The Movieforums Top 100 War Movies Countdown

I've seen The General and liked it, but it didn't make my ballot. I have been meaning to see Tora! Tora! Tora! for a while now, but haven't gotten around to it.

Seen: 22/38

My first 1/2 day in a few.

I think The General is fine. I’m just generally, not much of a Keaton guy.

Tora Tora is a familiar title but I have no clue from where, when, or what context. Shocked to see it show. I will have to check it out.

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“Except for markf, you’re all a disgrace to cinema.”

Another interesting trivia about the countdown: at this point, the amount of World War II films (19) that made the countdown is equal to the amount of films about other wars.

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The General was one of the few silents that made much of an impression on me. I didn't find it funny at all but the stunts were really impressive and memorable. Enough to earn it a spot on my ballot at #13.

While I'm sure I've seen bits and pieces of it when my dad was watching it, I don't think I've ever seen all of Tora! Tora! Tora!

My Ballot:
6. Tropic Thunder (#84)
12. Hotel Rwanda (#91)
13. The General (#64)
25. In the Army Now (One Pointer)

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This is what I wrote about The General on my movie log: "Keaton's delivery as a director and actor are quite impressive in this movie that's more well-plotted than most movies of the 20's, but the humor isn't exactly hard to replicate." Basically, I had seen all the jokes before, but in other movies of that same era I had seen jokes that weren't quite as easy to replicate because they felt more unique to the movie itself, especially in Chaplin's movies.

Seen both.
Loved both.
One made my ballot....

I've seen The General, loved it too and gave it a But I don't remember it being a war film...I'm not sure what war it was suppose to be? U.S. Civil War maybe? Happy enough that it made the countdown, but no votes from me.

Tora, Tora, Tora I watched this for the third time in prep for this countdown. I was impressed in some ways. Once again happy enough that it made the countdown, but no votes from me.


What sets this film apart from other major WWII war films is the vast amount of detail and historical facts that's included in this 2h 24m movie.

I appreciated the large amount of screen time that was dedicated to telling the Japanese side of the story. Some of the best cinematography was of the Japanese sailors on the hanger decks of their aircraft carriers. Kudos for having the Japanese speak in their own language. Note: you'll want subtitles for the Japanese scenes, I'm glad I had them.

Tora! Tora! Tora! was a huge undertaking in the vein of The Longest Day It manages to cram in just about everything that happened (or didn't happen) in regards to the attack on Pearl Harbor. I read that this film is popular in Japan, probably because the Japanese are treated quite well in how their story is told.

If I had one complaint it might be that the script tends to make the American admirals and generals look like inefficient dumb asses. Maybe I do have one other complaint: with all the historical happenings included in the film there's little time for character development. It would probably help to watch a documentary or two about the attack at Pearl Harbor before watching Tora! Tora! Tora!

- (3.75/5)

That's interesting and in someways is like the storyline of A Yank in the RAF (1941) even though your dad was in the RCAF. I've seen movie were we see the airplane mechanics are working feverishly to return the shot up planes to duty, like in Battle of Britain. Cool story JD thanks!

Loved that story especially how the German farmers helped your grandfather. Do you know if the farmers were in Bavaria?

I don't know. Obviously they lived on the border or something. Yea, it sounds like it's out of a movie. My Dad told me the story. And I don't really remember exactly what Dad told me. He loved detail in a story. But this is all I know. And like I said my grandfather, did not like talking about the war. It really devastated him. I never talked with my grandfather as he died after I turned a year old. I should take a look at a map and see if where that might be. It might have even been in France. There are German speaking areas in France.

Which one?

