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Friday, November 9, 2007
In rapid fire, 20 best movies tackling war
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dear Mr. Smithee,
Like the bank robber said to Clint Eastwood, “I gots to know.”
What do you consider the Top 20 war movies of all time? I would like to limit the list to 20th century wars only, but that may be too difficult.
DON POULIN, Port Saint Lucie, Fla.
Dear Six Shots or Five,
Thank you for asking me to drop and give you 20, because I honestly believe I would have a hard time limiting my list to 10. At the same time, you might want me to limit the list to the 20th century, but I won’t do it.
There are a few war movies from earlier times that are too important to leave out. And I do realize that I have composed this list in a manner that leaves out the fantastic battle sequence at the beginning of “Gladiator.”
1. “Ran” (1985) —- Blood, gore in feudal Japan and the best battle scenes ever on film, provided by Akira Kurosawa.
2. “The Thin Red Line” (1998) —- I like how Terrence Malick gets into the heads of his characters to contemplate conflict and man’s inhumanity to man.
3. “Apocalypse Now” (1979) —- A stunner from start to finish, including all of Marlon Brando’s mishmash. The film would be great for the helicopter scene alone.
4. “Schindler’s List” (1993) —- There are moments that rank among the most forceful and compelling in filmdom.
5. “Zulu” (1964) —- The real-life 1879 battle pitting 139 Welsh infantrymen against 4,000 African warriors is filmed as an engrossing lesson in tactics and leadership.
6. “Das Boot” (1981) —- A riveting, claustrophobic look at World War II in a German U-boat.
7. “Saving Private Ryan” (1998) —- The 20 minutes of beach footage is astounding. And Tom Hanks’ performance is one of his best.
8. “Grand Illusion” (1937) —- Jean Renoir’s remarkable depiction of captured French soldiers in World War I evolves into a meditation on changes in European societal viewpoints.
9. “Casablanca” (1942) —- You must remember this.
10. “Braveheart” (1995) —- Mel Gibson’s 13th century tug-of-war between Scotland and England has great battles and great bravura.
11. “Gallipoli” (1981) —- Peter Weir’s stunning take on World War I’s fatal battle between Australians and Turks stars Gibson and Mark Lee.
12. “Paths of Glory” (1957) —- Stanley Kubrick’s anti-war saga.
13. “Glory” (1989) —- For the soundtrack to his final Civil War battle, Edward Zwick smartly chose “Carmina Burana.”
14. “Starship Troopers” (1997) —- Its gung-ho, fascist machismo cuts a nice satiric edge through battles to beat the bugs.
15. “Downfall” (2004) —- In one of the great modern-day performances, Bruno Ganz plays the bunkered Adolf Hitler as his country collapses around him.
16. “The Great Escape” (1963) —- World War II POW camp as pure entertainment. It’s a must-see for Steve McQueen’s motorcycle ride alone.
17. “The Bridge on the River Kwai” (1957) —- David Lean’s vibrant, epic tale of Pacific arena politics, gamesmanship and insanity.
18. “Full Metal Jacket” (1987) —- Stanley Kubrick’s Vietman War film’s first half explodes with blistering basic training, headed by an on-fire R. Lee Ermey.
19. “Platoon” (1986) —- The Vietnam War is a battle for Charlie Sheen’s soul.
20. “All Quiet on the Western Front” (1930) —- World War I is a battle for German soldiers’ souls.
ALAN
P.S. You get a “Fred Claus” coffee mug and an “Ask Alan Smithee” T-shirt.
Dear Mr. Smithee,
You were way off in your comments in last week’s AJC about “Bee Movie.” I saw it with my 9-year-old. Funniest movie I have seen in years. You need to lighten up. (“The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” is my favorite movie.)
GARY JACKSON, Atlanta
Dear Buzz,
I simply cannot be “way off” when what we’re talking about here is my opinion. When I say “Bee Movie” is a C-movie at best, I mean it.
And I’m a big fan of “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.”
ALAN
P.S. You get “Bee Movie” toys and an “Ask Alan Smithee” T-shirt.
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