Movie Poll: What’s Your Favorite “Men on a Mission” movie?

masterofoneinchpunch says:

Also had to vote for The Seven Samurai. I'm a huge Kurosawa fan. Now where is Eastern Condors (kidding though it is a decent men on a mission flick very much inspired by The Dirty Dozen)?

Clarice says:

Blues Brothers? Just kidding. My vote is for The Seven Samerai

Roger B says:

What about The Searchers with John Wayne?

Ron J. says:

My pick is Where Eagles Dare. But with that said this is just a great list of fun films to watch. Overall I would not even try to rate this list just watch them all.

One of the great all-time lines for me is from Where Eagles Dare. Clint's character says "You have me about as confused as I ever hope to be." Now while that may not send chills up your spine it is just a great line at the end of about 10 minutes or so of build up. When I saw this film the first time in my youth I felt exactly the same way.

DIRK says:

I knew I was gonna choose the least favorite, but movies are all about where you are in life when you see a film the first time, who you went with, etc. And the Poll does ask whats your favorite, not what do you think is the correct answer. So I picked the Warriors; go figure!

masterofoneinchpunch says:

A great "men on a mission" film not mentioned yet is from the great director Henri-Georges Clouzot "The Wages of Fear" (ignore the overly silly ending and overly simple attack on Capitalism).

I'm a huge fan of Blues Brothers (only the first) and it is one of the films I've seen the most times.

Tlynette says:

"Heck, the Magnificent Seven is an American copy of it!"

We know, we know! BUT, come on Yul Brynner in all that black?!?! Robert Vaughn in the waistcoat and those leather gloves?!?!? Steve McQueen? Seven men, with attitudes on a mission?! Dammmmmmmn!

Oops, sorry! Girl drool--my bad! ;-p

I just watched it recently, and have been humming that theme since, and remembered why I get such a kick out of that movie. Eli Wallach is so good, the action, the dialogue, it's just a great ride.

tim kenneally says:

my favorite is "dark of the sun" with rod taylor, big black cat jim brown and german actor peter carsten. thrilling action scenes and edge-of-your-seat suspence.

DeMeio says:

Aren't all movies about men (women or children) on a mission to reach a goal? Dorothy and friends seeking The Wizard, the fisherman to kill "Jaws", or one of my favorites, the prospectors seeking gold in "Tresure Of The Sierra Madre".

Richard Finn says:

I agree with Bandyman, "The Wild Bunch" was the 1st movie I thought of, even before I saw the list.

Andrew says:

How about the brave Doolittle Raiders in "Thirty
Seconds Over Tokyo" with Spencer Tracy as Colonel
James Doolittle? Now that's a movie with men on a mission. I agree with "Saving Private Ryan" making the list.

Cat says:

I would have liked to have seen "The Great Escape" on that list - they were a bunch of "men on a mission".

J. Lyon says:

"The Man Who Would Be King" needs to be close to the top of any such list. Danny Dravitt and Peachy Carnahan are archetypal and unforgettable.

Rantin N. Raven-Faux VI says:

Hey! I wasn't through.

A Boy and His Dog
Blade Runner
Blackula
Godzilla vs. Mothra
Wizard of Oz
The Wiz
Zardoz
Return of the Living Dead

Rantin N. Raven-Faux VI says:

Oops! I forgot Dark Star

Paper Girl says:

In addition to Blues Brothers how about Men in Black?

Marjorie says:

Tlynette: must agree that Yul Brynner's body in black lends something to The Magnificent Seven that the Seven Samurai just can't give us girls.

DiMeio: I would agree that most movies would qualify, given a more flexible definition of mission.

I think Saving Private Ryan & The Great Escape have the flaw that all/most of the men end up dead without an end that really made their sacrifice worth it, and so they wouldn't make my short list. (But then SPR just bothers me - that one soldier's life is being counted worth the waste several other soldiers' lives (who also have mothers and children and spouses and just as much right to be sent home to them) was/is just wrong.

As far as the Princess Bride, I would suggest that it doesn't qualify because they're not really all on the same mission, even in the end. Inigo's out to avenge his father, Wesley's out to save Buttercup from Humperdink and Fezzig is up for helping anyone cause he's just a big softy.

Bob Dellapenna says:

Earl FLYNN'S BEST MOVIE HE EVER MADE. Is "Burma"I saw this movie over fifty years ago as a very young child and will never forget it. It showed what the Japs could do.