Home
Creators
Search Recent Random
Posts
Search DMs Popular Hash Lookup Tags Random
Importer
Import FAQ
Register Favorites Keys Review DMs Logout
Community
Telegram ThePornDude
Home Creators Posts Import Register Favorites Logout

Based on a True Story: War & Conflict (Patreon)

Published:
2025-05-26 04:51:56
Imported:
2026-06

Poll

Based on a True Story: War & Conflict

  • The Thin Red Line 154
  • Flags of Our Fathers (2006) 66
  • Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) 91
  • Midway (2019) 94
  • Darkest Hour (2017) 109
  • Downfall (2004) 120
  • Amistad (1997) 118
  • Patton (1970) 257
  • The Longest Day (1962) 74
  • 2025-05-26
  • —2025-05-29
  • 1083 votes
{'title': 'Based on a True Story: War & Conflict', 'choices': [{'text': 'The Thin Red Line ', 'votes': 154}, {'text': 'Flags of Our Fathers (2006)', 'votes': 66}, {'text': 'Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)', 'votes': 91}, {'text': 'Midway (2019)', 'votes': 94}, {'text': 'Darkest Hour (2017)', 'votes': 109}, {'text': 'Downfall (2004)', 'votes': 120}, {'text': 'Amistad (1997)', 'votes': 118}, {'text': 'Patton (1970)', 'votes': 257}, {'text': 'The Longest Day (1962)', 'votes': 74}], 'closes_at': datetime.datetime(2025, 5, 29, 5, 59, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc), 'created_at': datetime.datetime(2025, 5, 26, 4, 46, 28, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc), 'description': None, 'allow_multiple': False, 'total_votes': 1083}

Content

Okay, wow! I did not realize how many movies are technically “based on a true story.” Once I started putting a list together (and reading through all your amazing suggestions), it just kept growing! From survival stories tobiopics, courtroom and war; there’s honestly so much to choose from. I split them into four polls to keep it manageable, some may be a bit of a category stretch but I tried my best!

One vote per poll, I can't decide if the top winner from each poll should go in a final poll?

Ps-I have seen a lot of based on true stories throughout the channel and before (captain phillips, zero dark thirty, a beautiful mind, catch me if you can, the imitation game, social network argo etc!

pms-guys I really underestimated how busy it would be for wedding week/last week of school/full house of family staying here/kids puking and touched by a monster is going to be late. I am so sorry but great news-Carly had a beautiful wedding day yesterday and smiled the whole day. So excited for her next chapter!

Comments

Anthony Carlson

Oh so many to choose from! They’re all good!

Thomas Wetherell

Why can’t these all win? I’ve been waiting so long for someone to react to most of these.

To Wa

Patton

djKENTO

Thin Red Line! Such a unique war film. Contemplative and poetic. One of Malick’s best

Erik Locquiao

These are all good choices. Really loved Darkest Hour though.

Kevin

Malick’s The Thin Red Line definitely gets my vote, but several good movies on this list.

John Liebling

Amistad has a lot of historical relevance, but no other film on this list compares to the Academy Award winning Patton. Also, will give Cassie an opportunity to watch a great film from decades before she was born.

Robert da Spruce

Letters from Iwo Jima and Flags of Our Fathers are companion movies. And meant to be watched together On the off chance either wins, you should definitely try to watch both Cassie

Jacob Lunbeck

These are all fantastic choices, but I have to hope Downfall wins for the simple fact that it's arguably one of the most historically accurate films ever made.

Rosario Cicero

Oh man I’m absolutely ENTHUSED beyond belief that she included DOWNFALL!!!! I just saw it in a theater and I was completely mesmerized from beginning to end!!! An absolute tour-de-force by Bruno Ganz!!!

Brent Petty

I'm sorry, but the Midway remake was not very good. Between it and Pearl Harbor, Hollywood just can't seem to get the Pacific theater of WW2 right.

Popcorn In Bed

crap-i forgot the pianist on this list-should i delete and redo the poll?

Chris Thom

Oh geeze there's more.

To Wa

The "A Bridge Too Far" button is hidden .

Robert Baldino

Midway is much better than Pearl Harbor. It moves at a good pace and is decently accurate. I don't get to pretentious about war movies, so I'm just glad Hollywood is still interested in making entertaining films about the war.

Jay

All great choices. Any hope for a sports movie poll soon?

Robert Baldino

Letters from Iwo Jima and Flags of Our Fathers really need to be watched together. The Longest Day is an absolute classic, and better than Patton, in my opinion. The Thin Red Line is quite interesting, but definitely something you have to be in the right mood for. Amistad is kind of out of place here...

