By Michael Wisotzkey (Afireinside) (24.171.107.160) on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 01:04 am:

We get lots of new members for x-mas on here.

By Michael Wisotzkey (Afireinside) (24.171.107.160) on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 01:49 pm:

I like the off topic board suggested by ..ME. Hehe. Now we can talk without hogging up space on other boards

By Iines (Iines) (195.197.127.163) on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 03:58 pm:

Michael, that's good idea, because we always start talking about wrong things in wrong places;)

Iines

By Michael Wisotzkey (Afireinside) (24.171.107.160) on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 07:27 pm:

I was called a geek for being so intrested in World War II. Thats pretty stupid. I guess when we get to WWII in social studies they will beg for help

By Jonathan Jones (Jonjones) (62.7.84.40) on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 09:35 pm:

"If you don't know your history,
"Then you don't know where you're coming from.."

Bob Marley (Buffalo Soldier)

Regards, Jonathan.

By yvette thomas (Bettyb) (194.117.133.182) on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 01:29 pm:

I think it's every persons responsibility to know they're countries history, and events that made the world we live in what it is. I worry that by the time my kids are older, history will become less important, and things will get forgotten and swept under the carpet. I've always had a keen interest in all aspects of history, and couldn't care less if i were referred to as a geek-i have my own mind, and own interests, and nobody else'sopinion will change what i like to do.!

By Jonathan Jones (Jonjones) (213.1.60.20) on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 01:56 pm:

Good For You!

I'm afraid that history is a declining topic as far as I'm aware. More and more folks just can't relate to the past 'cos they're too anxious about now and the future. They've not got the message that history is the study of people, their triumphs and mistakes. Thus a massive resource that we could learn from, and seek to emulate or even improve upon without having to go through the painful procesess that a lack of knowledge of history may dictate. Pause for breath.

How many generations have repeated the same mistakes instead of learning from the past and thus saving time (and a whole lot of other resources, including lives) which they could have put to better use?

People are people, they're hardly different even if one wore a toga, another wore a parachute smock, and a third wore a "Niner's" shirt.

Regards, Jonathan.

By Iines (Iines) (195.197.127.165) on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 04:27 pm:

Yes, i don't understand how some people can't approve others's intrestests I think history is really important thing to learn.
I won't stop liking BoB and other these things just because my friends don't like it... maybe i'm not so interested about pop stars or something like that but so what, i have my own stars

Iines

By Michael Wisotzkey (Afireinside) (24.171.107.160) on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 07:24 pm:

I love history, its my favoirte class. Im only in 8th grade, we dont get WWII till 11th .

By yvette thomas (Bettyb) (194.117.133.182) on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 07:41 pm:

I think that having a broad range of knowledge about events in the world past/present make you a more interesting and rounded person-how often do these pop stars have their 5 minutes of glory? beig remembered for having a certain number of record sales is not an achievment in my book-contributing to make the world a better, safer place is something i'd like to be remebered by. With all that money what do they do?-spend it on flash cars and massives houses with too many bloody rooms, and they're not even there half the time!
I'm an individuual, with an open mind, and when the skiddlies get old enough, i'll be telling them about people like Winston Churchill NOT Britney bloomin Spears!

Jonathon, you'd have thought by now that we would have learnt from past mitakes, but humans are misguided by power, and devious people with only their own interests at heart

By Jonathan Jones (Jonjones) (62.7.38.8) on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 09:02 pm:

You got that right Yvette, ego and pride can be terrible things if they're not tempered with humility and modesty.

One of the scariest concepts that I've been obliged to swallow is the fact that Hitler and his Nazi cronies (not talking about ALL the German forces here) really believed that they were doing right by the terrible things that they were responsible for. If anyone reads any transcripts of the war trials then it clearly comes to light that they genuinely thought that they were doing the world a service and that it was WE who were misguided.

Their lack of appreciation for our own perspective
was not necessarily some kind of haughty, superior stance. In many cases it was almost a childlike naivity with a complete lack of appreciation for the consequences of their actions. Such had they swallowed the doctrine of one madman, hook, line and sinker.

Human gulability and susceptability to the stronger willed can be as equally frightening.

As I've posted elsewhere:

"Do not trust those who seek power,
What do they want power for?" Socrates.

