This one is easy and I will tell you guys a cool story later on about the events that happened when I watched this scene. This scene is as sure a thing as saying Wayne Gretzky is the best hockey player of all time. Somebody will get this one probably in record time. Have at it folks, what is the most dramatic scene ever in a war movie?
Back to war movies. The most dramatic scene ever in a war movie.
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That's easy, the D-day landing scene in Saving Private Ryan.
Good one but not the best ever. Tremendous and easily the most authentic recreation of a battle scene but not my number #1.
At the end of Saving Private Ryan, when he's in the cemetery and asks his family to tell him he was worth it.
If you are not going to accept the opening, or the close, of "Saving Private Ryan" here are a few other options:
Two from "A Bridge Too Far" 1) The paratroopers from the 82nd in boats crossing the Rhine near Nijmegen under murderous fire, making it across, storming the north end of the bridge before the Germans blew it up -- all for naught when the limeys slept while their boys in Arnhem were being massacred. 2) During the siege in Arnhem, the paratrooper who decided to expose himself to German sniper fire when the drop zones were overrun hoping to retrieve something of use (food, etc.) only to get shot and drop the container. It breaks and reveals the contents -- berets.
Or you could say Jefferson (Jim Brown) getting gunned down the "The Dirty Dozen" after dropping the final grenade into the bomb shelter air shaft. Surely if anyone could outrun Nazi fire, it was Jim Brown.
Two from "A Bridge Too Far" 1) The paratroopers from the 82nd in boats crossing the Rhine near Nijmegen under murderous fire, making it across, storming the north end of the bridge before the Germans blew it up -- all for naught when the limeys slept while their boys in Arnhem were being massacred. 2) During the siege in Arnhem, the paratrooper who decided to expose himself to German sniper fire when the drop zones were overrun hoping to retrieve something of use (food, etc.) only to get shot and drop the container. It breaks and reveals the contents -- berets.
Or you could say Jefferson (Jim Brown) getting gunned down the "The Dirty Dozen" after dropping the final grenade into the bomb shelter air shaft. Surely if anyone could outrun Nazi fire, it was Jim Brown.
Easy. The end of Gallipoli. The Aussie soldiers saying their prayers and goodbyes knowing the next charge will be as futile as every other charge; Mel Gibson, a messenger chosen for his speed, has to run to the front since the communication line had been cut to tell them the attack has been canceled; Mel hearing the whistle for the attack to start; Archie running to his doom:
Defense of Little Round Top in "Gettysburg." It explained the situation, the stakes, the tactics and the execution of those tactics to save the day.
For me it is the scene in SPR when the Nazi thug slowly stabs and mocks Private Mellish (Adam Goldberg). I had absolutely not sympathy when Private Upham (Jeremy Davies), who let him escape at gunpoint following the stabbing, shoots him point blank as he tries to surrender while smirking.
Not directly related to the war itself, but the Russian roulette scene in the Deer Hunter with Robert Deniro and Christopher Walken.
I actually hate that scene. I loved the entire movie. Capt. Miller pulling Ryan close and saying "earn this" is an unspeakably horrible burden to put on a man.
SPR is great, so are two scenes in Band of Brothers; Day of Days as they prepare to jump and planes are getting shot down and the scene where the one guy has simply had it and drops his helmet. There are tons of others from other movies.
The scene that gets me is from Platoon where Willem Defoe gets it. I think it captured the Vietnam war perfectly. Perhaps I am tainted by what followed. As the theater lightened and I walked out, three highly decorated military types were in the back row crying. Very, very moving and I will never forget it.
The movie We Were Soldiers when that squad got cut off & was nearly over run but bravery & pinpoint firepower from nearby firebases saved them
bwifan
Well-Known Member
agree that scene in we were soldiers.... beginning of spr.... platoon's battle scene at the end..... last charge in the movie Glory...1 other scene but not a battle scene was black hawk down when the guy was shot in the leg and they had to go in by his knee and reach up to his hip to clamp the artery... that guy screaming out in pain and telling them they had to do this to help him was crazy.
How could you tell that they were highly decorated? Were they wearing their dress uniforms?
They had caps with their medals pinned to them. To me, "highly decorated" is a purple heart and service medals. I recall seeing the Heart on all of them followed by several other medals which I did not recognize.
Also, the scene from We Were Soldiers when the wives have to tell their friend that her husband was killed. And, similarly, in SPR when the mother is informed that three of her four sons were killed, while the letter from Lincoln is read. Both were intense drama, but not intense action...
bwifan
Well-Known Member
dear lord how could I forget!!!!! Not sure if this counts as a traditional "war" if you will but the 1 huge battle scene in the movie Braveheart was just over the top and everything else is pale in comarison... between the arrows being lobbed in and limbs getting chopped off left and right and some of the weaponry it just blew me away I sat there and first time I was ever speechless after a battle scene in the movie theater....when William Wallace stands in the middle of the battle field covered in blood looking at the complete carnage all around him in all directions was just incredible
The Patriot ending battle scene where the British are lured into an attack and beaten by the Americans.
Gallipoli has always been a favorite of mine. But It's not really well known because whenever I would cite it as a great war movie, people were thinking I was referring to Gungadin. I rarely see it replayed on TV, but when it's on, I'm locked in.
Totally agree on the Bridge Too Far scenes. Nittany, is number one where Robert Redford is saying Hail Mary as he's rowing across?
Dramatic? Not sure. Best?
"I love the smell of napalm in the morning."
Most entertaining?
"That Jungian thing..."
