War > Beach, Adam War

Advantages: Action-packed war movie.
Disadvantages: Limited storyline.

When John Woo has a go at directing a film set during the second world war you can bet it will be packed with action from start to finish, and low and behold this film has exactly that. The story follows the efforts of marines who's mission it is to protect Navjo Indians recruited into the war to use military code based on the Navajo language. The marines protect the code by protecting the man and the story therefore allows for selfless feats of ...
...Nicolas Cage. Don't expect any anti-war messages here but do expect to be thrilled by some great battle scenes with slow motion sequences that have become a trademark in John Woo movies. The story is not particularly strong nor do I expect it was intended to be, but the action makes up for any shortcomings in the plot. The action is very well choreographed and exciting and fans of action films will find this film very enjoyable. When I watched the ... Read review

Advantages: Lots of Battle Action If You Like That
Disadvantages: Superficial Plot, A Lost Opportunity

...the actors went through. Windtalkers Bravo Special - making of featurette with cast and crew. Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery. Two Feature Length Audio Commentaries with main actors. Fly on the Set Diaries. I have to admit I have not watched any of the features and do not feel inclined to do so. ... Read review

Advantages: Two Truly Great War Films
Disadvantages: Theres Only Two

Flags of our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima single disc editions double pack with no special features. In 1944 the second World War was entering its final act and the forces of the Empire of Japan were being defeated and hemmed in. After losses at Saipan and the Marianas the United States directed its forces for the first time at a dominion of Japans homeland-the grey, dusty island of Iwo Jima. The Japanese defenders anticipating invasion began ...
...battle from both sides. Flags of Our Fathers at its centre unravels the events surrounding the iconic photograph of a group of marines and sailors raising the stars and stripes on a tip of Mt Suribache and the fall out in human consequences of those that did or maybe did take part as the U.S. media and the military political machine drew them in out of the front line and compelled them on a bond selling tour to boost a U.S. war fund grasping for ... 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