For me it’s hard to pick the best. I love Saving Private Ryan, Band of brothers, Masters of the Air and Dunkirk.
If I had to pick it would be Saving Private Ryan cos I just love it, it has so many incredible scenes and such realistic characters.
I’m surprised nobody has mentionee Hacksaw Ridge. The movie tells a true story based on Desmond Doss, an American conscientious objector who signed up for the army and became a medic. He won the Congressional Medal of Honor without firing a shot.
WW1, but I like 1917, I just like the idea of it being a “One Shot”
(not a true one shot, but good enough 🤷♂️)
I saw that at the cinema. I loved it and bawled they were so young
Surprised you didn’t mention fury, I didn’t think it was a masterpiece but definitely worth a watch
Not second world war but the newer all quiet on the western front is definitely worth a watch if you like war movies
The Pianist. Which I have a special memory of, since I also saw a play around the same time that I saw the movie. The play was mostly someone narrating or playing the piano with some acting scenes inbetween. Both were really touching and very well done.
There was a movie I found a while ago called The Train made in the 60s. It’s about (you guessed it!) a train. It has a full load of stolen French artwork headed for Nazi Germany to be sold.
Aside from the immense cultural value the money could also be used to fund a whole division’s worth of equipment so the French Resistance is tasked with stopping it, ideally without blowing it up. They also have to mark the car roofs to keep allied strafing runs from destroying them.
I had never heard of it but it was surprisingly awesome. There is tense sabotage, full on practical effects air raids and train derailments, railroad repair shown with real equipment etc. Not the best ever imo but I enjoyed it
‘Le Train’ is a wonderful film. With Burt Lancaster and Jeanne Moreau. Set in ‘44 when the Germans were retreating. I’ve seen it a few times. Well worth a watch.
The Pacific is the most realistic by far. Band of Brothers is unrealistic propaganda, but fun
I know only the first part is during WWII, but Godzilla Minus One is pretty good.
I was going to say this (it’s a great movie), but grave of the fireflies is still better
Downfall / Der Untergang
The Pacific was great. I think it was the follow up to Band of Brothers.
I like the pacific a lot and I think if it wasn’t compares to BoB it would have a far higher following. It’s a great show, excellent acting and shows how awful it was. Personally I prefer Masters of the Air though.
For some reason I read that as “what’s the second best war drama you’ve ever seen?” and thought “huh, what an interesting question”.
I need a coffee.
That’s a better question! I wish I’d asked it
It’s been a while since I’ve seen it, but The Pianist is great.
Life Is Beautiful (La vita è bella) - 1997
A Bridge Too Far is still one of my favorite movies ever made.
Such a good movie. It’s got battle scenes, but really it’s about operational maneuvers and logistics, which is rare, and they make it interesting.
Don’t forget Enemy at the Gates or the great escape
