What has happened to the war film genre?
I can't remember the last decent war film? I was browsing the shelves at the supermarket whilst purchasing the last of the obligatory booze for tommorow and couldn't help but notice how devoid of war films the dvd section was...
Excuse the pun, but is the genre all but dead?
On the flip side there appears to be no end of shitty US sitcom/reality rubbish and celebrity bollocks :d :d
I made the same observation. The absence of anything but "how nice is this shareholder value world" where people are abused and appeased by this crap sickens me.
Reminds me of the Romans: Panem et circenses.
Where did sanity go?
YOU THINK THE WORLD IS SANE !!!
IanS
No just that it once was :o
A while ago I heard rumours of a Brit war film set in Norway about Brit commandos starring Shaun Bean and Danny Dyer apparently it was going to be an old skool war film like they did in the 60s and 70s haven't heard any update on it though.
And wasn't there supposed to be a Dambusters remake in the pipeline?
Mollinary
There have been one or two recent films set during the war but i can't remember the last time an actual war film was made.
Indeed, they don't make em like they used to!
For everyone who remembers the old classics like the dirty dozen, bridge over the river kwai, von Ryans express, where eagles dare, guns of navaronne, the longest day and a bridge too far, this is a kick in the head!
I am 27, but unexpectedly a big fan of these types of movies. They were already 'old' when i saw them, but they spoke to me like nothing else! A personal favourite of mine was "the bridge at remagen". I have the longest day in its original black and white rendition on dvd, and many others in colour. I think the discs are getting worn though :D
The new style flicks like "saving private ryan" and when trumpets fade" are nice too, but don't have that same feeling as they used too, focusing more on blood and gore than a good story and great suspense.
It's a shame they don't make em like tis anymore :'(
I'm a bit turned off with German tanks represented by M48s think I got that right with a german cross on like The Battle of the Bulge etc but when I was a kid and wasn't the wiser I enjoyed them but now I know what should have been there it takes a bit of magic out of it.Kellys Heroes has to be one of my favourites 3 tiger 1s against a sherman.Apparently the war films in the 60s and 70s were brought about because of the Cold War e.g Germans were Russians in desguise and a lot of the tv shows were aimed at stifling the fears of the russians man from uncle,james bond etc
Well petercooman, you illustrate my point quite well. Not all of those movies you listed are actual war movies.
Most are action/adventures set during a war, etc. aren't they?
;)
Quote from: Luddite on 24 December 2012, 09:07:41 PM
Well petercooman, you illustrate my point quite well. Not all of those movies you listed are actual war movies.
Most are action/adventures set during a war, etc. aren't they?
;)
Yes they are, and that's why i love them :)
There is a new Russian film based on Stalingrad coming out next year
Oh and a remake of All quiet on the Western Front, and a film called Panzer 88 which is about a king Tiger apparantly
Quote from: Gran76 on 24 December 2012, 09:02:16 PM
I'm a bit turned off with German tanks represented by M48s
I remember thinking about that while watching "A Bridge Too far", and realising that, at last, here was a war film with real German tanks...
OK, granted, they're Leopards, but they are
real German tanks...
That idea still amuses me.
Meanwhile, I'll watch the
Liberation DVD set, in Russian, with no subtitles. Can't understand a word of it, but... so many T34s... 8)
Quote from: petercooman on 24 December 2012, 08:41:02 PM
Indeed, they don't make em like they used to!
For everyone who remembers the old classics like the dirty dozen, bridge over the river kwai, von Ryans express, where eagles dare, guns of navaronne, the longest day and a bridge too far, this is a kick in the head!
I am 27, but unexpectedly a big fan of these types of movies. They were already 'old' when i saw them, but they spoke to me like nothing else! A personal favourite of mine was "the bridge at remagen". I have the longest day in its original black and white rendition on dvd, and many others in colour. I think the discs are getting worn though :D
The new style flicks like "saving private ryan" and when trumpets fade" are nice too, but don't have that same feeling as they used too, focusing more on blood and gore than a good story and great suspense.
