excited for it.

I know you love Grand Illusion, but I just couldn't seem to get it as much as a lot of other people do. What's the real message of the movie, and why do you feel it made it's statement so well?

Re: Top War Films

Jymkata — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 00:41:01 GMT

I know it is technically a miniseries, but I think Band of Brothers is the best war picture about America's involvement in WWII. In my opinion Come and See is the most sobering look at the horrors of war and Paths of Glory and Grand Illusion are the greatest artistic statements with war as a subject matter.

By the way, I loved Joseph Heller's book, but I really liked the film version of Catch-22 - it had that anything goes, anarchic spirit that was possible in the delirious '70's (Can you imagine a big studio production of it today?). I also really dug Alan Arkin as Yossarian (perfect casting for that place and time IMO)

Re: Top War Films

Risselada — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 19:14:26 GMT

paul:
"I guess I didn't even realize that [Buffalo Soldiers] had a "side" or that there were any politics involved."

I guess the best way to describe the one sided thing is to bring up The Thin Red Line. Each character was a soldier, but also an individual with completely different thoughts and feelings. Buffalo Soldiers portrayed an army of either stodgy old militants or rebellious anti-heroes. In a war movie where the military--which is an arm of politics--is portrayed as a bunch of criminal, bumbling idiots, it reflects the politics of the film's creator rather than the humanity of its characters.

You really didn't think there was that much variety to the characters? Ed Harris' character, Colonel Berman, was neither a rebellious anti hero nor a stodgy odl militant. Michael Pena's character, Garcia, didn't seem to be so rebellious until pulled along by Elwood. Elwood's roommate Knoll had some interesting ambiguity to him.

Sure the military is often portrayed as bumbling, but I don't see it as a stab to the military specifically. I think it's a swipe at all human organizations. People find ways to take advantage of the system and create wars for ourselves in any situation. Do you think that's an altogether untrue perspective? It might not be the whole truth, but it's an important examination of a particular phenomenon.

Re: Top War Films

paul — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 18:54:03 GMT

"I guess I didn't even realize that [Buffalo Soldiers] had a "side" or that there were any politics involved."

I guess the best way to describe the one sided thing is to bring up The Thin Red Line. Each character was a soldier, but also an individual with completely different thoughts and feelings. Buffalo Soldiers portrayed an army of either stodgy old militants or rebellious anti-heroes. In a war movie where the military--which is an arm of politics--is portrayed as a bunch of criminal, bumbling idiots, it reflects the politics of the film's creator rather than the humanity of its characters.

Re: Top War Films

Risselada — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 15:53:34 GMT

paul:
Risselada,

I have seen Buffalo Soldiers. I saw it at Sundance, but not in 2001. It was 2003. The release of the film was killed by 9/11 and it showed up a couple years later at Sundance when it was ready for a release. There were reports that a woman threw water at the director during the Q&A and screamed he was unpatriotic. That's not really true. A woman did throw an empty water bottle from the balcony and yelled that his film was untrue. She also caused a stir at a panel discussion by yelling at the panel about something totally unrelated to politics. Everyone agreed she was a little loopy. She was a little Asian woman wearing really large glasses and an outfit that looked Klingon.

The film wasn't really well received. Not so much because of any lack of patriotism. I think a lot of people just thought it was kind of all over the place. I agreed. It was like MASH, but none of the characters ever pull it together to do anything constructive. They just bumble around hurting other people until everything explodes. Although I don't agree with throwing empty water bottles, I kind of agree with the crazy little Klingon lady. Buffalo Soldiers seemed untrue and one sided, like the director was patting himself on the back for making a movie that reflected his own politics back to him.

That's an interesting story, Paul.

I'd like to hear more specifically about why it seemed untrue and one sided to you. It was actually based on a book apparently. I found the movie to be humorous. It felt true to me, but maybe in a more accentuated or exaggerated like a Coen brothers film. I'd like to hear some specifics as to why you feel that it was untrue and one sided. I guess I didn't even realized that it had a "side" or that there were any politics involved.

