Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973)
Hitler: The Last Ten Days takes us into the depths of der Furher's Berlin bunker during his final days. Based on the book by Gerhard Boldt, it provides a bleak look at the goings-on within, and without.The style of the film is a little interesting. You'll quickly notice that "above ground" things are all in black-and-white, while "below" everything is in color. This makes perfect sense, as we start the film in B/W with a horrific and brief look at Hitler's rise to power.
Some Kind of Hero (1982)
On his first day out on patrol in Vietnam, Corporal Eddie Keller (Richard Pryor) is taken prisoner by the North Vietnamese. From that point on, his luck only seems to get worse in 1982's Some Kind of Hero.After a mind-numbing six years in prison, he's finally released once the war is over. But as his story, and that of so many others goes, he returns to find his world in shambles. His wife has moved on, his money is gone. Even the army seems poised to abandon him yet again as they learn of the "confession" he signed to save the life of his cell-mate back in 'Nam.
Delta Farce (2007)
Um. Why did I even bother? Seriously.Delta Farce is a supposed comedy from the "masterminds" behind the Blue Collar Comedy(cough) tour folks. Namely Larry "The Cable Guy", Bill Engvall, and that skinny annoying guy whose name I can't remember (DJ Qualls, had to look it up.)
In it these three idiot hillbillies somehow are part of the Army reserves. Explain that one to me, especially how their "reserve center" is more like a clubhouse.... Anyway, they actually get called up and wind up airdropped on accident into Mexico (how they ended up in Mexico on the way to Iraq is another mystery!)
And the hilarity ensues. Or at least its supposed to, I think.
None But The Brave (1965)
1965's None But The Brave is just a strange movie to me. It's really hard to explain why, but that won't stop me from trying! I mean, to start, the whole thing is produced, *directed*, and stars, in a somewhat secondary role, old blue-eyes himself, Frank Sinatra. Not exactly what you'd expect, right? Well it just gets better.We find a band of Japanese soldiers, stranded on a remote island (like there's any other kind?) in the South Pacific. Early on, we get a glimpse into the mindset of their commander, Lt. Kuroki (Tatsuya Mihashi), in a somewhat sympathetic light, as he deals with his men and the gung-ho style of his second, Sgt. Tamura (Takeshi Katoo).
The Steel Helmet (1951)
Before the epic The Big Red One, director Samuel Fuller created another war picture, The Steel Helmet. "Helmet" was a film about the Korean War, made right smack in the middle of the war, and in it, he pulls no punches on a lot of subjects.However, the execution leaves quite a bit to be desired. I did enjoy the film, but a lot of aspects of it just left me going, "Oh, brother!"
The One That Got Away (1957)
Continuing in the vein of "films that have some relevance in real life..." we've got 1957's The One That Got Away. It's the "true" story of one Franz Von Werra (Hardy Kruger), a German pilot shot down over England, taken prisoner, and who finally escapes and makes it back to Germany to continue the war, the only man to pull off that feat.