Gray

Yes

Peter Dillard

Letter from Iwo Jima is unique in presenting a view of the battle from the perspective of the Japanese. Compelling story telling.

Gray

Downfall would be my pick as we haven't had anything like it on the channel

Clay F

yes -- please redo the poll to include the pianist

LukeG84

I voted for Midway in this poll. Of the two movies on this list I’ve seen, the other being Darkest Hour, Midway was better.

Popcorn In Bed

i hate that you can’t edit polls-hmmm maybe because of my mistake it just has to be automatically watched

Stephen Malloy

Don’t mean to be a pain but the 1970’s Midway with Charton (Moses/Ben-Hur/Taylor) Heston and an All-Star cast is the superior movie.

Bill Isaacs

A note on "Patton'. This film is a character study and a magnificent one. It is not to be taken seriously as history or even a facsimile. And that's fine. It evokes the man and his importance to history over a brief and crucial period.

Art Vandalaay

Thin Red Line. Thin Red Line. Thin Red Line. Thin Red Line. Thin RED.. Line.. or Downfall. I’m not fussed really 😂

Nathan Swapp

Flags of our Fathers & Letters from Iwo Jima are twin movies. They're telling the same events from the different perspectives and should be watched together whenever possible.

RP

The Thin Red Line is my fav WW2 film ever, Best Picture nomination. A haunting piece of art not like any other war movie I’ve seen. Sean Penn and Nick Nolte are superb. Hans Zimmer at his best.

Chris Thom

Might be a good excuse to finally see Patton.

Clay F

Many good choices. My ranking in order of my most preferred: 1. The Thin Red Line 2. Darkest Hour (2017) 3. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) 4. Downfall (2004) 5. Patton (1970) 6. Amistad (1997) 1. The Pianist (2002) would be my No. 1 if included. popcornrequests shows Darkest Hour (2017) as "seen"

Nathan Swapp

The Pearl Harbor part of Midway is painfully bad but I've grown to really enjoy the rest of it, as melodramatic as it can be. Patrick Wilson is great in it.

JAKH

+1 for Midway (1977) the 2019 version requires the viewer to already be familiar with the events of the battle, plus rewrites history with a modern social lens.

Richard Maurer

I’d rather you do that than change the poll at this point anyway, Cassie

Jeromy M

Thin red line is a gorgeous movie

Chris Thom

It's a movie from this year?

Rod Reavern

"Warfare" (2025) deserves to be on the next True Story: War film poll. It's excellent! Cassie should watch it in the home theatre for the proper auditory experience. And I'm curious what her reaction will be to the intro scene.😜 It's already become a meme!

JAKH

Story written by General of the Army Omar Bradley. Screenplay by Francis Ford Coppola. Music By Gerry Goldsmith - also did Planet of the Apes, Alien, Star Trek TMP, Star Trek TNG, First Blood, Rambo 2 & 3, Total Recall, The Ghost & The Darkness, LA Condidential, Mulan, The Mummy

JAKH

"The Longest Day" would be appropriate to do for D-Day, June 6th no matter how it does in the poll, plus it has a very young (pre-007) Sean Connery.

JPDotCom23

Argh, finally got 'Patton' and 'Amistad' on a list and they have to be pitted against each other. Both are brilliant movies, but for cheer effect and emotions, and Anthony Hopkins inspiring performance, I went with 'Amistad', doesn't look like it'll win but I made my pick, I'll be happy with 'Patton' too, Francis Coppola co-wrote that movie.

Dissonant Bard

In the spirit of this poll, will you consider Joyeux Noel for December. It will melt your heart and break it at the same time.

Dan M

Oof…this is a tough one. But, since I’m currently in the middle of revisiting The Pacific, I’m going with The Thin Red Line. Plus, it also stars John Cusack. So a John Cusack double header with Eight Men Out would be awesome.

Rod Reavern

I agree. I wouldn't characterize "Patton" as a "based on a true story" War film because it's an exaggerated biopic. "Girls Und Panzer" has more historical value than the Patton movie!

Rod Reavern

Charlton Heston is undoubtedly the best actor, but the intensity of the dive-bombing sequences is far superior in "Midway" (2019)... and I presume that Cassie will prefer the version with Nick Jonas.

JAKH

Couldn't find the buttons for "Tora! Tora! Tora!" (1970), "The Lighthorsemen" (1987), "K-19: The Widowmaker" (2002), "Gettysburg" (1993), "Rough Riders" (1997), "The Great Raid" (2005), or "Operation Mincemeat" (2021)?