Regards, Jonathan.

By Iines (Iines) (195.197.127.13) on Thursday, January 09, 2003 - 03:58 pm:

You are very right Yvette

Iines

By joao leonel (Joao) (200.163.13.55) on Thursday, January 09, 2003 - 09:48 pm:

Hey maybe britney is a relative of ronald speirs
:~)

By Marigold Papa (Marigold) (203.160.183.79) on Thursday, January 09, 2003 - 11:49 pm:

LOL! That was Britney Spears not Speirs ;)

gold

By yvette thomas (Bettyb) (194.117.133.182) on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 12:37 pm:

NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO! don't wish that on anyone!
britney bloody spears..i dunno!

By Jonathan Jones (Jonjones) (213.123.50.146) on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 06:24 pm:

Ron, it's time to dust off the Thompson, do the world a favour and rid us of yet another plastic princess...

Jonathan.

By Michael Wisotzkey (Afireinside) (24.171.107.160) on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 06:44 pm:

Hahahahaha.
Doubt it.
Speirs is too hardcore for Britney.
Only rumors Britney has is about her implants
LOL!

By joao (200.193.227.42) on Saturday, January 11, 2003 - 02:28 am:

Oh yeah its spears and speirs sorry LoL hahe

By Jonathan Jones (Jonjones) (213.122.255.159) on Saturday, January 11, 2003 - 01:54 pm:

When does the dear "child" have her personality implant, then? And does she plan to learn how to sing down anything but a poorly connected telephone line to Mozambique?

Regards, Jonathan.

By Michael Wisotzkey (Afireinside) (24.171.107.160) on Sunday, January 12, 2003 - 11:25 am:

You guys are so silly.

By Jonathan Jones (Jonjones) (213.122.234.34) on Sunday, January 12, 2003 - 06:20 pm:

We would be if we bought her merchandise.

Jonathan.

By Aya (Aya) (203.124.2.40) on Sunday, January 26, 2003 - 08:07 am:

I'm trying to attach a couple of shots of a local celebrity. It could be just me and my own eyes, but I need other people to look at these pictures and tell me that this girl does NOT resemble one of the cast of Band of Brothers enough, to be his sister!


Aya

ps. Pls bear with me in case I don't get this right!

By Aya (Aya) (165.21.83.197) on Sunday, January 26, 2003 - 08:10 am:

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhaaaaaaaaaa!!!! I think I've got the pictures uploaded properly. heheheh If you can view the images, pls pls PLEASE tell me whom she could possibly remind you of, from any one of the cast of "Band of Brothers". I'm not going to say anything else. ;P


Aya

By Jonathan Jones (Jonjones) (213.1.67.158) on Sunday, January 26, 2003 - 02:29 pm:

It's Tom Hanks' son in drag?

Jonathan.

By Aya (Aya) (203.120.44.8) on Sunday, January 26, 2003 - 10:15 pm:

Hi, Jonathan. How are you? hahahaah That was a good one but nope - not him. hahahahaa Okay then again maybe it's just me and my short-sighted vision.

Look again and maybe this time focus a little more on her eyes, the steely glare, try to visualise her as a he, without make-up, short wavy black hair, face less full (i.e. more prominent cheekbones, more chiseled features) and half hidden in the shadows of a helmet.


Aya

By Jonathan Jones (Jonjones) (81.131.242.188) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 08:34 am:

Hiya Aya,
I'm fine thanks (though I may not be soon as I'm off to the gym), how are you?

I must say that yo have an eye for detail when it comes to facial features!

I've taken your advice and looked her in the eyes.

Does she accept personal callers?

"Sigh", Jonathan.

By yvette thomas (Bettyb) (194.117.133.182) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 12:29 pm:

I hope you're not referring to my Mr Settle? i'm outraged !

Perhaps if i shut one eye, look from far away, stand on my head, and hop on one foot ( not an easy task, i admit,), perhaps there's a slight possibility.....nope, looks nothing likes him. AhA!

a slighty worried,

yeti

p.s
i think she looks too scary to accept anything? i'd fear for my life if i bumped into her on a dark night......which i must try and stop, this bumping into strangers on dark nights, i'll get meself a reputation....

