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Today's theme for the Monday Movie Meme from the Bumbles is in honor of Memorial Day, where we pay tribute to our fallen soldiers. There are so many incredible movies about soldiers in a variety of wars, that even though Molly and Andy picked some of the best ones, there are plenty more to pick from! Here are their picks, which could have easily been mine as well:
The Best Years of Our Lives
Stripes
Platoon
Full Metal Jacket
In Country
Born on the 4th of July
Forrest Gump
OK, so I had to work just a little harder to come up with some of my own. Here they are:
1. Katyn - These aren't American soldiers we are talking about here, but hit very close to home here in the Nawrot household. The story is about the execution of thousands of Polish soldiers in the Katyn forest by the Russians. (In fact, the Polish President was headed to a memorial service of this very event when his plane went down, killing everyone on board.) This is an incredible film that would cause the most stoic person to shed a tear.
2. Uncommon Valor - As Vietnam films go, this one might not have appeared above your radar, but I saw it multiple times in high school. The premise of the film is that a group of Vietnam Vets are gathered once again to perform one last mission...to rescue some fellow soldiers who were still being held as POW's.
3. The Deer Hunter - I feel like I talk about this movie alot, which surprises even myself, considering I've only had the cojones to see it once. It certainly left its mark on me. I don't think there is a film out there that better depicts the consequences of battle.
4. The Hurt Locker - We can't forget about this recent addition that is an intense, raw depiction of the war in Iraq, and its effects on the human psyche. I questioned its win at the Oscars, but darned if I'm still not thinking about it months later.
5. Private Benjamin - OK, enough of the serious stuff, let's give a nod to our girlfriend Goldie. I love this movie, despite its predictability. And apparently I'm not the only one, because Ms. Hawn did get nominated for Best Actress for her role in this gut-buster.
I will admit, I did have a few more (Saving Private Ryan, Stalingrad, Apocalypse Now) but I felt like I might start to sound like a broken record. I tend to mention the same movies over and over again! Which would be in your top 5?
Forrest Gump
OK, so I had to work just a little harder to come up with some of my own. Here they are:
1. Katyn - These aren't American soldiers we are talking about here, but hit very close to home here in the Nawrot household. The story is about the execution of thousands of Polish soldiers in the Katyn forest by the Russians. (In fact, the Polish President was headed to a memorial service of this very event when his plane went down, killing everyone on board.) This is an incredible film that would cause the most stoic person to shed a tear.
2. Uncommon Valor - As Vietnam films go, this one might not have appeared above your radar, but I saw it multiple times in high school. The premise of the film is that a group of Vietnam Vets are gathered once again to perform one last mission...to rescue some fellow soldiers who were still being held as POW's.
3. The Deer Hunter - I feel like I talk about this movie alot, which surprises even myself, considering I've only had the cojones to see it once. It certainly left its mark on me. I don't think there is a film out there that better depicts the consequences of battle.
4. The Hurt Locker - We can't forget about this recent addition that is an intense, raw depiction of the war in Iraq, and its effects on the human psyche. I questioned its win at the Oscars, but darned if I'm still not thinking about it months later.
5. Private Benjamin - OK, enough of the serious stuff, let's give a nod to our girlfriend Goldie. I love this movie, despite its predictability. And apparently I'm not the only one, because Ms. Hawn did get nominated for Best Actress for her role in this gut-buster.
I will admit, I did have a few more (Saving Private Ryan, Stalingrad, Apocalypse Now) but I felt like I might start to sound like a broken record. I tend to mention the same movies over and over again! Which would be in your top 5?
14 comments:
not too sure about top 5 but 3 come to mind that aren't on the list are Captain Corelli's Mandolin
Windtalkers
Tea With Mussolini
While not technically a movie but an HBO series, I really enjoyed Band of Brothers. Maybe The Thin Red Line too.
Yes, there are so many! There's no doubt that wars make for gripping movies!
The Deer Hunter and The Hurt Locker have to be two of the best films. I expected to not like either and ended up falling in love with both.
Oh, yes, The Hurt Locker! I watched it at home and cannot imagine how the tension must have built in a dark theater. A very well made, albeit "small," movie. Great choice.
Haha! I used to love Private Benjamin. :-)
Ok, a couple there I never heard of...going all sub-titles on us.
I have not seen The Hurt Locker yet but I have to. One I have only heard good things about.
One of my all time favorites is The Best Years of Our Lives.
Hi Sandy, I've been following your blog for awhile now and have enjoy your posts! Thanks for sharing so much of yourself with us. I am passing along the Bodacious Blogging Book Reveiwers award to you. You can pick it up at my blog: http://time-out-chelle.blogspot.com/2010/05/authors-awards-and-holidays-oh-my.html. Have a great day!
I will never forget The Deer Hunter. Christopher Walken blowing his brains out playing Russian Roulette & then DeNiro's face... Thought The Hurt Locker was very well done. As always, a great and thought-provoking list, Sandy! Thanks.
I have not seen many war movies in the past few years, but I did love Platoon and Full Metal Jacket a lot. I think the last one I saw was Jarhead, which I also liked. Great picks, Sandy! I will have to update my queue!!
We have had The Hurt Locker sitting on top of our DVD player for 3 weeks now from Netflix. All these hockey and basketball playoff games and baseball every night has forced us to use our free viewing time to catch up on our DVR shows. I am anxious to watch it soon though!!
Thanks for the nod to Goldie - I just love her.
I know it isn't technically a "soldier" movie, but one of my new favorites is Defiance.
I don't really see a lot of war movies because I just have a hard time watching all the images but I did see Black Hawk Down and thought it was amazing.
Hi Sandy, that's a neat list. I have PLATOON in my movie collection together with a couple more war movies waiting to be watched. I've seen THE HURT LOCKER too.
I invited an author who is also a father of a injured soldier to guest post on my blog on Memorial Day weekend. It didn't dawn on me until that week itself so I decided to dedicate that post to Memorial Day.
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