War > N War > by Director

Advantages: Very moving, violent, yet accurate
Disadvantages: see above

Flags of our fathers A film Directed by Clint Eastwood, which retells the story of 6 men who erected the stars and stripes on top of a mountain at Iowa Jima. They were dubbed hereos, but in truth, these men in the picture were raising a second flag, the first time it was raised it was done by different men not in front of a camera. It was only the 5th day in the battle which would rage for another 35. The three surviving men from the group of six, ...
...forth in time, through the battle, after (when they were taken back to the US on a "buy war bonds" drive) and even later in the present time when the story is being re-told. The point that the real hereos are the ones who gave their lives and were left behind on the island is made clear and done well. Its a good film with plenty of action, some quite violent, but also an underlying torrent of heroism and honour. Its good stuff. Two thumbs up. letters ... Read review

Advantages: Good tense drama
Disadvantages: bit too much violence for young viewers

...taken separately to the Castle where enroute they quickly escape The American Brigadier is really an American look alike actor, who was made to look as though he had been shot down, in effect the Royal Air Force pulled off a stunt to get him captured. Unknown to all but Smith and Rolland SOE agent Mary Elison accompanies them on the mission. With Elison gaining entrance to the Castle via her fake cousin Heidie and is disguised as a bar maid in ...
...since 1941. She lowers some rope to the cable car station so Smith and Schaeffer can climb into the Castle. Elison who has attracted the attention of the Gestapo officer and he invites her for a drink. Whilst Smith and Schaffer do a recce and plan their escape. They take over the dinner/interrogation and to force the issue, Smith turns into Schmidt double agent and completely foxes Schaffer and the real double agents into telling them the names of ... Read review

Advantages: all-star cast
Disadvantages: no special effects

...prisoner of war experience captures the true events that took place in Germany's Stalag Luft III, prisoner-of-war camp; This cinema achievement provided an entertainingly satirical view of the courage embraced by the British POWs, whom devised a brilliant plan while under German supervision, and resulted in the first of many successful escapes within Germany during WWII. Steve McQueen/ James Garner/ Richard Attenborough/ Charles Bronson/ James Coburn/ ... Read review

Advantages: Great action sequences
Disadvantages: Slow to start, but gethers pace nicely

...any factual or historic event, Von Ryan's Express stars Frank Sinatra and Trevor Howard and tells the story of survival against the odds in a war torn Europe. Released in 1965, Sinatra plays Colonel Joseph Ryan, a smart thinking American Pilot who after getting shot down by the Italian Army is sent to an Italian run Prisoner of War camp for what is expected to be the remainder of the war. Upon arrival Ryan is immediately made the head of the Allied ...
...turn the soldiers call him Von Ryan for collaborating with the enemy. In fact the heated discussions that take place between Ryan and Fincham are great to watch on screen as you see Sinatra in a different light to other roles that he has played before, something which leads to both men trusting each other by the end of the film. With the help of the Italian Commander, who has now switch sides, Ryan and the Allies hatch a plan to escape and steal ... Read review

Advantages: Educational & great story
Disadvantages: Constant flashbacks & forwards spoil flow of film slightly

Set during WW2 this film tells the story behind what has become part of American military folklore of the Marines raising the Stars & Stripes on the island of Iwo Jima. You follow the individual stories of the marines to see how their lives helped to create the story behind this American iconic image which went on to be carved in stone as a monument. Before watching the movie I didn't know anything about this film or the story of the second flag ...
...in that account. The film is well made, looks wonderful and all the actors are excellent that they all played their alloted roles very well indeed. The film for me has one major point against it that makes it difficult to watch and that is the constant scene transitions from present to past to war to future and where ever else they choose to be. This made scenes disjointed and exceptionally difficult to follow. Although it says this was shot back ... Read review