10 FAVORITES (35) - Silver Screen Soldiers

This week's 10 FAVORITES is something special, and not only because we are approaching a very special holiday (Memorial Day!), but this week I have a guest blogger (sort of).  For Memorial Day, I thought that this list's theme should revolve around Soldiers and how they fit into the compendium of our Pop Culture (i.e. TV, Film, etc.).  I was struck with the idea to list the best Soldier Movies of all-time, but there was one SNAFU: I am not a big fan of Soldier Movies.  Don't get me wrong, I love a well-formed story that revolves around any character or set of characters (Soldiers, included!), but when it comes to movies about war (and often the violence that inherently goes with war!) I believe Saving Private Ryan is really my only favorite (and that's really because of the talent involved!).  Beyond that, there are only a handful of movies (meaning like 5) that would qualify as my favorite Soldier Films.  So, for the list of 10 this week, I turned to one of the people I trust the most and the person who knows me better than anyone else in the world (mainly because he grew up with me!): My older brother!  He is a huge fan of Soldier Movies and has many favorites, but he had the task of whittling it down to 10 FAVORITES.  So let's go through what he came up with and what makes these films so distinctive:

THE 10 BEST SOLDIER MOVIES

HONORABLE MENTION
Kelly's Heroes (1970)
One of the few war films that cleverly blends comedy, action and "buddy" tropes.  It is ably helped by a gifted ensemble that includes Clint Eastwood, Donald Sutherland, Don Rickles and Telly Savalas (to name a few!).

MOVIE #10
Von Ryan's Express (1965)
Based on the novel by David Westheimer, this film was a critical and box-office success in 1965 starring the indomitable Frank Sinatra as an American pilot captured by Italian troops in World War II.  The film was noted in its time for using real military vehicles shot on location and its award-winning visual and sound effects (which in 1965 was trailblazing).

MOVIE #9

Gettysburg (1993)
If you want to see one dramatic representation of the immense tale that can be told about the Battle of Gettysburg, then you must see this film.  It is extremely comprehensive in its narrative (running over 4 hours!) and gives a graphic visual picture of a time we still today try to understand.  The film is powerfully and expertly cast with a dynamic ensemble that includes Tom Berenger (Platoon), Martin Sheen (The West Wing), Jeff Daniels (Dumb and Dumber) and Stephen Lang (Avatar).

MOVIE #8

The Longest Day (1962)
It was inevitable that Hollywood would try their hand at giving the world a dramatic interpretation of the D-Day Normandy landings.  20th Century Fox pulled out all the stops and hired an all-star cast (and I mean all-star!).  Among the many many names cast in this massive film (in either a large part or a cameo) include John Wayne, Sean Connery, Robert Mitchum, Richard Burton, Rod Steiger, Robert Wagner, Robert Ryan, Roddy McDowall, Red Buttons, Peter Lawford, Richard Beymer, Sal Mineo and I could go on but I'm running out of room!

MOVIE #7

Saving Private Ryan (1998)
I've told you how I feel about this film.  When you add Steven Spielberg with Tom Hanks and Matt Damon, you get an amazing and poignant film that you will never forget.

MOVIE #6

Where Eagles Dare (1968)
This film is part "mission" movie (like Saving Private Ryan), part conspiracy-mystery film (like North By Northwest) and part buddy-buddy movie (like Lethal Weapon).  Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood star in this critically-acclaimed film about soldiers on a mission to save an imprisoned officer from the German SS.  Burton delivers an (as usual) fantastic performance as a British officer that makes it his business to hide the truth at every corner.

MOVIE #5

Apocalypse Now (1979)
Francis Ford Coppola's masterpiece is one that must be (and has been) studied in film classes all over.  His re-imagining of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness set amidst the "horrors" of the Vietnam War is considered by many to be the ultimate in storytelling.  Featuring an A-list cast that includes Martin Sheen (in a role that almost killed him), Marlon Brando, Dennis Hopper and Robert Duvall (in a scene-stealing Oscar-nominated performance as a "napalm-loving" Sargeant).

