Greatest WW2 Films - With List in 1st Post

[Hammerguard]

Col Von Barring's post here (http://forums.relicnews.com/showpost.php?p=3264286&postcount=9) got me thinking what are, in your opinion, the best WW2 movies ever made, and perhaps most importantly why.

For me there's a few but top of the list has to be -

Das Boot (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082096)- Absolutely stunning movie. Made from the German perspective (unusually). That realistic you can smell the sweat.

To End All Wars (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0243609) - Not only is it about my Regiment, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, but I had the privilege to correspond with Ernest Gordon before his death. Brutal but realistic.

Films Listed In Posts Below

So far we have -

WW2 Films

Das Boot (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082096)
To End All Wars (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0243609)
The Silent Enemy (http://www.britmovie.co.uk/studios/shepperton/filmography/1950/1958/002.html)
The Longest Day (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056197/fullcredits#cast)
Saving Private Ryan (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120815/)
Cockleshell Heroes (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049083)
Dambusters (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046889/)
A Bridge Too Far (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075784/)

WW2 Related

WW2 Television

[Flonky]

Saving Private Ryan.

Yes it's one of the most historically inaccurate movies of all time but otherwise, I feel that it depicts the desperation and determination of war pretty damn well. It's not just the Americans OMGWTFPWNING all the Germans. They struggle, it is a challenge. It's not just a generic Hollywood thriller with a grinning actor at the forefront killing entire battalions and not getting so much as a scratch.

[Bowkers]

Cockleshell Heroes has to be rated as my favourite-again as you mentioned because, I have history with the Royal Marines.
Also The Longest Day was the first film about D-Day that I was really interested in. Particularly with the 'clickers' used for communicating.

[Hammerguard]

Cockleshell Heroes ('http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049083') is my dad's favourite film, though it took a long time for him to find the original version. For some time the sequence where it is completely in the dark with only dialogue was cut from the TV versions.

[Heretic]

For an amazing drama, watch Saving Private Ryan (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120815/). If you want a classical one, I love Dambusters (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046889/), what that squadron did is not nearly talked about enough.

As for historical accuracy, I'd have to go a step further and say Downfall (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363163/). Not quite a war film, but it's a visually stunning, fantastic tale on the end of the Third Reich and the battle for Berlin. It's a German film; but is utterly amazing.

[Handyman]

Cross of iron is my favourite. Really well made and showed how cruel war really is(children as soldiers etc).

Kellys heroes comes second. It was very realistic and had its own humor, even though the plot is fictional.

[Dooks Dizzo]

Band of Brothers if it counts.

Patton and The Longest Day are also a couple of classics.

I have to say Saving Private Ryan is by far one of my least favorite for any number of reasons. One of the main ones being that so many people took so much of the movie as actually factually correct. And now everyone wants to be a sniper :(

Saving Private Ryan should probably get its own thread...

[Maniac]

I enjoyed "When Trumpets Fade" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_Trumpets_Fade) quite a lot. Nicely made movie.

Quote from the link:


The overall point the film makes is that not everyone who took part in World War II was stereotypical hero material; in fact, Manning's role is distinctly one of an anti-hero, somebody ordinary pushed into extraordinary circumstances.

[Dooks Dizzo]

Oh, good one Maniac. Makes me want to break out my copy and watch it right now!

I love how for once, in that movie, the least heroic looking soldier turns out to be the best of them.

[Hammerguard]

Sorry if this is coming across as all pompous and back seat mod on your ass peeps, but if you are putting films forward could you (PRETTY PLEASE) provide links.

Maniac's fav film is one that I've never seen and thanks to his link one that I would like to watch.

I think this is something that would benefit us all.

Thanks.

[Handyman]

Oh sorry Hammer. Here are the links:

cross of iron
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_of_iron

kellys heroes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kellys_heroes

There you go:)

[Shoota Fodder]

Kellys heroes (linked above) is very good. It's funny and a good action movie to boot.

A Bridge Too Far (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Bridge_Too_Far_(film)) is a great film in my opinion. It's not only pretty accurate historically, incredibly epic in scale, and has an all star cast, but it isn't a complete blockbuster "lol germans suck" film. It actually shows how catastrophic the Campaign was for the allies.

[trebmal_ca]

TORA TORA TORA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEnZ_hAGCDo&feature=related

The attack on pearl Harbour seen through both sides of the conflict

[Hammerguard]

A Bridge Too Far is a fantastic film. Wasn't there an actor (a veteran of the campaign) who played the part of someone in film (his commander in real life) whilst someone played him?

