The trouble with "Saving Private Ryan" is that, having made an effort with the first and final battles, everyone (cast, crew, director and scriptwiters) seem to have assumed that the rest would look after itself and it degenerated into yet another 'patrol movie' (and the 'bookend sequences could have been lost with absolutely no ill effect to the film).

"The Victors", I must admit, I can't remember much about this film except that it was "different" from others I'd seen (I must have been about 15 when I saw it, so I couldn't tell how it was 'different') - but there is one thing that I do recall, the "no frills" execution of the deserter (Pvt Slovick(?)), in the snow, - I still can't hear "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" without that film coming to mind.

"Pearl Harbor", I must admit, I saw the trailers and though "Oh No, not this one!", the reviews confirmed it - I'll stick to "Tora, Tora, Tora"

"Apocolypse Now" - I'd put this into my personal "worst film" category, simply becuse I've never seen it all. I've tried to watch it three or four times, both at the cinema and on TV/video and I've fallen asleep every time - is it me or the film?

"The Four Feathers" - the latest (2004?) version - the Director's political agenda shows through (not very well acted either IMHO), the pricipals just don't look/feel Victorian.

Best Films:
"Les Croix de Bois" The cast crew and most of the extras were veterans and the film was made over the (then) as yet, un-reconstructed battlefields of Chapaigne
"Paths of Glory" - I never could understand how the film company could claim "Full Metal Jacket" was the best war film ever made when the same director hade made on orders of magnitude better back in the 1960s.
"Zulu" - What is there to say that hasn't been said - Yes it's a propaganda spin on history, but it's still a rattling good story and both sides seem to come out of it well (believe me, it could have been handled a lot worse).
"Das Boot", of course, I'm slightly claustrophobic and parts of that film brought me out in sweats.
"All Quiet on the Western Front" (the Lew Ayres version)
"The Four Feathers" (Alexander Korda version) - OK, A E W Mason's story might not be great, but you must admit, the East Surrey Regiment did well as the 'North Surreys' and in the 1930s they could be bothered to dig up somebody who remembered (or knew) the 1880s drill manual and get the right kit (remember that this was the same period that saw films with George II demanding someone sing "The Black Brunswickers", French monarchs being greeted with "La Marseillaise" forming part of the background music and Roger's Rangers drilling using French mushets and a 19th/20th century American drill book) Authenticity didn't carry much weight (And I STILL want one of those Lee-Metford/Long Lee-Enfield rifles they used in the desert battles).

Walrus