One of the movie sites did a poll on the best ww2 related movies, it was all movie critics that voted, here is there top 10 list. hmmm, critics eh! 1. "Saving Private Ryan" (1998): Steven Spielberg's epic is now the standard by which other war movies are judged. Forget about debating the politics or inhumanity of war; this is a story about everyday people who acted like heroes when it was needed. Amazing and intense action scenes and, once again, a great performance from Tom Hanks. • 2. "The Dirty Dozen" (1967): This movie simply never gets old. Lee Marvin leads a group of military prisoners/misfits on a suicide mission against the Nazis. Marvin displays his usual rough excellence, and he gets great support from John Cassavettes (Oscar nominee), Charles Bronson, Donald Sutherland and Jim Brown. • 3. "The Big Red One" (1980): Director Samuel Fuller's ode to his former unit, and until "Saving Private Ryan," one of the most straightforward war films ever made. Lee Marvin, who was a Marine vet of the Pacific theater, is a rough sergeant here, leading young recruits through the fighting in Europe. • 4. "Battleground" (1949): Van Johnson and James Whitmore are excellent as part of a squad of soldiers at Bastogne, waiting for the Battle of the Bulge. This is a surprisingly realistic film considering that it was made only a few years after the real fighting stopped. • 5. "Patton" (1970): At the time of its release, the film's flag-waving character alienated some Vietnam detractors, but there is no way anyone can deny that George C. Scott gives one of the best-ever screen performances as "Old Blood and Guts." Karl Malden is excellent as Missourian Omar Bradley. The opening monologue is priceless. • 6. "Das Boot" (1981): A look from the other side. German submariners try to uphold their duties as soldiers while they also grapple with the ideology of their government. As with all submarine dramas, the claustrophobic element multiplies the drama. Slightly better than "Run Silent, Run Deep" and "The Enemy Below," two good movies. • 7. "Hell in the Pacific" (1968): Lee Marvin again, this time as an American pilot who is shot down and makes it to a isolated island with only one other occupant, a marooned Japanese soldier played by Toshiro Mifune. Directed by John Boorman, the film reduces war to its essence, one man against another to see which one lives. • 8. "Twelve O'Clock High" (1949): Gregory Peck stars as Gen. Frank Savage in this top-notch drama about an unforgiving commander who takes over a squadron and vows to whip it into shape. Good support from Gary Merrill and Dean Jagger. • 9. "They Were Expendable" (1945): John Ford directed this realistic story of the fall of the Philippines at the beginning of World War II. John Wayne, Robert Montgomery, Ward Bond and Donna Reed all give great performances, and Ford had the guts to show courage and sacrifice in a losing battle. • 10. "Attack" (1956): Jack Palance plays a hardened lieutenant who leads a unit in the closing days of World War II. Not only does he have to fight the Germans, but he also has to contend with a politically connected superior (Eddie Albert) whose incompetence keeps costing lives. Directed by Robert Aldrich, who also helmed "The Dirty Dozen."
I've seen similar lists but not that same one. I would have to go with the following. (I think each time I come up with a list like this it's got different movies on in) In no particular order. 1. Saving Private Ryan. This one has to be on every 10 best list. 2. Battleground. It's one of the best small unit action movies going. A great cast of character actors, decent script, good action, not too many cliché's. 3. Patton. Not the most historical of movies, especially in the vehicles used, but it deserves it's place on the list. 4. Das Boot. Simply the very best submarine movie ever made. You feel like you were really there. 5. Twelve O'Clock High. There has to be a movie showing the air war and this is the best of the bunch. Here is where my list parts ways with the critics. 6. The Great Escape. Hollywood did it's best to spoil this picture, casting famous American actors in various Allied roles, and making it seem like the Americans did all the work, but it's still a great picture of an heroic episode. 7. To Hell and Back. Audie Murphy play's himself in the story of his life. Another great small unit action movie. 8. The Cruel Sea. There has to be a movie representing the war at sea from the Allied point of view and this is a very good movie of a great book. 9. The Gallant Hours. Another biographic picture, this time of Admiral Halsey played by James Cagney. Very little, if any, action, but a very good movie that gives some idea of the difficulties of command. 10. The Longest Day. I can't believe this one didn't make the critics list. It shows many of the nations that fought on both sides of one of the most critical battles of the war. The movie shows Americans, British, French, Germans, all in a good light. Great movie from a great book. Of the movies on the critics list that I didn't show I'd say They Were Expendable was tops on my list. I liked most of the others, but I just don't think they were in the same league. One movie that was about the post war period that also deserves to be on this list is The Best Years of our Lives. If anybody hasn't seen it I highly recommend it.
