John McCain goes to war again
This time, fortunately, it’s only on television:
John McCain will be the host of AMC cable network’s Memorial Day weekend marathon of movies celebrating war heroes.
The former prisoner of war and Republican presidential candidate will introduce movies like “Midway,” “Patton,” “The Longest Day,” “Hamburger Hill,” “Tora! Tora! Tora!” and “Battle of the Bulge.”
McCain says the most interesting thing he’s found about heroes is that “they’re the last people to believe that they’re really heroes.”
I’m looking forward to the movies, Senator!
By the way, not to brag, but our dog Timmy does one heck of a Patton impression that McCain might want to consider using in the intro to that movie:
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Obama should watch these movies, so he can really learn what Britain was all about during the war.
So should Brown and the rest of the British cabinet. They’re just full of weak willed whiners now who believe and stand for nothing.
Why not have Murtha and Kerry up there as co-hosts as well.
I bought the Blue-Ray of “Patton.” I never seen the movie, but Mark Levin got me to want to watch. I might see it this or next week. Can’t wait.
The only reason to watch is to see Charlton Heston again.
On April 30th, 2009 at 3:09 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:
Obama should watch these movies, so he can really learn what Britain was all about during the war.
All he’d do is say that he could have convinced Hitler not to take over Austria, the Sudetenland, Poland, etc., by telling him we’d extend our hand if he’d unclench his fist.
Perhaps, Obummer could learn something from watching the war movie marathon. He could learn some key human qualities that he currently doesn’t possess:
Honor
Integrity
Class
Determination
Adaptation (can’t talk without a teleprompter)
Respect
Authenticiy
Grit
Strength
Loyalty
Heroism
Bravery (can’t even answer a question from a network that has done some good critical analysis on him)
If anybody wants to add to my list feel free.
BTW, Doug your dog is so cute. Now only if you had pugs, that would be even a cooler pic.
It’s excellent — George C. Scott at his best.
I believe if Patton was alive today he would think our government was full of treason, and attack it for the puss filled boil of socialist/Marxists agenda we all see.
What examples you ask? How about rewarding failure with so many on the government sugar tit, illegal aliens doing the murder, and closing down hospitals with their free health care, how many more terrorists are in this country other than the Fort Dix followers of allah the moon god, and last but not least Homo marriage.
Yep, I wish he was alive today. An American Military General that understood his oath he made to defend this country.
I also really loved the movie “Twelve O’Clock High” with Gregory Peck….
until the Navy ruined it for me!
They showed it in the old Leadership and Management course back in the early ’80s. Now I can’t watch it without looking for the different managerial styles!
I was awed by this movie when I saw this in Cinerama when I was a kid. Don’t care for it so much as an adult. I’ve come to prefer “Battleground” with Van Johnson and James Whitmore as a better depiction of the Battle of the Bulge. Not flashy nor in Cinerama or color, but a much better movie.
Love Timmy!!!!! German Shep or Aussie Shep mix? Cute Cute Cute!
McCain? …zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Timmeh!!!!!
(heh)
Yep, I will be watching them again, too. My son and I just read the Band of Brothers again. We’ll be watching the movie as well.
This is an excellent use of Mr. McCain (McAnus in his political guise).
Regardless of my disdain for the man as he exists now, he was a brave military man who has done honorable things.
A Bridge Too Far is one of my favorites…
but Patton may be the best!
Are they just doing WWII movies? And I noted a lack of John Wayne movies on the list. . .Guadalcanal, Hellcats of the Navy, The Green Berets (one of the few Vietnam Movies that actually viewed Americans as something other than violent drug crazed losers) etc. etc. etc.
The movies “GETTYSBURG” and “GODS & GENERALS” are both excellent civil War movies that highlighted not only the bravery and grit of the American soldier (on both sides) in combat, but also the anguish and turmoil of the loved ones waiting at home. Can’t remember the producer, but both excellent movies.
Other than “All Quiet on the Western Front”, were any good movies of WWI ever made? Can’t think of any off the top of my head. Oh, wait, there was one done a few years ago starring Rick Schroder about a U.S. unit that held the line when all other allied units fell back, and actually led to the Armistice. It was called The Lost Battalian. Great movie.
