Movies and Films
This is the forum for Movie and Film discussions. Again, our topic is naval warfare in WWII for the most part.
Re: War films
Posted by:
Douglas Struthers
()
Date: May 03, 2003 10:45PM
<HTML>Dick:
It is hard to know for certain about accuracy unless I suppose you were there. Critically, these films I've listed have had some degree of accuracy attached to them:
1. As Robert stated..."Tora, Tora, Tora" is well done...with shared USA and Japanese direction.
2. "Das Boot" is from the famous novel by Lothar-Gunter Buchheim but is considered extremely accurate in capturing life on a U-Boat (in this case U-96) during the war. A classic.
3. "The Killing Fields" is a tremendous movie about the emergence of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia in 1975. It is tremendous in its look and feel. Follows the exploits of a New York Times journalist and his aide (the actor Haing Ngor) who actually lived through the attrocities. Based on actual facts including diaries.
4. "The Cruel Sea" is a good movie about life on WWII escort ships (corvettes mostly) and their battles against the U-Boats and the brutal sea. Not precise in its details but accurate in terms of conveying life aboard these vital ships during the war. A 1952 B&W movie.
5. "The Bridge on the River Kwai" is considered a classic movie for its time. It probably doesn't effectively or fully show the extent of the brutal conditions that the POWs had to endure under Japanese control. Some recent books ("Behind the Fence") have been more successful at this.
6. "Enemy at the Gates" is considered a strong movie for its toughness and brutality that was Stalingrad in 1942-43. Based on the Soviets' Vassili Zaitsev's efforts as a sniper during this pivotal battle. Effectively shows Stalin's "Not One Step Backwards" order.
7. "The Grey Zone" is a new movie (2001) that is considered quite accurate about the only uprising by the Jewish Sonderkommandos in Auschwitz. Tough and brutal.
Others with partial accuracy include:
1. "Battle of the Bulge"
2. "Midway"
3. "A Bridge Too Far"
4. "The Longest Day"
5. "The Desert Fox"
6. "Patton" - a little biased! but powerfully performed by George C. Scott
Weak in historical accuracy:
1. "U-571" didn't need to re-write history for the screen but it did. The movie never attempted on showing real history...a shame it didn't follow the sinking of U-110 by HMS Bulldog (as one example) and the capturing of the Enigma and the secret books.
Worth Watching:
1. "The Train" has such a good look about it and Paul Scofield does an impressive job as a German colonel. Based very loosely on the liberation of Paris in 1944 and the art stolen by the Nazis. Precise history it is not but strong performances in B&W.
Hope these comments are reasonably accurate. Of course, not everyone will agree...but I've tried to be fair.
Have fun at the video store Dick!!
Cheers.
Douglas</HTML>
It is hard to know for certain about accuracy unless I suppose you were there. Critically, these films I've listed have had some degree of accuracy attached to them:
1. As Robert stated..."Tora, Tora, Tora" is well done...with shared USA and Japanese direction.
2. "Das Boot" is from the famous novel by Lothar-Gunter Buchheim but is considered extremely accurate in capturing life on a U-Boat (in this case U-96) during the war. A classic.
3. "The Killing Fields" is a tremendous movie about the emergence of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia in 1975. It is tremendous in its look and feel. Follows the exploits of a New York Times journalist and his aide (the actor Haing Ngor) who actually lived through the attrocities. Based on actual facts including diaries.
4. "The Cruel Sea" is a good movie about life on WWII escort ships (corvettes mostly) and their battles against the U-Boats and the brutal sea. Not precise in its details but accurate in terms of conveying life aboard these vital ships during the war. A 1952 B&W movie.
5. "The Bridge on the River Kwai" is considered a classic movie for its time. It probably doesn't effectively or fully show the extent of the brutal conditions that the POWs had to endure under Japanese control. Some recent books ("Behind the Fence") have been more successful at this.
6. "Enemy at the Gates" is considered a strong movie for its toughness and brutality that was Stalingrad in 1942-43. Based on the Soviets' Vassili Zaitsev's efforts as a sniper during this pivotal battle. Effectively shows Stalin's "Not One Step Backwards" order.
7. "The Grey Zone" is a new movie (2001) that is considered quite accurate about the only uprising by the Jewish Sonderkommandos in Auschwitz. Tough and brutal.
Others with partial accuracy include:
1. "Battle of the Bulge"
2. "Midway"
3. "A Bridge Too Far"
4. "The Longest Day"
5. "The Desert Fox"
6. "Patton" - a little biased! but powerfully performed by George C. Scott
Weak in historical accuracy:
1. "U-571" didn't need to re-write history for the screen but it did. The movie never attempted on showing real history...a shame it didn't follow the sinking of U-110 by HMS Bulldog (as one example) and the capturing of the Enigma and the secret books.
Worth Watching:
1. "The Train" has such a good look about it and Paul Scofield does an impressive job as a German colonel. Based very loosely on the liberation of Paris in 1944 and the art stolen by the Nazis. Precise history it is not but strong performances in B&W.
Hope these comments are reasonably accurate. Of course, not everyone will agree...but I've tried to be fair.
Have fun at the video store Dick!!
Cheers.
Douglas</HTML>
| Subject | Written By | Posted |
|---|---|---|
War films
|
Dick | 05/03/2003 11:57AM |
|
Re: War films
|
ROBERT M. | 05/03/2003 12:20PM |
|
Re: War films
|
Bill Forsythe | 05/07/2003 03:53PM |
|
Re: War films
|
Douglas Struthers | 05/03/2003 10:45PM |
|
Re: War films
|
Douglas Struthers | 05/03/2003 11:00PM |
|
Re: War films
|
J. Brennan | 05/10/2003 09:34PM |
|
Re: War films
|
Steve Roberts | 05/07/2003 10:02AM |
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Re: War films
|
Kevin | 05/22/2003 03:15PM |
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Re: War films
|
Jim | 05/27/2003 07:43PM |