Dec 08, 2003 09:58 PM
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(Updated Dec 08, 2003 09:58 PM)
Well, I am one big WW2 movies fan and having grown up on a diet of movies like “Where Eagles Dare”, ”The Guns of Navaronne”, “ The Dirty Dozen” to name a few, I have become a fan of this genre. But while there are some excellent war flicks, there are some war movies which are generally an exercise in assembling a big starcast but nothing else.
So here are my top 5 war movies
1) Saving Private Ryan: This movie is just awesome in one word. From the 15 minute opening sequence, where the brutalities of war are exposed on a scale never shown before even in Hollywood to the nerve wracking journey to find Private Ryan dodging Nazis, bombs, traitors, this movie catches you by the scruff of your neck and never lets you go. Brilliant direction by that master Steven Spielberg. Great performances by Tom Hanks, Matt Damon and Vin Diesel.
2) The Guns of Navaronne: If I love WW2 movies, its thanks due to this flick. I must have seen it a dozen odd times. Spellbinding at every step, not once does your interest flag. The twists and turns in the plot and the seat of the edge finale make this a memorable movie. Not to forget the brilliantly filmed storm sequence. And where Guns scores is in it’s great performances by Gregory Peck as Mallory , David Niven as Miller and Anthony Quinn as Andrea. Unforgettable classic.
3) Tora Tora Tora: Much before the awful Pearl Harbor, this was one of the best movies about the Pearl Harbor attack. The build up, the strategy, the planning, everything was filmed in a brilliant manner. And the best thing about this movie is, it doesn’t show the Americans as heroes and Japanese as clowns. Watch this DVD and then you would understand what a real war movie is.
4) The Great Escape: What a great movie this is. A team of Allied Prisoners planning to escape from a Nazi prison. Only 3 manage to escape, while others are caught or shot dead. The way the prisoners plot to escape, their planning is brilliantly shot by director John Sturges. And of course the brilliant performances from Steve Mc Queen( Cooler King, can any one forget that motorbike chase), Charles Bronson, James Coburn and Richard Attenborough, make this a must see war movie.
5) The Bridge on the River Kwai: Another great masterpiece from that epic director David Lean. Based on a novel by Pierr Boulle, it details the story of a group of British POW’s assigned the hard task of building the infamous Death Railway in the jungles of Thailand. Great performances by Alec Guiness( as the British Colonel who is obsessed with honor), William Holden and Jack Hawkins. And outstanding direction by David Lean.
Some other WW2 movies which I loved
Von Ryan’s Express- Superb movie starring Frank Sinatra. Unforgettable climax where Sinatra is gunned down by the Nazis at the Swiss Border.
Operation Daybreak- Brilliant movie about the assasination of Heidler in Prague by Czech freedom fighters.
The Longest Day- Brilliant recreation of the Allied invasion of Normandy featuring a plethora of stars.
The Dirty Dozen- Lee Martin in top form as he trains a bunch of prisoners to attack a German military camp.
Where Eagles Dare- Brilliant seat of the edge thriller starring Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood,
The Eagle has Landed- Superb movie which deals with an audacious plot by the Nazis to kidnap Winston Churchill.
