Foreign WW2/War Movies Worth A Damn #1

OK, so I started thinking about a list of some Foreign War Movies worth a look.

Most people would not believe that some of the best and most realistic World War Two (and War Movies in general) are foreign made. (Yes they have English subtitles, so you lazy couch potatoes will have to read some! God Forbid.)

 

Fortress of War (aka The Brest Fortress)

 2010 Russian-Belarusian war film recounting the June 1941 defense of Brest Fortress against invading Wehrmacht forces in the opening stages of Operation Barbarossa, Nazi Germany‘s invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II.^[1][2] Events are narrated from the perspective of 15-year-old Sasha Akimov, centering on three resistance zones holding out against the protracted German siege. The defending forces are led by regiment commander Major Pyotr Gavrilov (44th Rifle Regiment of the Red Army), with Regimental Commissar Yefim Fomin (84th Rifle Regiment of the Red Army), and the head of the 9th Frontier Outpost, Lieutenant Andrey Mitrofanovich Kizhevatov.

Can be viewed on YouTube with English subs.

 

The Dawn’s Here Are Quiet

This 2015 remake of the 1972 Soviet WW2 film is a real gem. Based on the 1969 novel by Boris Vasilyev, the movie tells the story of an unfulfilled Soviet Army Sergeant stationed in an out of the way outpost near the Finnish border during 1942. The outpost is home to two AA Flak guns and a detachment of six female crew members. When a German Paratroop Squad is spotted in the woods, the Sergeant has no choice but to engage the Germans with the Five female soldiers (leaving one behind.)

What follows is an amazing story of bravery, courage and sacrifice.

Can be Viewed on Amazon Prime.

 

City of Life and Death

OK, so this is really Pre-WW2 (1937) but historically it goes hand in hand with Japan’s aggressive stance toward the conquest of China and Asia. Strap in with this one because it is a tough watch at times. The Rape of Nanking is one of the most horrific chapters in modern warfare history to be sure and yeah it was perpetrated by the Japanese Imperial Army, not the Germans.

Can be Viewed on Amazon Prime

Back to 1942

This is one of those movies that has a great cast but did not get great reviews overall. Honestly, I enjoyed it as a War film because it shows the hardship of war on the civilian population. China had it really terrible in WW2, putting up with not only the Japs, but also a Civil War where Communist were taking everything not nailed down for the “State.” (And we all know how that turned out.)

Can be Viewed on Amazon Video

 

Assembly

This is set in 1947 during the Chinese Civil War between Chiang Kai-Shek’s KMT Nationalist Army and the Red Communist led by Mao Zedong.

A really gritty war picture set during a really nasty period in Chinese history.

Can be Viewed on DVD or Streamed Online.

 

My Way

Fascinating true story about a Korean solider who was conscripted by the Japanese Imperial Army, The Soviet Red Army and the Wermacht during WW2. He was captured by American forces on D-Day while fighting with a group of German conscripts.

Read more about this amazing story HERE.

Can be Viewed on Amazon Prime

 

Stay Alert, Stay Armed and Stay Dangerous!

 

20 Foreign Made World War Two Movies You Probably Never Saw (But Need Too)

 

 

1944 (2015)

 

As Far as my Feet Will Carry Me (2001)

 

Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)

 

 Spies of Warsaw (2013)

 

Days of Glory (2006)

 

The Grey Zone (2001)

 

Charlotte Grey (2001)

 

Diplomacy (2014)

 

In Darkness (2011)

 

Lore (2012)

 

The Pianist (2002)

 

Das Boot (1981)

 

Stalingrad (1993)

 

Flame and Citron (2008)

 

Back to 1942 (2012)

 

Generation War (2013)

 

City of Life and Death (2009)

 

White Tiger (2012)

 

Come and See (1985)

Netflix Pix Worth a Look

This time around there is quite a range of World War 2 era movies and documentaries, plus a few others worth your time.

 

 

City of Life and Death (2009)

The Gritty true story of the Rape of Nanking in 1937 by the Japanese. Some great urban battle scenes of the Chinese rag tag guerillas attempting to stop the Japanese juggernaut as it marched through China. The barbarism of the Japanese during this time is appalling, with over 300,000+ civilians  and POW’s murdered. Subtitled in Black and White.