The producer? Ted Turner, I believe. A couple of things he did right.
Hamburger Hill is Vietnam, though hardly a very good one.
“Sgt York”?
em>The Dirty Dozen is easily one of the best war movies, ever.
Walterc, John Wayne is in The Longest Day, along with Robert Mitchum, Henry Fonda, and about 100 other big stars. Although, The Sands of Iwo Jima should be there, too.
A bit of trivia for you. John Waynes cement spare at Mann’s Chinese Theater is made with sand from Iwo Jima, according to a biography of his called, Shooting Star.
I am really disenhearted that no other war movies are represented for Memorial Day..such as “Gettysburg”, “Sgt. York”, “The Patriot”, “Platoon”, We Were Soldiers”.. We have fought more wars than WWII. I am trying to get the teaparty organizers to do something for Memorial Day. Its something that we Americans should be very very grateful for. The Teaparty should recognize our past and present service people. How much more American can you get than our armed services.
Don’t forget about Heartbreak Ridge. Hands down the best movie about Grenada. Okay…the only movie about Grenada.
Because McShamnesty will be hosting, I probably won’t be tuning in, but I LOVE TIMMY!! He looks a lot like my dog…same coloring, and in the same patterns. Dogs are one of God’s very best gifts to the world.
thanks, hawkeye54, for listing ‘Gallipoli’. That’s one of my favorite movies regardless of subject matter.
Is there a list of movies that AMC will show? Did I just miss it?
and how does a dog that looks so sweet and gentle do “a heck of a Patton impression”? Is there something we’re not seeing in that picture. I doubt Patton ever looked that cute : )
You’re welcome. The best war movie Mel Gibson did until “We Were Soldiers” : )
Timmy is okay, even though not a Basset Hound like Meatloaf, our dog.
Das Boot is my favorite WWII movie.
This is definitely an act of deliberate violece.
There is ZERO evidence that it is terrorism.
Why are we bringing up the “other Democratic Party” presidential candidate? Might as well have Arlen Specter introducing those movies.
I also think “Battle of the Bulge” is an awful movie. Telly Savalas’ pointless character is way over the top and the title misleads the viewer into expecting that it is about the battle of the Bulge. It’s just a generic war movie with a compelling title. Kind of like watching “Combat”.
The other movies on the list are fantastic, especially “The Longest Day”.
Hey chap,Heartbreak Ridge was a joke for a movie.Hamburger Hill was a real battle that Ted Kennedy did his Harry Reid act and called it a loss before the battle was even over.We took the hill.
I stand corrected.
And chap, you’re right about Hamburger Hill, I was thinking of Porkchop Hill which was Korea. Which was a much better movie than Hamburger Hill.
Just can’t seem to keep movies named after meat straight in my head I guess.
How about Tears of the Sun? Ok, maybe not but this woman was in it…
That counts for something…
When my youngest was visiting, we watched “Miracle at St. Anne’s” about some of the first black American soldiers during WWII. It was set in Italy and was a fabulous film.
I know it was a real battle. There was an interesting blog I read a few years ago about some soldier who fought there taking a trip back to the hill. The journey to get there was fascinating in and of itself. Real battle or not, I would not consider it a very good movie.
You want war movies? Here’ the list:
War and War-Era Movies
Kind of ironic that my alma mater would have such a comprehensive list. Enjoy.
Yeah, and Savalas’ way over the top performance was matched if not exceeded by Robert Shaw’s stereotypical aryan German warrior, dyed blonde hair and all. The “panzer song” part of the movie was the epitome of over the top. Considered so offensive, it’s cut out sometimes when aired on some TV stations.
Thanks Southpaw, I’m going to keep that link so I can printout a section when I hit the movie store. Do you have a link that covers Chik Fliks? It’s a system we have, I get a war flick, she gets a romance/romantic comedy on movie nights. And it’s always a double feature with hers being shown last so she doesn’t have nightmares.
My family watched “The Longest Day” in the village of Irmenach in Germany. We were the only Yankee family that lived in the town. The movie was with German sub-titles.
