Weekly Theme

Weekly Theme for May 25: The American Soldier

Happy Memorial Day Y'all. I had something else I decided to go with a more seasonal theme instead. Today is Memorial Day, a day that we're supposed to remember the sacrifices made by those men & women in the armed forces. So, let's all do just that by remembering the way countless films have portrayed them.

Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan gave a very honorable portrayel of the WWII vets. Most of the characters in this film were a bit too archetypical (is that a word?) But nonetheless, I think it was his way of honoring a generation that will all to soon be lost to us forever.

I haven't seen A Bridge Too Far in quite a while, but I do remember liking it a lot. As I recall, this was a film filled with cameos, sort of like another WWII film, The Thin Red Line.

This could pretty easily turn into a list of war movies so I'll quit while I'm still ahead. But what I really like to know is: Who is your favorite American soldier. I'm looking for suggestions because as I write this, it is becoming pretty clear that I haven't seen nearly enough of these films.

Well, have at it.

Emery.

Re:Weekly Theme for May 25: The American Soldier

At first, I was going to say that I'm not really a fan of the genre, but after thinking about it, I actually am.

Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket and Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb are two of my favorite films. Both films just capture the many facets of war and the American fascination with it.

The Manchurian Candidate (1962) was really one of the first pre-1970 films I had seen as a teenager and completely blew me away. Definitely made me look at Angela Lansbury in a whole new way.

Forrest Gump was just an all around great film. Infinitely quotable and probably one of my favorite depictions of an American soldier.

Andersonville, Gone With The WInd and Dances With Wolves are all great Civil War films. I still can't get over Andersonville which really struck a chord with me and woke me up to the true horrors of war and how miserable being a POW must be.

The Patriot was corny but I still find myself watching it every time it's on television. 

G.I. Jane, Courage Under Fire, Your Mother Wears Combat Boots and Private Benjamin are some good (or interesting) films about women in the armed forces.

And lastly, the more slapstick portrayals of soldiers are Down Periscope, Sgt. Bilko, and my personal favorite, In The Army Now.

Re:Weekly Theme for May 25: The American Soldier

Buffalo Soldiers is a fantastic one!  It's about how people always need to be at war.  In this army, when there is no war going on to fight externally, people create their own internal wars.  It didn't get much distribution since it premiered like right after 9/11 so a lot of theaters wouldn't play a movie that seemd to be criticizing our army.

Merc, you mentioned Full Metal Jacket and Dr. Strangelove, but what about Paths of Glory!??

And as for another civil war film, Ride With the Devil is probably my favorite.

And my favorite book Catch-22 has been made into a pretty great film capturing a lot of the absurdity.

Re:Weekly Theme for May 25: The American Soldier

Risselada:

Merc, you mentioned Full Metal Jacket and Dr. Strangelove, but what about Paths of Glory!??

I haven't had the chance to watch most of Kubrick's early work (anything pre-Dr. Strangelove, which is sadly more than half of his oeuvre).

Re:Weekly Theme for May 25: The American Soldier

Risselada:

 

but what about Paths of Glory!??

 

I thought about Paths of Glory too, but wait.... Kirk Douglas & his men were actually French soldiers in that movie. I think that's one of the more interesting things about watching older films like that. I really don't think you could get away with that type of casting nowadays.

Re:Weekly Theme for May 25: The American Soldier

leeroy711:

Risselada:

 

but what about Paths of Glory!??

 

I thought about Paths of Glory too, but wait.... Kirk Douglas & his men were actually French soldiers in that movie. I think that's one of the more interesting things about watching older films like that. I really don't think you could get away with that type of casting nowadays.

French??? For real??  Well it's been quite a while since I've seen it too!