Clay F

Stacked cast in The Thin Red Line

2-Can

The Thin Red Line is only tangentially true. None of the characters are historical, the battles shown did not take place, and its author said it was a ‘true depiction’ of what combat was like. Not sure it belongs in this category - it stretches the meaning of the phrase.

Brian Wood

Just bought a brand new blu ray copy of Patton to watch on Memorial Day. Along with Midway 1976, which is the best version.

WestBound

Warfare is new but Holy jeez !

Clay F

The Thin Red Line is definitely based on true events. I agree that The Thin Red Line is an adaptation and not a documentary. Patton (1970) also takes creative liberties. For instance, the meeting between Patton and Montgomery in Messina, Sicily, in the movie actually never happened. Another example is the movie depicts Patton and Bradley as friends when in reality Bradley disliked Patton, both personally and professionally.

Shawn Kildal

Was hoping to see The Pianist here.

zynjams

Hotel Rwanda should have made this list, truly an incredible movie.

Shawn Kildal

Yes Please!! It is a very worthy candidate. Or, you can prom, prom it for later

Shawn Kildal

Automatically watched! Love that

Ike

The Darkest Hour (Gary Oldham, Odinson, err… Oldman!) is perhaps one of my favorite movies. I remembered sitting in the theater thinking, “there is NO WAY the Academy can snub Gary Oldman this time!” He should have more for so many roles, but this one is his best. I love Winston Churchill because of this movie. That’s my vote!

abraham wilson

I just watched The Thin Red Line. Holy Cow! What a great film! I had seen it 20 years ago, but I think I was too young to appreciate it. It gets my vote, but I understand Malick isn't for everyone.

Clay F

I like that answer (automatically watch). 😊 It is an important movie. Plus, big-time Oscar winning.

Steve Colletti

I am surprised you never got to THE LONGEST DAY.

Mark Vaderr

Wow! This poll is stacked! Went with The Thin Red Line, but I have no issue with Patton leading. Amistad, Downfall, Flags of Our Fathers, Letters from Iwo Jima and Darkest Hour are all great choices.

Keith Brown

"Patton" besides being a great Oscar winning film has been sited as being the most accurate bio-pic around by historians !!

K, Zachary

How is The Pianist not on here? Is that one your going to automatically watch? When people have been begging and I am begging for that one to be on here. Please redo the poll to include The Pianist. It's ranked #32 In the top movies ever according to IMDB. I think there is enough support to include that one. Roman Polanski Wins Best Director: https://youtu.be/PXnNOBj26lk?si=wN8GkDVNvhday9RN Adrian Brody wins best actor for The Pianist https://youtu.be/8HgWANva9Xk?si=I4HrFNJ4f_LbQw7j

pickupthepieces

You can't have it all. But you gotta admit, this is a quality list as is.

Ted Whalen

I think these are all great options. I was hoping for Downfall……oh well…..maybe in the future.

Guybrush Threepwood

All great choices, shame ‘A Bridge Too far’ isn’t there! Also Flags of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima go together, so if you watch one you need to watch the other

MikeLL

So excited that an older film is in the lead on one of these polls. George C Scott is monumental as Patton and unforgettable. Cassie saw him before in Anatomy of a Murder. As tempted as I was to vote for The Longest Day, I had to vote for Patton. A great score by Jerry Goldsmith.

Rick Rodriguez

Theses are all great ,except one (won't say which) but I vote Amistad. Haven't seen Patton in so long, so due a rewatch.

Big Lazy Dragon

The original 'Midway' (1976) would have been a better choice than the 2019 version

YodatheHobbit

I'm torn between Letters from Iwo Jima and Amistad.

Chris Thom

Is it about a real war? Or true story?

JULIE

Argo

Clay F

She has seen it.

Clay F

Great movie -- one of my favorites -- but surprisingly she has seen it.

Clay F

The Thin Red Line got my vote.

Clay F

Letters from Iwo Jima is my favorite of the two.

Clay F

The Pianist if included would have got my vote. She said "maybe" will be automatically watched. Cassie: "crap-i forgot the pianist on this list." "i hate that you can’t edit polls-hmmm maybe because of my mistake it just has to be automatically watched."

JULIE

Really??

RP

I would only prepare Cassie in one way on The Thin Red Line, That it is not a conventional narrative movie, it must be seen to understand, but going into it expecting a Saving Private Ryan type film, the shock of the difference can be a detriment to being immersed in it. 🍻

Chitown Livingston

Patton is historically one of the most accurate pictures on the list - word for word. Bradley and the book by Ladislas Farago were the basis of the movie. George C. Scott's best performance.

