What are your favorite WWII movies for highschooler...NT

[twoblessings]

:)

[Alyce]

I like The Longest Day and Schindlers list. They're pretty good at showing the way it was. The new Pearl Harbor movie is not bad either. My FIL is a Pearl Harbor Survivor and it's pretty close to what he described at least on our end.

[Kareni]

There was a post on the General board a while back on this topic. Here's the thread:

Any worthy World War II films for 4th & 8th graders that you could recommend? (http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83814)

Regards,
Kareni

[LanaTron]

Defiance, Flags of Our Fathers, Letters From Iwo Jima, and Valkyrie. They are all fairly gory, though, so may not be what you are looking for.

What about South Pacific, Bridge Over the River Kwai, Memphis Belle, or Patton?

[elegantlion]

I recently watched Swing Kids (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108265/) and added to our list to show during that time period. I'm not sure how historically accurate it is, but it shows an interesting perspective.

[transientChris]

I also liked Mrs. Miniver since it shows war from the home standpoint very well.

[merylvdm]

My 14 yr old ds just watched Saints and Soldiers on Netflix Watch It Now. I think it was based on a true story and he said it was very good.

Meryl

[K-FL]

Comment on Swing Kids--loved it. It would have (IMO) helped if they'd had the kids speak w/a German accent (or something) so that you "got" how outrageous the Am. jazz slang would have been.

Another Holocaust film: The Devil's Arithmetic has a time-travel element (modern Jewish American Princess is transported back to her family's history--1941 Poland (I think)


I haven't seen this one yet--it's on instant play @ Netflix, but here's the plot summary:

The Conscientious Objector (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0302427/) (2004 (http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Years/2004/))

It's 1945, World War II. The Place, Okinawa. The Scene, an impregnable 400-foot high cliff-AKA Hacksaw Ridge. The Engagement, a battle so fierce the odds of survival were 1 in 10. The Act, Medic Pfc. Desmond T. Doss braved intense enemy fire to rescue 75 wounded GI's over the precipice. The Story, Infantrymen who once ridiculed and scoffed at Desmond's simple faith and refusal to carry a weapon-now owed their lives to him. Director Terry Benedict tells Desmond's incredible story through the eyes of the men who witnessed this humble man's heroic acts. Winning the respect of his fellow soldiers, they recommended him for the highest honor America can bestow on one of her sons-The Medal of Honor.

[5Youngs]

Defiance
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Life is Beautiful
I am David

[LanaTron]

I saw that a long time ago...it's fun to watch.

[twoblessings]

:001_smile:

[Sebastian (a lady)]

:)

Conspiracy (about the Wannsee Conference)
A Bridge Too Far
The Longest Day (this is especially good after you've studied DDay because you will spot so many historic people who aren't always clearly identified)
Bridge at Remagen
The Great Raid (based on Ghost Soldiers. I haven't watched it yet but dh said it was well done)
Band of Brothers
Victory at Sea
Tora! Tora! Tora! (far better than Pearl Harbor, which is a waste of time IMO)
Shining Through
Charlotte Gray
Foyle's War (exceptional series about homefront in Britain. Not specifically war drama, but highly entertaining and discusses a lot of homefront thems.)


There have also been some good movies produced in Germany in the last five years or so. These were well reviewed in Germany, but I haven't gotten around to watching all of them, so viewer beware. I'm pretty sure they are all available from Netflix.
Der Untergang (The Bunker)
Sophie Scholl: The Final Days
The Counterfeiters
Rosenstrasse
Dresden

[Chris in VA]

Favorite here is The Scarlet and The Black, with Gregory Peck.
Best ending of any film ever made.

[Kareni]

Here's an older thread that might also give you some more ideas:

Best holocaust movies and documentaries for high school? (http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91648)

Edited to add: Hmm, I just reread the thread. I'd forgotten how contentious it became. I hope it's not a mistake to link to it.

Regards,
Kareni

[Julie in MN]

I love The Hiding Place (Christian).

For the Japanese internment, we recently watched Come See the Paradise, which showed a lot without becoming too depressing.

[Catherine]

The Pianist (whatever his personal problems, ya gotta give Polansky credit as a filmmaker)

Casablanca

Tora Tora Tora

The Longest Day

[OC Mom]

The Longest Day

My 13yo son, who usually likes war movies, didn't particularly care for this one. He calls it "The Longest Movie". :) (I liked it, though!)