Entertainment: 7 War Movies That Should Be on Your Watch List

"At one time FoxNews.com published a list of The 30 Greatest War Movies of All Time. Hardly any of the movies that came to my mind were on the list. One movie, in particular, for sure did not come to mind: “Casablanca” (1942). 

Nobody loves Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman more than me; but to tell the truth, Casablanca was not on my list for war movies. I had always fancied it as a love story, i.e. a romance movie. 

Though war movies are not my favorite movie genre, there are seven (7) films that do fall into my “Most Remembered” category. ..." 

• Casablanca Was Not on My List for War Movies. But These 7 Movies Were.

* 1st Movie: Valkyrie (2008)

* 2nd Movie: Von Ryan's Express (1965)

* 3rd Movie: Where Eagles Dare (1968)

* 4th Movie: The Blue Max (1966)

* 5th Movie: The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Lieutenant Joyce: “Officer, sir. A British officer. We're here to blow up the bridge, sir!”

Colonel Nicholson: “Blow up the bridge?”

Lieutenant Joyce: “Yes, sir. Yes, sir. British commando orders, sir.”

Colonel Nicholson: “Blow up the bridge!?”

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* 6th Movie: The Guns of Navarone (1961)

• A most impressive cast for a most impressive movie.  Gregory Peck (Captain Mallory), David Niven (Corporal Miller), Anthony Quinn (Colonel Andrea Stavrou) and Anthony Quayle - i.e. Sir John Anthony Quayle - (Franklin), Stanley Baker ("Butcher" Brown), Gia Scala (the coward and traitor - forget her name), Irene Papas (Maria), and James Darren (Spyros Pappadimos).
• MOVIE TRIVIA:  Did you know that there was to be a Guns of Navarone Trilogy? The idea was scrapped because “Force 10 From Navarone”, the sequel, was not exactly a blockbuster smash hit!! Another great cast but the movie was very disappointing by comparison.

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* 7th Movie: Two Women (1960)

Sophia Loren received the Academy Award for Best Actress. As a matter of record, this was the first Oscar ever given for a performance in a "foreign-language" film. My memory of her performance in this film is that of a heroic performance worthy of this kind of recognition.

This movie was about a mother (“Cesira”) and daughter (“Rosetta”) who suffered yet survived the horrors of war. ...

Read the complete review.

Movie Reviews: The Manchurian Candidate (Classic vs Remake)

The Manchurian Candidate (1962 original) starring Frank Sinatra and Laurence Harvey (which is now a vintage classic); and

- the 2004 movie remake (2004) starring Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep.

Both films are worth watching and the best movie (?) is worth defending!

• P.S. The movies were adapted from a book written by Richard Condon, a 1959 Cold War thriller.

Which is Best? The Classic or the Remake?

Original versus Remake

My Significant Other and I Agree

Regarding the 2004 Paramount Pictures remake of The Manchurian Candidate, it was given an "R" or Restricted rating which means children under the age of 17 need parental approval.  (MPAA Ratings.)

Tina Sinatra, daughter of the late Frank Sinatra, was pleased with the casting of Denzel Washington, in the role previously played by her father.  Mr. Washington himself, was honored to be deemed a suitable candidate, enabled and able to step into the shoes of one of America's most awesomely talented and admired actors.  Respected critics  - e.g. Rolling Stone, CNN, Ebert and Roeper - raved about this modernized updated version.

Oh my!  Do I dare voice a dissenting opinion?  I dare.  I give the movie two out of 5 stars.

Star #1: Because Meryl Streep is Meryl Streep.  Enough said!

Star #2:  Because I thought the chemistry between Mr. Washington as Major Bennett Marco and the female agent, Eugenie Rose, played by Kimberly Elise, was much better than that between Frank Sinatra and Janet Leigh.

Sorry but the remake just wasn't all that, in my book.  The updated movie was made in deference to the original; not to improve it and certainly not to serve as a replacement for it.  The original is the best!  My significant other agrees with me!  But in case our opinions don't carry enough weight, well-known film critic Roger Ebert succinctly summed up the legacy of this vintage classic as "one of the best and brightest of modern American films".

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