MOVIE #4

The Great Escape (1963)
It is the ultimate Prisoner of War movie (sorry to that John McCain film!).  The cast (which includes Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough, James Garner and Charles Bronson) is brilliant and the music (that unforgettable theme!) is perfect.  This Soldier Film would have no problem being in my handful of favorites.

MOVIE #3

The Dirty Dozen (1967)
For its time, this was considered one of the most violent of war films (at a time when other violent films like Bonnie and Clyde and The Wild Bunch were massive hits).  Lee Marvin (everyone's favorite old codger) plays a tough-talking Army Major who must command a rag-tag bunch of felonious soldiers through a dangerous and top secret mission.  The film's plot has become so iconic and has been parodied left and right in other films and various TV shows (like The Simpsons).

MOVIE #2

The Guns of Navarone (1961)
Based on the novel by Alistair MacLean (who wrote the screenplay and novel of Where Eagles Dare), this film has become one of my brother's all-time favorites (Seriously, I think it would be in his Top 20).  The story follows an Allied commando team that tries to destroy a German fortress along the Aegean Sea.  The cast is led by a top-form Gregory Peck and a steely cool David Niven (plus it includes a bravura-over-the-top performance from Anthony Quinn).

AND...

MOVIE #1

Glory (1989)
Edward Zwick has directed his share of powerful and poignant films over the years (Legends of the Fall, The Last Samurai, Blood Diamond, etc.), but none of them have touched the magnitude that is Glory.  Told from the point of view of the legendary Colonel Robert Gould Shaw (dynamically played by Matthew Broderick), it tells the tale of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, which was the first official regiment to accept black soldiers.  The movie has an amazing story to tell with a great ensemble cast that includes Morgan Freeman, Cary Elwes and (in his Oscar-winning supporting role) Denzel Washington.

A special shout out of thanks to my big brother for sharing his favorite Soldier Films with me (and by extension, this blog!).  And, in honor of Memorial Day, a special thanks to all the Soldiers (past, present and future) out there for all they do in the name of their country.  We shall think of you this upcoming weekend and always!

10 FAVORITES (31) - Tales of the British Royalty

The romance.  The drama.  The fashion.  The exorbitance.  The media obsession.  The good-looking young people.  No, this is not the premiere of the final Twilight movie, but time for the Royal Wedding: 2011 Edition!  It seems like only a month ago that Prince William was a tiny little boy hanging on to the hand of his beautiful mother, the late Princess Diana.  It seems like only last week we saw the very public demise of the marriage of Prince Charles and the Lady Di.  It seems like only yesterday we watched in horror as they pulled that totaled car out of the Paris tunnel only to announce that the People's Princess was, in fact, dead.  Now (14 years later), William is all grown up and ready to take the steps towards his future as King of the United Kingdom (and all its many territories).  He announced his engagement to his longtime lady-love Kate Middleton back in November of 2010 and immediately the date was set for the wedding.  On Friday, April 29 at 9AM London time (That's 4AM New York time and 1AM San Francisco time, people!), the Royal Wedding Live Coverage begins.  I will not be one of the many people staying up to watch (or setting my DVR for that matter), but I doubt I will be able to avoid any photographs or video feeds of the celebration that Friday afternoon!

Our culture has always had an odd fascination with the Royals.  This past Easter weekend, my family debated on whether the Royal Wedding coverage would be as pronounced here in the U.S. as it would be in the U.K. (I think we believed us Yanks would outshine the Brits as far as coverage goes, but that's cause we have more TV stations than any other country!).  As a child of the 1980s, I grew up seeing the footage of Charles and Diana's wedding and watching their marriage crumble (not to mention the crumbling marriage of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson!).  But when it comes to fascinating drama where British Royalty is concerned, these Windsors have got nothing on their predecessors!  As a history buff (a trait I come by honestly as my family is full of history buffs!), I have been intrigued by the stories of the previous Kings and Queens of England.  I have combed through their stories, trying to know everything I can AND learning new things in the process each time I do so.  With that in mind AND in honor of the upcoming Royal nuptials, this week's 10 FAVORITES are devoted to the stories that have made the British Monarchy so entertaining.  Here are: 