[Shoota Fodder]

Yes, Lieutenant Colonel Joe Vandeleur (played by Michael Cain) was on set to give him advice on how he felt at certain points of the battle, and to show him how he said his orders and how he looked and showed expression.

[Hammerguard]

Shoota,

I'm certain that that's not who I'm thinking about.
In the film there was an actor who took part in Operation Market Garden. He played his Commanding Officer whilst another actor played him.

Buggered if I can remember who it was or indeed, after a few Bitburger, whether my memory is what it used to be.

[Shoota Fodder]

Oh now I know what you mean! Sorry for the confusion. I'm pretty certain your correct, I remember hearing something about it, but the name slips me.

[Hammerguard]

First rant in WW2 forum coming up,

Shit, fuck, bollocks.

Free Murph buger AND fries to whoever can come up with the answer.

[Bowkers]

Schindler's List would get my vote as well. It's not action admittedly but I love it.

[IcecreamLtDan]

Let me take a look at my Bridge too Far dvd and see if they say anything about it in the special features. I know they had several people on the set who were involved in the operation as technical advisors, but not too sure about one who specifically worked with an actor who was portraying him.

Actually, here's a page of trivia from the film on imdb, maybe this will answer your questions.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075784/trivia

[Caesar]

Tora, Tora, Tora! is good, but so is Downfall, and Stalingrad.

[Julian]

The Pianist is excellent, although not exactly a war film. Oh and Schindler's List.

[BrianGeneral]

Band of Brothers all the way. It's just too relistically made and shocking (the scenerios) from not being awesome.
Saving Private Ryan for its first and last scenes.
Flag of Our Fathers, I haven't watch it yet but it gives us another point of view towards the war instead of just boasting heroism.
Letters of Iwo Jima is a good piece to describe the Japanese's thoughts instead of just labelling them all as maniacs.

[n0z3k1ll3r]

I'm quite fond of Die Brücke (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Brücke_(film))

[Hirmetrium]

Enemy at the Gates, anyone? The openning scene crossing the river was great, and the story surrounding a young soilder intrigued me.

That and Band of Brothers - despite it being a TV series, it deserves an honorable mention.

[the-tempest]

Saving Private Ryan - obvious choice, it's an amazing movie that reinvigorated people's interest in the war, even if it is unrealistic in parts.

The Thin Red Line - It's not as good as it should have been, but when those soldiers are trying to take the hill, it is a very well done chaotic movie.

Downfall - Mentioned above, but it's a good, gritty drama that gives a different take on the war.

Letters from Iwo Jima - Tremendous film. Great character development.

The Longest Day - If you've got the time to sit down and watch the whole thing, it's a very epic film.

Casablanca - Not really a war movie, but a classic none the less.

Pearl Harbour - This movie is fun, even if only in the cheesy, overly patriotic way. It's no masterpiece, way overdramatized, but still, really fun.

[PacPomarnacki]

Although they have already been mentioned I feel I must add my vote to them as Well.

Das Boot (1981): Brilliantly made but also the unusual fact that it is from the German point of view. A fact I feel is summed up very well by the end of the movie (trying not to give anything away here) that shows the Captain not as some evil exterminator but as a man trying to look after his crew.

The Longest Day (1962): The most expensive black and white film ever made until Schindlers List. Most importantly in my view it has scenes with British, American, French, German, Canadian and many others all in their respective roles and languages with subtitles, showing the truly international effort involved. It also sums up the entirety of D-Day with amazing accuracy but keeps the drama alive even with a main cast of over forty, the classic definition of a war movie epic.

The Battle of Britain (1969): This is a great film simply because it is more accurate than most and if you want to know what happened in the Battle of Britain then simply watch this film. However it is also a great piece of Cinema and has a timeless quality just like The Longest Day. Also because these films were before the advent of CGI (which I consider can be the greatest bane of modern cinema) all the planes used are original fighters or replicas built off them.


I'm afraid Saving Private Ryan cannot even come close to being a great film, The first fifteen minutes of that film are visually amazing. This is unfortunately ruined when the characters open their mouths and the plot starts off, revealing the biggest pile of mush since the teletubbies. Now Mush is important or you'd be watching a documentary however the sheer amount of emotion pumped into every scene just makes you think the entire Second World War was people fighting or crying over fallen comrades.
However Spielberg and Hanks can be very much forgiven with Band of Brothers, which has the balance of Action, Sentimentality and plot exactly down and makes incredibly enjoyable, moving and informative viewing.

Sorry for the length, My Film student habit kicked in and I appear to have written mini-reviews.

