Tbf Sergio Leone (an England number 9 lost in translation), is by far and a way the most underrated director of his age. His credentials alone secure the cowboy conclusion.
WW1 and WW2 fillums more patchy. As Norman Mailer proved, the astoundingly mediocre can always look good when it comes to the horrors of war.
Top WWII film? It would have to be English, of course. I'd go for Way to the Stars. A poignant and truly magnificent film, and one of my faves of all time.
English war films are so much more reflective and thoughtful than the American ones. At least those of the 1940s and 1950s.
If I had to choose a war film made during the war, it would almost certainly be A Canterbury Tale. A strange film in majy ways, even by today's standards, but thought provoking. The war setting is almost incidental.
Rosamund John (later Lewis Silkin's daughter in law, after she married his son John, the Labour MP) has to be one of the most underrated British actresses of all time.
When they came out, I conflated Flags of our Fathers with Letters from Iwo Jima and ended up shouting at a voice-automated cinema booking line that repeatedly couldn't understand me, "FLAGS. OF. MOTHER. F*CKING. IWO. JIMA!!!!!"
Fave WW2 film is A Bridge Too Far. Second Ice Cold in Alex. The Flags/Letters films are good but so heavy and dark.
WW1 films are almost always too depressing for me. The Red Baron from 2008 was the only one I remember enjoying. And Lawrence of Arabia of course, but that is not typical.
Once Upon a Time in the West is a masterpiece and one of the greatest films of all time.
It was brilliant wasn’t it TCV? I really enjoyed the use of the fluorescent tracer rounds, never seen that in another film. The bit where the soldier on fire climbs out of the tank and then shoots himself really did disturb me quite severely though.
The dinner table scene got me. Brads character trying to hold together a team on the edge, drunk, damaged by war. And then the house getting shelled and two women killed just said it all about the futility and horror of war.
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Interesting conclusion.
Please show workings.
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this does not include the films of martin scorcese tho
do u expect me not to watch casino twice a year
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Alright, Daily Mail. 🙄
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Films about WW1 tend to be very different from films about WW2.
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True. WW1 ones are more trenchy. WW2 ones are more tanky-planey.
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Tbf Sergio Leone (an England number 9 lost in translation), is by far and a way the most underrated director of his age. His credentials alone secure the cowboy conclusion.
WW1 and WW2 fillums more patchy. As Norman Mailer proved, the astoundingly mediocre can always look good when it comes to the horrors of war.
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Tru dat
Four Weddings and a Funeral would’ve been better set in Dunkirk
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FWAAF is perfectly situated. It’s problems lie elsewhere.
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WW2 films are often quite waterframey or even underwaterframey.
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WW1 films generally about the horrors of war, WW2 films are more boys own adventures, particularly those made before the 21st century.
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Top WWII film? It would have to be English, of course. I'd go for Way to the Stars. A poignant and truly magnificent film, and one of my faves of all time.
Favourite Western? I'd say Rio Bravo.
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English war films are so much more reflective and thoughtful than the American ones. At least those of the 1940s and 1950s.
If I had to choose a war film made during the war, it would almost certainly be A Canterbury Tale. A strange film in majy ways, even by today's standards, but thought provoking. The war setting is almost incidental.
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Still can't watch Way to the Stars without shedding a tear. They really don't make them like that any more.
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Escape to victory obv!
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Rosamund John (later Lewis Silkin's daughter in law, after she married his son John, the Labour MP) has to be one of the most underrated British actresses of all time.
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Not sure I've ever seen a WW1 film...
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Escape to Victory is daft. Gr8 cameos though.
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You've never seen Lawrence of Arabia, dux?
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Oh well obviously yes!
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Does the Wonder Woman movie count?
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3 ducks
You must have seen one or two of these:
- War Horse
- 1917
- All quiet on the Western Front
- Biggles (Adventures in time)
- Aces High.
I am shocked.
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50s-70s were the glory years for war films. Adventures, high japes and Nazis that spoke English. Tend to be depressing since then.
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I've seen War Horse, yes.
The new All Quiet on the Western Front is supposed to be quite good.
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My favourite WW2 film is probably Flags of our fathers twinned with Letters from Iwo Jima.
Favourite WW1 film the original All quiet on the western front.
Favourite western Once upon a time in the west
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When they came out, I conflated Flags of our Fathers with Letters from Iwo Jima and ended up shouting at a voice-automated cinema booking line that repeatedly couldn't understand me, "FLAGS. OF. MOTHER. F*CKING. IWO. JIMA!!!!!"
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That's likely to be a better film than Letters From Fathers tbf
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heh
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Fave WW2 film is A Bridge Too Far. Second Ice Cold in Alex. The Flags/Letters films are good but so heavy and dark.
WW1 films are almost always too depressing for me. The Red Baron from 2008 was the only one I remember enjoying. And Lawrence of Arabia of course, but that is not typical.
Once Upon a Time in the West is a masterpiece and one of the greatest films of all time.
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+1. Just pips 1917 for me.
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Oh, and the new one is excellent too.
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Fury (WW2) is another really good one, extremely grim though.
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You need to include Vietnam war films and mafia/gangster films in the original list for it to work.
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Top Secret?
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Really enjoyed Fury.
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It was brilliant wasn’t it TCV? I really enjoyed the use of the fluorescent tracer rounds, never seen that in another film. The bit where the soldier on fire climbs out of the tank and then shoots himself really did disturb me quite severely though.
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The dinner table scene got me. Brads character trying to hold together a team on the edge, drunk, damaged by war. And then the house getting shelled and two women killed just said it all about the futility and horror of war.
I live in Germany. I do struggle sometimes.
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Yeah that scene is rough.
I’m in Germany too, in Frankfurt (it’s a dump). Where are you? Are you a native or relocated?
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