Re: Top War Films

quint — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 02:40:26 GMT

Man, you guys took most of the best ones. I suppose this genre is pretty locked up. Great heroics can make great movies. Here are my picks of top war films not involving the US:

1. Culloden - Could be considered a documentary or a reenactment of British atrocities against the Scottish.
2. Grand Illusion - When war still had honor?
3. The Stick - South African war. Rough stuff.
4. Red Sorghum - Japan's brutality to China
5. Gallipoli - Australians in Turkey

Wow. All of these are pretty bleak. Guess war is hell.

Re: Top War Films

paul — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 20:55:41 GMT

Risselada,

I have seen Buffalo Soldiers. I saw it at Sundance, but not in 2001. It was 2003. The release of the film was killed by 9/11 and it showed up a couple years later at Sundance when it was ready for a release. There were reports that a woman threw water at the director during the Q&A and screamed he was unpatriotic. That's not really true. A woman did throw an empty water bottle from the balcony and yelled that his film was untrue. She also caused a stir at a panel discussion by yelling at the panel about something totally unrelated to politics. Everyone agreed she was a little loopy. She was a little Asian woman wearing really large glasses and an outfit that looked Klingon.

The film wasn't really well received. Not so much because of any lack of patriotism. I think a lot of people just thought it was kind of all over the place. I agreed. It was like MASH, but none of the characters ever pull it together to do anything constructive. They just bumble around hurting other people until everything explodes. Although I don't agree with throwing empty water bottles, I kind of agree with the crazy little Klingon lady. Buffalo Soldiers seemed untrue and one sided, like the director was patting himself on the back for making a movie that reflected his own politics back to him.

Re: Top War Films

Risselada — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 22:30:10 GMT

SkyPilot:

1. The Thin Red Line--I've never been in the military but the movement of the film feels very realistic, a hurry-up-and-wait situation. But since it's Malick, it's often slow-down-and-wait, too.

2. The Deer Hunter--By now we probably all know that there is no evidence for the Viet Cong forcing their prisoners to play Russian roulette. Fine. It's still one of the most compelling scenes in cinema history.

3. Apocalypse Now--not the Redux, in which the scenes had some interesting points or themes, but I don't think most of the scenes helped the movie. Except maybe the scene where Kurtz comes to the guys' cell and reads to him from--Time magazine was it? Still, you have a trade-off because that's the only time you see Kurtz in the daylight, and I like how in the original he's always in the dark of the temple.

4. Saving Private Ryan--UPPUM WILL YOU GET UP THAT F***ING STAIRCASE! It still does it to me every time.

5. Platoon--I don't have much to say about this one, but I'm not just tacking it on for no good reason. I guess I feel like I could've been there with guys more than any of the other ones. The guys are more childlike than the soldiers of the other films, but they're still capable of shocking violence and depravity. Elias is the kind of Sergeant I would follow.

All highly conventional choices Adam. I guess I can't argue with them too much though. I always find Spielberg a bit too senimental though.

The Deer Hunter is intense and affecting, but sheesh just too long and depressing. I think the industrial town they live in is more depressing than the war.

I just saw The Thin Red Line after seeing it not long after it first came out. I've seen Days of Heaven once and Badlands about half a dozen times since then. I was excited to see it again, but although it's shot beautifully, I found it to be not quite the perfect piece of poetry I had sculpted it to be in my memory or re-expectations if you will. It seemed kind of thin.

paul:
War.

It's such a popular genre and, therefore, is usually done poorly, like romance. So, I'm asking myself which films I feel really showed me something about war besides the usual hero vs. villain stuff.

The Thin Red Line (for reasons stated above)
The New World - although not a designated "war," I still thought there was a war between the colonists and indians. Even such a small war had reprecussions that changed the world.
Hotel Rwanda - showed me how a country can cave in on itself without the rest of the world having a clue. It also showed me how much war is about emotions with no regard for reason.
Legends of the Fall and Tae Guk Gi - It's amazing how war completely mangles and reinvents a bond between brothers.
Chihwaseon - Usually, in war movie you have to watch the war from one side--the hero's side--looking at the other. This movie's hero refuses to choose sides as war after war goes on around him. Something about that perspective really, for me, showed the futility of war.

I guess I'm still pretty excited to see The New World.

Hotel Rwanda was so moving and not like the war movies we are used to in America, which even when lamenting the tragedies of war seem pretty self centered.

Ooooh, I've been interested in seeing Chihwaseon for awhile, but haven't heard anyone I actually sort of knew recommend it.

