# Epic battle movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 10, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epic-battle-movies/437081 "2008-02-10T21:59:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epic-battle-movies/437081/1 "2008-02-10T21:59:22Z")
Braveheart wasn’t the first big time historical battle movie, but it definitely sparked a resurgence in their popularity. Since then there has been Gladiator, Troy, Kingdom of Heaven, Alexander, The Patriot, and King Arthur. And of course there are the fantasy/ scifi battles. Lord of the Rings, The Phantom Menace, The Chronicles of Narnia, etc. Basically, I’m thinking of movies where two giant armies line up neatly across from each other with an open field separating them and than rush at each other. I just saw the trailer for [Mongol](http://www.mongolmovie.com/trailer.html). Which apparently is taking this formula an applying it to the story of Ghengis Khan. After watching the trailer I thought how interesting Ghengis Khan’s story must be, but how tired I am of seeing those big epic land battles. Is it getting old for anyone else? ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epic-battle-movies/437081/2 "2008-02-10T22:01:54Z")
[QUOTE=cainxinth] After watching the trailer I thought how interesting Ghengis Khan’s story must be, but how tired I am of seeing those big epic land battles. Is it getting old for anyone else? [/QUOTE] Nope, not at all. Next thing you’ll be asking if we’re getting tired of naked women and pizza. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epic-battle-movies/437081/3 "2008-02-10T22:23:59Z")
Well, you could switch to naval battles - I never get tired of seeing (or reading) **Hornblower** or **Master and Commander** (or anything else by Forrester, Patrick O’Brian. Then again, I’ve never got tired of epic land battles, either. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epic-battle-movies/437081/4 "2008-02-10T22:39:43Z")
[QUOTE=cainxinth] Braveheart wasn’t the first big time historical battle movie, but it definitely sparked a resurgence in their popularity. Since then there has been Gladiator, Troy, Kingdom of Heaven, Alexander, The Patriot, and King Arthur. And of course there are the fantasy/ scifi battles. Lord of the Rings, The Phantom Menace, The Chronicles of Narnia, etc. Basically, I’m thinking of movies where two giant armies line up neatly across from each other with an open field separating them and than rush at each other. I just saw the trailer for [Mongol](http://www.mongolmovie.com/trailer.html). Which apparently is taking this formula an applying it to the story of Ghengis Khan. After watching the trailer I thought how interesting Ghengis Khan’s story must be, but how tired I am of seeing those big epic land battles. Is it getting old for anyone else? [/QUOTE] Given the Lord of the Rings had Mamluks, Trolls, Fell Beasts and Undead, I won’t get bored watching it again. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epic-battle-movies/437081/5 "2008-02-10T22:45:26Z")
[QUOTE=glee] Mamluks [/QUOTE] Um? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epic-battle-movies/437081/6 "2008-02-10T22:52:01Z")
[QUOTE=Omniscient] Um? [/QUOTE] He obviously meant “Janissaries”. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epic-battle-movies/437081/7 "2008-02-10T23:13:01Z")
[QUOTE=Alessan] He obviously meant “Janissaries”. [/QUOTE] Thanks, totally clears things up! ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epic-battle-movies/437081/8 "2008-02-10T23:32:52Z")
How about [Golfers vs Porn Stars?](http://youtube.com/watch?v=scICOe1nRkE) ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epic-battle-movies/437081/9 "2008-02-10T23:35:45Z")
**The Longest Day** would seem to qualify. I could see the **Last Samuri** making the cut also (pun intended - but sorry none-the-less). Also **Napolean** would, if I remember correctly, qualify. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epic-battle-movies/437081/10 "2008-02-10T23:50:40Z")
I watch **Zulu** as often as I can. It is incredible movemaking. And it is about 99% accurate, even to the diaglog as reported after the battle by those who survived it. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epic-battle-movies/437081/11 "2008-02-11T00:35:16Z")
**[Ran](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089881/)** And the best battle scene of them all, **[Alexander Nevsky](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029850/)**. [Watch it here](http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3081784922766209878). ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epic-battle-movies/437081/12 "2008-02-11T00:41:54Z")
The alltime greatest battle movie is Sergei Bondarchuk’s eight-hour [_War and Peace._](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Voinaimir.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epic-battle-movies/437081/13 "2008-02-11T03:07:47Z")
First fight scene in Gladiator was very good. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epic-battle-movies/437081/14 "2008-02-11T03:24:51Z")
Stanley Kubrick’s _Spartacus_ has a great epic battle scene. (Warning: do not watch the pan & scan version.) ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epic-battle-movies/437081/15 "2008-02-11T03:29:45Z")
[QUOTE=Ronald C. Semone] I watch **Zulu** as often as I can. It is incredible movemaking. And it is about 99% accurate, even to the diaglog as reported after the battle by those who survived it. [/QUOTE] I thought the parts about Hook being a malingerer were made up, and that would already be more than 1% of the movie. I’ll be looking for a cite for I fear you will ask. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epic-battle-movies/437081/16 "2008-02-11T03:29:53Z")
[QUOTE=cainxinth] I just saw the trailer for [Mongol](http://www.mongolmovie.com/trailer.html). Which apparently is taking this formula an applying it to the story of Ghengis Khan. [/QUOTE] I have to learn to read properly Telling an l from a ! is very important. I saw the title and wondered what it had to do with Ghegis Khan. After all, … Mongo only pawn… in game of life😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epic-battle-movies/437081/17 "2008-02-11T03:41:06Z")
[Waterloo](http://imdb.com/title/tt0066549/) The Polish movies [The Deluge](http://imdb.com/title/tt0072021/) and [Colonel Wolodi…woli…Colonel](http://imdb.com/title/tt0064785/) have some ‘good for their time’ battle scenes. Can’t forget [Cromwell](http://imdb.com/title/tt0065593/) (or maybe you can). [Scipio Africanus.](http://imdb.com/title/tt0029526/) Just don’t see it if you like elephants. Some of the Nazi propaganda movies have ‘epic’ battle scenes, but they are so inept its embarasing even without the Nazi propaganda element. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epic-battle-movies/437081/18 "2008-02-11T03:45:37Z")
[QUOTE=brownie55] I thought the parts about Hook being a malingerer were made up, and that would already be more than 1% of the movie. I’ll be looking for a cite for I fear you will ask. [/QUOTE] There was a serious lack of beards & mustaches on the primary characters as well. AS for Hook, his entry in wikipedia notes: > [@](#): > > In the film Zulu, Hook is portrayed as an insubordinate malingerer and drunkard who only comes good during the battle. In fact he had been awarded Good Conduct pay shortly prior to the battle, and reports also suggest he was a teetotaler and model soldier. As I understood it, the hook descendants almost threatened legal action. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epic-battle-movies/437081/19 "2008-02-11T03:52:13Z")
[QUOTE=lissener] The alltime greatest battle movie is Sergei Bondarchuk’s eight-hour [_War and Peace._](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Voinaimir.jpg) [/QUOTE] This is true. You can’t beat 120,000 real (i.e., not CGI) soldiers. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epic-battle-movies/437081/20 "2008-02-11T13:37:10Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Miskatonic] [Scipio Africanus.](http://imdb.com/title/tt0029526/) Just don’t see it if you like elephants. [/QUOTE] Or if you mind telephone poles in ancient Rome. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epic-battle-movies/437081.md?page=2)