I remember my mother scolding me not to yell or clap when the Allies were kicking butt.
This was back in the early ’60s, when it was okay for little boys to play Army. Before Ritalin. Before PC emasculation.
When I played Army with the little German kids in the town, they always wanted to be the Americans. Which was fine with me, since I got to wear a cooler helmet and carry a plastic Luger.
As a corollary, whenever we played “Cowboys and Indians” the German kids always wanted to be Indians.
hawkeye54: Robert Shaw’s depiction was right up there for worst depictions of German officers with Richard Burton’s various shots at that role. (I didn’t know so many Nazi officers graduated from Oxford).
You’re lucky. My wife only agress to a 1:4 ratio, in that for every one war movie I get – she gets 4 flicks be it romantic comedy, slapstic comedy, or (gag) a true 4 hanky chick-flick.
Its a compromise I have to live with to get my Football games on TV in the Fall : )
My dog does a great impression of John Belushi throwing up.
It’s interesting to note that the actor playing Shaw’s aide was a real German actor and a war veteran IIRC. Many real German actors got a lot of work in our war movies in the late 50’s – 70’s playing, what else, German soldiers, if only often minor characters.
Gimme a bad war movie over a award-winning chick flick any day.
Although hindered with the British Accent, James Mason did good as Irwin Rommel in “The Desert Fox.”
And, have you ever noticed that Brits are often cast as German officers for starring roles (Tom Cruise notwithstanding). Do they come off better than Americans in playing fake Germans in auditions? : )
I just can’t wait for Inglorious Basterds to come out.
For years in Hollywood, you HAD to be a Brit to play in a sword and sandal epic.
If you were American you could play Hercules, but not any other Greeks.
Right And, the studio had him reprise the role, if only for a cameo, in the follow-uo “The Desert Rats” about the British in the North African campaign.
The most convincing German officer is still General Burkhalter in “Hogan’s Heroes”. (He was an Austrian but close enough).
Whoa. Way out of my range of expertise, but try this:
Chick Fliks
Sink the Bismarck! (1960) Granted, it’s about the British navy, but it’s still good.
Bridge over the River Kwai.
The Great Escape.
Stalag 17–nothing’s better than Peter Graves getting shoved out of the barracks in the middle of the night with noisy tin cups tied to him. He gets what every snitch deserves.
Is Psycho considered a chick flick?
What a great show! I always liked Hofstadter.
The older movies actually gave our military credit for their service. In the ‘good old days’ the press did not plaster what we were going to do to get the bad guys. If the press was asked to not print, they did it out of respect for our country, and hopefully save lives. Now, the press are lined up to see who can give all of what we are doing and going to do. I am old enough to remember the ‘good old days’. Those days are so long gone and it will never return.
L
If you can find a copy anywhere I highly recommend “Reach for the Sky.”
It is a British-made account of Squadron Commander Douglas Bader, who was a Hurricane and later Spitfire pilot with no legs in WWII.
He could outmaneuver the German pilots (pull more G’s) since the blood didn’t rush down to his feet during turns.
He was captured by the Germans, and escaped twice from POW camps.
Ah, for me the most convincing German officer performance was Hans Christian Blech as Major Werner Pluskat in “The Longest Day” trying to convince his superior by phone the allied invasion has just begun with “a thousand ships” within his view from his Omaha Beach bunker.
The following dialogue still cracks me up:
Lt. Col. Ocker: [Pluskat, inside a bunker, has just realized the Normandy invasion has begun and is warning Ocker, who is skeptical] And just where, my dear Pluskat, are those ships heading?
Maj. Werner Pluskat: Straight for me!
Seems that was followed by–
Those ships that the Allies don’t have…they are shelling me…
or words to that effect…
They Were Expendable is another good one…
You have to include 1942 with John Belushi. How about Catch 22? The Producers?
Okay, so I like comedies.
I like the Band of Brothers series best. Also big, big fan of We Were Soldiers Once. How about the Razor’s Edge with Bill Murray (the remake).
I nominate Inchon for worst war movie.
Laurence Olivier as Mac?
