# Your favorite/best War Movies From the 1980s **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 31, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-best-war-movies-from-the-1980s/721283 "2015-05-31T21:11:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-best-war-movies-from-the-1980s/721283/1 "2015-05-31T21:11:11Z")
===================================================== For background check these threads: > **[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 > **[Your favorite/best War Movies Prior to 1940](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=757956)** > > Pick your Top Five (or fewer) from this list: For King and Country For King and Country (1913) - IMDb (1913) The Battleship Potemkin Battleship Potemkin (1925) - IMDb (1925) The Big Parade The Big Parade (1925) - IMDb (1925) The General The... Your favorite/best War Movies Prior to 1940 05-27-2015, 10:18 PM > **[Your favorite/best War Movies Prior to 1940 -- Part 2](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=758055)** > > Because I started Your favorite/best War Movies Prior to 1940 too soon, and since another batch of suggested titles have come in at Best All-Time Military Movies – Pre-Poll Data Gathering, I feel it’s only fair to give those interested another... Your favorite/best War Movies Prior to 1940 – Part 2 05-29-2015, 07:31 AM [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=758138](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=758138) Your favorite/best War Movies From the 1990s 05-30-2015, 04:17 AM > **[Your favorite/best War Movies From the 1970s](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=758190)** > > For background check these threads: Best All-Time Military Movies – Pre-Poll Data Gathering 05-25-2015, 07:38 PM Your favorite/best War Movies Prior to 1940 05-27-2015, 10:18 PM Your favorite/best War Movies Prior to 1940 – Part 2 ... Your favorite/best War Movies From the 1970s 05-30-2015, 09:08 PM # =========================================================================================== The Big Red One [The Big Red One (1980) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080437/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1980) Breaker Morant [Breaker Morant (1980) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080310/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1980) Kagemusha [Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior (1980) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080979/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1980) Das Boot [Das Boot (1981) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082096/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1981) Excalibur [Excalibur (1981) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082348/) (1981) Gallipoli [Gallipoli (1981) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082432/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1981) Stripes [Stripes (1981) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083131/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1981) Don’t Cry, It’s Only Thunder [Don't Cry, It's Only Thunder (1982) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083843/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1982) An Officer and a Gentleman [An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084434/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1982) Oro, Plata, Mata [Oro, Plata, Mata (1982) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086056/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1982) Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence [Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085933/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1983) The Right Stuff [The Right Stuff (1983) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086197/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1983) WarGames [WarGames (1983) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086567/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1983) Red Dawn [Red Dawn (1984) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087985/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1984) A Soldier’s Story [A Soldier's Story (1984) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088146/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1984) The Burmese Harp [The Burmese Harp (1985) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088810/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2) (1985) Come and See [Come and See (1985) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091251/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1985) Ran [Ran (1985) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089881/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1985) Revolution [Revolution (1985) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089913/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2) (1985) Heartbreak Ridge [Heartbreak Ridge (1986) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091187/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1986) Iron Eagle [Iron Eagle (1986) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091278/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1986) Platoon [Platoon (1986) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091763/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1986) Top Gun [Top Gun (1986) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092099/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1986) Empire of the Sun [Empire of the Sun (1987) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092965/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1987) Full Metal Jacket [Full Metal Jacket (1987) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093058/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1987) Good Morning, Vietnam [Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093105/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1987) Hamburger Hill [Hamburger Hill (1987) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093137/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1987) The Lighthorsemen [The Lighthorsemen (1987) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093416/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1987) Bat\*21 [Bat\*21 (1988) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094712/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1988) The Beast (aka The Beast of War) [The Beast of War (1988) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094716/?ref_=nv_sr_1) (1988) Grave of the Fireflies [Grave of the Fireflies (1988) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095327/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1988) 84C Mopic [84C MoPic (1989) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096744/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1989) Born on the Fourth of July [Born on the Fourth of July (1989) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096969/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1989) Casualties of War [Casualties of War (1989) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097027/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1989) Farewell to the King [Farewell to the King (1989) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097334/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1989) Glory [Glory (1989) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097441/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1989) Henry V (Kenneth Branagh) [Henry V (1989) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097499/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1989) Talvisota (the Winter War) [The Winter War (1989) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098437/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1989) = 38 **If you feel we have omitted a great War Movie from the 1980’s then mention it/them and if we have enough additional titles we may have a follow-up poll for the decade.** ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-best-war-movies-from-the-1980s/721283/2 "2015-05-31T21:29:00Z")