THE 10 BEST TALES OF 

THE BRITISH MONARCHY

ROYAL #10
George III Goes a Little Mad
He was the King we led our American Revolution against and what happened afterwards seems to come right out of a daytime soap opera (or from Dr. Oz!).  In 1810, King George III's many physical problems (including rheumatism, partial blindness and irritable bowels) were causing such stress that his behavior was radically changing, and not in a good way.  His power-hungry son, Prince George (whom I call "Thicky George" thanks to BlackAdder!), seized this opportunity to be declared Prince Regent (meaning he would be the monarch with the power!).  George III's insanity had plagued him until his death 10 years later and Prince George became King George IV.  Below, is the trailer for the powerful 1994 film The Madness of King George starring the late Nigel Hawthorne, Helen Mirren and Rupert Everett.

ROYAL #9
Edward VIII and the Nazis...I mean...Woman He Loved
A love affair is just the tip of the iceberg on this Royal scandal that helped shape the Windsors and who they are today.  Before he was King Edward VIII, the Prince of Wales (or "David," as he was called) had slowly begun to rebel against the stern guidance of his parents King George V and Queen Mary.  He began shirking Royal duties and carrying on clandestine relationships with several married noblewomen.  But it was one married woman that caused a fervor that would still be talked about 50 years later: Mrs. Wallis Simpson, an American.  Not only was she not impressed by the British monarchy's rules and rituals, but she heavily encouraged the Prince's pro-Nazi tendencies and admired the way Adolf Hitler pulled Germany out of its horrible Depression (Don't ask why!).  Of course, a marriage between the newly crowned King (George V died in early 1936) and Mrs. Simpson was out of the question as far as the Cabinet was concerned, so Edward VIII abdicated the throne in December 1936 for the "Woman He Loved" and became the Duke of Windsor (more on the remnants of this abdication in a bit!).  Below, is Edward's actual Abdication Address he gave over the radio to the British people.

ROYAL #8
Henry II and Thomas Becket: England's Tragic Bro-Mance
Who doesn't love a good Bro-Mance these days?  And this one is one for the "Middle" Ages (I know, I couldn't resist!).  King Henry II was a typical medieval king: carousing with many wenches, boasting about his triumphs and strutting his status as a great Norman king over the beleaguered Saxons.  One of his best friends and closest advisers, Thomas Becket, was a Saxon.  As Henry craved for religious independence from Rome and the Pope, he appointed his best friend Becket to the important post of Archbishop of Cantebury (still, the highest religious office in England).  Here is where the friendship began to sour.  When Becket's constant refusal to bow to Henry's every whim caused a riff between the two old friends, a drunken Henry (after a night of debauchery with his restless and violent soldiers) wept into his grog and said "Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest?" (referring to Becket).  The soldiers, to drunk to realize he didn't mean it, took it upon themselves that this was an order from their king and made swift haste to Cantebury.  There, in the cathedral as Becket was completing services, the soldiers interrupted and brutally assassinated the Archbishop.  Afterwards, Henry II was never the same.  Below, is the 1964 Oscar-winning epic Becket starring Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton (in masterful performances as Henry II and Thomas Becket, respectively).