It's a shame they don't make em like tis anymore :'(
Saving Private Ryan is good untill Delta is "open"... after that PR tour. Switch off.
Problem with the tanks is that none of those is / was left. Some Panzer IV survived in Egypt though. No Panther or Tiger tanks I am aware of.
Quote from: sebigboss79 on 25 December 2012, 11:35:22 AM
Saving Private Ryan is good untill Delta is "open"... after that PR tour. Switch off.
I'd suggest SPR isn't actually a war movie. Its an adventure/quest that takes place against a backdrop of WWII. PErhaps as you say, the beach landing is a bit of a war movie but after that...nope.
Quote from: Nosher on 24 December 2012, 11:30:16 AM
What has happened to the war film genre?
I can't remember the last decent war film? I was browsing the shelves at the supermarket whilst purchasing the last of the obligatory booze for tommorow and couldn't help but notice how devoid of war films the dvd section was...
Defiance was agood war film, about the Polish Jews Hiding out in the Forest and fighting the Germans . All the more so as it was based on a true story and from all accounts was fairly accurate, apart from where they took on a Panzer Three. If I rermember rightly the tank was authentic, or at least looked correct.
"Generation kill" is not a movie but is decent.
Quote from: barbarian on 26 December 2012, 08:45:56 AM
"Generation kill" is not a movie but is decent.
I add "over there". Not movies, but I liked both of them.
( non fiction : Armadillo )
What do you mean "Recent" how old ?
Quote from: Gran76 on 24 December 2012, 05:43:25 PM
A while ago I heard rumours of a Brit war film set in Norway about Brit commandos starring Shaun Bean and Danny Dyer apparently it was going to be an old skool war film like they did in the 60s and 70s haven't heard any update on it though.
It's called 'The Age of Heroes'. I was quite excited by the prospect of a British war film. However, IMHO, it's awful. A film depicting the formation of Ian Fleming's 30 Commando and it's first mission is a nice idea. But it's badly let down by poor acting (it's got Danny Dyer in it), direction and script. Apparently it's based on a true story, but I don't see much more than a nod towards any history: I believe 30 Commandos first deployment was at Dieppe, not Norway.
It had a limited run in the cinema, I believe, and then went onto DVD. The abrupt ending was a kindness because I couldn't manage much more.
This is a subjective view, of course.
Oh yes, and it's so low budget that they couldn't afford a real token American. That position is filled by a Norwegian playing a Norwegian born US Marine Lt.
Well, ANY film based during WWII that has any Americans in the first 1/3rd of the film is historically inaccurate. ;D
Quote from: Luddite on 26 December 2012, 12:27:12 PM
Well, ANY film based during WWII that has any Americans in the first 1/3rd of the film is historically inaccurate. ;D
Not if its in the Pacific............
IanS :D
Quote from: ianrs54 on 26 December 2012, 04:08:54 PM
Not if its in the Pacific............
IanS :D
Disagreed. Pacific conflict goes back to 1937. Americans officially part of it as of December 7 1941. Unofficially is hard to say ("Advisors" for the Chinese Air Force aka US Army Air Force training in China)
Remake of Red Dawn shouldn't be far away with Russians replaced with North Koreans and their allies :-\ I can see it being a total, Americans save the day film, but aren't they all!
Red Dawn 2 has already been released and to be honest its total pants. The original was way better.
Quote from: sebigboss79 on 25 December 2012, 11:35:22 AM
Problem with the tanks is that none of those is / was left. Some Panzer IV survived in Egypt though. No Panther or Tiger tanks I am aware of.
You'd think this would be less of a problem nowadays with the budgets for big films. I think I heard that Peter Jackson has built a squadron of Lancasters for the Dambusters film. Of course the best films tend not to be the ones with the big budgets.
There are various German tanks in running condition in museums around the world. Of these, the Panther appears more often, because it was used some time post-war by the French. They just don't appear in films, because they are (literally) irreplacable.