The list begins and ends with Das Boot. I voted for more, but Das Boot is one of the very best movies ever made. Period. ---
**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:** [May 31, 2015, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-best-war-movies-from-the-1980s/721283/3 "2015-05-31T21:32:00Z")
Gotta be _Breaker Morant_. One of my all-time favorite films of any genre. Witty script, great acting, gripping courtroom drama, exciting battle scenes, beautiful cinematography, poetry and even a dash of tragic romance. Still a masterpiece. Some favorite dialogue: “They lack our altruism, sir.” “Quite.” “Agitated, sir.” “You couldn’t lie straight in bed.” “Visiting?” “Visiting?” “_Visiting?_” “Well, I did say he’s a _minor_ poet.” “They say a slice off a cut loaf’s never missed, sir.” “Scapegoats of the Empire!” “No, thanks. I’m a pagan too.” And of course, one of the best lines in movie history: “Shoot straight, you bastards! Don’t make a mess of it!” ---
**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:** [June 1, 2015, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-best-war-movies-from-the-1980s/721283/4 "2015-06-01T00:36:59Z")
A great many on that list,\* Stripes, WarGames, Excalibur, The Right Stuff, An Officer and a Gentleman, Henry V, Good Morning Vietnam\* etc. are not at all what I’d consider ‘war movies’. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-best-war-movies-from-the-1980s/721283/5 "2015-06-01T02:19:28Z")
Since we’re talking favorite and not best that one was easy – under Rule 3-0-3. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-best-war-movies-from-the-1980s/721283/6 "2015-06-01T02:20:48Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > A great many on that list,\* Stripes, WarGames, Excalibur, The Right Stuff, An Officer and a Gentleman, Henry V, Good Morning Vietnam\* etc. are not at all what I’d consider ‘war movies’. At least one voter on at least one movie agrees with you: ```auto Stripes 4 20.00% WarGames 3 15.00% Excalibur 1 5.00% The Right Stuff 6 30.00% An Officer and a Gentleman 0 0% Henry V (Kenneth Branagh) 7 35.00% Good Morning, Vietnam 5 25.00% etc. are not at all what I'd consider 'war movies'' ``` They still voted, though. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-best-war-movies-from-the-1980s/721283/7 "2015-06-01T06:12:19Z")
The only reason I _didn’t_ vote for _ **Das Boot** _ was because I had to get both\*\*\* Breaker Morant\*\*\* and _ **Gallipoli** _ in my top five. But I see my vote wouldn’t have mattered much anyway. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-best-war-movies-from-the-1980s/721283/8 "2015-06-01T06:22:23Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > A great many on that list,\* Stripes, WarGames, Excalibur, The Right Stuff, An Officer and a Gentleman, Henry V, Good Morning Vietnam\* etc. are not at all what I’d consider ‘war movies’. Well, and many of those that were about war were _anti_-war movies. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-best-war-movies-from-the-1980s/721283/9 "2015-06-01T13:17:25Z")
Here’s close to the latest breakdown of the whole set: ```auto =================================================== View Poll Results: Your favorite/best War Movies From the 1980s -- Vote for up to SEVEN This poll will close on 06-30-2015 at 04:19 PM Das Boot 26 60.47% Full Metal Jacket 22 51.16% Platoon 15 34.88% Glory 14 32.56% Breaker Morant 12 27.91% Henry V (Kenneth Branagh) 11 25.58% The Right Stuff 10 23.26% Good Morning, Vietnam 10 23.26% Stripes 9 20.93% Empire of the Sun 9 20.93% Gallipoli 8 18.60% The Big Red One 6 13.95% WarGames 6 13.95% Ran 6 13.95% Heartbreak Ridge 5 11.63% Excalibur 4 9.30% Red Dawn 4 9.30% Top Gun 4 9.30% The Beast (aka The Beast of War) 3 6.98% Casualties of War 3 6.98% Kagemusha 2 4.65% A Soldier's Story 2 4.65% The Lighthorsemen 2 4.65% Grave of the Fireflies 2 4.65% Born on the Fourth of July 2 4.65% An Officer and a Gentleman 1 2.33% Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence 1 2.33% Come and See 1 2.33% 84C Mopic 1 2.33% Farewell to the King 1 2.33% Don't Cry, It's Only Thunder 0 0% Oro, Plata, Mata 0 0% The Burmese Harp (1985) 0 0% Revolution 0 0% Iron Eagle 0 0% Hamburger Hill 0 0% Bat*21 0 0% Talvisota (the Winter War) 0 0% OTHER (post and identify) 0 0% Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 43 ==================================================== ``` ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-best-war-movies-from-the-1980s/721283/10 "2015-06-01T14:02:09Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > The list begins and ends with Das Boot. > > I voted for more, but Das Boot is one of the very best movies ever made. Period. Yeah, I wondered for a moment if I could just vote for _Das Boot_ seven times. It’s nice to see that the only competition it really has right now is _Full Metal Jacket_. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-best-war-movies-from-the-1980s/721283/11 "2015-06-01T15:07:25Z")
I agree about **Breaker Morant** with one question: Subtitles? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2015, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-best-war-movies-from-the-1980s/721283/12 "2015-06-07T03:31:48Z")
Other: _Testament_ – made for TV but then theatrically released, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2015, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-best-war-movies-from-the-1980s/721283/13 "2015-06-07T03:50:51Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Other: _Testament_ – made for TV but then theatrically released, IIRC. Would that be Testament [Testament (1983) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086429/?ref_=nv_sr_2) (1983) ? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2015, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-best-war-movies-from-the-1980s/721283/14 "2015-06-07T03:56:43Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Would that be > > Testament [Testament (1983) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086429/?ref_=nv_sr_2) (1983) ? Yes. Pushing the boundary of “war movie,” but I think it fits in your list. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2015, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-best-war-movies-from-the-1980s/721283/15 "2015-06-07T04:09:45Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Yes. Pushing the boundary of “war movie,” but I think it fits in your list. As I have said elsewhere, I don’t have a problem adding titles to the Overflow File if they are suggested. I trust the voters to decide if the movies need to be considered as _ **Your favorite/best War Movies From** _ whenever. I’m still piecing together the Overflow File from the various threads where _Other_ movies have been mentioned, with hopes of having that up for discussion at least within the next day or two. Right now the list is at least 50 titles, so there will be plenty to discuss (and probably add to) before we get down to a voting thread/poll. Thanks for your suggestion. 🙂