War movies, a historians view

[kijanacat]

A link here for British historian Antony Beevor's recent column on war movies and their historicity (I hope that is a real word). Beevor is a noted, genuine historian, not one of the recent wingnuts. He has written several books on WW2. Hope this posts as a link as I am not on my regular computer.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/20...atest-war-movie-ever-and-the-ones-i-cant-bear

 

[interrobang]

I like historical accuracy, but this guy wants war movies to be nothing but old war footage re-enacted frame for frame.

 

[TheGLOV]

A link here for British historian Antony Beevor's recent column on war movies and their historicity (I hope that is a real word). Beevor is a noted, genuine historian, not one of the recent wingnuts. He has written several books on WW2. Hope this posts as a link as I am not on my regular computer.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/20...atest-war-movie-ever-and-the-ones-i-cant-bear

Very interesting.

 

[jdog1124]

Good read. Thank you

 

[Obliviax]

Thanks...ha, that is pretty good.

I once asked a WW2 vet what his view of hollywood's movies are and he said "take the worst most gory war movie you've ever seen and multiply it times 1000". He then went on to recount how people die on the battlefield. It wasn't my favorite day but appreciative to know his view.

But hollywood is hollywood. After watching fiction like Paterno and the HBO movie about the 2000 election, it is clear that there is no real desire to craft accurate portrayals.

Interesting he said the d-day scene of Saving Private Ryan was, perhaps, the most accurate portrayal of war.

 

[fairgambit]

A link here for British historian Antony Beevor's recent column on war movies and their historicity (I hope that is a real word). Beevor is a noted, genuine historian, not one of the recent wingnuts. He has written several books on WW2. Hope this posts as a link as I am not on my regular computer.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/20...atest-war-movie-ever-and-the-ones-i-cant-bear

I have read three of Beevors books and all were excellent. While I don't agree with everything he says, I am generally in accord here. Too many accept movie versions of events as historical facts. While the fault is primarily with the viewer, the studios could do their part to provide a more accurate potrayal of the events presented.

 

[Nitt1300]

He nailed it with "In a post literate society..."

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Too many accept movie versions of events as historical facts. While the fault is primarily with the viewer, the studios could do their part to provide a more accurate potrayal of the events presented.

I've basically said the same thing multiple times on this site. Most of the time I made such comments when reviewing films, especially if I was commenting on the historical accuracy of the film. I've also made the comment concerning historical fictions, which I despise for the same reason -- too many people read them and believe the dialog is what really took place.

 

[Chickenman Testa]

Thanks...ha, that is pretty good.

I once asked a WW2 vet what his view of hollywood's movies are and he said "take the worst most gory war movie you've ever seen and multiply it times 1000". He then went on to recount how people die on the battlefield. It wasn't my favorite day but appreciative to know his view.

But hollywood is hollywood. After watching fiction like Paterno and the HBO movie about the 2000 election, it is clear that there is no real desire to craft accurate portrayals.

Interesting he said the d-day scene of Saving Private Ryan was, perhaps, the most accurate portrayal of war.

Read a piece about true war. It described a soldier in a line alongside a road where APCs and Tanks were rolling by. Guy stumbled and fell in the road, got run over by the next tank and then a succession of 20+ other vehicles. His buddies got to see the whole thing unfold in a matter of 45 seconds or so. The convoy passes by and what had been a man a minute ago was now pressed meat. It’s hard to imagine

 

[Cosmos]

I've basically said the same thing multiple times on this site. Most of the time I made such comments when reviewing films, especially if I was commenting on the historical accuracy of the film. I've also made the comment concerning historical fictions, which I despise for the same reason -- too many people read them and believe the dialog is what really took place.

Remember what you say the next time Hollywood presents you with one of those "teachable moments."

 

[Lyons212]

Good article. I like Beevor's books and he makes a few good points here. Although I think some credit should be given to the film industry for the truly historically accurate dramas that have been made, most of which lost money but are masterpieces: Das Boot (1981), Charge of the Light Brigade (1968), Waterloo (1970), A Bridge Too Far (1977), and Zulu Dawn (1979)

Das Boot was based on the book of the same name which was fiction...it was based upon the author's experience's on a U-boat. Great depiction of life on a U-Boat.

 

[Lyons212]

Thanks...ha, that is pretty good.

I once asked a WW2 vet what his view of hollywood's movies are and he said "take the worst most gory war movie you've ever seen and multiply it times 1000". He then went on to recount how people die on the battlefield. It wasn't my favorite day but appreciative to know his view.

But hollywood is hollywood. After watching fiction like Paterno and the HBO movie about the 2000 election, it is clear that there is no real desire to craft accurate portrayals.

Interesting he said the d-day scene of Saving Private Ryan was, perhaps, the most accurate portrayal of war.

There were D-Day veteran's who after seeing Saving Private Ryan started having nightmares again. Very realistic, but still cannot convey the magnitude and scale of violence, destruction and noise all around you.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Remember what you say the next time Hollywood presents you with one of those "teachable moments."

??

I've been pretty consistent in my reviews of films about historical events of including an analysis of what was fact and what was fiction, and dinging the movie for the fictional aspects.

If your comments are in regards to things that Hollywood actors or actresses say at awards ceremonies, a) that has nothing to do with the subject that @fairgambit and I posted about, b) I don't have any difficulty evaluating a film based on the performances, and not focusing on who is doing the performance, c) I'm pretty certain that I've never, ever, commented on this board about anything said at an awards ceremony that had to do with a political or a social issue, so I haven't a clue why I'm supposed to "remember what you say."

 

[Schizophrenic_MackDaddy]

A link here for British historian Antony Beevor's recent column on war movies and their historicity (I hope that is a real word). Beevor is a noted, genuine historian, not one of the recent wingnuts. He has written several books on WW2. Hope this posts as a link as I am not on my regular computer.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/20...atest-war-movie-ever-and-the-ones-i-cant-bear

Hmmm...I wonder how (ahem) "future: war movies will depict our "future" wars? Wars fought from our couch; wars fought via computers; wars fought with Autonymous Weaponry. War is changing from a bastard tool to a very precise and controlled scalpel.

Who will wield this "scalpel"?

 

[Obliviax]

Hmmm...I wonder how (ahem) "future: war movies will depict our "future" wars? Wars fought from our couch; wars fought via computers; wars fought with Autonymous Weaponry. War is changing from a bastard tool to a very precise and controlled scalpel.

Who will wield this "scapel"?

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one of my favorite ST episodes. The other is when the Trek gang arms an alien tribe against their enemy tribe that is being armed by Klingons. Great show. OK, also have to throw in the Frank Gorshen black/white and white/black episode.

 

[Schizophrenic_MackDaddy]

one of my favorite ST episodes. The other is when the Trek gang arms an alien tribe against their enemy tribe that is being armed by Klingons. Great show. OK, also have to throw in the Frank Gorshen black/white and white/black episode.

I thought this would've been one of your favorite episodes...

 

[RandyL]

I think I only have one of Beevor's books.
I do not consider him a good writer.
A talented writer can be accurate, informative, detailed and still make a book enjoyable to read.
He is not among them imo.