[sporty]

Out of the not too complete list of WW2 movies I've seen (all of them already mentioned, well done :D):

Das Boot - Nothing less than fantastic. An amazing score. Induces an impressive amount of tension and claustrophobic feeling, just as you'd expect from WW2 submarine warfare. Haven't seen a better war movie yet.
The Thin Red Line - Visually amazing. Watching the hills covered in artillery explosions is disgusting and fascinating at the same time.
Downfall - One name: Bruno Ganz. An exceptional depiction of Hitler in every aspect.


I really need to watch Stalingrad again, saw it ages ago. Pretty brutal though, if memory serves me correctly.

[BoDyBaG2224]

Downfall
Tora Tora Tora
A Bridge Too Far
Flags of our Fathers (Pacific)
Letters from Iwo Jima (Pacific same place as Flags of our Fathers Japanese perspective)
Band of Brothers

[Quissco]

Saving Private Ryan for realism in combat
Thin Red Line for the psychological torture the soldiers suffered

[Col Von Barring]

I think it was Dirk Bogarde. If my memory serves me correctly he was in the Parachute regt as a Junior Officer and played his CO in the film. Of course, I could be wrong! Can't find my copy of the film as I justed moved and haven't unpacked!

As an aside, our American cousins shouldn't be able to post on WW2 forums until 2 years after they start! Sorry chaps, couldn't resist that. Anyway, as Ronald Reagan was alleged to have said: "We may have been late for the last 2 but we'll damn well be early for the next one!".

P.S. Please can we have our Empire back?

[Hammerguard]

Cheers Col,

However, this has been doing my box in for days now, and I finally know why.

IT WAS THE WRONG BLOODY FILM I WAS THINKING ABOUT!!!

The film was The Longest Day (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056197/fullcredits#cast) and the actor was Richard Todd. He played Major John Howerd, whilst another actor played him whilst the two met on Pegasus Bridge.

Apologies for the st00pidity on my part. :spartaaa:

[n0z3k1ll3r]

As an aside, our American cousins shouldn't be able to post on WW2 forums until 2 years after they start!Mind you the Japanese have been posting here for two years before everyone else...

[p0seidon]

Saving Private Ryan for realism in combat

lolwut?

Anyhow,

-Enemy At The Gates (Forget about the British accents and you have one hell of a entertaining film.)
-Der Untergang (Downfall for you US dolts)
-Band of Brothers
-Hart's War (It's a flick about an fictional POW camp, was pretty nice, but I feel like not everyone will agree ;).)

[Col Von Barring]

Hammerguard: Thats who I meant! I knew it was wrong when I wrote it! Doh!

[Jianaran]

I'd have to say Dambusters, Saving Private Ryan (I know, I know... It's just a good popcorn flick) Das Boot, and in a similar vein The Silent Enemy (http://www.britmovie.co.uk/studios/shepperton/filmography/1950/1958/002.html), a great movie that seems sadly to have been ignored by the masses.

[Aesaar]

No one has mentioned The Great Escape yet? Unacceptable.

[Hammerguard]

Right folks,

I'll collect all the films together and list them in the first post, to be updated when I get home from work.

[Bowkers]

what about the tv series Dad's Army, British series. It was funny as it depicted the Home Army, which were useless but dedicated to the job.

[BoDyBaG2224]

Does Indiana Jones count? :p

[Caesar]

Here we go, some links:
Stalingrad (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalingrad_(film))
and
Talvisota (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talvisota_(film))

Too bad someone already mentioned A Bridge Too Far and The Longest Day.

Edit: Oh yes, who could forget Patton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patton_(film)) !

[Bowkers]

Seriously what about Schindlers List?

[Shornaal]

WW2 related - Napola. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Before_the_Fall
No frontier combat but still interesting.

Also Talvisota. It's about the winter war but is WW2 related for sure. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talvisota_(film)
It's an awsome movie , one of my favourite war cinematography. It's rather realistic and doesen't have the bs hollywood touch to it like shaving private ryan or what ever it was.

Stalingrad. The name speaks for itself. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalingrad_(film)
Quite grim I must say.

edit: well caesar is faster than me

[roflmao]

Patton (thanks for reminding me Caesar), Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, and Downfall are my personal favorites.

Such good films.

[Rischer]

Definitely A Bridge Too Far or Patton.

:sniper:

[snrjefe]

A few notables I hadn't seen mentioned so far. The site has a pretty good listing in case you're struggling with one who's name eludes you: http://www.wwii-movies.com

Bridge over the River Kwai http://www.wwii-movies.com/index.php?content=moviedetails&movieid=10

Memphis Belle http://www.wwii-movies.com/index.php?content=moviedetails&movieid=155

Stalag 17 http://www.wwii-movies.com/index.php?content=moviedetails&movieid=114

And, of course, Top Secret http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1021699-top_secret/

[Shoota Fodder]

Wow, Patton... can't believe I forgot about that.

