favourite anti-war films
- Thread starter lobster
- Start date
Kenny Vermouth
Wankers
I like The Dirty Dozen - it's fucking brilliant.
goldenecitrone
post tenebras lux
Iemanja said:anyway, great film, worth a mention. It certainly put me off war when I watched it!
And there were you, all ready to enlist and fly off to Basra.
Pingu
Credo
all quiet on the western front sticks in my mind
imo a lot of "war films" have some sort of anti war message running through them hidden beneth the gore, explosions and action.
cant remember who it was who said it but: "all a soldier ever wants to do is to get into a war and be involved in the fight... until he gets there and then al he wants to do is get home in one piece"
imo a lot of "war films" have some sort of anti war message running through them hidden beneth the gore, explosions and action.
cant remember who it was who said it but: "all a soldier ever wants to do is to get into a war and be involved in the fight... until he gets there and then al he wants to do is get home in one piece"
Perhaps this a bit too obvious, but for me Saving Private Ryan has to be up there - or the first 20 mins anyway (have never felt like re-watching the rest of it). Take the point about the images glamorizing their subject but surely the random pointlessness of that image of hell on Earth is as powerful an antidote as any for the aspiring soldier. Should be compulsory viewing for anyone swallowing the gung-ho 'be the best' indoctrination, along with those that spout it and send them there.
trabuquera
Modesty Bag
I seriously doubt that anyone could possibly think that anything at all about war is glamorous or exciting after seeing Come and See. For me one of the many reasons that it's the best anti-war film I can think of is its relentless focus on what war really means for the victims - the civilians -without any of the bogus adrenalin you get from accounts based on fighters.
But on the point about film inherently glorifying war - because a film makes it all more exciting - perhaps in terms of reflecting the real obscenity of war (that it's 90% pure boredom and 10% being terrified), Jarhead - even though it's really not that good a film?
Because the entire POINT of it is that here are these undereducated, ignorant, mindlessly agressive teenagers (who are part of the world's largest and best-armed army), spoiling for a fight, totally misunderstanding the war movies they're being shown (they certainly don't watch Apocalypse Now to consider it being about mass murder) ... and in the end... they don't get to kill anyone. And feel rather let down by it.
But on the point about film inherently glorifying war - because a film makes it all more exciting - perhaps in terms of reflecting the real obscenity of war (that it's 90% pure boredom and 10% being terrified), Jarhead - even though it's really not that good a film?
Because the entire POINT of it is that here are these undereducated, ignorant, mindlessly agressive teenagers (who are part of the world's largest and best-armed army), spoiling for a fight, totally misunderstanding the war movies they're being shown (they certainly don't watch Apocalypse Now to consider it being about mass murder) ... and in the end... they don't get to kill anyone. And feel rather let down by it.
Donna Ferentes
jubliado
Another point is that most films can be seen from different perspectives. It's quite possible, for instance, to see pro-war films from an anti-war point of view.
DotCommunist
So many particulars. So many questions.
I've seen that a lot with Starship Troopers. The ambiguity of the mewssage lends itself to wildly conflicting views on what the director is actually saying about war and facism.
I wish I had my spellchecker on
I wish I had my spellchecker on
dylanredefined
Not a house elf a tiger
steamin said:
Having had that clip used in a lecture on an army course found it a bit sureal .Full screen dolby sound watching the slaughter .While instructor tries to get his point across all I remeber is thinking "I voluntered for this because?"
chainsaw cat
Tea. Biccies. Happy now?
butchersapron said:
Ooooh, I feel a long post coming on about 'platoon'. I'd best get a bottle or two on the way home.
QueenOfGoths
Fuck you Dave!
DotCommunist said:
Have you watched it with the Director's Commentary running? I found that quite interesting when Paul Veerhoven is talking about his experiences in occupied Amsterdam.
chainsaw cat
Tea. Biccies. Happy now?
Pingu said:
Always the case.
FMJ was filmed from 'The Short Timers' by Gustav Hasford. They changed a few major parts, especially conflating the girl sniper scene with the (unfilmed)scene wherre Cowboy is injured by an unseen sniper and Joker kills him.
FMJ is a great anti war film (imho) but far behind the book.
Now, platoon........
I've seen this a few times and at great intervals. When did it come out? 86? 87?
I joined up in 87 and went through a very slow realisation that war is boring pointless and shit as well as horrible evil and demeaning. And hard work.
Looking at platoon now I'd focus on one scene as the main point - the one where the platoon is part of a larger force under attack in fixed positions.
We see examples of cowardice and inefficiency from the US troops, but unrelenting bravery from the NVA. We see Sheen's character acting with great courage, leadership and skill despite being let down on all sides (metaphor for the high command/politicians)
He then is nearly murdered by his own side, as well as being bombed by them at his commanding officers order. He kills his boss and is flown away, saluting one of the few he respects, never to fight again. He leaves his blood on the field with his friends and enemies.
What does this say (in a flawed Hollywood take)?
Your bravery and skill are wasted
Your leaders will let you down or sell you out
The enemy are your brothers
War will bring you down
Years later, you need not have bothered.
albeit a good one and i'd hardly call it antiwarchainsaw cat
Tea. Biccies. Happy now?
Of COURSE it's anti war you silly billy, it's anti Vietnam.
DUH.
DUH.
Um, it is anti-authoritarian but not anti-war. In fact it shows that the need for anti-authoritarianism only really comes into place during extreme circustances (such as war) so it could be said to be pro war. With out the back drop of nam there would be no film. It needs nam to exist. It is not an anti-war film. Light needs dark as dark needs light.
chainsaw cat
Tea. Biccies. Happy now?
WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam.... one war stops, another is along in a bit it's like busses. If that is the plural of bus.
By being anti Vietnam it was anti war. It's all about challenging the futility. I do it myself in a small way. I say to my non -ex - military backslappers in the pub 'We might as welll not have bothered mate!!' referring to Gulf 1 especially but also the curretn crap in Iraq/Stan. Obviously I take the beer they offer first, I have morals but I ain't stupid.
Anyway, your argument sucks, and it sucks hard. You only get war when there's authoritairininism involved, or worse, 'cos softy liberals won't go to war un provoked. So to be anti authoritarian is to be anti war. HAH!
By being anti Vietnam it was anti war. It's all about challenging the futility. I do it myself in a small way. I say to my non -ex - military backslappers in the pub 'We might as welll not have bothered mate!!' referring to Gulf 1 especially but also the curretn crap in Iraq/Stan. Obviously I take the beer they offer first, I have morals but I ain't stupid.
Anyway, your argument sucks, and it sucks hard. You only get war when there's authoritairininism involved, or worse, 'cos softy liberals won't go to war un provoked. So to be anti authoritarian is to be anti war. HAH!
Augie March
blahem
chainsaw cat said:
Not really.
If you consider authoritarianism as a fascistic, dictatorial form of control by the government, then what exactly do you think the free world were fighting against in World War 2?
Minnie_the_Minx
someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
There's too many to mentioned, but for something different, try Welcome to Dongmakgol, a Korean film
http://www.lovehkfilm.com/panasia/welcome_to_dongmakgol.htm
It's a lovely
http://www.lovehkfilm.com/panasia/welcome_to_dongmakgol.htm
It's a lovely
chainsaw cat
Tea. Biccies. Happy now?
Augie March said:
they weren't fighting against something, they were fighting for something.
Augie March
blahem
chainsaw cat said:
Well, funnily enough, you can both be fighting against a dictatorship and be fighting for freedom of speech... at the same time!
Similar threads
