Random Five: War Movies November 11, 2009
Posted by Matt in Random Five.Tags: war movies, top five, Veteran's Day, All Quiet on the Western Front, Dr. Strangelove, Apocalypse Now, Full Metal Jacket, Saving Private Ryan
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Maybe its my peaceful nature or my dislike for emotional manipulation, but for some reason, I’m not a big fan of war movies and never really have been. Nevertheless, in recognition of Veteran’s Day, here is a list of five great war movies.
5. Saving Private Ryan – Utilizing the vision of one of Hollywood’s most beloved directors (Spielberg) and starring 1990’s everyman Tom Hanks, this look at WWII is probably the quintessential war film of the past 20 years.
4. Full Metal Jacket – The Vietnam War has long proven itself ripe for film, but there are few who do it as well as director Stanley Kubrick.
3. Apocalypse Now – A seriously twisted look at Vietnam with some of the most iconic scenes ever captured on film.
2. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb – Stanley Kubrick proves that even when this was released in 1964, the Cold War was meant for satire.
1. All Quiet on the Western Front – This story of the horrors of war, of disillusionment and loss of youth, is still as (and maybe more) poignant today, almost 80 years after its release.
What would you put on the list?
Another Kubrick film, Paths of Glory (1957) and Twelve O’clock High (1949).
I’ve never seen either of those, but I’ll be sure to check them out.