The Dirty Dozen (1967)

I've written previously how much I dislike most war movies, but I don't think I've ever explained myself.  Apart from the sheer futility and waste of war, most of these films start off by taking a bunch of good guys, the more ethnically diverse the better, and procede to slaughter them one by one.  So what makes this largely watchable movie any better?  Well, for a start you don't have a bunch of "good" guys, but rather a bunch of criminals ranging the the casual to the psychopathic that Lee Marvin must train and turn into a fighting force for a major mission.  Even this premise is not unique since there have been other films with more or less the same theme.  This one succeeds, however, and remains memorable for its well-crafted script, firm direction (even if the movie is way too long), and leavening of humour.  One still has a completely mixed bag of characters -- all that's missing is a one-eyed Chinaman -- but it is the viewer's guess as to which ones (if any) will survive and how hardened criminals will react to this new challenge to obtain amnesty.  In the background we have interesting turns from military brass Robert Ryan, Ernest Borgnine, and in particular George Kennedy.  If a non-comedic war movie can be something of a romp, this one comes close.