By Jonathan Jones (Jonjones) (81.131.243.173) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 02:38 pm:

If you shut one eye, look from far away, stand on your head and hop on one foot, remember to:

1) Send photographic proof here.
2) Wear trousers (this point is VERY important).

You're right. She does look a bit scary now that you mention it. However, she COULD own a bar, which means I'm still willing to save the world and take the risk.....

Jonathan (of the steel resolve).

By yvette thomas (Bettyb) (194.117.133.182) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 05:40 pm:

I think that i would need to have a strong fizzy pop from her bar to perform said task to distinguish who exactly that it is she looks like.

I shall indeed wear trousers-clown ones with purple spots, and just for the sheer entertainment value, i'll put custard and jelly down them too.

try to be brave, jonathan, as you save the world from scary lady, we'll be thinking of you.

By joao leonel (Joao) (200.163.13.190) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 08:05 pm:

Nixon!

By Jonathan Jones (Jonjones) (62.7.127.47) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 09:03 pm:

Joao? Nixon? You may have a point. But her eyebrows are bushier.

Yvette, I've heard that it's the law for the custard and jelly to go down the inside of your clown strides. They employ dwarves as inspectors (one to each leg) who then have to test the wearer by hugging both legs at the same time. No gusher around the waist and ankles can result in a harsh fine.

Now that you mention it, she hardly looks like the type to own a bar, does she? Prop one up, yes. But own it?

Oh well, my eternal quest must continue......

Jonathan.

By Aya (Aya) (203.126.27.196) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 09:42 pm:

hahahahahaha Her name's Asha Gill, she's our host for the local verson of the game show "The Weakest Link".

Yvette, oh Yvette... THANK YOU but SORRY!!!!!!!

I was channel surfing one night and I hit the VCD player's remote control instead of the TV set's. From TCS Channel 5 "The Weakest Link", to suddenly "Band of Brothers" and guess who popped up on screen. Monsieur Settle. I kept switching back and forth from "Band of Brothers" to "The Weakest Link" and AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH it's not happening oh shhh.....tt!!! "MUM!!! MUUUUUMM!!! You have to see this!!! LOOK LOOK LOOK!!!"

I only showed her Asha, I didn't even flip the VCD player on, and asked Mum which "Band of Brothers" character first came to mind. And she calmly responded: "Speirs." MUUUMMMMMMMM!!!

She doesn't look so much like him in the 2-D pictures but someone has to see her in person. I saw her on the streets once before and Jonathan, if you didn't know her personally her glare alone could freeze you dead in your tracks. You ought to see her in action in "The Weakest Link". I've tried doing still lifes of Settle and Asha before and well, sketch strokes aren't always ever uniform but I found that my hand had to move similarly when I had to sketch out the general vicinity of the T-zone of their facial features.

Without meaning any disrespect whatsoever to anyone hahahahaha yah-HAH, for me at least Asha could pass off as Settle's sister or blood relative.

Jonathan, this is for you [bet you might want to kick yourself after this]:

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/women/story/0,1870,152363,00.html

Got to get back to work -


Aya

By Aya (Aya) (203.120.44.8) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 09:44 pm:

Oh wait!!!

Joao: Nixon? Let me look again. heheheeheh Might be, might be. Ron Livingstone's face-shape seems more similar to Asha's at a glance.

Aya

By Marigold Papa (Marigold) (203.160.183.79) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 10:33 pm:

LOL! finally! I kept putting my hands in my monitor trying to cover up the upper and lower part of the face and i look silly doing it but i still couldn't get it!!!

gold

By joao leonel (Joao) (200.163.13.190) on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 11:32 pm:

Oh yeah she looks like speirs !
If you put a helmet on and an uniform thats it!
She can be nixon too.. hehehe

By Jonathan Jones (Jonjones) (81.131.149.175) on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 06:30 pm:

Aya, thanks so much for that link.

She came from Malaysia to the UK to boarding school and university? This means she comes from a wealthy background. She's good looking too.

This means she could potentially own a bar or two.
This could also mean that she's a spoiled brat whose father no-doubt called her "princess" and would give her anything she wanted. She also hosts the local version of weakest link, a gameshow.

I think she represents just about everything that I want to forget exists.

"Sob" - she's just not the same girl who I met (on this board) just a few days ago. We just have nothing in common. I'm off home to mother.

Jonathan.

