The Movieforums Top 100 War Movies Countdown

You guys rock...Two fine movies make the countdown and one was on my ballot. I had at #10 Letters from Iwo Jima. A perfect film proving Clint Eastwood's talent as a director. I only wish this film was higher.

I also watched for the second time Flags of Our Fathers. Sad that the film gets knocked for not being more about the battle of Iwo Jima when clearly the movie titles says it's about the flag raising and about the men who were promoted as being the flag raisers.

I had Fire on the Plains towards the top of my watch list but ran out of time before the countdown deadline.

Nothing for me again. I hope this isn't a trend. I haven't seen them either.
I've seen 14/42

Another I've never heard of - haven't seen so many of those since the Foreign Language countdown.

60. Letters From Iwo Jima - I remember watching Clint Eastwood's twin World War II movies Flags of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima when they came out. When I saw the first one I felt it was mediocre, but perhaps my expectations were way too high. I held out great hope that Letters From Iwo Jima would be much better, considering the fact you hardly ever see war films which come from a Japanese point of view. It's been too long (16 years) for me to remember how I felt about the film when it comes to the nuts and bolts, but I remember liking it more than the first, despite not loving it enough to include it as a favourite of mine. I have both films on DVD, because they're the kind of thing I'd like to see again from time to time with new perspectives. For example, if I read Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley and Ron Powers I'll probably want to watch the first film again. Likewise Tadamichi Kuribayashi's Picture Letters from Commander in Chief regarding this one. Way overdue for rewatch regardless, which I'm looking forward to.

59. Fires on the Plain - Another war film which sounds very, very good - I'm really excited about getting down to work and seeing these films which I knew nothing about. There's nothing more dramatic than the life and death situations people are put in during war - almost incomprehensible to me. Human beings trying to kill each other over disputes their leaders are having - war is truly bizarre. At times though, even the indirect consequences are deadly - as such the narrative of this film seems to bear.

Seen : 25/42
I'd never even heard of : 10/42
Movies that had been on my radar, but I haven't seen yet : 7/42

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As a fan of Clint Eastwood, both as director and actor, I'm ashamed that I've seen neither Letters From Iwo Jima or Flags of Our Fathers. I really want to and tried for this countdown but neither were on a streaming service that I have (I already have four and am about to jettison one) and I flat-out couldn't afford to even rent one of these. One day I'll catch them.

I've heard of Fires on the Plain but have yet to see it. No votes from me this go-round.

#8Hacksaw Ridge On point #67
#21Tora! Tora! Tora! In the vanguard #63

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"Miss Jean Louise, Mr. Arthur Radley."

Iwo Jima is pretty good but didn't feature on my list.

Fires on the Plain is excellent and was my no. 18. It's brutal, exhausting and wonderfully shot.

I had both of these movies on my war watchlist before I stopped watching movies in June. I had seen Fires on the Plain and I know I liked it, but I need my memory refreshed. Even though I love Clint, it never crossed my mind to watch Letters from Iwo Jima before this countdown was announced.

As I detailed in THIS post in the preliminary thread ahead of this countdown, I voted for Fires on the Plain on both my 1950s and Foreign Language ballots, to no avail. Not sure if my posting a YouTube link to watch the entire flick is what finally got enough of you MoFos on board or if its time had simply come? Regardless I am very excited to see it make the list, and surprisingly higher than The Burmese Harp, which is also excellent and I thought had more Kon Ichikawa brand recognition.

Fires on the Plain is set in the Philippines towards the end of WWII, but we don't see the battle nor the liberating U.S. forces. Instead this bleak tale follows a turberculosis-ridden Japanese soldier (Eiji Funakoshi) ordered to kill himself who instead wanders across the Hellscape of war, seeing all manner of death, despair, madness, and destruction and even cannibalism.

I had Fires on the Plain all the way up at number seven on my ballot, good for nineteen of its eighty points.




Letters from Iwo Jima actually makes a perfect double-bill with Fires on the Plain. The Battle of Iwo Jima is one of the most famous and bloody campaigns in the Pacific. There is a rah-rah John Wayne flick about it (1949's The Sands of Iwo Jima) and the Iwo Jima Memorial is one of the most identifiable U.S. Military monuments, standing in Arlington, Virginia not far from the hallowed ground of Arlington National Cemetery. That monument is forged from one of the most famous pictures of that war. Clint Eastwood adapted the book Flags of Our Fathers which sought out the soldiers who hoisted the American Flag in that photo as well as revealing that it was staged and some of the participants used to sell War Bonds afterwards. Despite the richness of all that material, the resulting film is muddy and worst of all boring. An improvement over John Wayne, perhaps, but it feels like a huge missed opportunity.

But when Flags of Our Fathers was announced Warner Brothers also trumpeted a companion film, also to be directed by Eastwood, that would show the battle from the Japanese perspective. As big a disappointment as Flags of Our Fathers was, Letters from Iwo Jima was an absolute triumph. Heartbreaking and terrifying, revealing and poignant, it is a beautiful film. It was nominated for four Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and it won for Best Achievement in Sound Editing.

