# Favorite/Best War/Military Movies -- Final Round **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 8, 2015, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-war-military-movies-final-round/727314 "2015-08-08T14:04:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-war-military-movies-final-round/727314/1 "2015-08-08T14:04:54Z")
For background see: > **[Favorite/Best War/Military Movies -- Semi Finals](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=762658)** > > For background see: Favorite/Best War/Military Movies – Quarter Finals – Summaries and Discussion 06-29-2015, 02:52 PM These movies received at least 30% of the votes in the four preliminary polls: Casablanca 20... Favorite/Best War/Military Movies – Semi Finals 07-18-2015, 08:55 AM > **[Favorite/Best War/Military Movies -- Quarter Finals -- Summaries and Discussion](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=760877)** > > For the lead-up to this thread see Best All-Time Military Movies – Discussion Thread 05-31-2015, 06:37 AM and specifically this post: I’m moving the periodic reporting of progress to this thread and invite your comments and suggestions here. ... Favorite/Best War/Military Movies – Quarter Finals – Summaries and Discussion 06-29-2015, 02:52 PM > **[Best All-Time Military Movies -- Discussion Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=758205)** > > As of a few minutes ago, these are the high points of the threads relating to War Movies that I have started recently. I’ll update these statistics from time to time and will try to respond to any criticisms or suggestions you may have for how to... Best All-Time Military Movies – Discussion Thread 05-31-2015, 06:37 AM > **[Best All-Time Military Movies -- Pre-Poll Data Gathering](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=757774)** > > I have no major quarrel with the movies listed at http://screenrant.com/best-war-military-movies-list/ which are: -Black Hawk Down -Apocalypse Now -Platoon -Full Metal Jacket -Saving Private Ryan …but before building a poll to test SDMB’s... Best All-Time Military Movies – Pre-Poll Data Gathering 05-25-2015, 07:38 PM through #271 06-19-2015, 04:10 AM =============================================== View Poll Results: Favorite/Best War/Military Movies – Semi Finals – Vote for Up To Five This poll will close on 08-08-2015 at 09:00 AM ```auto Saving Private Ryan 39 57.35% Das Boot 30 44.12% Patton 25 36.76% Casablanca 19 27.94% Full Metal Jacket 19 27.94% The Bridge on the River Kwai 16 23.53% Dr. Strangelove 16 23.53% Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World 16 23.53% The Great Escape 15 22.06% MASH 13 19.12% Apocalypse Now 13 19.12% Black Hawk Down 13 19.12% Lawrence of Arabia 12 17.65% Platoon 11 16.18% All Quiet on the Western Front 9 13.24% Stalag 17 9 13.24% The Longest Day 9 13.24% Paths of Glory 9 13.24% Glory 9 13.24% Schindler's List 9 13.24% Twelve O'Clock High 7 10.29% The Dirty Dozen 7 10.29% The Best Years of Our Lives 5 7.35% The Deer Hunter 2 2.94% Enemy at the Gates 2 2.94% ``` Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 68 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-war-military-movies-final-round/727314/2 "2015-08-08T14:18:55Z")
A tossup for me between Patton and Private Ryan. I went with the latter simply because of the riveting and realistic opening D-Day scenes. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-war-military-movies-final-round/727314/3 "2015-08-08T14:24:29Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > A tossup for me between Patton and Private Ryan. I went with the latter simply because of the riveting and realistic opening D-Day scenes. I hear you. That’s what did it for me, too. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-war-military-movies-final-round/727314/4 "2015-08-08T16:30:49Z")
_Saving Private Ryan_ for me, too. Much as I love _Casablanca_, I just don’t consider it a “war movie,” deep down. It’s set during wartime, yes, but is much more about romance, politics and resistance to tyranny. _Dr. Strangelove_ would be a close second among the finalists. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-war-military-movies-final-round/727314/5 "2015-08-08T16:48:14Z")
Just for the fun of it, anybody want to make a guess as to how many Voters it will take for us to have at least one vote for all nine films? We seem to be locked on just four at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-war-military-movies-final-round/727314/6 "2015-08-09T00:03:18Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Just for the fun of it, anybody want to make a guess as to how many Voters it will take for us to have at least one vote for all nine films? > > We seem to be locked on just four at the moment. Now we’re just waiting for somebody to vote for these: ```auto The Bridge on the River Kwai 0 0% Dr. Strangelove 0 0% Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World 0 0% ``` ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-war-military-movies-final-round/727314/7 "2015-08-09T00:06:03Z")
Neither _Casablanca_ nor _Dr. Strangelove_ are war movies at all. One is a romance-crime-thriller, the other a black comedy (the greatest ever\*!\*) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-war-military-movies-final-round/727314/8 "2015-08-09T01:18:29Z")
And really, once you get past the first 20 minutes _Saving Private Ryan_ is a pedestrian, boring, cliché-fest. I hate that movie. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-war-military-movies-final-round/727314/9 "2015-08-09T02:08:20Z")