OK everyone can be a critic............so it's my turn................the top ten World War II related Movies as viewed by me!!! 1. Schindler's List (1993) The Steven Spielberg masterpiece which won seven Oscars. Powerful performances by Ben Kingsley (Itzhak Stern), Liam Neeson (Oskar Schindler) & Ralph Fiennes (Arman Goeth)........the Goeth character actually made my flesh crawl..............My unabiding memory of the film....... the little girl in the red coat ..........the only colour in the entire film. 2. Das Boot (1981) Should only be watched in the German language as the dubbed version loses something...... even for me whose German is not the greatest. Jurgen Prochnow is simply fantastic as the Captain & the soundtrack is one of the best ever created for a film..............It's a nerve tingling epic 3. Heimat (1984) My second German language choice...........OK I know technically its not a film nor is it exclusively about World War II, but a huge part of it is set between 1933-1945...........A enthralling insight into German life during the 20th century (1918-1984) through the eyes of Maria who lives in the fictional village of Heimat............It's about 8 hours long I think but worth every minute. 4. The Great Escape (1963) A classic packed full of stars such as Richard Attenborough, Steve McQueen, James Garner, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence, James Coburn & David McCallum.................It's one of those traditional sit & watch on a Sunday afternoon type films which never really dates...........Everyone remembers Steve McQueen on the bike...........even if that was a bit of artistic license on the part of John Sturges the director 5. In Which We Serve (1942) Basically a British propaganda film made to rally the population & very stereotypical I know........ but a damn good film all the same..............Again packed with star such as Noel Coward, John Mills, Bernard Miles & Celia Johnson 6. The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957) A classic David Lean film.........in my top 10 almost solely due to the great performance of Alec Guinness whose portrayal of Colonel Nicholson rates as one of the best in his long & distinguished career. Not historically very acurate but hey it's not being judged on that. 7. Catch 22 (1970) Read Joseph Heller's book & thought it fantastic............saw the film, expected to be disappointed as is usual if I've already read the book beforehand............but wasn't...............The dark almost anti-comedy (if such a phrase exists) brought to life the insanity of Heller's book. Alan Arkin's portrayal of Yossarian was great.......... & it's also one of the few times I've watched Orson Wells in a film & actually liked what I saw. 8. Saving Private Ryan (1998)..........To be more accurate...........the first 20 minutes of Saving Private Ryan.............the plot cuts very little ice with me but the opening sequences of the landing on Omaha Beach literally left me shaking. That part of the film was very powerful & I am led to believe a bit to accurate for comfort. 9. Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence (1983) The exploration of the fundamental differences between Western & Japanese culture. It's quite a sad film but deeply thought provoking all the same.............David Bowie was surprisingly good in it 10. A Foreign Field (1994) Again technically only a television film but hey what you going to do about it.............I'm the critic..............Any film which boasts a cast including Alec Guinness, Leo McKern, Lauren Bacall & Jeanne Moreau must be worth watching.............A poignant look back at the fighting in Normandy through the eyes of 3 veterans, 50 years on..........the relationship between the characters played by McKern & Guinness is powerful enough to make a grown man cry..........Guinness play a mentally disabled man cared for by McKern's character who is a rich, egotistical self made man.... despite this he cares for his child like companion without embarrassment or disdain.............The story unfolds & you discover why this is the case.