Alright, here's my list.

1. KUBRICK! Full Metal Jacket; Paths of Glory; Dr. Strangelove; Barry Lyndon; Ok, I have done this with most of my top 5 lists, but I’m surprised to see I seem to have a favorite filmmaker for many different genres and categories. What can I say about Kubrick but he knew how to portray man’s folly, and where is that more abundant than in war?

2. The General. (1927). Is this a war movie? IMDB says it is. Even in my war movies list, I have to cram in as many comedies as I can.

3. Buffalo Soldiers. (2001). I'm not sure how many of you have seen this? I saw it sort of accidentally. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival just days before 9/11. After that it could not get a wide distribution at movie theaters due to the fear that people would be upset by a movie that seemed to criticize the US military. It doesn't really do that however. I'm not sure if it would have been more well known otherwise, but it's unfortunate more people didn't get a chance to see it. It basically suggests that human beings always strive to be in some sort of state of war and will create their own smaller wars if there is no official one to participate in. Really funny as well!

4. No Man's Land. (2001). Examines many aspects of war, including the damaging impact the pervasive media organizations can play in recent times.

5. The Red and the White. (1967). I can't count the number of thoughtless execusion style killings, and after a while you forget which side is which and it doesn't even matter.

and I would also like to mention Little Dieter Needs to Fly, a Herzog documentary which contains some pretty astounding and heroing anectodes from the title character about his experiences in the Vietnam war and a POW camp.

Re: Top War Films

paul — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 21:35:29 GMT

War.

It's such a popular genre and, therefore, is usually done poorly, like romance. So, I'm asking myself which films I feel really showed me something about war besides the usual hero vs. villain stuff.

The Thin Red Line (for reasons stated above)
The New World - although not a designated "war," I still thought there was a war between the colonists and indians. Even such a small war had reprecussions that changed the world.
Hotel Rwanda - showed me how a country can cave in on itself without the rest of the world having a clue. It also showed me how much war is about emotions with no regard for reason.
Legends of the Fall and Tae Guk Gi - It's amazing how war completely mangles and reinvents a bond between brothers.
Chihwaseon - Usually, in war movie you have to watch the war from one side--the hero's side--looking at the other. This movie's hero refuses to choose sides as war after war goes on around him. Something about that perspective really, for me, showed the futility of war.

Re: Top War Films

snowjob — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 02:45:50 GMT

Catch 22 was so bad - maybe i need film apprec class but it was bad. some books just dont translate well (ie dune). also, is schindler's list a war movie? if so, speilberg has 2 spots locked up.

Re: Top War Films

tmoney — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 18:10:23 GMT

Hmm, All that comes to mind is Behind Enemy Lines, Pearl Harbor, and Toy Soldiers. But I guess this is the real list.

1. The Thin Red Line - malick. nuff said.
2. Battle of Algiers - maybe not in the war genre but a war film non the less.
3. Full Metal Jacket - classic
4. Saving Private Ryan - yes, this is hollywood. but also pretty good.
5. Patton

By the way, I heard Catch 22 was a pretty awful movie. Can anyone vouch?

Top War Films

SkyPilot — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 04:39:06 GMT

1. The Thin Red Line--I've never been in the military but the movement of the film feels very realistic, a hurry-up-and-wait situation. But since it's Malick, it's often slow-down-and-wait, too.

2. The Deer Hunter--By now we probably all know that there is no evidence for the Viet Cong forcing their prisoners to play Russian roulette. Fine. It's still one of the most compelling scenes in cinema history.

3. Apocalypse Now--not the Redux, in which the scenes had some interesting points or themes, but I don't think most of those scenes serve the movie. Except maybe the scene where Kurtz comes to the guy's cell and reads to him from--Time magazine was it? Still, you have a trade-off because that's the only time you see Kurtz in the daylight, and I like how in the original he's always in the dark of the temple.

4. Saving Private Ryan--UPPUM WILL YOU GET UP THAT F***ING STAIRCASE! It still does it to me every time.

5. Platoon--I don't have much to say about this one, but I'm not just tacking it on for no good reason. I feel like I could've been there with those guys, more than the soldiers in other movies. The guys are more childlike than the soldiers of the other films, but they're still capable of shocking violence and depravity. Elias is the kind of Sergeant I would follow.