What started as a simple experiment to fight procrastination and get me back into a daily writing routine has become sort of an institution. Another aim of this blog was to explore the topic of war movies systematically. It ended up being less systematic than intended. For the time being that is. I still have a project in the back of my mind and should I find more time I will pursue it. I have lost a few friends and won a few on the way. What does that mean you wonder, well, I had some funny reactions from people I know in real life. Seems as if my interest in war movies didn’t match the picture they had of me… Do I care? A little bit but not too much.
Ok, now, so this little blogging project is one year old. I have written 220 posts, at first three per week and then, during last summer, almost daily. If I wasn’t writing two other blogs, maybe I would have gone on at that pace.
I could tell you a lot of different things looking back on this year, a lot of things about myself but let’s not go there. In lieu of all that let me give you a best of list. A very personal best of list that takes into consideration what I like, nothing else.
Best movie on the Napoleonic wars
Waterloo
Best Civil War Movie
Glory
Best WWI movie
Gallipoli
Best WWII movie
When Trumpets Fade
Best Vietnam
Platoon
Best Vietnam Vet
Jacknife
Best Korea
Gotta pass, haven’t seen enough
Best Gulf War
Three Kings
Best Iraq
Battle for Haditha
Best other American war movies
Black Hawk Down
Best Resistance
L’armée du crime aka The Army of Crime
Best German war movie
Stalingrad
Best Submarine movie
Das Boot
Best Sniper movie
Enemy at the Gates
Best War Romance
Casablanca
Best least known war movie
When Trumpets Fade
Best female actress in a war movie
Madeleine Stowe in Last of the Mohicans
Best war movie score
Black Hawk Down
Most watched war movie
Black Hawk Down
Best Irish Civil War
The Wind that Shakes the Barley
Best Hitler Movie
Der Untergang aka The Downfall
Best Holocaust movie
The Pianist
Best Remake
Are you joking?
Best epic war movie
King Arthur
Most surprising war movie
My Boy Jack
Best Infantry combat
Saving Private Ryan
Best Cavalry Combat
The Lighthorsemen
Best Air Combat
The Dam Busters
Best Naval Combat
Master and Commander
Funniest war movie
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
Best Children and War
Voces Inocentes aka Innocent Voices
Best War and Journalism
Welcome to Sarajevo
Best POW
Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence
Best Legal Drama
Judgement at Nuremberg
Best war movie poster
Platoon
Most dreaded war movie (obviously not watched yet)
Tha Battle of Algiers
Yeah well, I could go on but that’s it and since it’s my blog’s birthday, I’m lazy and will not link the movies. Or just not today…
All About War Movies 
Happy blog birthday! Great list of movies. Sad that I haven’t seen a majority of them.
Thanks a lot. I would have thought you saw most of them. Many are available on Netflix.
Happy Birthday AAWM! I have to say that is a fine list.
There is only one that I gagged at. I know you know which one it is.
I love the shout-out to “When Trumpets Fade”. And Madeline Stowe.
When you get around to the Korean War watch Tae Guk Gi, Pork Chop Hill, and Bridges at Toko-Ri. It would have to be one of those three.
You forgot a POW movie.
Thanks a lot. I guess I know which one made you cringe. I did see and review Pork Chop Hill but I wasn’t too keen. True about the POW. Just added it towards the end!
I’m sorry I suggested the POW subgenre because my favorite movie – The Great Escape – did not get chosen. David Bowie > Steve McQueen = AYK
Lol. I actually like it for Sakamoto, not so much for Bowie.
Happy blog birthday! I’m just waiting for trumpets to come into the library. How about best propaganda film?
Thanks. Trumpets is soo good. I’m not familiar with propaganda although one could say many of the 40s war movies wre propaganda. Which would be your favourite?
Congrats Caroline. I’ll have to think of my favs, but Battle of Algiers is right up there.
Thanks Guy. It was not that difficult. Other lists would be harder.
Burn is excellent too, but I’m not sure if it qualifies. Admiral is a great spectacle. 19th Company, Fort Brest…all names that come to mind.
I don’t know Burn or Fort Brest. Something to look up. Admiral had a good chance of being included… I need to rewatch it.
I don’t know about the best propaganda film but my favorite at the moment is Let George Do It with George Formby. Pretty sure that’s not making many top 10 film lists anywhere!
I haven’t heard of it but will try to track it down. Thanks.
I missed you war blog anniversary 😦 … so sorry.
Happy anniversary and may you keep finding great war movies 🙂
You know, when I scanned your list…I was only looking for Saving Private Ryan as it is my all time favorite war movie 😉
Don’t worry. Thanks for the wishes.
I guess you were relieved to see hat Saving Private Ryan was on the list. 🙂
I am 🙂
…which reminds me I need to rewatch it and review it
I’m looking forwad to your review then.