What is your all time favorite military movie and why?

2019-07-23T20:01:19-04:00

Hollywood rarely, if ever, gets a military movie right, even with great military advisors like Dale Dye. Think about the genres out there and tell me about your favorite military movies and why you like them. They can be purely fictional, based on true stories, comedies, anything goes.

Response by SPC Jon O. made Jul 23 at 2019 8:07 PM

2019-07-23T20:07:26-04:00

Band of Brothers

Response by SSG Michael Noll made Jul 23 at 2019 8:16 PM

2019-07-23T20:16:45-04:00

Might be out of the guidelines but, White Christmas. Always makes me feel good inside.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jul 23 at 2019 9:36 PM

2019-07-23T21:36:00-04:00

Capt Michael Wilford Hands down: From Here to Eternity. The “Old Army” and a few of it’s problem!

I cannot recite ‘lines’ used by the actors, but I could explain the situation.

Bert Lancaster provided me with a reference point for my 1SG duty.

Response by CPL Dave Hoover made Jul 23 at 2019 9:59 PM

2019-07-23T21:59:25-04:00

"We Were Soldiers" was my brothers (who passed away from Agent Orange) who said it was the most realistic Vietnam War movie.

Mine is a toss up between a couple of John Wayne movies, "Green Berets," "In Harms Way". Also "Run Silent, Run Deep" Why? Great movies. Capt Michael Wilford

Response by MSG Frank Kapaun made Jul 23 at 2019 10:44 PM

2019-07-23T22:44:23-04:00

The Battle of Algiers, plain and simple one of the best films ever made.

Response by Capt Michael Wilford made Jul 24 at 2019 12:09 AM

2019-07-24T00:09:19-04:00

Wow, some really great responses here, thanks! Here are a few of my favorites: true story, Hacksaw Ridge, the story of Desmond Doss, comedy, Stripes with Harold Ramis and Bill Murray, action, Heartbreak Ridge with Clint Eastwood, all American fun, Top Gun, weird and bizarre, Dr. Strangelove; gotta love it when Slim Pickens rides the bomb rodeo style, and finally, another true story, Taking Chance with Kevin Bacon. Taking Chance really hit home with me as Chance Phelps was a young US Marine who was killed in action in Iraq; he was in 3rd Battalion 11th Marines, which was my old battalion when I was an enlisted Marine in the early 1990s.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2019 12:41 AM

2019-07-24T00:41:25-04:00

Capt Michael Wilford Saving Private Ryan, Full Metal Jacket, and the Great Escape.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Jul 24 at 2019 12:50 AM

2019-07-24T00:50:31-04:00

I have many. Only movies based on the truth. Hacksaw ridge. Pearl harbor was crap. Nothing but a love story. Band of brothers. Of course. I was stationed in The Netherlands. Nigmagen. De Fauk hotel in Heerlen is where I got married. I lived at 6361HN Amserrade. Nuth.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 24 at 2019 1:56 AM

2019-07-24T01:56:23-04:00

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_(1927_film)

This one...trust me, four hour silent it blew my socks off, when my best friend in USAF and I saw it shown to a live symphony orchestra...it was so advanced, so far ahead of it's time, a book was written on it....

Napoléon (1927 film) - Wikipedia

Napoléon is a 1927 silent French epic film written, produced, and directed by Abel Gance that tells the story of Napoleon's early years. On screen, the title is Napoléon vu par Abel Gance, meaning "Napoleon as seen by Abel Gance". The film is recognised as a masterwork of fluid camera motion, produced in a time when most camera shots were static. Many innovative techniques were used to make the film, including fast cutting, extensive...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2019 3:27 AM

2019-07-24T03:27:24-04:00

Band of Brothers.

Response by SCPO Jason McLaughlin made Jul 24 at 2019 6:32 AM

2019-07-24T06:32:38-04:00

Funniest: Mr. Roberts
Emotional Response: Saving Private Ryan
Suspense: Hunt For Red October
Informational: Carrier

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Jul 24 at 2019 7:47 AM

2019-07-24T07:47:45-04:00

Patton, Hamburger Hill, Full Metal Jacket, Band of Brothers, Das Boot, Cross of Iron and a hard to find one with Burt Lancaster, Go Tell the Spartans.
Others worth a mention, Gettysburg, Midway, Tora Tora Tora, A Bridge to Far, and The Longest Day.

Response by GySgt Kenneth Pepper made Jul 24 at 2019 9:57 AM

2019-07-24T09:57:54-04:00

Saving Private Ryan. The Captain played by Tom Hanks is a textbook example of great leadership. The conversation between him and the Platoon SGT near the end is classic.