By Janine (Janine) (139.134.64.157) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 12:22 am:

Hi everyone!

I just want to know if there are any huge Tom Hanks fans here cos I just absolutely love the guy! He is the best actor in the world!!! :D

By Melissa Clay (Melissa2800) (66.166.47.71) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 09:23 am:

Yes, I am one. I have loved him since "Bosom Buddies"!!!!
He is a great actor & I have watched everything that he has done even the not so big blockbuster movies.
He symbolizes the all-american guy - the guy you could bring home to your parents & you know they would love him too!!
Plus, he appreciates what the veterans did during WWII & he uses his star power to make good movies like SPR & BOB.
Melissa

By Marigold Papa (Marigold) (203.160.183.79) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 10:16 pm:

one helluvan actor!!!

gold

By Janine (Janine) (139.134.63.153) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 11:00 pm:

lol. The best way to distinguish a true Tom Hanks fan from the average Tom Hanks fan is that a true fan watches the not so great movies that he makes and still manages to find something good about the film :D

By Iines (Iines) (195.197.127.24) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 10:35 am:

Yes, Tom Hanks is great! I especially love him in "Apollo 13" and then in the movie called "Turner and Hooch" where Tom works with a huge dog. I wonder why he didn't act in BoB himself...

Iines

By Bill DeMartini (Easycompany506) (139.177.224.100) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 11:54 am:

I think Hanks best ever roll was his character in Saving Private Ryan. The way he was able to portray what those guys went through on DDay and the days that followed with his incredible facial expressions was just phenomenal.

I think putting himself in BoB would have been wierd after everyone already associated him with his SPR character.

By Melissa Clay (Melissa2800) (66.166.47.71) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 12:12 pm:

I agree, Bill.
But he did appear in "Replacements" as an extra.
So in a way, he was in BOB.
Melissa

By Jonathan Jones (Jonjones) (81.131.61.63) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 06:38 pm:

Are you wimmin' letching or do you just wanna "mother" him?

Jonathan.

By Marigold Papa (Marigold) (203.160.183.79) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 10:41 pm:

Um...both? j/k

gold

By Jonathan Jones (Jonjones) (81.131.137.169) on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 08:37 pm:

May I express my deepest sympathy to those related in any shape or form to the tragic news of what happened over the Lone Star State today.

Astronauts are the pioneers for mankind's future.

Jonathan.

By Marigold Papa (Marigold) (203.160.183.79) on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 10:18 pm:

My thoughts and prayers are with them

gold

By Iines (Iines) (195.197.127.161) on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 03:24 pm:

Yes, that was terrible news Hope they are in peace now.

I got sad feeling yesterday when i watched my DVDs: I though that what about when i have watched all the episodes thousand times and all the extras and everything i can about BoB...and i know every single thing from them...can i still be interested about it?? I don't know yet, i have tried to avoid watching them too often but still i have watched some episodes more than ten times. It would be great if there were more episodes...more to watch. I hope they do something new to us BoB fans and BoB never be forgotten, or at least for a long time.
I hope you know what i mean

Iines

By Jonathan Jones (Jonjones) (81.131.228.204) on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 07:38 pm:

Quality is quality. Now that we've seen Saving Pvt Ryan and BoB, producers have a benchmark to work to. Just as long as the likes of Dale Dye have anything to say about it!

There are some great books out there that can flesh out the stories even more and then there are museums and reenactment events to attend both in the US and Europe.

I'm sure you'll find something that will catch your eye.

Regards, Jonathan.

By Iines (Iines) (195.197.127.142) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 03:24 pm:

Yes...It's great that there are books etc. so much. And if i get a change to travel, i know where to go (Normandy!). Let's just wait that next movie they make to us!