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The General made my ballot at #13. Keaton is one of the most entertaining directors I can think of. While the bridge collapse scene in the final act (the most expensive stunt ever done for a silent film) is often praised as the highlight to the action, the film has a lot more to offer aside from just that scene which either keeps you engrossed or drops your jaw. Time and time again. What Keaton lacks in being able to emotionally move you, he more than makes up for it with his technical craft. Though the decision to frame the action from the perspective of the Confederacy may raise some eyebrows, that the film refuses to take a moral stance on the politics of the war to the point the film would've been the exact same had it come from the perspective of the Union soldiers (plus a couple other reasons I could go into if anyone's interested in discussing this aspect further) prevents me from writing off that aspect as racist. Yes, racism can pop up throughout Keaton's filmography from time to time, but I don't think that applies to this film.

I haven't seen Tora! Tora! Tora!.

My updated ballot:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13. The General (#64)
14.
15. Red Angel (#100)
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23. Johnny Got His Gun (#97)
24.
25.

Oops, "Tora, Tora, Tora" was my #6.

The battle scenes for the time were stellar! Still holds up well, with clips of the film still spring up today.

5. Wings (1927)
9. The General (1926)
13. The Killing Fields (1984)
19. The Caine Mutiny (1954)
21. Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

My stats:
Seen 26/38
On My Ballot 5
Haven't Heard of 2

Hints:

62: Everyone wants to be the main character.

61: This film is considered part of a trilogy directed by someone who already has a movie here.

62. Kelly's Heroes.

Then not only have I not seen it, I've yet to hear it as well.

Thanks so much to all MoFos for sharing their family history in service to their country. My Grandfather was in the Army in WWI and fought at St. Mihiel and in the Meuse-Argonne offensive in France. I don't know if he talked about it much (as he lived 300 miles away from me) but my Dad, his son-in-law, came out and asked him if he had killed anyone in the war, and he said, "I don't know. Probably. I was just so busy firing at soldiers coming at us that it's likely." My Dad was in the Coast Guard in WWII and patrolled the Atlantic Coast. He said they were never fired on but more than likely passed over enemy submarines beneath the waves. They would see burning ships in the far distance. He had several humorous stories to tell, though. He was on lookout and spotted what he thought was a submarine scope in the distance. He reported it and general quarters was called. When everyone was mustered, it was found out that what he'd spotted was a whale spouting. He was really embarrassed and laughed at, but his Captain told him that it was all right and to do exactly the same thing next time because there might that one instance when it was a sub. My older brother served in the Army during the Vietnam War and was trained as a Medic. But thank God he stayed Stateside because Medics were always in high demand in battle and were obvious targets.

On the latest reveals, I've seen The General and loved it. Love any Buster Keaton. Didn't vote for it as I consider it more a "Buster Keaton comedy" than anything.

Tora! Tora! Tora! is one I did vote for. I really enjoy this movie as a really accurate account of the before, during, and immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Head-and-shoulders above that Ben Affleck/Michael Bay dreck that dared name itself after that attack and to only have a middle section about the attack with the other 2/3 being a boring romance movie. TTT was my #21

In formation with:
#8Hacksaw Ridge Proper dress #67
#21Tora! Tora! Tora! Uniformed listing #63

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"Miss Jean Louise, Mr. Arthur Radley."

62 Saving Private Ryan
61 Kanal

Love The General and mostly anything with Buster Keaton. Great film.

Tora! Tora! Tora! was my #4. Here's what I had to say about it previously:



Epic film about the events surrounding the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941. What you could write about this film's production would fill a book. It took close to four years to complete, with American and Japanese production units and directors respectively filming their own parts. Huge sets, like 1:1 scale battleships recreated, and colossal formations of real aircraft involved. Impressive scenes of staged action and pyrotechnics, many of which came close to nearly killing the stuntmen involved. Overall it could never be filmed again.

Does that alone make a great film? Not in this case. This movie backs it up with very solid drama and a mature script that provides depth to the subject. The suspense of the unfolding diplomacy and seemingly inevitable fate of war matches the ferocity and carnage of the second half. Very well executed. All the Japanese stuff is particularly well done and worth seeing in itself.

It's one of my favourite films. For me it's traditional/conventional film making at its very finest - for this type of genre at least let's say. Highly recommended.