War > J War > Bronson, Charles > 1967

Advantages: Great performances, Lee Marvin, superb dramatic tension
Disadvantages: Goof ups in depicting war games

The 60's was a period when we had great war flicks like Where Eagles Dare, The Dirty Dozen, Guns of Navaronne, The Great Escape, The Longest Day to name a few. My dad was a lover of such movies, and he would take me along as a kid, and that's how I grew up loving such cinema. Dirty Dozen is a typical lets get together guys and go on a mission, spot the star World War II movies which appeared regularly during that period. But this is one movie which ...
...and superb pacing. With the advent of D-Day, the US Army has come up with a plan to interrupt German chain of command. Raid a secluded mansion where most of the high ranking Nazi officers come to party with their mistresses and kill every one there. It's a suicidal operation, and so the army decides to make use of convicted criminals who are either on death row or facing life imprisonment. It's a win win situation, if they die, they would have the ... Read review

Advantages: A classic war, action movie
Disadvantages: Very thin storyline

Synopsis *********** Set during the second World War, rebellious Major John Reisman (Lee Marvin) is facing disciplinary action for his attitude but is given an opportunity to escape the impending punishment if he agrees to take on a very peculiar mission. Reluctantly he is put in charge of a mission to pick 12 soldiers facing the death penalty in prison and to train them up for what is effectively a suicide mission to destroy a chateau where prominent ...
...back and escape than complete the mission. Opinion ********* Certain films over the years seem to become perennial favourites of TV, films such as "Star Wars" and "The Great Escape" always seem to be on the screen and so is the fact with "The Dirty Dozen". Set in World War II, the film is predominantly aimed at a male audience with copious amounts of action, although it is still very popular with female audiences. Unlike many war films which rely ... 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