Does the Gilligan’s Island episode with the Japanese mini-sub guy (Vito Scotti) who doesn’t know the war is over count?
I have to admit I love Kelly’s Heroes. The spaghetti-western-style standoff with the Panzer tank is classic.
You get my vote. I actually saw that…and sat through it all hoping it just had to get better! I think it was David Jansens last movie. SO bad it killed him!
I got free tickets otherwise I would’ve demanded a refund. Absolute waste of time. Wasn’t it produced by Reverend Moon?
Could be. Ya know, I think they did that “Japanese who didn’t know the war was over” theme in about a dozen sit-coms in the 60’s.
Did you ever see “The Horizontal Lieutenant” with Jim Hutton. A recurring gag was a few survivinfg Japanese soldiers on a secured island kept eluding capture and sneaking through the GI’s chow line for food
‘Hollywood!!’
‘Dad, you’re ruining Christmas!’
Although not technically a war movie, Sand Pebbles was fantastic.
“Men stim wow”.
Two “old-fashioned” war movies I recommend:
- “Pork Chop Hill” (1959) set in Korea.
- “Battleground” (1949) set in WWII.
Both portray American soldiers bravely battling while trapped in desperate situations.
Well, I tbink it was “1941″, and took place just before Christmas ‘41, so it was close to being 1942
It was a Tiger.
/smart-asp knowitall OFF
Technically it was an
anti-war movie, I think.I meant to emphasise ANTI-war movie for Sand Pebbles. It sure didn’t put the U.S. Navy in an heroic light.
I meant to emphasise ANTI-war movie for Sand Pebbles. It sure didn’t put the U.S. Navy in an heroic light.
It was a Tiger.
stop with the negative vibes, Moriarty!
woof, woof
It was a Tiger.
/smart-asp knowitall OFF
LOVED I’ve Been Working On The Railroad…!!!!
Who knew there were hippies, or beatniks? serving in WWII : )
top 100 war movies…
http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/pages/movie-pages/movie_war.html
bloodiest most realistic…saving private ryan…still can’t believe some idiot woman brought a young child to see this one…she left with him in the 1st 10 minutes of the movie…
At least she left. I’ve seen people with young kids sit through Hannibal
Looks like Tarantino has chosen Brad Pitt for his new muse. Sounds like Pitt is channeling Billy Bob from Slingblade.
Well, Brad is from Southern Missouri, and Billy Bob if from Hot Springs, Ark.
oopsy; ‘if’='is’
I have a tasteless yet funny joke here, but I’ll refrain. Sorry.
Great minds, eh, Aloha…?
The network will have Obama and Pelosi presenting movies.
On the list so far: Animal House and Porky’s.
“Back to Batam”?
What about Alien v. Predator…???
Run Silent, Run Deep…
Watch it, Aloha…!!!
Also on the list: “Being There” and a late addition: “Epidemic”.
And another great sub flick:
“The Enemy Below”
Destination Tokyo
I hear that “Glitter” is one of Prez Obama’s favorite war movies. He sneaks down to the white house media room late at night to view it alone and imagines that Mariah Carey takes him “prisoner”.
I have a pretty good collection of war movies to enjoy, that I’ve collected over the years. One I didn’t see here that I would like to recommend is “The Gallant Hours”. Don’t expect to see any battle scenes. It’s about Halsey and Guadalcanal. The music theme is great. If you haven’t seen it, please do. I swa that “We Were Soldiers” was mentioned. The song is “Sgt. McKenzie”, written by his grandson (I believe) about his dying, defending a wounded soldier.
If anyone has never seen Purple Heart, you should try to find it.
Great movie, considering current events re: moral confusion over definitions of torture.
“Crash Dive”
Funny scene has some of the sub crew preparing for a night shore raid on a Nazi Q-Boat base. The cook, who is black, volunteers to go. The white crewmen prepare by passing around and smearing on face-blackener for concelement. When the tin is passed to the cook, he laughs and says ” I don’t need that, I’m a natural born commando!”
…the horror…
Great tanker movie…
Sahara
Bogart, a Lloyd Bridges as a puppy…really good cast. Bad, bad Germans, too.