Stephen Last

Patton is one of my favorites. I liked Midway because it stars a ship called Enterprise. This is the one that Kirk's Enterprise is named after.

Chris Thom

Yeah she's seen a lot of good ones pre-channel. Kind of a bummer.

Chris Thom

How's The Pacific? Pretty sure that had the same producers as Band of Brothers...?

Jerrod Acree

So many good ones on here!! Longest Day, Patton, Amistad (Personal fave) & more

Chitown Livingston

Not sure if you've seen Lone Survivor or Blackhawk Down? Another good movie is Battleground - the 101st Airborne Division protecting Bastogne during the battle of the bulge.

Clay F

Great movie. I love Argo.

Above Average Dave

Patton is one of the more accurate war movies created, though depiction of the man is colored by current events in the late 1960s/early 1970s. There area couple glaring errors that we can talk about if it's the pick, but I am all in on that one and George C. Scott's portrayal.

Stephen Dias

I've only seen "Amistad," although I am familiar with an iconic scene from "Patton." Surprisingly, "Platoon" is not on this list, but , of course, there are many great war movies.

Joe J

Curious, Letterbox says Cassie has already seen "Darkest Hour".

BibbitduBois

She's already watched Platoon on the channel. It was a little rough that day.

Clay F

She reacted to Platoon.

Clay F

So does popcornrequests. Listed as "seen"

Dan M

It’s good, and yes Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks are the producers, but in my opinion not as good as BoB. I was definitely more invested with the characters in BoB. And I feel the emotional impact was greater as I watched BoB.

Laura Thornley

Downfall is an incredible German language movie. And is one of the most memed movies to ever exist due to one scene in particular. Add Conspiracy (2001) to the list. Not German language, but related to Downfall in tone. Essentially no action whatsoever, but a chilling movie none the less.

Guybrush Threepwood

Another really important one to see is 'Valkyrie' (2008)

Rob

My dad served under Patton for a short while in North Africa and Sicily before "the incident." He had trouble watching the movie. "I knew George Patton, and this guy isn't George Patton," he said. One of my favorite movies, though.

zynjams

when? on her own? it's not on her channel. I've been requesting Hotel Rwanda for 3 years

Chris Thom

Good one. But I always assumed it was really inaccurate.

Chris Thom

She meant to put it on there. Left it out on accident.

Guybrush Threepwood

I’ll admit i haven’t done much research into it but these people did exist and i think it’s an important message about those Germans who tried to stand up to Hitler!

Javier Hernandez

I like the idea of "Based on a True Story" but the comments indicate that folks want "a true story" which isn't really they way Hollywood works. People should just enjoy the movies, and hey, if you want the actual story then you should buy the book.

Robert Baldino

Valkyrie is actually pretty accurate.

Just Plain Bob

Sadly, Hollywood often seems to choose military leaders to score easy dramatic points in their films, regardless of truthfulness. For example, I was disappointed in the treatment of General Curtis LeMay in the series “Masters of the Air.” While I liked the series as a whole, they depicted LeMay issuing the orders to carry out the deep bombing mission in Europe and then landing in Algiers, since they knew they wouldn’t have enough fuel for the return flight. In the series, he’s depicted as callous, with little regard for his men - leaving them stranded for days. In truth, it wasn’t his plan but he did fly the mission personally as the lead pilot. He was getting shot at right along with the rest of them. After completing the mission, he waited to be picked up, right along with the rest of them. One of his superior officers later said that LeMay was obstinate and borderline cruel, but that he always insisted on flying with his men and taking the same risks they took. He was also credited with reducing mortality rates among American pilots during the war with his training methods and battle tactics. None of that was portrayed in the series. It was easier, and created more dramatic tension, to portray him as a caricature of himself.

Timothy Burrows

I'm sad to see The Longest Day is second from the bottom.

Just Plain Bob

I don’t think most people mind much when a film or tv show changes facts around from the true story. But, to me, it becomes a big issue if they portray a person in a significantly different manner than history indicates. These were real human beings, after all. They had families, many of which survive to this day. It doesn’t seem like too much to ask that they not be slandered so some film producer can sell more product. In the example I cited below (Masters of the Air), they changed quite a bit about the true facts for purposes of dramatic tension, such as their experiences and actions in the POW camp. But no one cares because it didn’t materially change the true story or demonize innocent people.