I don't think anyone's mentioned The Big Red One. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_big_red_one) Kinda tongue in cheek film similar to Kelly's Heroes but far more serious and shows more of the horrors of war. Good movie mind you.

Also The Bridge At Remagen. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bridge_at_Remagen) Another good film based on the capture of an intact bridge over the Rhine. Not watched it in a while but it is very good.

A classic as well. Surprised it hasn't been mentioned. The Dirty Dozen! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dirty_Dozen). Basically a group of ex military men, who are on death row re given a chance to get released without being executed. Basically, they have to join the army and execute a near suicide mission. Funny, tense and insane all at the same time.

[Rischer]

How about The Eagle Has Landed?? One of my personal all-time favourite novels.

Also, what about Where Eagles Dare? A good plot and thoroughly enjoyable.

[PacPomarnacki]

It seems as if there are two distinct categories forming. One which encompasses touching, gritty or realistic films such as Schindlers List, The Longest Day, Stanlingrad etc.
Then there’s the Tongue and Cheek "Oh what a lovely war" category with films such as Kellys Heroes, and TV Series such as Dad's Army (If you haven’t seen at least one episode do so NOW)

Perhaps a crow barring apart of the two categories? As they are defiantly meant for different purposes and come under different definitions of "Greatest"

Oh and to the people discussing it earlier, In the Longest Day, yes Richard Todd (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0865262/) who plays Major John Howard who lead the Glider borne assault on Pegasus bridge on D-Day was actually a veteran of the Action but was a Private at the time. He returned to play his commanding officer of the day.

[**Spetsnaz**]

Stalingrad: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108211/

movie is ridiculously realistic. german director. AWESOME movie.

Das Boot is also a top favourite. superb picture. great music.

idti i smotri - russian movie http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091251/
quite grim, weird movie, but some really f****d *p scenes in it.

ill post other ones when i think of it, gotta go now, catch my train home ;-)

gr

S

[IronSnakesFTW]

I've got a good 'un (or two): Flags of our Fathers and it's partner film, Letters From Iwo Jima. Brilliant film. Flags of our fathers follows the americans invading an atoll of somesort , and when they return home as ''heros''. LFIJ shows the japanese side of it, watched about a 1/3 of it brilliant from what I saw though.

[AshaD]

Saving Private Ryan.

Yes it's one of the most historically inaccurate movies of all time but otherwise, I feel that it depicts the desperation and determination of war pretty damn well. It's not just the Americans OMGWTFPWNING all the Germans. They struggle, it is a challenge. It's not just a generic Hollywood thriller with a grinning actor at the forefront killing entire battalions and not getting so much as a scratch.

It's just that that makes me love the film so much. It was a piece of masterful directing. I loved the use of handheld cameras for storming the beach for the first person perspective, I loved the drama, I loved the sounds use. If you delve a little deeper under the surface to see the work and thought that went into the film you'll appreciate it all the more.

Gotta agree with Hirm too. Enemy at the Gate was a good film. Love sniper's in films, thats why I loved Jackson in SPR (Damn his death!) Loved the rivalry between the German officer and Vasili. Loved the fact that they called their weapons sniper rifles and not 'sniper guns' like some of the dipshits thats play FPS do.

As for TV I loved Band of Brothers, especially since Stephen Graham (Snatch, This is England and Scummy Man (The Arctic Monkeys vid)) is my girlfriend's next door neighbour.

[Esa]

A bridge too far is the most realistic ww2 movie of all time in terms of strategy. The COs far from the actual field are trying hard to fail more than the opposition.

[Master Chief]

I agree with IronSnakes, Flags of our Fathers is amazing, both the movie and novel. It truly shows the horrors of the Pacific theater as well as the valor and skill of the Marines.

Band of Brothers goes without saying, though it's a miniseries, not a film.

I also really liked Windtalkers, starring Nicholas Cage. It's about the Navajo codetalkers in the Pacific theater. It's a very good movie, one of the few Cage movies I like.

[**Spetsnaz**]

if im not misstaking, nobody mentionned "Midway" yet? :-)

[infantry_sir]

without a doubt it has to be downfall for me.such a great movie.

[Col Von Barring]

These all spring to mind on this cold and wet afternoon! For POW links, search "Stalag Luft" on Google.

