There is only one real choice you grab-ass-tic civilian pukes! NOW DROP AND GIVE ME 20!!! 
Oh, I understood why it was popular back then (it won 7 Oscars for goodness sakes), but time hasn’t been particularly kind to the film and its eagerness to straddle the fence (an unflattering hagiography, if you will) only looks like a tone that’s muddled now. The movie is just a series of anecdotes, with only two scenes that anyone really remembers: the opening, iconic speech and the soldier slapping. Not much else distinctive about it, and you’re right–it’s far from the best war film that year! But it’s scoring well here and did so similarly in an AFI poll a while back, I’m guessing more from running on fumes than from anyone who’s actually seen it lately.
Great Jerry Goldsmith score, though–probably the film’s most important legacy.
The final ‘all glory is fleeting’ speech has become my favorite bit of the film. You were right though, without the sheer charisma of George C Scott the film would have likely been a disaster.
Having to choose only one I went with Patton. Yes, mostly based on one stellar performance. Second place would go to Bridge On the River Kwai, and incredibly well made movie, and a marvel to watch the elite mix of filmdom’s greatest hams chewing the scenery.
I kinda feel that way about Kellys Heroes…egregious scenery chewers…Carrol O’Connor; Donald Sutherland; Don Rickles. Telly Savalas as the anchor of the film in a solid steady performance and Clint Eastwood somewhat overshadowed by the other actors. How can we not love Sutherlands performance…a bearded hippy with a massively strong Canadian accent pretending to be a tank platoon leader.
Kelly’s Heroes wasn’t on the list so I used my wife’s vote. “Have you ever noticed that there are no shadows in Patton? And the music!” One of her favorites.
And Moriarty was right. A Tiger is a piece of junk. The only movie to admit it.
Thanks to all participating!
Here’s a comparison with the Semi-Finals (see OP for more) and the way things stand after 52 Voters here:
View Poll Results: Favorite/Best War/Military Movies -- Final Round -- Vote for ONE
This poll will close on 11-06-2015 at 08:07 AM
Saving Private Ryan 39 57.35% Saving Private Ryan 15 28.85%
Das Boot 30 44.12% Das Boot 8 15.38%
Patton 25 36.76% Patton 9 17.31%
Casablanca 19 27.94% Casablanca 3 5.77%
Full Metal Jacket 19 27.94% Full Metal Jacket 4 7.69%
The Bridge on the River Kwai 16 23.53% The Bridge on the River Kwai 2 3.85%
Dr. Strangelove 16 23.53% Dr. Strangelove 4 7.69%
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World 16 23.53% Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World 2 3.85%
The Great Escape 15 22.06% The Great Escape 5 9.62%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 68 Voters: 52
This. Not getting the love.
I went with “Das Boot.”
(Second place for me would be “Dr. Strangelove,” which I contend is a war movie – while “Casablanca” is good cinema, I’d say that’s barely a war movie.)
And, another shout-out to “Breaker Morant.” Even as a 12-year-old stumbling upon this film on HBO, I could tell it was something special.
Also, I’m a bit disappointed (but not really surprised) that “The Grand Illusion”'didn’t make the cut – and I am surprised that “Apocalypse Now” isn’t on the final list. Whether you love it, like it, or dislike it, for me it’s the epitome of “war movie,” though I could understand a case against that (mainly, its loose relationship with a Conrad story which is not war related except maybe in the broadest of senses.)
Almost any list with Doctor Strangelove on it means every other movie is second place. If you say anything else, you’ll have to answer to the Coca-Cola company!
Regards,
Shodan
In Good Health, Thru the Purity of Essence of Our Precious Bodily Fluids
Hear, hear.
For me, as for others, it was a tossup between Saving Private Ryan, and Patton.
I saw both movies at different times in my life, which can effect one’s appreciation. I saw Patton while still in the US Army. I was in uniform even! When it was over and I walked out of the theater I wanted to go run over something in a tank.
I saw Ryan on the small screen, on television. I wish I’d seen it on the big screen, in a theater. I heard one old man, once, who’d been there on D-Day saying it was like going back in time, it was so real. The scene when you see Mrs. Ryan opening the screen door, seeing a car pull up, with the priest getting out, and her collapsing to the porch, nearly made me burst out in tears.
Tough call, but I still like them both.
As usual, you said it before and better than I could. Worst part? At the end when Hanks sputters, “Earn this”. If I was Ryan, I would have told him to go fuck himself and explained how I owed him nothing, and he was just following his orders.
You’re bringing me down with those negative waves, man!
The Bridge on the River Kwai - I didn’t participate in the pre-polls but my actual vote might have gone to Lawrence of Arabia. But out of this list I’ll stick with this one.
Casablanca - Set during a war, not a war movie IMHO. Great film, but disqualified.
Das Boot - Great achievement. Second or third choice, but this is really virtually a mini-series not a film :D. Too much of a slog to give it full love.
Dr. Strangelove - Great film, again not quite a war movie IMHO. Disqualified.
Full Metal Jacket - Tremendous, iconic first half - confused, lackluster second half.
The Great Escape - Pretty good, second or third choice. But forgive the heresy, Steve McQueen added nothing and actually detracted - he and his silly motorcycle tricks were a distraction. At least Garner worked in the plot.
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World - Meh. I’m supremely indifferent to that particular genre.
Patton - Great individual performance, only okay film.
Saving Private Ryan - Stupendous opening 20 minutes, followed by a rather so-so film. I would have knocked fucking private Ryan unconscious and carted him away on my shoulders after having lost half my buddies on that asinine assignment.
Two weeks or more since the last post. Anybody else?