Sean

I only picked Downfall because of the Hitler meme. I have no idea if it’s any good.

JAKH

To me, there are only 4 good movies on the list, and a lot of recency bias.

Richard Maurer

As I always say - You want the true story? Watch a documentary (even then it will be up for debate).

Ted Whalen

Bring me Fegelein!!!! The Hitler parodies from this movie are pretty funny!

Brian's Dog

Midway (1976) had acting legends and some real combat footage, Midway (2019) had questionable acting and questionable CGI.

Brian's Dog

I should make the meme specifically for this poll.

Above Average Dave

While the progression of battle and events in PATTON were depicted fairly accurately, Coppola was writing a movie that was informed by the Vietnam War. His depiction of Patton reflects this and leans more toward caricature than reality. Most of Patton's troops actually loved the guy (I had the great experience of speaking to nearly a dozen of the vets from 3rd Army about 20 years ago). Also, without creating spoilers, Patton never - ever - disobeyed an order. He was also a forward thinker in more than just battle strategy and tactics. For example, despite FDR, Marshal and Eisenhower wanting a segregated Army, Patton integrated black soilders into his army on the front lines (rather than just driving trucks and burial duty, which is where they were in much of the rest of the Army save for a signle unit of the AIr Corps), and had an entire tank division - The 761st "Black Panther Division," with tanks commanded by and crewed by African American soldiers. In fact, in the scene when the POW camp is liberated in MASTERS OF THE AIR, in real life, the 761st did the liberating with Patton right up front with them in the battle(!) in his own halftrack. I think I commented at the time that they missed a big opportunity to show this given how they had worked the Tuskegee Airmen into the story and an exclusively black-manned division (with their commanding general) came through the gates as liberators. Anyway, Patton was an extremely complex man, and an abosolute military genius. He could read an enemy and a battlefield and adapt faster and more effectively than any modern general in history. The media narrative about him prevailing during the 1960s and 1970s was in part a pushback to Vietnam and "militarism." In fact, he incurred more casualties to the enemy and took more territory from them with the fewest overall loss of his own troops than any other general in the war. I'm not sure if there's a clearer measure of success in a war than that. The diva moments came almost exclusively when they were trying to hold him back from advancing,. And any current reading of history shows that if they'd let him loose when he'd asked (especially in August, 1944 in the The Falaise Gap in France), he would've been in Berlin in December, 1944 and the war agaisnt Germany would've been over.

Just Plain Bob

I think you’re spot on with your analysis. The really sad thing about Hollywood’s simplified, caricaturized version of figures such as Patton is that the real person, with all their complexity, is so much more interesting. Of course, you can’t fit everything into a biopic; I get that. But how difficult would it be to include scenes that portray these other aspects of their personalities and personal histories? PS: Any recommendations on a good biography of Patton? I have “Patton’s Third Army At War”, although I haven’t read it yet.

TheSingulatarian

Cassie needs to do a poll of forgotten films of 1977. "Star Wars" was such a juggernaut that many good films like "Sorcerer and "A Bridge Too Far" got buried that year.

TheSingulatarian

The nature of the campaign was different, island hopping instead of just driving toward Berlin. So, you don't stay with the same characters throughout the show. Good show but not as good as "Band of Brothers".

TheSingulatarian

Sean Connery, Rober Redford, Gene Hackman, Anthony Hopkins, James Cann, Michael Cain. An all-star cast if there ever was one.

Richard Maurer

This poll is pretty much over with Patton at 24%. Next place is currently Thin Red Line with 14%, not likely to catch up with Patton.

Richard Maurer

As a for instance, I’ve read that the Tolkien biopic is fairly inaccurate - so I plan on watching a documentary about him instead.

Catherine LW

It’s a brilliant film about the last days of the Nazi regime and Hitler’s demise. Very eye-opening.

Keith Jacobsen

I can't imagine Carly NOT smiling all day, every day. 😊

2-Can

Midway 2019 is kind of aggravating with its misses. I’ll give the acting a pass (Midway 1976 didn’t set a high bar itself), but the CGI was such a letdown- particularly since they had the ability to just be accurate. The later film does a far better job explaining how the Japanese were caught so flat-footed at a critical moment in the battle, but the effects were so distracting.