Bridge On The River Kwai

The Colditz Story - a true story http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Colditz_Story

The Wooden Horse - a true story of ingenuity http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wooden_Horse

The Great Escape - incredible cast, another true story http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Escape

Von Ryans Express - silly but fun starring Frank Sinatra http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Ryan's_Express

Escape To Victory - Pele and Bobby Moore take on the Jerries! http://www.escapetovictory.spodrum.co.uk/news.php

A Town Like Alice - based on the novel by Neville Shute http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049871/

Three Came Home - b/w film from early fifties telling the story of civilians caotured by the Japanese. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Came_Home

The One That Got Away - the story of the only German who escaped in from the British in WW2. Actually escaped from Canada to America. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_One_That_Got_Away

Empire Of The Sun - J.G.Ballard's story of a young boy interred by the Japanese. Based on his own early life. If you like Sci-fi, check out his other books. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_of_the_Sun

Well, theres a few to keep you occupied!

Mentioning Neville Shute got me thinking about a book I read many years ago. Set just after WW2 (written in 1947) it tells the story of a man who only has a year tp live so he decides to find the men who helped him after a plane crash to see if he can help them before he dies. An amazing novel. Read the wikipedia page to get the full story.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chequer_Board

[AshaD]

Band of Brothers goes without saying, though it's a miniseries, not a film.

Thats why I said "As for TV series..." Which was a subheading in hammerguards first post.

[Master Chief]

Ah, right, can't believe I missed that.

Tora! Tora! Tora! is pretty good, though I haven't seen it in a while.

[**Spetsnaz**]

i did not find band of brothers so good to be honest.

it seems all americans are ubersoldiers in that series, and germans are always killed in great numbers without too much effort.

no real sense of reality, like i got in movies like "saving private ryan" (the opening sequence, storming ashore on D-Day) or in Stalingrad (the frozen feet, blacker as ash, ) das Boot (just 300 minutes of intense suspension without stop + super soundtrack)

band of brothers is a lot cheaper, all though the story is good, and i like the ol guys talking about their real-life experiences

[Hammerguard]

I'll get around to getting the list on the first post updated this weekend, I've got a painting comp entry to finish.

So keep 'em coming folks.

[Col Von Barring]

TV series

'Allo 'Allo - British humour at its best. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/'Allo_'Allo!

Secret Army - story of the French resistance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Army_(TV_series)

Tenko - set in a womens prison camp in Malaya http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenko

A Family At War - exactly what it says http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Family_at_War

Hogan' Heroes - US comedy set in Stalag 13 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hogan's_Heroes

More war films!

Above Us The Waves - John Mills attacks the Tirpitz in a mini-sub
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Above_Us_the_Waves_(film)

Sink The Bismark! - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sink_the_Bismarck!

Guns Of Navarone - based on the Alistair Maclean novel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guns_of_Navarone_(film)

Reach For The Sky - The story of Douglas Bader http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reach_for_the_Sky

The Battle Of Britain - RAF v. Luftwaffe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Britain_(film)

Ice Cold In Alex - John Mills (again) early desert saga of an ambulance trying to reach Alexandria - spot the Carlsberg glasses at the end!
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=G9Ra7hQoHpE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice-Cold_in_Alex

Dunkirk - John Mills again!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkirk_(film)

The Sands Of Iwo Jima - John Wayne http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sands_of_Iwo_Jima

Fighting Seabees -John Wayne http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fighting_Seabees

Objective Burma! _ Errol Flynn! Total hokum!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objective,_Burma!

Merrill's Maurauders - Jeff Chandler - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrill's_Marauders_(film)

Once Before I Die - Yanks v. Japs with Ursula Andress!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_Before_I_Die

Everytime I think of a WW2 film, 2 more spring to mind! Theres a Frank Sinatra film set on a Pacific Island that I can't remember the name of! Won't be able to sleep till I remember it.

Found it!

None But The Brave - American survivors in the Soloman Islands
http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/63495/none-but-the-brave.html

[**Spetsnaz**]

recent movie: the counterfeiters. iv seen it, and it isnt all that bad.
its about the German attempt to use Jewish inmates to counterfeit massive amounts of US$ and UK£ to try and dislocate those respective economies.
and its a true story. I have read about it in the memoirs of Schellenberg.

[Sethero]

Where Eagles Dare - Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood, a classic of the genre, probably equivalent to a WWII spagetti western.

Kelly's Heroes - Another Eastwood joint, with Don Rickles, Telly Savalas and Donald Sutherland as a hippy tank commander. My favorite of the WWII comedies.

[TheWickedGerman]

The Doomsfall is one of the best WW2 movies ever made, Bruno Ganz as Hitler is so scary. The film has a lot of Bizzare scenes, when Hitler is sitting over his map and moves army´s he dont have, and talking about talking back the oilfields ect...

It´s a very intense movie, well played.

Das Boot - A real classic, nothing to say about that. But you have to see the much longer TV-Version.

And I liked also very much Tora Tora Tora.