Response by SFC Michael W. made Jul 24 at 2019 10:49 AM

2019-07-24T10:49:08-04:00

I have WAY too many to list!
In Harms' Way... Midway...Run Silent Run Deep... Pearl...TORA!TORA!TORA!...Memphis Bell...Fat Man and Little Boy...
The list goes on...

Response by SFC Joseph Wise made Jul 24 at 2019 11:43 AM

2019-07-24T11:43:05-04:00

Although I am a career Army Soldier, my favorite military movie of all time is 'Heartbreak Ridge'. With classic one-liners and a no-nonsense portrayal as 'Grungy' Highway, Clint Eastwood directed a helluva movie!!! I watched this probably 20-30 times. Check it out!

Response by SSgt Richard Kensinger made Jul 24 at 2019 1:25 PM

2019-07-24T13:25:03-04:00

The "Deer Hunter" w/ Robert Dinero and many others. It is raw and real. I served during the Vietnam Conflict from 1969~1973, so I can really relate to this ERA!
Rich

Response by CW2 Michael Bodnar made Jul 24 at 2019 1:36 PM

2019-07-24T13:36:27-04:00

Heartbreak Ridge is my first favorite followed by Platoon.

Response by SFC Michael D. made Jul 24 at 2019 3:17 PM

2019-07-24T15:17:36-04:00

Capt there are so many it would be unfair to even try to narrow it down. We used to watch Full Metal Jacket prior to each cycle just for inspiration but there are so many great war movies. Platton I would have to say is one, Band of Brother, Fury, Pacific, Thin Red Line..........the list goes on.

Response by SGT Randy Bordner made Jul 24 at 2019 4:14 PM

2019-07-24T16:14:23-04:00

"Platoon" because up until the time that movie was made; Hollywood made a lot of horrible movies about Vietnam. They portrayed everyone like a druggie and a crazy person. Platoon came fairly close to showing what a real infantry unit was like in RVN; not perfect but much better than what had been made previously. One particular scene has the troops walking away from a village of grass hootches; in the background, the hootches were exploding. The burning village was setting off hidden explosives inside the grass huts; this is typical of my experience. Explosives used for mines / booby traps were hidden inside the walls of the grass huts. Most people watching the movie either do not notice the explosions in the background or have no idea why they are occurring.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Jul 24 at 2019 5:36 PM

2019-07-24T17:36:38-04:00

Favorite all time” The bridges at Toko Ri “ favorite because of some very realistic scenes “Platoon “ Pulling watch in the jungles of Vietnam,mosquitoes,rain ,pitch black nights,de jevu my Brothers,flashback time!

Response by PO2 Richard Taylor made Jul 24 at 2019 6:10 PM

2019-07-24T18:10:34-04:00

Jacknife.

Response by MAJ Ron Peery made Jul 24 at 2019 6:22 PM

2019-07-24T18:22:58-04:00

1. Saving Private Ryan. The first time I saw it, I was sitting next to a D-Day veteran, quite by chance. He was in tears from the start, and said it was TOO accurate.
2. Band of Brothers
3. The Pacific Also an HBO series
4. We Were Soldiers
5. Gettysburg In spite of the syrupy sentimentality, or maybe because of it.
6. Blackhawk Down. Not only an accurate and gritty portrayal of urban combat, but it also had the best rendition of "The Minstrel Boy" I have ever heard.
7. Thirteen Hours
8. USS Indianapolis
9. The Last of the Mohicans
10. A Bridge Too Far
And, honorable mention, Darkest Hour. Though not a war movie in the traditional sense, it portrayed the difficulties Churchill had to deal with while leading Great Britain in a fight for life.

There are others I like, but I think these are the best. I was tempted to add Michael Collins. Oh, heck, I just did. That's the Irish revolutionary, not the astronaut.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2019 11:12 AM

2019-07-25T11:12:17-04:00

I think it's called Fire Base Gloria with R Lee Ermy in it. I like the raw like nature of him and his men during Vietnam

Response by CPO Gene Gysin made Jul 25 at 2019 5:20 PM

2019-07-25T17:20:21-04:00

Men of Honor.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Sep 16 at 2019 2:53 AM

2019-09-16T02:53:57-04:00

Dirty Dozen, interesting take on leadership when your subordinates are ex-cons and feel they have nothing to lose.