Clay F

With a couple of exceptions, all candidates in these 4 poll are generally critically acclaimed and without a trash consensus among typical movie goers. Thus, with these 4 polls, while my preferences may not win, highly unlikely that the winner will be a bad movie. I like these polls. Predicted: Winner = Patton (1970) Winner = Deepwater Horizon (2016) Winner = Charlie Wilson’s War (2007) Winner = The Aviator (2004)

2-Can

Any movie is going to take liberties and cut corners, but at least Patton, Montgomery, and Bradley existed and the US troops’ feelings towards Montgomery was red meat for a film like this. But given that it’s Memorial Day, I’ll opt for accuracy over another director’s fictional opus on “the catastrophe that is war”. Thin Red Line belongs in a different poll.

Richard Maurer

Right now only Aviator and Patton have a lock. The other two are close enough that a comeback is possible (but not likely).

Brian's Dog

Yeah, now that I think about it there were tons of actors I like in 2019. Maybe I'll chalk it up to they mostly had to act in front of a green screen. And the lead guy's accent was wild.

Above Average Dave

Heston is great in the 1976 version, as are many of the practical effects, but my impression was that the overall acting in the 2019 version was better, including the portrayal of the Japanese officers. The CGI can be distracting at times, but I thought the movie as a whole captures the chaos of that particular battle (the first major naval encounter where the opposing fleets were never in visual contact with each other) and the outsized bravery of these aviators (a close family friend flew an A-6 off a carrier in the Vietnam war so I am honor bound to all the Navy flyers "Aviators"). It also has the timeline and encounters virtually perfectly laid out. I also loved the homage to John Ford (again, virtually detail perfect). A true mad man who was wounded in combat. Finally, for a younger audience, it starts with Pearl Harbor and sets up Midway in context. Those of us who are Americans and over 45 likely know the plotline of events well, but I've found most folks under 45 have scant knowledge of American (or world) history beyond what's happened in the last 10-15 years—if that. (not you, Rose!). Worth a watch for any one who likes history, is fascinated by personal sacrifice or who wants to see great acting and tight, well-plotted filmmaking from an unlikely source (CGI, which was likely budgetarily limited, notwithstanding).

Above Average Dave

Kevin M. Hymel's "Pattons War" is incredibly well-researched. Two volumes, with one more on the way. He was really a GUY and incredibly brave as witnessed by his performance in WWI. He also took his licks in early battles but not only learned from them, he improved the opposing tactics used on him and turned them on his foes. He was also perhaps the first ground commander in WWII to fully grasp how to use close ground support of fighter and dive bombers in ground battles. These two books really show the dischotomy of the man. Patton's own memoirs were touched up by his wife (they were obviously unfinished because he died unexpectedly. Bradley, who was a jealous and unimaginative commander, recounts several details at length about Patton in his own memoir (which was ghost-written by his aide Chet Hanson). As far as training, motivating and commanding troops, as well as strategy and logistics, Patton was superior to Bradley in every way. Make no mistake, despite Bradley's well cultivated "every man" persona with the media, he was as much as diva as any other general (and they're all divas on some level). He alternately admired and resented Patton and it shows in his memoir when held up to other sources. Like we said, these are complex people.

Stephen Dias

Ah, I see that now. I might check it out later. That must be a tough movie for her to watch. I'm pretty my first war movie was from the 1960's and starred every famous actor of the time and his uncle. Can't figure out what it was, though.

Clarence Newman

I'm gonna guess either The Dirty Dozen, 1967 (Lee Marvin, Donald Sutherland, Jim Brown, Charles Bronson, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan, John Cassavetes, George Kennedy) or The Longest Day, 1962 (John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, Sean Connery, Robert Ryan, Richard Burton, Robert Wagner, George Segal, Peter Lawford, Rod Steiger, Roddy McDowall and Clint Eastwood).

Rick Williams

True. Smiley should be her nickname.

James Amyx

Born on the Fourth of July (arguably Cruise’s best performance behind Magnolia) is also an incredible true story about the Vietnam war and how soldiers were treated when they came back to the States

Matt

Thin Red Line is my favorite war film ever, such a beautifully made movie

Stephen Dias

Perhaps "The Longest Day," although you'd think I'd remember Richard Burton. I'll have to watch it to be sure.

2-Can

Pretty much agree with all of this, Dave (except that Coral Sea was the first battle where the fleets didn’t see each other other, but they covered that also). 2019 packs in a lot of backstory.

Joe J

Darkest Hour (2017) is marked as seen by Cassie. Why is it still on the poll? Replace it with Born on the Fourth of July (89).

Stranger2Reality

It's incredibly good and well worth watching, in case you were curious.

Stranger2Reality

Conspiracy is so good and so criminally under watched. I suspect this is because it was a made for HBO movie back when stuff that wasn't made for theatrical release was not very well thought of. Kenneth Branagh is absolutely chilling in that movie as Reinhard Heydrich. That movie is very prescient to what is going on today as well. Highly recommended.