Iines

By Jocelyn (Jocey) (143.235.51.67) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 03:48 pm:

Ok i have a question where in "replacements" does Hanks appear, i don't know how many times i've watched it and i've never seen him? And i thought i heard he was in "crossroads" but he directed that one. i'm so lost. anyway regarding the topics on the top of the page i think history is the most important subject. we can all learn to write the alphabet and add and subtract but if we don't know our history what our country went through how we were then what's the point of trying to better our selves for the future? If we don't know what we've been throguh and what others have fought and died for what we have today why are we fighting now? honestly it makes me sad that when i have children i may have to be responsible to teach them of the great men and women who lived before them and died to give them the freedoms they have. Right now i'm in college i am studying history, i eventually would like to recieve my doctorate in history and write books and to make sure that the great stories of sacrafice, suffering, heroism, courage and commitment will be remembered. I have talked with several war veterans from WW2 and Vietnam, i have recorded one such interview. The man had an amazing story, he was in Bastogne with the 101st and the 82nd. He was in the 10th armoured. I want to make it my job that his story and all like it will forever be remembered. My grandfather was in ww2 he died when i was very young, so i want to make sure i know who he was and make sure that even though he was not a nice man the courage he demonstrated in the war will be remembered. i think as an older generation it's our job to keep these stories alive maybe i'm not part of the older generation being that i'm only 18 but none-the-less our history and our freedom are the only things wortt fighting for. To commemorate the memory of those who went before us, we must never forget and never let future generations forget either.

Currahee
Jocey

By Iines (Iines) (195.197.127.8) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 03:30 pm:

Jocelyn,
I haven't seen Tom either, no matter how often i try to look him from "crossroads"...But i haven't look from "replacements" yet. In replacements, he should be standing in a first tank coming into the square in Eindhoven.
I'm in college too, and i usually wonder why they don't teach history very much...feels so unnecessary to learn for example maths. I mean, it's necessary when it's about basic things, but when it comes to college level, it's about things that only some engineers need in their life. And in the same time, people don't even know when WW2 was!
Great that you have had a change to talk with veterans

Iines

By ashide (81.102.58.62) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 01:50 pm:

I have just joined this amazing site & I am so pleased to have found it. I served 14 years in British airborne forces but my interest is furthered because I had a grandfather who was at Arnhem sept'44 with British 10 Para & he told me of some brave Yank Paras that came & helped come & get them back across the Rhine. It's good now to be able to say thank you. Could you please pass this on to any surviving members of the rescue team.

By Sergeant First Class Danny Autrey (Retiredarmy) (198.36.178.141) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 04:28 pm:

Ashide: welcome aboard mate! Nice to have a Brit military vet joining we here at this site. Read the many post here to catch up. This is a great site.

Danny Autrey
Sergeant First Class, US Army (Retired)

By Marigold Papa (Marigold) (203.160.183.79) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 05:20 pm:

Welcome Ashide and enjoy the site!

gold

By Jonathan Jones (Jonjones) (81.131.5.121) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 06:41 pm:

Hiya Ashide,

My great uncle was a sergeant in 3 Para at Arnhem and I'm gearing up to go over there as soon as I can. He recently let slip that he could remember the paras taking shots at the German officers in their Kubelwagons as they were crossing over the bridge.

"Wild" Bill told me that he was involved in the river crossing to rescue some our paras and some Dutch, also.

Regards, Jonathan.

By Iines (Iines) (195.197.127.186) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 04:14 pm:

Hi!
I finally saw Saving Private Ryan yesterday and it was really wonderful movie. Many ways similiar than BoB, but i think it was little more gloomy...
I think that idea to put a group of men to save one man was little unthinking. I understand how terrible it was to their mum, but after all almost every mothers lost their sons.
The end was so sad...i cried my eyes off when Miller died I hate this kind of ends!
Miller somehow resembles Winters

Iines

By Marigold Papa (Marigold) (203.160.183.79) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 05:02 pm:

*sniff* it's been a long time since the last time i watched SPR. Was really quite a movie, after all, it's Tom Hanks. But BoB is still the BEST!!!


gold

By Iines (Iines) (195.197.127.53) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 08:00 am:

I agree, nothing can beat BoB!

Iines

By Penil Chhiba (Penil) (80.225.18.84) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 02:53 pm:

Yeah Saving Private Ryan is a pretty good film, and indeed Captain Miller does have some resemblences to Captain Winters! I never enjoy watching the beginning of the film, with the brutal reality of warfare on Omaha beach. Still, films such as Saving Private Ryan and TV series such as Band of Brothers are fantastic for theit educational quality, for they provide us with the most realistic impression of what it must have been like 59/60 years ago.

By Jonathan Jones (Jonjones) (81.135.128.195) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 03:18 pm:

For a war film, SPR is quite superb and in a class of its own. They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery so SPR should win, there.