But I agree that for new films CGI and modelmaking is the way to go. Also 'modding' existing tanks to look like German ones remains popular (with various levels of succes). The general public just won't care however, any tank with big German crosses on it will do.
If you want something a bit more special, you just have a new one built :D
(http://tankdriver.users.photofile.ru/photo/tankdriver/115171320/206648058.jpg)
http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=548512 (http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=548512)
Recent WW2....
Just glancing at my DVDs, These ain't that recent but they ain't very old...
Memphis bell
Enemy at the gate
SPR
Band of Brothers (yes it's a series, but still).
If it dose not have to be WW2
Black hawk down
Behind Enemy Lines
Generation kill (Series)
Full metal jacket
Platoon
Bravo2Zero (Series)
Clear and present danger
Hunt for red October
Zulu (I'd say that was old)
Zulu dawn (that also)
Sharp's Waterloo
Jarheads
I'm sure there is more....
Don't get me wrong on this but I like watching the documentries about the Brit troops in Afghanistan it shows the comradeship and the low points when someone is lost.The sacrefice the soldiers are making and the pure bravery that they go through to get the job or mission done.I don't watch them for entertainment but in a way of trying to understand the hardships they encounter and my knowledge of the battles they are facing.
Like buses, I post this thread and then two decent war movies come along in the same day -
Bridge over the River Kwai and Cockleshell Heroes :) :)
On Eastern Front partisan movie far better than Definance is "Come & See"
Also do not forget naval war movies - always like "Tora, Tora, Tora" and Midway not too bad. Battle of River Plate/Bismarck all good Brit war movies, but finest naval movie for me was "Das Boot"
Quote from: OldenBUA on 27 December 2012, 10:17:35 AM
... because it was used some time post-war by the French.
I thought they only used the 75mm gun from the Panther in their own, new, maybe Panthe inspired???, tank design.
No they used roughly 100 (2 btns worth) for a couple of years, replaced with Easy 8's by 1950. The gun was shortened to an L60? and fitted to the AMX-13.
IanS
Quote from: Nosher on 28 December 2012, 10:04:47 AM
Like buses, I post this thread and then two decent war movies come along in the same day -
Bridge over the River Kwai and Cockleshell Heroes :) :)
And a third fourth and fifth film today!
Zulu :) ,The Four Feathers (remake which I have never seen) and the original version of Charge of the Light Brigade ;)
Defiance! I forgot Defience! Awesome film
And boy in the striped PJs but I don't think that's a 'war' film.
For those of you who have Netflix, I can recommend "the Siege of Jadotville".
It's the story of an Irish company in the Congo in the 1960's - sort of a Rourke's Drift feel.
The excellent Mark Strong plays a UN official, and lots of unknown (to me) Irish actors.
Good, gritty feel to the film. Two things I noticed was the unshaven appearance of the soldiers before they left Ireland, and the amazing pin point accuracy of a 60mm mortar at a stated range of 2,200 yards.
Are you sure it's not O'Rourke's Drift?
Well, Rourke's Drift is already named after an Irishman. The O's not going to add more Irishness.
Apparently the main actor is the chap from "50 Shades of Grey", and the excellent "the Fall", alongside Gillian Anderson.
The doughty sergeant was the main lead in the US version of "Life on Mars".
Dag Hammarskjold was played by the actor who stars as the Swedish James Bond "Hamilton", and Beorn in the Hobbit films.
To illustrate, here's a picture of Gillian Anderson.
(http://img2.rnkr-static.com/user_node_img/50019/1000367550/870/gillian-anderson-is-about-to-say-something-all-people-photo-u1.jpg)
Anderson for Bond!
My former pupil, Chiwetel Ejiofor, would be a cracking Bond.
Certainly. Just as Damien Lewis would be perfect for the reboot for "Shaft".
Quote from: fsn on 08 October 2016, 02:32:08 PM
Certainly. Just as Damien Lewis would be perfect for the reboot for "Shaft".