Stranger2Reality

Maybe the Darkest Hour she saw was the 2011 alien invasion movie with Emile Hirsch 😂

Clay F

Terrence Malick did such a unique job. Fascinating movie.

Clay F

I am glad she may not have seen Darkest Hour — I like that movie. +1 for Born on the Fourth of July. Are you saying to replace Darkest Hour with BOTFOJ, and start the poll over?

Ron White

This is a really great set of choices. You should absolutely watch the winner and runner up in each category. Don't worry about the polls so much. I have recently watched a couple of other reactors go down their own rabbit holes and generate some great reactions. Just have fun with it.

Keith

You should have put Pearl harbor in there as well

Cole Jennett

I think a lot of people are going to take that as a joke, but she has seen it already.

Clay F

Midway (2019) [Not that many audience ratings] RT 42% (175 reviews) RT Audience 93% (10,000+ ratings) "Midway [2019] revisits a well-known story with modern special effects and a more balanced point of view, but its screenplay isn't quite ready for battle." Midway (1976) [Not many critic reviews or audience ratings] RT 41% (17 reviews) RT Audience 71% (5,000+ ratings) "War movies used to have dash and color and a certain corny sentimentality; Midway [1976] hardly even makes us care." --Roger Ebert, 2.5/4 The Thin Red Line (1998) RT 80% (137 reviews) RT Audience 80% (100,000+ ratings) "The Thin Red Line is a daringly philosophical World War II film with an enormous cast of eager stars."

Mark Vaderr

Don't you mean "Tora!, Tora!, Tora!"?

2-Can

JPBob - There is a book called The Rise of the G.I. Army by Paul Dickson that I like to recommend. It tells the story of how the army transformed itself from a small backwards force (with an often corrupt national guard organization) into a fighting machine (good background for the Rick Atkinson trilogy of the army in the European theater - as well as for movies like the Caine Mutiny or even Capt. Sobel in Band of Brothers - people who were in the service before the build-up and helped shape the service but who were later deposed by the people they trained). There were several large-scale war games as part of the build-up and Patton in particular made a name for himself in one of those.

Keith

Tora Tora Tora is a good film but no I meant exactly what I said Pearl Harbor released in 2001 starring Ben Affleck

Catherine LW

And it’s a rare WWII film from the German perspective. It’s riveting.

Clarence Newman

The fact that Pearl Harbor's not on there "hurts sump'n fierce." Not the greatest of films, but that scene where champagne cork meets broken nose is absolutely hilarious. Ben Affleck's best ever acting for sure.

Björn Karlsson

Haha yeah that scene with the cork is the best in that movie. 😅😅😅😅😆😆😆

Mojo One Thousand

I have mentioned some based on real-life stuff in other comments, but I think I missed the boat with the main place the suggestions were made... my are pretty niche so they likely wouldn't have made the poll. For this category there would be: - "The Lighthorseman" (1987) and "Gallipoli" (1981), both stories about the Australia's involvement in World War 1, with the former being a pivotal battle in the African theatre that is reference in "Lawrence of Arabia" and the latter being a point in time that is considered a baptism of fire for a young nation, starring a "Mad Max" young Mel Gibson.

Clarence Newman

Don't forget that Nick Nolte fella, Clay.

Chitown Livingston (edited)

Comment edits

2026-11-01 00:00 13 Hours: Secret Soldiers of Benghazi. You already watched. You asked... "Why are no one helping them?" I'll answer. Barrack Obama determined it was more important to fly to Las Vegas to watch Beyonce and Jay-Z in concert that night. No one knew where Hillary Clinton was. There's your answer.
2025-05-28 06:11

Clay F

Absolute gibberish. That's definitely not the answer. The reason no one could help them is because Republicans had defunded embassy security around the world. There was nothing that Barrack Obama or Hillary Clinton could have done -- that has been proven over and over.

Clay F

Glad to see The Thin Red Line did well.

Chris Thom

I love a good biopic. But frankly I'm surprised the filmmakers don't get sued more often if they're misrepresenting real people.

Richard Maurer

Chitown - political discussions are Not allowed here. Please check the FAQ post for more info.

Richard Maurer

Chris - Those people or their estates are likely getting paid. Also that’s why they say BASED on a true story. As long they don’t claim it’s 100% fact they can’t be sued (usually)

K, Zachary

I once had a Holocaust survivor visit my middle school like 33 years ago. She said " people who forget the past are doomed to repeat it." That's why movies like Roman Polanski's ( whose entire family was murdered at Auschwitz) The Pianist is sooooo important to watch. So that we never FORGET.

