Best WWI/WWII Movies?
WWI All is Quiet on the Western Front Gallipoli Paths of Glory WWII the Young Lions Command Decision The Longest day Schindler's List Mrs. Miniver The Bridge on the River Kwai Fury Patton Battleground The Battle of the River Platte Tora Tora Tora Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo The Sands of Iwo Jima The Enemy Below The Man Who Knew Too Much From Here to Eternity The Best Years of Our Lives (what happened to soldiers after the war) Wake Island They Were Expendable The Sullivan Brothers Saving Private Ryan The Railroad Man A Bridge too Far The Dirty Dozen The Guns of Navarone To Have and Have Not The Winds of War (TV Mini Series)
Veterans and war movies?
dear friend ,it's a quite common experience .tom hanks invited a group of normandy invaders to the debut of "saving private ryan" many of which were unable to get through the first few scenes. it's a matter of empathy,to see something portrayed on film that you your self have experienced first hand is a far more emotional and psychologically gripping than it is to the average gamer or movie buff. i was a big fan of the history channel's world at war ,and other documentary depictions of ww 2 before working in iraq. since then the carnage seemed to take on a realism that not only made me uncomfortable ,but was disturbing to the point of agitation especially the first few months after i came home. a major reason that i gave up the quite lucrative war business was the fact that after a time i was unable to look at ,much less work on fragged out equipment.when i would see a hmmwv with an r.p.g. hole in the fender where the air intake was ,and the front seats were gone ,i couldn't, not visualize and empathize with the horror that resulted from such a strike.too many times i retrieved crosses and other talisman from the roof insulation of vehicles with the floor-pans blown out ,and it didn't take me long to realize how futile such objects of faith were against the horrific devices of death man has fashioned in an effort to annihilate their so called enemies. the fact is i don't discuss these things with other people in person 'so when it comes time to pick a movie i always opt for some comedy or adventure type films like the mummy or indianna jones ,without feeling a need to explain why ,and if i don't ,you surely shouldn't feel compelled to either. may god continue to bless you and our thanks go out to you for your valiant service to our country. sincerely joe