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
There are some quite good foreign war films out there -well, I think they are not bad- all of which have subtitles.
Battle for Sevastopol (Russian WW II)
8th Company (Russian -about a bunch of recruits in Afghanistan)
Beyond the Front Line (Finnish WW II)
The Front Line (Korean -Korean War)
Brotherhood (Korean -Korean War)
Lebanon (Israeli -Arab Israeli War)
Assembly (Chinese -Chinese Civil War)
Days of Glory (French and Algerian WW II)
Not really foreign but not bad nonetheless:
Kokoda: 39th Battalion (Australian)
MickS
Quote from: Subedai on 08 October 2016, 07:32:32 PM
Not really foreign but not bad nonetheless:
Kokoda: 39th Battalion (Australian)
Definitely
foreign ;D
Quote from: shireman on 08 October 2016, 02:03:33 PM
My former pupil, Chiwetel Ejiofor, would be a cracking Bond.
Loved him as The Operative in "Firefly."
I think he'd be a brilliant Bond.
Damien Lewis as Shaft would be a stretch, given that the characters skin colour is central to the plot, however if we set it in a Post-Brexit England and made him Polish instead of black that would probably work :(
Emily Blunt, Gemma Arterton or Rosamund Pike would all do as "Bond, Jane Bond" for me and all infinitely preferable to Loki.
I look forward with amusement to the day testosterone fuelled audiences recoil in horror as one of those ladies ogles Chris or Liam Hemsworth emerging from the waves in a tiny pair of budgie-smugglers :D
For me the best war film is 'Went the Day Well?' brilliant for a movie produced during the war.
Dave
Indeed. It's a great film.
I usually watch it with a follow up of "The Eagle Has Landed".
Stalingrad -German film
Enemy at the gates
Cross of Iron
All Quiet on the Western Front - both versions
Das Boot
Downfall
Quote from: Chad on 09 October 2016, 09:11:18 AM
All Quiet on the Western Front - both versions
I believe there's a third version coming out.
Quote from: fsn on 08 October 2016, 07:28:38 AM
to illustrate, here's a picture of Gillian Anderson.
(http://img2.rnkr-static.com/user_node_img/50019/1000367550/870/gillian-anderson-is-about-to-say-something-all-people-photo-u1.jpg)
Just seen this and for some reason it really distracted me from work. :-\ :-\
I watched a very interesting programme on photoshopping yesterday.
Just come back to make sure the picture is still there :d
You mean this one ?
(http://img2.rnkr-static.com/user_node_img/50019/1000367550/870/gillian-anderson-is-about-to-say-something-all-people-photo-u1.jpg)
;)
YES :P
Hi all
I made a mistake Saturday night of watching the 'last rescue' it was awful, set in France 1944 - atthe start a aircraft flies over with japanese markings!!!! it got worst from their - like a 50 odd year captain in charge of a platoon.
Don't watch it, it was so bad i was mesmerized into watching all of it.
Dave
Quote from: fsn on 07 October 2016, 03:31:23 PM
For those of you who have Netflix, I can recommend "the Siege of Jadotville".
It's the story of an Irish company in the Congo in the 1960's - sort of a Rourke's Drift feel.
The excellent Mark Strong plays a UN official, and lots of unknown (to me) Irish actors.
Good, gritty feel to the film. Two things I noticed was the unshaven appearance of the soldiers before they left Ireland, and the amazing pin point accuracy of a 60mm mortar at a stated range of 2,200 yards.
Watched this last week and agreed, decent enough film. Typical UN and brought back memories of my tour in Bosnia.
Also watched Kajaki on Saturday night. Excellent and British ;)
Quote from: Dave on 24 October 2016, 10:15:54 AM
I made a mistake Saturday night of watching the 'last rescue' it was awful, set in France 1944 - atthe start a aircraft flies over with japanese markings!!!! it got worst from their - like a 50 odd year captain in charge of a platoon.
Are you sure that wasn't an episode of "the Goon Show"?