Clay F

THE PIANIST

T.L.A

1976 Midway is one of my favorite war movies along with The Big Red One ( Not mentioned in these polls). I grew up watching these over and over along with Patton. The clips of real footage used in the 1976 version hit so much harder then the CGI. I would have voted Midway 1976 if optioned.

T.L.A

The speech where he melts down infront of his officers is iconic and where the memes come from. Fine piece of acting. I hate subtitled movies but some make it worth it.. this is one of them.

Ria Grix

Blimey, Downfall is in there, it’s an incredible film but would probably scar Cassie for life. Best stick to the Hollywood how America won the war kinda movies, the ones that ignore the presence of every other country (including the massive sacrifices made by Russia, which we like to ignore because they then went on to be the baddies)

Sean

Ok, I may need to add it to my watchlist

Sean

Thanks, I’ll bookmark it.

Sean

It’d be great to finally see it in the original context.

Cole Jennett

No, you are being political, and you should delete your comments.

Cole Jennett

lol, Clarence, my favourite scene of the movie.

Clarence Newman

Chitown - the only thing I'd add is, check the abuse, mate (your first response to Clay). That's a fast track to being blocked on here. And diluting it with * and $$ doesn't help.

K, Zachary

Sometimes I have to add a little levity so people don't become intense. I have learned not to become so intense on here. When someone doesn't say something you don't like just say peace be with you. You matched my levity which I appreciate. I know Cassie had a huge week and being a Maid Of Honor is something that is a huge deal. There is tons of stuff you have to do. So trying for a little bit of comedy I hope helps.

Wayne Hodges

The Story of GI Joe 1945... the person the movie is about was killed in combat AFTER the movie was made (but before it was released).

Richard Maurer

There’s a reason why political discussions and name calling are banned here - to avoid just this kind of a situation. No one here cares about your political opinions anyway. That’s not what this comment section is for.

Jon Johns

Chitown, if you cannot, or are unwilling to abide by the rules of this Patreon membership, you're free to get a refund, and find an area of the internet open to political discussion. And if you continue to be abusing to other members, you will no longer have the choice. Be respectful of others, follow the channel guidelines, and rules, and enjoy the show.

Chitown Livingston

To all that think I'm "abusive". Please don't watch "Patton". Your feelings may be hurt. Sorry!

Richard Maurer

Chitown - your answer, that you’re stating facts, is literally your opinion. It is also unquestionably political. And for your information, Jon is one the Mods here. I would pay attention to what he wrote if I were you.

Richard Maurer

Jon is a mod. He’s trying to save you from yourself at this point.

Chitown Livingston

Richard... I'm already saved. Thank you for your concern. What's your favorite movie?

Richard Maurer

Nobody here cares about this except you.

Jon Johns

Chitown, the concept that you're not grasping is: just because something (you say) is a fact, or "truth" does not provide a loophole to get around the channel guidelines & rules. BOTH political opinions, and "facts" are not good for discourse in a non-political environment. But, even if that is dismissed (which it isn't) you are being disrespectful, disruptive, and not following this channels other guidelines. I was, and still am, trying to give you chances to stop your behavior, and join this community, and participate within the channel owners rules, and guidelines. Unfortunately, you seem to believe that they don't apply to you, OR, that you are somehow better able to interpret them than the authors of those rules? Either way, I'm sorry you don't enjoy being part of a great community. Sad for you.

Chitown Livingston

To all that don't like me for speaking the truth. Fine. To Cassie... just watched Road Warrior and Thunderdome! You'll love ❤️ it!

Keith

You should take a look at South Pacific (1958) very excellent movie

Clarence Newman

I've never seen the film, Keith, but if its chart success is anything to go by, the soundtrack is a doozy. It was number 1 on the album charts in both the US & UK. In the US, it stayed at No. 1 for seven months - the fourth longest run ever. In the UK, it was top five for 27 consecutive weeks before reaching No. 1, then stayed at the top for a record-breaking 115 weeks (the first 70 consecutively, including the whole year of 1959), and remained in the top five for 214 weeks. I suspect it contains a couple of foot-tappers.

Anthony V Petty

Martin Scorsese said of The Thin Red Line “it’s cinematic poetry” A succinct way of describing a difficult movie to describe to those who have never seen it. I hope Cassie gives it a look.

Bill Maurer

What US Embassy in Libya are you talking about. There wasn’t any.