Response by SFC William Farrell made Sep 16 at 2019 2:55 AM

2019-09-16T02:55:55-04:00

Saving Private Ryan and the Deer Hunter Capt Cory Halvorson

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Sep 16 at 2019 3:35 AM

2019-09-16T03:35:52-04:00

Capt Cory Halvorson You Don't Play Nice Capt'n! So Many to Choose From. So Many to Pick From but I'm a Retired Navy Spook, A Cryptologist "The Imitation Game" Along with Many Others has a Special Place in My Heart.

Response by CW5 Jack Cardwell made Sep 16 at 2019 5:48 AM

2019-09-16T05:48:49-04:00

Dad Boot ! Great movie about the trials and tribulations of a submarine crew in WWII. Not a submariner but it seemed very realistic to me.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Sep 16 at 2019 5:57 AM

2019-09-16T05:57:35-04:00

Full Metal Jacket, it gave me a look into what happened during the Tet offensive. Between me and my wife, we lost 6 cousins over there.

Response by 1SG Steven Imerman made Sep 16 at 2019 6:46 AM

2019-09-16T06:46:13-04:00

Cross of Iron. Old school, gruff NCO Steiner (James Coburn) versus a ticket punching supercilious upper class officer, von Stransky (Maximilian Schell), who's only in a front line position long enough to win a Cross of Iron. Best line in war movie anywhere is when the Russians are over running the German position and Steiner finds a frightened Von Stransky in a bunker, and preparing to lead him in an attempt to breakout of the mess they are in says, "I will show you where the Crosses of Iron grow."

Honorable mention- Taking Chance.

Next- about 50 different movies.

Response by Cpl Bernard Bates made Sep 16 at 2019 11:17 AM

2019-09-16T11:17:05-04:00

"We were Soldiers" is my favorite movie. I was in the 205th Ord. (Ammo) Plt. in Nov. 65 When the battle at Id Drang valley took place. We supported 1st cav. with Ammo at the time. They hauled Ammo, 105,s mortar Rounds and small arms ammo with semis, choppers and trucks. I remember one Huey landed so close to the Mess tent that the prop wash blew the tent down and it caught fire from the field stoves. At the time we didn't realize how fierce the battle was until it was all over. The Movie got the story right even down to the names of the Soldiers. Joey Galloway a news reporter was the only news man there, so it was documented very well. LT.Col. Hal Moore was the Co. at the time. He and Joey Galloway wrote a book "We were Soldiers and young once" There is even a web site called "LZ X-Ray" Semper Fi.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 16 at 2019 1:50 PM

2019-09-16T13:50:15-04:00

Band of Brothers for the realism and dynamic personalities.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Sep 16 at 2019 7:35 PM

2019-09-16T19:35:21-04:00

Capt Michael Wilford "Enemy at the gates" is my favorite military movie.The emotion and intrigue held my interest besides being historical with vintage weapons.

Response by Maj John Bell made Sep 16 at 2019 10:07 PM

2019-09-16T22:07:07-04:00

The Siege at Fire Base Gloria, because of R. Lee Ermey.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2019 1:41 PM

2019-09-24T13:41:49-04:00

Many good answers here already. My newest favorite is 13 Hours. Prior to that, Act of Valor, American Sniper, and Lone Survivor.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Jun 5 at 2023 3:19 PM

2023-06-05T15:19:27-04:00

I have several, but I'll mention two. The Dirty Dozen and Kelly's Heroes. Both have very funny and very sad moments. Mainly I love them as great escapist fare with great characters.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2023 2:37 AM

2023-06-06T02:37:05-04:00

Capt Michael Wilford Hacksaw Ridge... if you watched it you would know why.

Response by PO3 Richard Beasley made Nov 15 at 2023 8:15 PM

2023-11-15T20:15:31-05:00

Thanks for sharing. I'm a movie lover. In my free time, I don't hesitate to watch movies at home. I have a big list of favorite movies. I basically like to watch tragic movies. Because I always try to discover new characters by watching them.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2023 9:14 PM

2023-11-15T21:14:32-05:00

"We Were Soldiers" was great because of how they depicted the battle as a chess match between two savvy commanders.

"Platoon" was really good, too, for the way it depicted some realities of war.

"The Best in Hell", by the infamous Wagner group, was interesting with how they did not seem to dehumanize either side and mainly showed the battle tactics used by both forces.

"Black Hawk Down" will always be great and was the main reason why I always wore a sapi plate in the back of my IOTV. That and because my NCO told me to. Lol

"My Way", was a great Korean movie about a Korean soldier who fought for the Japanese, Russian, and German armies during WW2.

"Mosul", movie about an Iraqi SWAT-like team's mission throughout the city of Mosul as the country was in civil war with ISIS.