Ok, I already know about Saving Private Ryan, the Longest Day, U-571, A Bridge Too Far, Das Boot, Battle of Britain, Enemy at the Gates and Band of Brothers. I'm also looking forward to The Pacific on HBO this March, from the people that made BoB. I was thinking about the Mediterranean and North African campaigns and how they get no attention. Besides The Big Red One, any good movies that deals with either?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_World_War_II_films
Back to Batan is one of my favorites..
also
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Story_of_GI_Joe <--- about Ernie Pyle...
I love the stuff made during the war and just after the war. Soooo good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5t5NVazsro
The fighting rats of tobruk?
I know its the European campaign, but I've always been partial to Battle of the Bulge.
And this one's a comedy, but if you haven't seen it, check out Kelly's heroes.
I usually prefer the historically accurate or at least plausible movies. The Dirty Dozen didn't particularly appeal to me. I didn't like Windtalkers or Pearl Harbor (bleh) either.
4eyes
Reader
1/10/10 2:22 p.m.
The Dirty Dozen, The Guns of Navarone, Where Eagles Dare.
Gubby
New Reader
1/10/10 2:30 p.m.
Though the action scenes are a liiiiiiitle cheesy, I've always been a fan of "Von Ryan's Express."
A film I dug when I was a kid, but then grew to realize was not particularly very good, was "Midway" starring........everyone that could not be packed into "A Bridge Too Far."
"The Big Red One?" just try not to laugh during the Normandy scene and you will do fine.
Tora! Tora! Tora! is a good one about the battle in the Pacific.
And there's always "The Final Countdown", hahaha: IMDB
An oldie (it's in black and white) but a goodie: The Train http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059825/
"Kelley's Hero's" is a classic, if not real accurate - "Enough with those negative waves, Crap Game!"
"Is Paris Burning?" - B&W, European Theater, but real good.
Patton - +1,000,000
"Sahara" - more comedy than reality, but still worth watching.
Is "Rat Patrol" available on DVD yet?!?!?!
To Hell And Back - about Audie Murphy staring Audie Murphy.
The Longest Day - staring everyone including John Wayne.
Kelly's Heros - a lighthearted WWII comedy.
Enemy At The Gates - about Russian sniper Vassili Zaitsev
tr8todd
New Reader
1/10/10 3:45 p.m.
Animal House. I love the part where the Germans bomb Pearl Harbor.
Tighe
New Reader
1/10/10 3:54 p.m.
South Pacific
Flags of Our Fathers; Letters from Iwo Jima
Europe
Downfall; Conspiracy
miwifri
New Reader
1/10/10 3:58 p.m.
'03 Springfield, M1 Garand and M1 carbine aren't movies but they are from WW II and very entertaining.
I forgot Tora Tora Tora. I've got that one. I don't usually go for the campy early ones. The Longest Day was good because it tried to be very accurate.
I'm suprised Battle of the Bulge hasn't been mentioned yet. Pretty good cast including Henry Fonda, Robert Shaw, James McArthur (yes Dan-o), Telly Savalas and Charles Bronson.
Also, I've never seen it but Bridge on the River Kwai is pretty highly regarded.
Great Escape.
Two movies I want to check out are Days of Glory, a 2006 film about four North African soldiers who enlist to fight for France. I'll have to turn on subtitles, since I don't speak French or Arabic. It's supposed to have great battle scenes; they've called it the Arabic/French equal to Saving Private Ryan. The other film, Dark Blue World, is from 2001 and was made in the Czech Republic. It's about two Czech fighter pilots who flee to England and join the RAF to fight in the Battle of Britain after Czechoslovakia capitulates to the Nazis and disbands their aircraft.
qued
New Reader
1/10/10 4:56 p.m.
Days of Glory is a very good film, really emotional ending. If you don't mind subtitles check out "Die Brücke" a 1959 German film. Watch Saving Private Ryan after, you may spot SOME similarities. Also 9 Rota is very good, but is a different war.
Absolutley- Bridge on the River Kwai. Alec Guiness is brilliant, and the actor playing the Japanese camp commandant is equally so.
Rat Patrol is now out on DVD- I have not bought it yet, out of fear that my 21st century eyes won't get the same pleasure my 1960's eyes did.
lewbud
New Reader
1/10/10 5:45 p.m.
If you're looking for North Africa stuff, the Desert Fox starring James Mason is available on DVD as are Tobruk and I believe El Alamein. I haven't seen them so I can't comment on how good they are. If you're looking for Pacific stuff, any of the John Wayne movies are entertaining.