The advantage of BoB is the length of time its allowed to retell the story and thus the greater depth it afforded the viewer. This made it easier for the viewer to establish connections and for instance, get to like some of the characters.

However, in SPR (due to its fast paced and tragic brutality)I found myself not wanting to form those connections.

Regards, Jonathan.

By Iines (Iines) (195.197.126.111) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 03:45 pm:

Yes, that Omaha-beach landing was really horrible! Had to be really lucky to escape from there.
I agree, BoB's one big advantage is that length. I didn't even learn those main charachter's names in SPR, except Ryan and Miller. And i really started love all BoB charachters, so many great wednesday nights i spent with them;)
Maybe after watching SPR many times again, it's charachters become more familiar too

Iines

By Penil Chhiba (Penil) (80.225.36.29) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 05:36 pm:

I hope that there will be some more War movies of the same quality as SPR and BoB. I've recently seen bits of the films Hart's war and Windtalkers, and all I can say is they are very mediocre, which really seem to exploit the idea of War and action just to make a stupidly biased and horribly predictable movie!

By Iines (Iines) (195.197.127.133) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 01:52 pm:

I haven't seen many war movies, but they that i've seen have been a lot worse than BoB and SPR. I rode from one newspaper that BoB is so special because there aren't any romantic by-plot in it, and they don't use time to describe privates' backgrouds like in many other war movies. Don't know if that makes it so good...
I've been thinking to buy Hart's war DVD but maybe not then if it isn't so great.
Yes, hopefully they make more movies like BoB & SPR

Iines

By Jonathan Jones (Jonjones) (81.131.161.248) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 06:52 pm:

Folks, you've got a point re: Hart's War and Windtalkers. I thought that both movies had their moments but were just not of the same gritty quality as SPR and BoB.

Regards, Jonathan.

By Penil Chhiba (Penil) (80.225.36.148) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 08:29 pm:

Yeah, I mean Windtalkers could really have been a fantastic film, telling the story of the Navajo codetalkers during world war II, but instead we had John Woo prioritising on the special effects and action scenes more than anything else! grrr films like that really make me sick!

By Jonathan Jones (Jonjones) (81.131.156.29) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 01:45 pm:

No argument here! I was hoping that after SPR filmakers would go for the increased realism. Then we got the likes of Pearl Harbour. Hargh!
Give me "Tora Tora Tora" anyday.
Jonathan.

By steve lundy (Breechblock) (206.172.208.185) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 04:02 pm:

Hi Everyone,
One movie that I seen which was a huge wind sucker was Thin Red Line. My god, the last time I was that bored my eye balls rolled back in my head to see if my brain was still alive.
I somewhat enjoyed enemy at the gates, fairly realistic and worthwhile seeing a few more times.
Another one which is a little closer to home for me is Behind Enemy Lines. The Serbs really acted like the dicks they portrayed in the movie, and just as ruthless. When watching it, I damn near put my foot through the T.V. BASTARDS!!
Oh well, thank god for Field Marshall Domastic to calm me down. I'll just have another beer.{while cleaning my sten}
Hope everyone is well,
Steve L.
P.S. Jonathan, Tora Tora Tora was o.k but the Duke in the Sands of Iwo Jima, man, that one's great.

By Celeste Valenzuela (Lushybubls) (12.213.16.217) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 07:08 pm:

Hi guys,

Just wondering if Apocalypse Now is worth seeing. I've heard different opinions about it, but I just wanted to know what you guys thought of it. I was thinking of getting the DVD.

By Jonathan Jones (Jonjones) (81.131.194.88) on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 07:19 pm:

Steve,
The Duke outside of Fort Bragg is even better. Hargh!

I quite like Enemy at the Gates and the German production Stalingrad is gritty, too. Apocalipse Now - classic crazy film. An aquired taste, as some might say.

Regards, Jonathan.