[asdarta]

hmm.. this is wierd... Band of Brothers is not included?


But since saving private ryan is included.. I give that a thumbs up.

[ÜberJumper]

WW2:

Saving Private Ryan - Not entirely accurate, but authentic, and very very scary.

Pearl Harbour - Obviously the Ben Affleck/Josh Hartnett bits were cheesy, BUT, just about everything that happened in that movie was based on cold hard facts. Americans did go join the Brit airforce. Planes did get up in the air with their pilots coming to the maintence field with hangovers (and did end up shooting down planes). A cook on a ship did man the machine guns. The americans did a desperate raid against tokyo with medium bombers launched from a carrier.

WW2 Related

Snow Falling on Cedars - Incredibly moving picture.

[holyknight]

Downfall was awesome. Shows the downfall of Germany and Hitler.

Band of Brothers is the best WW2 TV series.

And there was this documentary about WW2 made by British guys that was freaking awesome... forgot the name, I'll look for it later in my basement

Edit: TheWickedGerman beat me with Downfall :(

Asdarta beat me with Band of Brothers

[Husky42]

As Wicked German mentioned, Tora Tora Tora - This is the only Pearl Harbour movie any fan should own. It is simply the best and holds nothing to any other.

Downfall was good, so was The Rise of Hitler.

Also good, Run Silent Run Deep, Das Boot, Enemy at the Gates as previously mentioned, Midway, Battle of Britain. I love each one of these movies with a passion, if i were to choose just one as my favorite though, it would tie with BOB and Tora Tora Tora.

[Fram]

An oldie but a goodie TV series.

Combat!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat!

[TheWickedGerman]

Does anybody know this ""2 comdey series about a POW prison with this stupid Col. (Oberst) Klink? Totall odd and stupi, but i liked it. I dont know the english original title, translated from german it would be "A cage full of Heroes". But it sounds weird in english for me, so I doubt that´s the OT.

[Husky42]

Hogans Heroes :)

[redcoated]

The Longest Day : very interesting story behind this one . Richard Todd [ who played Major John Howard , the paratrooper officer who took Pegasus Brigde and held it] was a British paratrooper officer during the war , one of the first to land on D-Day . And he met up with Howard on Peagasus brigde as howard was his commanding officer . So he played Howard while another actor played him!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Longest_Day_(film)
scroll down to the 'Casting' section to read the story

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Todd

[Glubtrak]

One of my favorite WW2 movies has to be Stalingrad (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalingrad_(film)). It's realistic and well made and i love it just for that. Good actors too.
Die Brücke (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Br%C3%BCcke_(film)) has a special place in my heart simply because it's one of the first german movies that deal with the 2WW. Powerful stuff.

And just for good measure: How I Won the War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_i_won_the_war). It's a wonderful comedy about how a British Regiment has to set up an “Advanced Area Cricket Pitch” behind the enemy lines in Tunisia. It's very black humor but it's one of my favorite movies in general.

[chelovek_veliki]

This is perhaps a bit of an odd suggestion, but has everybody seen those old WWII Looney Toons cartoons, for instance, the one with Bugs as Stalin?

[TheWickedGerman]

http://www.sophieschollmovie.com/

Sophie Scholl - The final days

This isnt a movie about the war, but about the last days of sophie scholl, the leader of "the white rose", a student resistance group.

One of the best movies of about this time and it goes under your skin.

Check it out.

[Bowkers]

There's a film I recently watched-or rather an adaptation on the screen called 'God on Trial.' Very watchable, about Jews putting God on trial, they find him guilty in the end I believe.

[chelovek_veliki]

Whoa, that wouldn't go down well in most synagoges.

[Sorkenlol1]

Schindler's List, one of my favourite movies of all time. Just amazing.

Saving Private Ryan, really got drawn into this movie, especially on Omaha Beach, really like this one.

Band of Brothers, incredible series.

The Thin Red Line, I didn't see all of it, but it was a great movie even so. I need to finish the whole movie the next time I see it.

[Sgt So and So]

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Saints and Soldiers.

Great indie film and, even better, a great film about the Ardennes Offensive, specifically the Malmedy Massacre. Although it has religious undertones (concerning the religious justifications for war), I still enjoyed it for what it was: an well-made war film with a budget under $1 million.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373283/

[Sorkenlol1]

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Saints and Soldiers.

It was a good film, but not great.

[Cossack]

Letters from Iwo Jima is the best for me :)

[Skyhawk]

There are many I like, but for me the best is Stalingrad, for its honesty. It was the "All Quiet on the Western Front" of WW2 for me.