 

My Way (2011)

Another amazing true story of a Korean and Japanese soldier (both were competing olympic sprinters) who were captured by the Soviets in the Sino-Soviet War in Manchuria, sent to a Russian Work Camp, then conscripted into the Soviet Army in 1943, where they were eventually captured by the Germans and sent to Normandy, where they were discovered by American Forces on D-Day, 1944. Subtitled.

 

 

Back to 1942 (2012)

Story of horrific famine and War in China in early 1940’s. Adrian Brody (The Pianist) stars as an American Journalist trying to get local and global attention to these people’s suffering. One of those movies that makes you realize that however BAD you may think your life is, it does not hold a candle to what these poor people endured! Subtitled.

 

Warriors of the Rainbow (2011)

I like movies whose subject matter is struggle against OPPRESSION, no matter the odds! This is a story of the native aboriginal Taiwanese Seediq tribe and their fight against Imperial Japanese occupation in the 1930’s. Subtitled.

 

Generation War (2013)

A 3 Part German Mini-Series that tells the story of a group of 5 friends (Two of them Wermacht soldiers, one of them a Jew, one of them a German nurse and another an actress) and their harrowing experiences during WW2. A unique WW2 movie told from the perspective of the German.  Some good urban battle scenes in Russia.  Subtitled.

 

 

The Ghost Army (2013)

The story of a little known US Army Unit in WW2: “The 23rd HQ: Special Troops”. This collection of artist, sculptors, set designers and engineers waged war against Hitler and his nazi war machine in a special way: Deception. One of the better War documentaries I have watched lately..definitely worth your time. A PBS Special Narrated by Peter Coyote.

 

 

Beneath Hill 60 (2010)

Gutsy and gritty true story of an Australian tunnelers Unit in WW1. Composed entirely of civilian miners, this unit was responsible for digging tunnels under the German lines while at the same time, preventing the Germans from tunneling under French/English Lines. Nasty battle scenes and an awesome story. Not enough movies are made about WW1 IMO, and this is a great one to start with!

 

Zaytoun (2012)

A more modern tale of an Israeli fighter Pilot being shot down over Beiruit in the 1982 Lebanon War. Once captured by the PLO, the pilot (Stephen Dorff) is assisted in escape by a young palestinian boy who escorts him out of the war-torn city. This is more of a ell-good drama than a war movie, but it is still good IMO, as it shows a period of history that has not been very popular with film makers for a long time. Subtitled.

 

Outside the Law (2010)

I will warn you ahead of time: this movie is Arabic and subtitled throughout. If the arabic language bothers you (some say it sounds like somebody talking while hacking on a popcorn husk in their throat) then don’t watch it! It tells the story of 3 Algerian Brothers and the fight of Algerian Independence from France from 1945 to 1962. It goes into great detail how the FLN (Algerian National Liberation Front) evolved and fought with Guerilla tactics (both in France and Algeria) against the French government. A must for any serious student studying the History and various applications of Guerilla Warfare. Subtitled.

 

Ironclad (2011)

For those of you who like swordplay and the lopping off of heads, this 11th century English tale is for you. Historically, it is set against the backdrop of the notorious reign of King John and the 3 year war against him by English Barons (aided by the Knights Templar) that eventually led to the signing of the Magna Carta. A decent action flick with gritty battle scenes and some decent actors to boot: Paul Giamatti and Brian Cox to name a couple.

 

 

Bravo Two Zero (1999)

This is a rather old movie (1999), but still a good one. It is based on two books, both by real-world SAS operators who were there: Bravo Two Zero by Steven Mitchell (pen name: Andy McNab) and The One that got Away by Colin Armstrong (pen name: Chris Ryan) the movie chronicles the 1991 story of a SAS patrol team and their mission to go behind Iraqi Lines to find and destroy SCUD missile Launchers to pave the way for the main ground assault. But of course, things go sideways in a hurry, and the team has to fight their way out. If you like British war movies, with all their pomp, this one fits the bill.

 

Hell (2011)

I wanted to throw in a decent science fiction/ post-apocalyptic movie for those of you who like such genres, (as I do myself). This one is set in (would you have guessed it!!) post-apocalyptic 2016 Germany. Solar flares have destroyed the earths atmosphere and risen daily temps to scorching hot! Although I was disappointed how the plot eventually ended up (I won’t spoil it, but the ideal IS NOT Original as far as Post-Apocalyptic movies go). Overall, a decent but not great  movie. Subtitled.