Stalingrad deserves a mention. It has some of the most intense battle action ever. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-war-military-movies-final-round/727314/10 "2015-08-09T02:23:22Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Stalingrad deserves a mention. It has some of the most intense battle action ever. Well, if you’re going to re-open the floor to nominations here, I insist that _Breaker Morant_ be on the ballot! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-war-military-movies-final-round/727314/11 "2015-08-09T02:33:52Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Well, if you’re going to re-open the floor to nominations here, I insist that _Breaker Morant_ be on the ballot! 😉 _Right!_ Also, [The Guns at Batasi](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058166/) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-war-military-movies-final-round/727314/12 "2015-08-11T13:32:34Z")
Wonder where the voters for ```auto **The Bridge on the River Kwai 16 23.53%** ``` are hiding… ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-war-military-movies-final-round/727314/13 "2015-08-11T13:37:54Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Neither _Casablanca_ nor _Dr. Strangelove_ are war movies at all. One is a romance-crime-thriller, the other a black comedy (the greatest ever\*!\*) Make me a cocktail of rainwater and grain alcohol, and help yourself to whatever you’d like. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-war-military-movies-final-round/727314/14 "2015-08-12T20:16:12Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Neither _Casablanca_ nor _Dr. Strangelove_ are war movies at all. One is a romance-crime-thriller, the other a black comedy (the greatest ever\*!\*) Of course they’re war movies. What they aren’t are combat movies. People often conflate the two, but if War is your primary thematic element, just the fact that you don’t have soldiers shooting at each other doesn’t mean you aren’t a war film (though _Strangelove_ even has that!). Perhaps the greatest war movie (despite not making the cut here) is _The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp_, which doesn’t have a single minute of combat footage but depicts the philosophical and psychological impact of war on soldiers, on a political and personal scale, like few movies ever made. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-war-military-movies-final-round/727314/15 "2015-08-12T20:22:22Z")
Also, I’ve never understood the love for _Patton_, which is IMHO a thoroughly mediocre and highly typical biopic. Cinematically, it’s big in scope without ever being particularly creative, and thematically, it doesn’t really offer a point-of-view that’s interesting or distinctive. Sure, it is buttressed by a single fantastic performance, but one great performance does not a great movie make. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-war-military-movies-final-round/727314/16 "2015-08-12T23:59:55Z")
> [@MovieMogul](#): > > Also, I’ve never understood the love for _Patton_, which is IMHO a thoroughly mediocre and highly typical biopic. Cinematically, it’s big in scope without ever being particularly creative, and thematically, it doesn’t really offer a point-of-view that’s interesting or distinctive. Sure, it is buttressed by a single fantastic performance, but one great performance does not a great movie make. IMO its when it was released (1970?) that is key. It was right in the middle of the Vietnam War and the counterculture. Itr appealed to the silent majoritys sense of patriotism. Of course it was kinda antiestablishment itself as Pattons biggest antagonist was the military establishment. It was rereleased as a double feature with M_A_S\*H. It was a relationship that shouldnt have worked but it proved very popular. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-war-military-movies-final-round/727314/17 "2015-08-13T00:20:06Z")
I would probably pick two different movies if you are looking for best and favorite. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-war-military-movies-final-round/727314/18 "2015-08-13T00:23:44Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Wonder where the voters for > > ```auto > > **The Bridge on the River Kwai 16 23.53%** > > ``` > > are hiding… Hey, I’ve been busy! ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-war-military-movies-final-round/727314/19 "2015-08-13T00:26:03Z")
> [@MovieMogul](#): > > Of course they’re war movies. What they aren’t are combat movies. People often conflate the two, but if War is your primary thematic element, just the fact that you don’t have soldiers shooting at each other doesn’t mean you aren’t a war film (though _Strangelove_ even has that!). > > Perhaps the greatest war movie (despite not making the cut here) is _The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp_, which doesn’t have a single minute of combat footage but depicts the philosophical and psychological impact of war on soldiers, on a political and personal scale, like few movies ever made. Dr Strangelove wasn’t even set during a war unless you count the Cold War as a war. If so I deserve more VA benefits! I agree about how actual combat is not needed for a war movie. 12 O’Clock High has very little combat and it is one of the best war movies ever made. Command Decision is also a very good movie dealing with much of the same issues with very little combat. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-war-military-movies-final-round/727314/20 "2015-08-13T00:30:06Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Hey, I’ve been busy! The count was either 40 or 41 before this event. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-war-military-movies-final-round/727314.md?page=2)