Thursday, November 11, 2004
War: Favorite War Movies
In honor of Veterans' Day, I thought I might list some of my favorite silver screen depictions of American bravery and heroism. Ironically, though Veterans' Day is an offshoot of Armistace Day, commemorating the end of WWI, I know of no WWI movies, thus the list is devoid of any.
1. Saving Pvt. Ryan- From the hair-raising opening sequence to Pvt. Ryan's final salute as his fallen commander's grave, this film elicits so many emotions that attempting to write a worthy synopsis is folly.
2. Band of Brothers- Technically a mini-series, not a movie, but I don't care. This series captures the heart of the Greatest Generation: how tens of thousands of soldiers -- most no older than myself -- risked their lives to defeat the greatest evil the world had ever known.
3. Glory- The American resolve shines through in this Civil War drama. Even in our nation's darkest hour, the ideals on which it was founded were preserved. As a result, freedom rang in ways it never had before.
4. Full Metal Jacket- Though the second half dips too much into anti-war propaganda for my tastes, the first half provides a fascinating glimpse into the making of a warrior.
5. Patton- God Bless George Patton. Who could ever forget this quote: "Nobody ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country."
Honorable Mention: We Were Soldiers, The Patriot, When Trumpets Fade
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1. Saving Pvt. Ryan- From the hair-raising opening sequence to Pvt. Ryan's final salute as his fallen commander's grave, this film elicits so many emotions that attempting to write a worthy synopsis is folly.
2. Band of Brothers- Technically a mini-series, not a movie, but I don't care. This series captures the heart of the Greatest Generation: how tens of thousands of soldiers -- most no older than myself -- risked their lives to defeat the greatest evil the world had ever known.
3. Glory- The American resolve shines through in this Civil War drama. Even in our nation's darkest hour, the ideals on which it was founded were preserved. As a result, freedom rang in ways it never had before.
4. Full Metal Jacket- Though the second half dips too much into anti-war propaganda for my tastes, the first half provides a fascinating glimpse into the making of a warrior.
5. Patton- God Bless George Patton. Who could ever forget this quote: "Nobody ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country."
Honorable Mention: We Were Soldiers, The Patriot, When Trumpets Fade
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