ROYAL #7
Oliver Cromwell Makes Charles I Lose His Head
It seems that Kings have it all and they enjoy keeping it.  I mean, we all know the Mel Brooks line "It's good to be the King."  Well, it seems that Charles I took that statement on as his montra.  In the 1640s, King Charles I was arrogant, exorbitant and insensitive to his people and his Cabinet ministers.  In addition to all this, he was married to a Catholic Queen (the French Princess Henrietta Marie) and allowed her free reign in the palace to live as a Catholic (which was a no-no in the very Protestant England, especially for the King).  The Cabinet became enraged with his dismissals and refusals to hear their advice.  They were further angered by his insistence on taxing the people high taxes to pay for his expensive (and seemingly Catholic) lifestyle.  Chief among these angry ministers was nobleman Oliver Cromwell, who stirred up enough fervor within the ministry to call for the Parliament to rebel against their sovereign.  Charles I was arrested, put on trial and sentenced to death (much like is grandmother Mary of Scotland, but more on that later!).  In 1649, Charles was beheaded and Parliamentary rule was put in place of the monarchy (only to be overturned a decade later with Charles II, son of Charles I, restored to the throne).  Below, is the beheading scene from the 1970 film Cromwell which featured Richard Harris in the title role and a brilliant Alec Guinness as the doomed king.

ROYAL #6
Henry V's Agincourt Triomphe
A young and impetuous Prince ascends to the throne and fights off the French in a battle that changed the way military leaders think about combat.  Sounds like some fantasy film or legend, huh?  But it really happened!  King Henry V wasn't always brilliant leader material.  In his youth, the young Prince Hal caroused and took nothing his father, King Henry IV, said seriously.  When Henry IV died, it seemed like a light bulb suddenly turned on in the new King's head.  He realized he had to be what his father wanted of him and he had to establish his dominance.  To fight off an impending invasion from the French, Henry needed to truly inspire his troops as his plan seemed inconceivable.  He placed his troops in a way the French never expected and defeated them mercilessly.  And what did he do to inspire his troops to such a feat?  Well, according to William Shakespeare in his masterful history play Henry V, Henry gave a powerful speech that stirs the very patriotic emotions that a soldier needs before going into battle (see below, in Kenneth Branagh's amazing 1989 film version of the Shakespeare work).

ROYAL #5
George VI's Stammering Success
This story was not as well-known until fairly recently (for obvious Oscar-winning reasons), but it is one of the most inspirational stories from the British monarchy (they can't all be scandals people!).  When King Edward VIII abdicated his throne (see above), it thrust the job onto an unlikely candidate: his brother, Bertie, who was now King George VI.  George had one major problem, though.  He had a severe stammer that plagued him every time he was to speak in public.  It tormented him and it frustrated him.  There was no hope in sight until his wife, Queen Elizabeth, took him to an Australian actor and speech therapist named Lionel Logue.  Logue's radical ways helped George discover the deeper meanings behind his stammer and they tackled every word of a speech before it was to be heard.  It was the jolt that both George and England needed as, right on the heels of Edward's abdication, the Nazis invaded Poland and World War II began.  King George VI (and his Queen and two daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret) became symbols for the British people of strength and resolve in the face of true evil.  Below, the trailer for this year's Academy Award-winner for Best Picture (and Best Actor), The King's Speech.

ROYAL #4
Richard III Puts Princes in the Tower
When a man craves being the King, nothing stands in his way, not even children.  After the tumultuous War of the Roses (the battle for the English throne between the Lancasters and the Yorks), King Edward IV (of York) was dying and his young son Edward was poised to take his place as king.  But young Edward (and his little brother) did not count on their vicious uncle Richard to slash his way to the throne.  Richard already had his older brother, the Duke of Clarence, and various other noblemen (Duke of Buckingham, for example) disposed of before he set his murderous eyes on his young nephews.  He imprisoned the boys in the Tower of London (telling them it was "for their protection") and there, he had the two Princes killed in secret.  Nothing was in Richard's way when he was crowned King Richard III (only to be later defeated at Bosworth field by Henry Tudor, who became Henry VII, father of another important monarch!).  Below, William Shakespeare's play Richard III is by far the most adequate portrayal of the wicked Richard and there was no better Shakespeare interpreter than Lord Laurence Olivier.

