The Young Lions

The Young Lions

20th Century-Fox

April 2, 1958

War Drama

DVD
C-

Not bad for what it is, but Brando honestly doesn't have much charisma or energy here.  Edward Dmytryk directed, thirteen years after Back to Bataan.  This is based on the novel by Irwin Shaw.

Wings (1927)

Wings (1927)

Paramount

May 19, 1927

War Drama, Romance

DVD
C-

I'm not into silents or war movies, but Clara Bow is a cutie.  William A. Wellman and Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast co-directed.

Wing and a Prayer, The Story of Carrier X

Wing and a Prayer, The Story of Carrier X

20th Century Fox

July 28, 1944

War Drama

DVD
D+

What was the deal with the guy kissing his Oscar?  Henry Hathaway directed, and this is the fifth of his movies I've rejected.

Windtalkers

Windtalkers

Lion Rock Productions

June 14, 2002

War Drama

DVD
D-

Too much Nic Cage.  John Woo directed, and this is somehow worse than the other four of his movies I've rejected.

Where Eagles Dare

Where Eagles Dare

Winkast Film Productions etc.

21 December 1968

War Drama

DVD
D

So dull that I kept checking the time-stamp every minute or so, feeling like I'd zoned out for twenty minutes.  But the snow was kind of pretty.  Brian G. Hutton directed, before Kelly's Heroes and The First Deadly Sin.

We Were Soldiers

We Were Soldiers

Icon Productions

March 1, 2002

War Drama

DVD
D

Of course not.  Director Randall Wallace co-adapted We Were Soldiers Once… and Young by Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore and Joseph L. Galloway.  Wallace would go on to Secretariat and Heaven Is for Real.

War Horse

War Horse

DreamWorks etc.

December 25, 2011

War Drama

DVD
B-

I liked this more than I expected, especially the scenes set in Devon, although I don't think every thread works, and of course I was more interested in the horse than the war.  This is based on the Michael Morpugo novel and directed by Steven Spielberg.

The Wall

The Wall

Big Indie Pictures etc.

May 12, 2017

War Drama

DVD
D-

Definitely not my kind of movie.  Doug Liman directed, a dozen years after Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

Von Richthofen and Brown AKA The Red Baron

Von Richthofen and Brown AKA The Red Baron

The Corman Company etc.

June 30, 1971

War Drama

DVD
D+

Nice scenery.  Roger Corman directed.

A Very Long Engagement AKA Un long dimanche de fiançailles

A Very Long Engagement AKA Un long dimanche de fiançailles

2003 Productions etc.

27 October 2004

War Drama, Historical Drama, Romance, Mystery

DVD
B-

I saw this in the theater at the time because I loved Amelie.  Not as long ago, but when I wasn't as deep into this project as I am now, I gave Amelie a B-, the charm having faded.  This probably was a B in the theater, especially with some of the dazzling shots, but it's a B- at home now.  I definitely enjoyed it more than most war dramas of course.  But even the romance aspect doesn't really work for me, because the missing fiancé is such a cypher, even in flashbacks.  Then and now, I most loved the "at home" scenes, with the cats, uncle, aunt, and postman.

Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet co-adapted the Sébastien Japrisot novel.

Up Periscope

Up Periscope

Warner Bros.

March 4, 1959

War Drama, Romance?

DVD
D+

The "romance" in this was both tedious and cringey, so I was actually waiting for them to get back to the war.  Then there was a twist, so D+ rather than D or D-.  This is based on Robb White's novel and directed by Gordon Douglas.

Under Fire

Under Fire

Orion Pictures

October 21, 1983

War Drama

DVD
D+

Bumped up a notch for Joanna Cassidy's lowcut red dress.  Roger Spottiswoode directed, before The Best of Times and Turner & Hooch, although he did go on to A Street Cat Named Bob eventually.

12 Strong

12 Strong

Alcon Entertainment

January 19, 2018

War Drama

DVD
D+

I disliked this less than I expected, mostly because it had some homefront stuff.  This is based on Doug Stanton's book Horse Soldiers and directed by Nicolai Fuglsig.

Troy

Troy

Warner Bros. etc.

May 14, 2004

Historical Drama, War Drama, Romance

DVD
D+

The cheesiness helps, but not enough.  Wolfgang Petersen directed, long after Das Boot and The Neverending Story.

Too Late the Hero

Too Late the Hero

ABC Pictures

May 20, 1970

War Drama

DVD
D+

At least it has Henry Fonda and Cliff Robertson arguing, unlike most World War II movies.  Robert Aldrich directed and co-wrote.

Tigerland

Tigerland

Regency etc.

October 6, 2000

War Drama, Historical Drama

DVD
D-

Of course I didn't like this.  Joel Schumacher directed, and this is the sixth of his movies I've rejected.

Three Came Home

Three Came Home

20th-Century Fox

February 20, 1950
War Drama

DVD
D-

Worse than some other World War II movies, because this one has a cheerfully misogynistic obstetrician, and a little boy hurling racist slurs.  This is based on Agnes Newton Keith's memoir, and directed by Jean Negulesco, a couple years after Johnny Belinda.

13 Rue Madeleine

13 Rue Madeleine

Twentieth Century Fox

January 15, 1947

War Drama

DVD
D+

Bumped up a notch for the pompous narrator.  Henry Hathaway directed, after The Shepherd of the Hills and before O. Henry's Full House and The Sons of Katie Elder.

They Were Expendable

They Were Expendable

MGM

December 19, 1945

War Drama

DVD

D

Predictably expendable John Wayne war movie.  Robert Montgomery co-stars and co-directed with John Ford.

Testament of Youth

Testament of Youth

BBC Films

14 October 2014

War Drama

DVD

C+

While I appreciate that this is a war drama that's less about the battles and more about the homefront and nursing, and I can see someone being genuinely moved by, it didn't click for me.  There's too little telling and not showing of things like what Vera Brittain actually does at Oxford and why she's in love with Roland.  (They bicker and fail to write to each other more than they actually share anything.)  Also, why tell us Vera is a talented poet and not actually quote any of her poems?  (Unless that's her poem at the end, but even so, too little, too late.)  Still, worth watching for the English countryside and Alicia Vikander's range of emotions as Vera.

This is based on Brittain's memoir and directed by James Kent.