"Saving Private Ryan" solely for Speilberg re-writing the book on combat cinematography and effects. I think I first heard acurate bullet whistles in Forest Gump though.

[Tom 1561]

Das boot
Stalingrad
Saving Private Ryan
Das Untergang
Band of Brothers

[Bowkers]

Something I watched over the Christmas period-that I enjoyed immensely, was The Eagle Has Landed starring Michael Caine amongst others

[Halftrack]

O, havent had the time to read all, just a few of my favourites...

- Band of Brothers goes in first, but as mentioned, its a series
- Das Boot
- Steiner - Cross of Iron ( first part much better than the 2nd)
- The Thin Red Line
- Letters from Iwo Jima / Flags of our Fathers
- Stalingrad
- Enemey at the Gates
- The Longest Day
- A Bridge too far
- Bridge at the River Kwai
- Patton
- Ardennes 1944
- Die Bruecke

and well.. Saving Private Ryan ..
I liked the Normandy Landing, the Sounds overall are outstanding, the tension
it creates, the quite realistic equipment
There are lots of things I dislike... beginning from inaccurate shavings of
German heads, the absolutely ridiculous Battle of Ramelle, most parts of the story..
Great opportunity to create a realistic picture of WW2 wasted...
but visually and accoustically its awesome and has written war film history, nevertheless.

[SubZero]

Band of Brothers is my personal favourite all-time WWII film/series. I've just received the full DVDset for Christmas, so i'll be watching that shortly again.

I'm surprised that Schindler's List hasn't made much of a mention yet.

[Flagg]

Are myself and the OP the only people that have seen/rated "To End All Wars"?

That film was so harrowing, especially what became of the teacher toward the end of the movie.

[mattman1991]

Well you have to ask your self, will I watch this to challange my views and make me think or just for fun.

Saving Private Ryan was an action move with World War Two as its setting, not necessaritly about World War Two, if you see what I mean.

Band of Brothers was about the war, and its effects, and everything else.

That being said, I watched Schindler's List (oddley enough i remember an elevator company being named Schindler's Lifts, tough luck) a few days ago, wow that really hit home with the war, and how horrible it was along with Clint Eastwood's duo of World War Two moves very good.

Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, and generally anything with the movie spending large quantities of time at/going to/back/leaving the front lines, is just for fun.

[Exetus]

Glad to see that "Bridge Over the River Kwai" and "Guns of Navarone" made it, although I'm shocked someone would mention Windtalkers. Great story and premise, but very poorly executed.

Some that don't deal so much with combat but with lives affected by the war would include:

Life is Beautiful (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_Is_Beautiful) - one of my favorite movies based upon the real life story of a jewish family imprisoned and the father who spends the entire time turning it into a game for his son to allow him to survive imprisonment in a concentration camp.

Europa Europa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_Europa) - based on the true story of a Jew whose family suffers the death of his sister on Kristallnacht and sends him to a boarding school in Poland that is overrun by the Nazis. The movie is about his experiences and how he manages to survive the war while being at war with himself, just to survive.

The Enemy Below (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Enemy_Below) - classic duel between an American destroyer and a German U-boat that is trying to rendez-vous with its merchant raider supply ship. While the U-boat and destroyer have a few issues with realism (missing destroyer torpedo tubes and the interior of the u-boat too clean and spacious), it is an excellent movie with good effects for its time (won the Oscar, in fact).

The Great Escape (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Escape_(film)) - I really hope that I missed someone mentioning this classic story based upon the true life events of men trying to escape a German prisoner of war camp.

Run Silent, Run Deep (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run_Silent,_Run_Deep) - Perhaps the greatest submarine movie ever created, it battles with "Das Boot" as one of the premier movies in the WWII genre. While not historically accurate in some respects and not based on a true story, it is a great film of a submarine captain, obsessed with destroying a Japanese destroyer that has killed 4 US subs to include his old command. Excellent flick. Not sure if anyone missed mentioning this one, but it's pretty damn good.

Au Revoir, Les Enfants (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Au_revoir_les_enfants) - based upon the true story of Jewish children at an orphanage who are sheltered and hidden by the headmaster. Another great film.

[vcoh]

May I say that Saving Private Ryan was a piece of shit?

And may I also add that The Pianist is one of the best done WWII movies. Very good directing, good acting, good everything.

EDIT: After reading some of the above posts, I read that my movie was already called. :P
Also, Schindler's list was a waste or 2 hours of my life. How do such crappy screen-writes go into production?

[Bowkers]

Also, Schindler's list was a waste or 2 hours of my life. How do such crappy screen-writes go into production?

except that Schindler's list won 7 Oscars...I know this isn't a great guage, but in reply to your post I think it shows it clearly, in the eyes actors and directors it was an awesome film.