ROYAL #3
Henry VIII Has Six Wives
Talk about Big Love!  Henry VIII makes some Mormons look like monogamists!  Okay, let's be a little objective, King Henry VIII was never married to all six at one time (only a couple of them at the same time but that's a debate for later!).  Henry VIII's obsessive quest for a male heir caused a religious quandary that basically founded the modern Church of England (or Anglicanism).  After his first wife, the Spanish Catherine of Aragon produced one healthy child (the female Mary, who later became Queen Mary I or "Bloody Mary"), Henry shifted his attentions to the sensual Anne Boleyn and petitioned Rome for a divorce from Catherine.  When Rome refused, Henry declared himself "Supreme Head of the Church in England," divorced Catherine and married Anne.  When Anne, too, only produced one healthy child (again a girl, Elizabeth, more on her soon!), he felt tricked by her seductive ways and had her beheaded.  He then married the plain Jane Seymour (No, NOT Dr. Quinn!), who died soon after the birth of his only living son, Edward (later Edward VI).  After Jane's death, he married three more times before his death, bringing the grand total of wives to six.  In the final three: there was the German Anne of Cleves (who he divorced after feeling deceived about her appearance), Catherine Howard (Anne Boleyn's young cousin, whose sexual escapades condemned her to the block) and the Puritan Catherine Parr (who became Henry's widow).  Below, is a compilation from Showtime's series The Tudors, whose four seasons took audiences through all six of Henry's marriages.

ROYAL #2
Victoria and Edward VII: Mother VS. Son
Some of the best stories in history are about the power struggles and dramatic tension between parents and their children.  When Queen Victoria's beloved husband, Prince Albert, died of typhoid in 1861, the Queen shut herself away from public life wearing black for the rest of her days (which went on for another 42 years!).  In addition to the self-imposed seclusion, she would never allow her son, the Prince of Wales (the future Edward VII), to publicly appear in her place and she hated it when her son took it upon himself to do so.  To be fair to her, she had legitimate reasons to distrust her son's judgment as his many dalliances and extra-marital affairs had British society whispering and pointing fingers.  But to be fair to him, when his mother gives him nothing to do, why not try to make the best out of his life (although I am NOT condoning his cheating on Alexandra, Princess of Wales!)?  Their constant struggle for dominance and his need for his mother's approval were expertly dramatized in the 1976 British miniseries Edward the Seventh featuring Annette Crosbie and Timothy West (as Victoria and Edward, respectively).

AND...
ROYAL #1
Elizabeth I: The Golden Queen
In her 45 year reign, there is always something fascinating in the story of "The Virgin Queen," Elizabeth I.  Even her life before she became Queen is fascinating.  Let's face it, her birth (and her parents' marriage) caused a religious upheaval in the country that forever changed the landscape of Europe.  Her father had her mother beheaded when she was only 3 years old.  She was sexually molested by her brother's uncle.  She was almost sentenced to death by her own sister!  She refused suitor after suitor and poured favor on a man she adored (who was already married!).  She signed the death warrant of her cousin, Queen Mary of Scotland, after Mary was implicated in a plot on her life.  She defeated the invasion of the Spanish Armada.  And, although she was the last of the Tudor monarchs, she reigned in a time when England was at its most prosperous and most influential (just think of William Shakespeare or Sir Francis Drake or Sir Walter Raleigh!).  Below, a montage of one of the most recent and most poignant portrayals of Queen Elizabeth I: Academy Award-winner Cate Blanchett.

10 FAVORITES (30) - Movies Get Biblical!

We are almost at the end of April and Easter is finally fast approaching (April 24th is the latest the holiday can be!).  This particular holiday can be just a tad controversial for some and cause the political correctness scale to go a little haywire.  But I shall brave the controversy and the political correctness to talk about movies.  In particular, movies that have drawn their source from quite possibly the most influential book in all of Western Culture.  But, since I couldn't get my hands on a copy of Snooki's book, we'll have to talk about the Bible.

