MovieChat Forums > Cross of Iron (1977) Discussion > Worst war movie ever made

Worst war movie ever made

posted 13 years ago by Starcraft_rules
28 replies | jump to latest

This movie is soo bad, I don't know where to start.
What's with all the praise here? 7,5? I expected 4.0 when I came here.

Script could be written by a kid who has no history knowledge whatsoever. Prussian aristocrat wants iron cross? SERIOUSLY? Editing and direction is beyond horrible. I haven't seen so much slow motion in any movie. Even Matrix. Bad taste is in every second of this. Action scenes just don't make any sense. What's up with Nazi generals being unsung heroes and Russians and Prussian aristocrats villains? And with that horrible intro? And ending?

[–] milstar 9 years ago

If this is worst war movie for you, then I wonder what you would say for Hamburger Hill. Btw, CoI certainly isn't best, it has flaws (like meaningless philosophical dialogues), but tecnically looks impressive. And it's quite unusual to see Germans portrayed in more positive light, in a movie made by American director. For the best WWII movie, my money would solely go on SPR.

[–] nickm2 9 years ago

And it's quite unusual to see Germans portrayed in more positive light, in a movie made by American director.

The fact that the director was NOT a German was why the Landsers were portrayed as 'more positive' -IE: Tough fighters & not moping, depressed whiners like they are portrayed by German directors.

That being said, the fireball explosions need to be retired & replaced with something more 'realistic'--cork shavings/debris propelled by an air cannon?

Why can't you wretched prey creatures understand that the Universe doesn't owe you anything!?

[–] Stanley_Kubrick_2 8 years ago

For the best WWII movie, my money would solely go on SPR

But Saving Private Ryan glorifies war and makes it exciting like an action movie. Don't get me wrong I love Saving Private Ryan too (I saw it three times at the cinema) but as a mature adult I now feel that the message of Saving Private Ryan is wrong.

I'm starting to think that the remake of All Quiet on the Western Front is probably the best war film ever made along with Cross of Iron. Who would want to go to war after watching these two films?

[–] nickm2 8 years ago

when those MG42s crank up to fend off the first Russian attack & the 'buzz saw' topples over Russian soldiers like ten pins-trust me it stirs up things in many people too....

Why can't you wretched prey creatures understand that the Universe doesn't owe you anything!?

[–] milstar 8 years ago

But Saving Private Ryan glorifies war and makes it exciting like an action movie. Don't get me wrong I love Saving Private Ryan too (I saw it three times at the cinema) but as a mature adult I now feel that the message of Saving Private Ryan is wrong.

I'm starting to think that the remake of All Quiet on the Western Front is probably the best war film ever made along with Cross of Iron. Who would want to go to war after watching these two films?

I disagree. True, it's the Spielberg's movie and that may mean much or may mean nothing at all. I never get anything out of the movie, only that gruop of men are desperately trying the find a guy and bring him back alive. As Tom Sizemore's character at one point says:"Saving Ryan is probably the only human thing in this *beep* war".
And while it looks like spectacle, some of it does it the other way around. Take the Omaha beach landing. Whole scenes is entertaining to watch, but in the same time is sad and startling. First time I watched I almost cry, don't know if it was due to expert filmmaking or the sheer brutality of war. For instance, several man being gunned down in a second from the machine guns, or guy lying with his guts spilled out or one soldier searching for his missing arm, etc.

[–] gasivodo 8 years ago

Starcraft(1998) is the best one made though.

[–] Cognoscente (2778) 4 years ago

Orson Welles thought that it was the best war film that he had seen.