I thought Martin Sheen was absolutely terrible as Robert E. Lee. I believe Maxwell had wanted Duvall for Gettysburg but couldn't get him due to scheduling conflicts. As you noted, he did play the role in Gods and Generals.
Zero Dark Thirty wasn't really a true 'war' movie, though. Almost more of a spy caper with military action at the end.
They were two very different portrayals to be sure. Sheen seemed to be channeling a more spiritually guided Lee while Duvall played it straighter and probably closer to the reality.
Two of my favourites, along with; “Sink The Bismarck” “The Malta Story” “The Battle Of The River Plate” “Cockleshell Heroes”
Stuff I really like that I didn't remember when I did my first post: Great Escape Deer Hunter Killing Fields Braveheart and... Star Wars! (It's even got "war" in the title).
I thought the thread title was going to lead to a meditation on the perverse symbiotic relationship between Hollywood and the Pentagon, where the latter provides "authenticity consultants" in exchange for assurances that screenplays will be sufficiently jingoistic. Paths Of Glory All Quiet On The Western Front "I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity." - Dwight D. Eisenhower "Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children." - Eisenhower (In the vein of the two Ike posts, I think it's telling that the only person running for the role of commander-in-chief who is focused on a Jeffersonian/Washingtonian foreign policy is herself a veteran who served two tours overseas.) "War is the worst thing in the world. It's worse than economic injustice. It's worse than the war on drugs. It's worse than racism, xenophobia, homophobia and sexism. Those things are bad. War is worse." - Caitlin Johnstone
While I’m not a huge fan of Spielberg, Saving Private Ryan might be the best war movie ever made. It’s fantastic. Enemy at the Gates is almost as griping for the first 20 minutes or so.
Some great movies listed so far. A couple I would like to add include Stalag 17 and Mister Roberts. These movies don't have battle scenes, but they are two of the best ever. A few more: Mister Roberts Stalag 17 Patton Inglourious Basterds Paths Of Glory Saving Private Ryan The Bridge On The River Kwai The Dirty Dozen The Great Escape The Thin Red Line Apocalypse Now Redux Black Hawk Down (Deluxe) Sands Of Iwo Jima The Big Red One (Extended) Full Metal Jacket In Harm's Way Kelly's Heroes The Caine Mutiny Grand Illusion (French) The Killing Fields The Longest Day Von Ryan's Express We Were Soldiers Where Eagles Dare The Battle Of Algiers (French) 36 Hours Back To Bataan Bataan Battleground Destination Tokyo Flying Leathernecks Operation Pacific Platoon Red Dawn Sahara Seven Samurai The Bedford Incident The Fighting Sea Bees The Train They Were Expendable Three Kings Twelve O'Clock High Valkyrie For Whom The Bell Tolls Sergeant York To Hell And Back Tears Of The Sun
Favorite war movies? These are the ones I liked enough to purchase on DVD or blu-ray. Sink The Bismarck In Harm's Way Tora, Tora, Tora Patton Midway (the original) Das Boot The Longest Day Apocalypse Now Saving Private Ryan
I like a lot of the movies that others have mentioned. Here's one called "The Beast" (aka The Beast Of War) that's well worth seeking out: The Beast of War (1988) - IMDb It's about a Soviet T-55 tank crew separated from their unit during the Afghan war. I don't think it's streaming as far as I can tell but can be rented from Amazon for $2.99 .
I read the book years ago. Let's just say the movie massively deviates from what actually happened. Not that I do not love it. I must have seen it 30 times at least. Also back in the late 80s or early 90s, there was a made for TV film called the Great Escape: The True Story or something like that. It's not bad at all. Deals a lot with the aftermath. Good performances from Christopher Reeve and Donald Pleasance.
Enemy at the Gates is one of my favorites. I love the "Chess Match" between Ed Harris' Nazi Marksman and Jude Law's Soviet Sharpshooter. Even though the audience knew who would win between the two, getting to the conclusion and seeing it all unravel was intriguing.
Well, if Star Wars and Casablanca can be considered war films, than may I add Duck Soup? After all, it concludes with a furious battle between the principalities of Sylvania and Freedonia.
I find it pretty gripping after they find him. Completely out numbered but decide to stay and defend the bridge. I find very little of movie 'drags'. Each to his own. By all accounts, Lee was a very religious and pious man. The problem with Sheen's portrayal was that he was too wooden and not convincing the role. My opinion of course.