The stories from the Bible have been some of the most difficult to depict on film.  Some films have gotten overly preachy (King of Kings), some get too ambitious for their own good (John Huston's massive flop The Bible) and some go too far in their dramatic interpretation (Samson and Delilah).  There have been few films that have that happy medium between knowing what they are (i.e. what genre they are!), knowing what they are based on (The Bible!) and knowing how to best serve their audience (who are really only looking for entertainment when they go to the movies!).  So this week's 10 FAVORITES are:

THE 10 BEST BIBLE MOVIES

MOVIE #10

The Passion of the Christ (2004)

Mel Gibson's controversial and graphic interpretation of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is one of the most poignant of the Bible films (and the most successful!).  I must admit that I avoided this movie for the longest time (pretty much because of the controversy surrounding it). But once I saw it, I discovered what there is to appreciate about it.  It's not the absolute best, but it is worth watching (especially around Easter time!).

MOVIE #9

The Ten Commandments (1956)

Talk about another must-watch! This film is the It's a Wonderful Life of Easter time (even though it's about Moses, not Jesus!).  And there is much to appreciate about it, especially considering what master filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille was able to accomplish in 1956.  The parting of the Red Sea scene is particularly fascinating.

MOVIE #8
King David (1985)
This film is little known and it does get a little overly dramatic, especially in Richard Gere's performance as the title character.  But it is nice to see a Biblical movie that doesn't involve Moses, Jesus or Noah!

MOVIE #7

Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)

The first of three musicals to appear on this list, this too also gets a little uber-dramatic in its interpretation, but it IS a musical (and a musical in the rock opera sense!).  Once you accept the genre you are in, you can thoroughly enjoy the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice score and the rockin' performances coming from Ted Neeley (in the title role), Yvonne Elliman (repeating her Tony-nominated performance as Mary Magdalene) and the late Carl Anderson (who was absolutely phenomenal as Judas).

MOVIE #6
The Prince of Egypt (1998)
Dreamworks wanted to prove they could do the animated musical as well as Disney and, in order to do that, they got Biblical! This film is quite enjoyable each time I see it, especially because of the songs by Oscar-winner Stephen Schwartz (Wicked).

MOVIE #5

Ben-Hur (1959)

Okay, technically it is not a Bible film, but it does incorporate Jesus' story with that of Ben-Hur's.  And the film is constantly pointed to as part of the "Biblical" genre.  Like DeMille's Ten Commandments (which also starred Charlton Heston), William Wyler's massive epic is quite stunning (especially the groundbreaking and thrilling Chariot race!).  It was the first film to garner 11 Academy Awards, a record that took almost 40 years to be tied (by Titanic in 1998).

MOVIE #4

The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

Before Mel Gibson tampered with controversy and Christ, there was Marty.  Martin Scorsese, who is quite possibly one of the greatest film directors of all-time, played with fire and directed a dramatic look at Jesus' inner struggle.  When it comes to storytelling, no one does it like Scorsese and this film is among his best.  It features jarring imagery and stellar performances from Willem Dafoe (as Christ), Barbara Heshey (as Mary Magdalene), Harvey Keitel (as Judas) and (in the role of Pontius Pilate) David Bowie!

MOVIE #3

Godspell (1973)

This one is like a mix of the previous two musicals: The story of Jesus with the songs of Stephen Schwartz!  Honestly, Schwartz' score is the major reason I love this film, but the movie does make great use of its New York scenery (especially the World Trade Center) and delightfully fits into the Biblical film genre.

MOVIE #2
The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
Of all the Biblical epics (Ben-Hur, Ten Commandments, etc.), this one is truly the best and filled with an all-star cast.  George Stevens (who helmed legendary films like Giant and The Diary of Anne Frank) gives his audience a picturesque and dramatic narrative.  And the performances (led by Max Von Sydow's amazing performance as Jesus) are first rate.

AND...
MOVIE #1
Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)
Okay, once again, people may think I'm cheating but I just love this film! And if Ben-Hur counts, then so does this one! There's not much I can say about this film that I haven't said already on this blog.  Everything about it makes me smile, especially the final song.

As I may have just angered a lot of people with my #1 choice, I will sign off now.  But I do hope my regular readers come back next week as we talk British royalty (in honor of Prince William's upcoming nuptials!).  In the meantime, enjoy your Easter holiday!  (And if you don't celebrate Easter, have a great weekend!)