[Exetus]

Meh, they also voted a crap-ton on Titanic which is a sinking boatload of emotional crap. So it's not really a gauge of anything except popularity some years. It beat out great movies such as Good Will Hunting and L.A. Confidential for best picture which is a travesty. Amistad wasn't even nominated? Give me a break.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing Schindler's List, but Oscars aren't necessarily the best measure of quality.

[Bowkers]

Hence why I didn't say it was a great guage. :P

Schindler's List- The film grossed $96.1 million in the United States and over $321.2 million worldwide

Good Will Hunting- $225 million internationally

So in terms of money as well, a better guage in my opinion-Schindler List rules :p

/end of rant :p

[Pyro Paul]

Cross of Iron. (1977) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074695/)

an intresting film from the german perspective. The whole giving humanity back to the german army which wasn't the same as the Nazy war machine.

[Cossack]

What do you think about the new western film – “Defiance”? It is about byelorussian jews-partisans. =)

[IndigoSpyder]

No one saw Uprising (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0250798/). A great find about the Warsaw uprising.

[Coey]

Can't think of any other action films that haven't been mentioned, but these less explodey films are pretty good too.

Hell In The Pacific (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063056/) Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune are two stranded pilots on a desert island in the middle of the PTO. They try to kill each other at first, but eventually end up becoming friends. The ending is quite sad, but saying that this is a masterpiece. Great acting from two of the best.

Ich War Neunzehn (I was nineteen) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061802/) story told from the perspective of a young German born Red Army soldier about the fall of the Reich and his small part in it. Not action packed, it deals more with people and how they cope with whats going on around them. For an east German film it's incredibly sympathetic to most Germans, most Officers are shown to be honorable, apart from some SS, and German soldiers are shown to be normal men. An interesting film about a hardly touched upon period of the war.

Closely Observed Trains (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060802/) set in a train station this unusual black comedy from Czechoslovakia deals with their compliance and resistance to the German occupation. Hardly any action at all, but this charming film manages to make you think and laugh out loud at the same time. Frequent reminders of the war are juxtaposed against the increasingly absurd goings on within the little station, and these reinforce the message of how stupid the war was. Plus there are some very strange sex scenes involving rubber stamps. A very touching film.

L' Armee Des Ombres (Army of Shadows) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064040/) this dark film about the French resistance has absolutely none of the romanticism an audience is usually treated too when watching films about the Resistance. Showing normal people doing incredibly brave things to fight an evil regime the Army of Shadows is a fitting tribute to the complexities of the Resistance, the terrible things they had to do and the extreme sacrifices they made. If you don't watch any of the other films I mentioned, watch this one.

Biruma no tategoto (The Burmese Harp) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049012/) set at the end of the WW2 in Burma this spiritual film follows a young Japanese soldier who is a talented harp player. Sent to persuade a group of die hard Japanese soldiers to surrender he is given up for dead by his old comrades when the deadline passes and the artillery strikes begin. Here the movie splits between the platoon and the young solider as one get used to life as POWs the other roams around Burma dressed as a Buddhist monk surrounded by death and destruction. Torn between his new spirituality and duty to his old comrades the young Japanese soldier undergoes a profound change. Watch it if you can find it.

Overlord (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073502/) a slow, quiet, and oddly gentle film about a nice young man and his training for D-Day. Another one with almost no action. Mixed with WW2 and new footage, this film has an eerie truthfulness that makes it stick in the mind. The performances given are low key and incredibly realistic, which gives the characters a very human feeling to them. A tragic film, but if you are interested in WW2 and don't mind an hour and half with no explosions you owe it to yourself to watch this.

Kokoda (bullets-a-plenty!) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0481390/) this gritty but flawed action film shows the battle of Kokoda on New Guinea in 1942. The Japanese only have a narrow corridor go through before taking Port Stanley and from there the hop to Australia isn't too far off. Standing in their way is a handfull of barely trained Australians. Plagued with dysentery and malaria the Australians have to hold on. A very gritty film that doesn't pull any punches, but lacks finesse and has a muddled plot. Nevertheless, what these men had to endure is portrayed respectfully here.

A Zori Zdes Tikhie (The Dawns Here Are Quiet) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068161/) a touching film about a group of young Russian girls and an old father like Red Army sergeant as they face an attack by elite Fallschirmjaegers. Slightly implausible, but based on true events (old militia men instead of teenage girls) but showing the sacrifices these girls made in other areas of the war through this film excuses that. Great performances here. The film even made me nearly cry at the end :( Very good.

I've ordered Shtrafbat (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425715/) which is a Russian mini-series and looks very good. Anyone seen it?