By Michael Wisotzkey (Afireinside) (24.171.107.160) on Sunday, March 16, 2003 - 09:57 pm:

Look...http://www.teamwickedfury.com/forum/images/avatars/40795c093e6f53d67c845.gif

By irene vrinte (Gijoe) (62.251.51.100) on Saturday, June 07, 2003 - 01:58 pm:

hi everyone....


i have to do a final assignment for this course (called 'introduction to american studies') i am taking at university, and i was wondering if someone could help me find an AMERICAN WW2 song (army or homefront) that can be in any way related to the topic 'USA & the World'....that's kind of vague, i know....

to be a bit more specific: through the lyrics of the song, something should be made clear about the relationship between the US and 'the rest of the world'...so i am not talking 'hitler has only got 1 b***' or 'lili marleen' but something more meaningful (however, funny lyrics are ok!)....
ideally, the song features some of the other allied nations involved in WW2.

i know this is a challenge, but i am really hoping someone has a suggestion! i've been searching on the internet, but haven't found anything useful yet...


thanks in advance!

irene vrinte,
nijmegen

By alan james o'reilly (Alanor) (62.254.64.5) on Saturday, June 07, 2003 - 04:05 pm:

Hi Irene

I hope the following is useful. First, the music of Glenn Miller tended to dominate popular music culture in the 1940's, the era of "swing". You will no doubt find a lot on the web.

The ordinary GI, though, was probably still conservative enough in his tastes to enjoy old time sentimental ballads, of which the most popular was probably "Red River Valley". See

http://www.contemplator.com/folk2/redriver.html

Another popular one, probably, though more localised, was "Moonlight on the Wabash", see

http://www.roadescape.com/INsong.html
http://www.recmusic.org/lieder/d/dresser/wab.html
http://www.50states.com/songs/indiana.htm

These will give you both the tune and the lyrics.

Neither song relates particularly to the US and the world but Americans were more "homespun" in those days - remember their republic was founded on ideals that were meant to be practised AWAY from Europe. They were (and are) worthy ideals.

Regards
Alan

By irene vrinte (Gijoe) (62.251.51.56) on Sunday, June 08, 2003 - 05:23 am:

hi alan


thanks for putting those links up! i realise it might be very difficult for me to find a song that i can use on this assignment...but it is always nice to hear 40's music anyway...


irene

By alan james o'reilly (Alanor) (62.254.64.5) on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 04:01 pm:

Thanks Irene

If I remember anything else, I'll post it. WW1 was more of a 'singing' war than WW2, (though the sentimental numbers like "Tipperary" eventually gave way to the bitter trench ballads, e.g. "If you want to find your sweetheart, he's hanging on the front line wire, etc.")

By the time of WW2, folk were more used to being entertained, e.g. by radio and cinema and this may be one explanation why WW2 songs don't come readily to mind. People were no longer so accustomed to community singing.

Some WW2 songs, of course, are parodies with not too genteel lyrics. ("Red River Valley" suffered this fate, as did "The Ash Grove" and other old time favorites.)

Various ditties were composed, for distraction on the march:

"P****d last night
"P****d the night before
"Gonna get drunk tonight
"Like we've never been drunk before."

However, this passage from "Caen, Anvil of Victory" by Alexander McKie, who served in Normandy may be useful, from Chapter 10:

"Jerusalem (Blake's bitter poem set to music) [was taken up] by a great many British soldiers in Normandy as a favourite; it expressed exactly the depth of their feelings, after the first dreadful shock of battle experience. The horrible current top of the top ten 'pops', an American import called 'Mairzy doats', died in its tracks under the Spandau fire. Some of the divisions from the Mediterannean theatre preferred German or Italian versions of 'Lili Marlene'***; and while the official anthem of 15th Scottish Division was 'Scotland the Brave', the more popular unofficial tune was 'I'm nae awa' tae bide awa''. Oddly, two American discs also hit off the current mood: 'My guy, come back', and 'Long ago and far away'. This strangely assorted, apparently haphazard string of tunes had a red thread running through them; as sung or played, they were nostalgic, deeply melancholy; laments for dead friends, from those about to die."

***'Lili' also got parodied by the Brits, when Nancy Astor referred to the troops in the Med. as "D-Day dodgers" after June 6th:

"We're the D-Day dodgers, out here in Italy
"Always on the vino, always on the spree
"We're the 8th Army scroungers with our tanks
"We live in Rome, among the Yanks
"We are the D-Day dodgers, out here in Italy."

"See the little wooden crosses, in the mud and rain
"They're the D-Day dodgers who won't go home again..."


Siegfried Sassoon, the soldier poet of