I wasn't sure what kind of support it was going to get for this list, but heartened to see six other MoFos voted for it. I had it at sweet sixteen on my ballot, good for ten of its eighty points.

HOLDEN'S BALLOT
7. Fires on the Plain (#59)
16. Letters from Iwo Jima (#60)
21. The Killing Fields (#69)
25. The Wind That Shakes the Barley (DNP)

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"Film is a disease. When it infects your bloodstream it takes over as the number one hormone. It bosses the enzymes, directs the pineal gland, plays Iago to your psyche. As with heroin, the antidote to Film is more Film." - Frank Capra

Hints:

58:



57:

I knew this guy who thought Hitler was a real nice guy. I mean, he never actually MET him, technically.

58. The Hurt Locker

57. Jojo Rabbit

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I haven't seen Fires on the Plain. Letters from Iwo Jima is excellent, but didn't quite make my ballot.

Seen: 25/42

58. Bullet in the Head
57. Inglourious Basterds

Fires on the Plain was my #11. Most of the comparisons I'd make would be related to comparing it to another movie that made it higher on my ballot. So, some things I'd note here - I don't recall another movie that is effectively "maneuvering behind enemy lines," where the goal is hoping to surrender (okay, I guess Red October), but that's the constant, unsolvable tragic challenge in this one.


Also, watching the doc, The Emperor's Naked Army Marches on, it left me with the sense that

No votes. I only just got around to watching Letters From Iwo Jima in the last few months, but I definitely liked it and think it may well be one of Eastwood's best (possibly the best he's directed this century, but who knows, maybe I'll think differently when I get around to watching *checks notes* J. Edgar?). It's certainly one of his boldest undertakings and one that speaks to his depths as a filmmaker that are often disregarded due to his notoriously direct approach to, well, everything. That being said, it's a good sensibility for a war picture, especially one that actively works to avoid indulging American exceptionalism.

Haven't seen Fires on the Plain.

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Iro's Top 100 Movies v3.0

Monumental Catch up here. How monumental? Um. . . a bit.

Firstly, quite happy with the countdown so far with a number of films I'm eyeballing for Rectification.

To join in regarding @Thief 's question about family members enlisted: My dad was in WWII, in the Canadian Reserves, stationed in New Brunswick, Canada, guarding the possibility of U-boats invading via the St. Lawerence River.
The eldest of the family and coincidentally my godfather (let the mafia jokes ensue lol) volunteered for Vietnam to the Air Force branch after graduating high school in '68 and, like our father, was stationed in the States for four years, reaching the rank of First Lieutenant. Came home and, four years later, rejoined as Captain, then worked at the Pentagon where the majority of what he did was above our pay grade. Some of it included counterintelligence for the FBI. He died of pancreatic cancer just over a week ago, and we laid him to rest this past Thursday in the Quantico cemetery. He was working at the Pentagon when the plane or missile, depending on the rumor you prefer, hit. He was in another building at the time, and whenever I asked about it, he told me in an official tone, "Nothing happened. That's all I can say about that."

Did not get one in the One Pointers this time around, but here's what I've seen:

One Pointers Watched 5 out of 24 (20.83%)
Defiance (2008) While a very good film, I suffered from the common prejudice of reading the book The Bielski Brothers first, and we all know how that works out lol.
Michael Collins (1996) I remember being surprised by how much I enjoyed this when it first came out and glad to see the special love for it.
Operation Petticoat (1959) A very fun romp that I first enjoyed as a kid and continued to throughout the several times I've watched it. The most recent being a few years ago.
The Man Who Would Be King (1975) This one was actually a heartbreaking cut from my List. LOVE this film with Sean Connery and Michael Caine. Billy Fish: Enemies all around. The Bashkari are the worst. Whole town comes out and pisses downstream when we go bathing.
The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006) This was one of the films that really brought Cillian Murphy to my serious interest as a cinematic presence. Great film.

Sisu (2023) Is one I was dying to catch before the countdown for the same reasons the person who nominated it regarding the humor of it, and hopefully, will be in my Rectification List during this.

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97. Johnny Got His Gun (1971)

My first entry into my Voting List at #14 is an anti-war film that I've seen numerous times throughout my life. It always hits home upon every viewing, including the music video "One" by Metallica, which uses snippets from the film.
A young man goes off to WWI and, due to a bomb exploding nearby in a foxhole, loses his arms, legs, speech, sight, and sight. The doctors believe him to be unconscious and feeling as the dead, but he isn't. Through flashbacks and internal dialogue, we delve deep into his plight for years and years.

94. The Tin Drum (1979)
I was thoroughly engrossed by the beauty and the ugliness that go hand in hand with Director Volker Schlöndorff's dark, fantastical tale with sexual overtones.
Delving into several decades, including how his grandparents met, and his mother was born, Oskar's (David Bennet) very self-descriptive birth and his early decision at age 3 to no longer grow. Equipped with a tin drum(s) and a scream that can break glass, Oskar's sojourn within a Polish-German community that had instantly welcomed and embraced the dogma of Hitler's regime from before, during, and after the end of World War II is fraught with an almost cruel whimsy.

