BlogHer - war - Comments

SPR, Richard III, Gallipoli

Elisa Camahort — Mon, 25 May 2009 12:25:40 -0500

SPR is so visceral, as you said...putting us in the frame. Richard II features one of my favorite actors ever, doing what he does best.

And Gallipoli. Featuring Mel Gibson when he was impossibly young and handsome, and we we didn't yet know he was a creepy cad. The futility, the senseless waste of young men's lives. I'm not sure any movie captures it better.

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Just asked the spouse...

debra roby — Sat, 23 May 2009 12:23:22 -0500

I asked the spouse -who studies military history as a hobby. Among his answers:

Glory (how did we all forget this?)
Patton
Tora, Tora, Tora.

And to exemplify the good things about the military: The Right Stuff.

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Weight for Deb

Going Back in Time

debra roby — Sat, 23 May 2009 10:52:41 -0500

Perhaps my favorite Military movie of all time is Zulu (1964). Introducing Michael Caine (which tells you it's age), it's the tale of a small outpost of British soldiers at Rourke's Drift who withstand a full-on Zulu attack for 3 days. And it's a true story.

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Weight for Deb

Casualties of War

neeser — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:49:35 -0500

I have only seen Casualties of War once, and that was a very long time ago. I can't remember if the acting was any good, but the story really resonated with me. It was one of those movies that I'm glad I saw, but wished I hadn't... if that makes any sense.

Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence

Maria Niles — Fri, 22 May 2009 13:16:23 -0500

Not necessarily the best, but Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence with David Bowie and Ryuichi Sakamoto about British POWs held in a Japanese camp is an interesting film in the genre. Plus it has a great soundtrack.

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GREAT list!!!! Apocalypse

ozma — Fri, 22 May 2009 12:48:12 -0500

GREAT list!!!! Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket. I LOVE that you added Richard III. Henry V is also about war but it is not as awesome a movie as Richard III>

I love the idea of watching war movies on Memorial Day.

Also, maybe watch some some anti-war movies on Memorial Day. In a way, Apocalypse Now is an anti-war movie. The Deerhunter is probably kinda anti-war.

I must confess to not being a huge fan of Platoon or SPR. But I do think people should watch them--they are classics of a kind.

Other possibilities for memorial day: MASH, Catch-22, The Thin Red Line, All Quiet on the Western Front.

I admit to being a huge war movie fan. Almost all my favorite movies have war in them--if you count Samurai movies as being about war--Ran is a great movie. I love Lawrence of Arabia, Bridge on the River Kwai.

"Most men are within a finger's breadth of being mad." Diogenes

Apocalypse Now

Maria Niles — Fri, 22 May 2009 10:54:15 -0500

Apocalypse Now is my favorite film of any genre because, as you point out, it is both horrifying and beautiful while illuminating truths about what it means to be human. It had a powerful effect on me when I first saw it and I've seen it countless times since. Though it is flawed as a film but the powerful far outweighs the bad. My only suggestion is if people ever have a chance to see it on a big screen they should take it. I find the impact is somewhat lessened on a television (but jumbo screens and home theater systems help).

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1 out of 5

poobou — Fri, 22 May 2009 10:48:47 -0500

The only one of these movies I've seen is "Saving Private Ryan." (I saw about 15 minutes of "Full Metal Jacket" and couldn't stomach it.) I generally can't handle war movies, because like you said, my sense of empathy pretty much makes it impossible to enjoy any of these movies. I only saw "Saving Private Ryan" because my mom paid for the tickets. I spent the next several days in a serious brain funk.

That said, I don't know if it's specifically a war movie, but "Gone With the Wind" is one of my favorite movies of all time. The war scenes are pretty remarkably brutal for their era.

Cindy W

http://www.poobou.com/

A Reminder That War Is Heck

Megan Smith — Fri, 22 May 2009 10:37:15 -0500

"Saving Private Ryan" should be required viewing for every politician so they remember what soldiers face every time they're sent to war.

One movie I think is underrated is "Courage Under Fire" starring Denzel Washington and Meg Ryan.

I included it in my own Memorial Day movie/TV list last year.

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

Megan's Minute

I just rewatched "Saving

rodaniel — Fri, 22 May 2009 09:43:17 -0500

I just rewatched "Saving Private Ryan" about 6 or 7 weeks ago and it was every bit as stunning as the first time. Incredible! And if you liked that, you should definitely watch the "Band of Brothers" series!

I've never seen Saving

kdiddy — Fri, 22 May 2009 09:42:24 -0500

I've never seen Saving Private Ryan. I've always felt very "meh" about it. I love Full Metal Jacket, though.

Thank you!

Britt Bravo — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:14:19 -0500

I'm glad you enjoyed the interview (:

Wow!

snigdhasen — Fri, 15 May 2009 20:28:11 -0500

Just Wow!

What if every BlogHer member became a Women for Women sister?

Britt Bravo — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:00:40 -0500

How amazing would that be?

Kudos to Zainab Salbi and Women to Women International

Lisa Stone — Fri, 15 May 2009 12:48:23 -0500

I'm completely impressed by the new standard set by Zainab and her entire group. This organization is on fire -- it deserves all our help!

There are two publications I try to read constantly: The Economist and Women to Women's mag, Critical Half (http://www.womenforwomen.org/news-women-for-women/research-publications-...). The org also has superb reports. They are inspiring and valuable.

Thanks Britt for a superb post!

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
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