90. Forbidden Games (1952)
It is this twisted, naive, and somehow beautiful ideology on how to accept death and the outlandish lengths they go to, or rather, Michel is willing to go to, for Paulette, that eased the tension I started with and gave this heart of mine something whimsical and fantastical to appreciate. And appreciate, I did.
Even the abrupt ending, though quite sad, had its own endearing beauty. Leaving an audience hanging is always a difficult endeavor seemed very apropos here.

89. Shame (1968)
A definite solid Bergman film that, while I did remain engaged throughout, I was never entirely captivated, and one, I'm sure, would benefit from a second watching.

88. Twelve O'Clock High (1949)
Gregory Peck does an excellent job as the hard-ass commander who takes over a shoddy flight squad that almost made my List and one of many of whom I regretted not having room for.

87. Enemy at the Gates (2001)
Immensely surprised by how much I enjoyed this. With the gritty truth of wartime, the opening battle depicts recruits stuffed into train cars, then onto boats to join in defending Stalingrad from the winning German invasion. Without leadership, one rifle for every two men, the second carrying one clip of ammo and warned that they would be shot should they stop advancing. And then, they were, in large numbers.
This is the brutal chess board that Jude Law (depicting a historical Russian sniper hero, Vassili Zaitsev) playing a very intelligent game of cat and mouse with a German officer sniper (Ed Harris) sent to take him out.

86. Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)
I am an unabashed fan of both the comedic and dramatic Robin Williams and have watched the Vietnam film based on a radio DJ that brings both into play. A high consideration for my List.


85. Mrs. Miniver (1942)

Kay Miniver: Did you know that the 12th Lord Beldon was hanged?
Lady Beldon: He was beheaded! Such things happen in the best families.
Usually in the best families.

Making it 2 fer 2 for CR, guessing both me and @Thursday Next being endeared to this one. Placing at #23 for me.
A slow-burning, sublime elegance and grace during the beginning year or two(?) of World War II. When local fishers and ANYONE with a boat rescue retreating British troops with Germans hot on their trail from Dunkirk's beaches, followed by the continuous bombing of London. Through the life experiences of Mrs. Miniver, an English "middle-class" - I'd say, upper middle class, wife and mother. I was mesmerized by Greer Garson's performance.
Released in 1942 of the stoic, honorable, stiff upper lip of God Loving, Honest, Courageous British and the way of life they were fighting for.

83. A Man Escaped (1956)
Having been a Prisoner of War during WWII himself, Director Robert Bresson adhered very strictly to the memoirs of André Devigny, who was incarcerated by the occupying Germans during WWII for his participation in the French Resistance. Going so far as to use the very same Montluc prison and having Devigny as an advisor for the film.
this is almost a documentary with how involved Bresson delves into the minute details of the preparations, as well as the day-to-day life of doomed men waiting for their turn to face the firing squad.

79. Wings (1927)
This was my second Clare Bow film, and while she is the reason for watching this, some of the air battles were quite well down.

78. Breaker Morant (1980)
Based on a true story set in South Africa during the Boer War, three Australian officers are tried by British officials for shooting prisoners.
Starring Edward Woodward, Jack Thompson, and Bryan Brown, this tense, very well-directed film adheres to both the legend and to the historical facts of a trial that may very well have been pre-arranged while addressing an officer who, though was following verbally officiated orders, may have acted on a more personal vendetta.
The pacing, the cinematography, and especially the acting were very spot on.

77. Three Kings (1999)
A bit of thievery set during Desert Storm, I remember enjoying but losing interest in this George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg film.

73. Sergeant York (1941)
Gary Cooper plays a religious, kind-demeanor, gentle Tennessee farmer who's a helluva sharpshooter. Based on a war hero from WWI, it revels in naive Hollywoodized patriotism that I remember watching several times in my youth with joy.

70. The Caine Mutiny (1954)
With a slow build-up in the beginning, as the characters are introduced, the momentum builds to a rather exciting third act. Bogart does his usual top job in the titular role.



66. All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)

Coming in at #4, I had originally planned to FINALLY watch all three versions: the original from 1930 (which I truly regret) and the Made-For-TV from the 70s. Still, I was able to see this and, obviously, from its high position on my List, I was not only impressed but very amazed with it.
Gripping me from the opening battle and uniforms of the dead that were cleaned and given to the new recruits with the occasional name tag accidentally left on. Giving us a hard glimpse into the horrors of the group of young, idealized, enthusiastic German youths that laugh and cheer about going off to fight the Russians in the trenches.
Quite an extraordinary cinematic journey. I am still hoping to check out the original during this Countdown.

64. The General (1926) I Got to see this a few years back when correcting the fact that I never watched Buster Keaton, and now I'm a fan. Of course, Chaplin has my heart; Keaton captures my amazement. Great film. Pleased to see it.

Countdown List Watched 16 out of 42 (38.09%)
1.
2.
3.
4. All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) (#66)
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14. Johnny Got His Gun (1971) (#97)
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23. Mrs. Miniver (1942) REVIEW (#85)
24.
25.


Rectification List

Thanks for sharing the info, and sorry about your loss, my friend.

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