Epic War Films and The Box Social

So we've been taking some time off this past week...taking some time to recover from "the announcement" as it's being called round here now...quite a bit for a Packers fan to get over, you know? Just in case you thought we were doing something cool this whole time, like prepping to head to SXSW or something...not likely. But I did hear they had a ragin' acoustic duo down at the local pub the other night for a fish fry.

First off, I'd like to welcome Middays Bedfello to the bloglist. Head on over and check out the great selection available from this Barackabacker blog.



We took the opportunity yesterday to head to the movies and catch 10,000 B.C., which was overall a pretty enjoyable war epic flick. It managed to give me that funny feeling at the back of my throat towards the end - the good kind, not the gagging kind you get from a movie like one starring Stephen Baldwin - which is always a sign of a good war epic film. But it did spawn a conversation afterwards about where I would rate it with other war epic films such as Braveheart, Troy, Spartacus, 300, etc. So here's how I broke it down.

When it comes to war epic films, I believe there's a solid and identifiable first tier that separates itself from the rest of the pack. Beyond that there's a solid list of second tier films which are all very good or at least enjoyable, but just don't have that majestic quality that the war epics in the first tier have. So what are my first tier war epics you ask?

First tier: Braveheart, Last of the Mohicans, Lord of the Rings trilogy, Apocalypse Now, and Gone With the Wind.

The Last of the Mohicans (Daniel Day-Lewis) meets 10,000 B.C. (Camilla Belle)

Braveheart is to me the best war epic ever produced. Last of the Mohicans is a close second because of the stellar acting. Gone with the Wind is a pure classic and often overlooked in this category. The last two, The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Apocalypse Now, are a bit arguable because The Lord of the Rings is more fantasy and Apocalypse Now is really anti-war more than anything, but that's a separate arguement. No one is arguing about the quality of the flicks in this tier.

Second tier: 300, Kingdom of Heaven, Spartacus, Troy, Ben-Hur, Apocalypto, Gangs of New York, etc.

The only reason Ben-Hur and Spartacus didn't crack the top tier for me is because 1) I've never seen either of them all the way through and b) they just don't do it for me like a film like Braveheart does. Sure, there's a bit of tugging on the heartstrings here and there, but not to the effect of the first tier.

So what makes your top tier when it comes to war epics? We've obviously omitted most of the Vietnam era films because aside from Apocalypse Now they're all pretty evenly matched to us, but we'd like to hear your thoughts.

And while we're here we might as well take a minute to introduce you to Madison, Wisconsin's very own Box Social.


The rock/pop group from Madtown has come a long way since first starting out playing basements in Milwaukee and has their debut album Get Going out now for you to stop by your local record store and pick up. Can't find one in the store? Pick one up online via this website.

According to their publicity page at No Karma Recordings,

The Box Social was formed in 2001 by high school sophomores Nick Junkunc and Brian Peoplis, soon adding lead guitarist Nick Woods (current bassist Dave Griesbach joined in 2006). A series of self-released EPs brought attention from around the Midwest, drawing comparisons to the Replacements and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. Milwaukee label No Karma came on board for 2005's Blown to Bits; that CD earned glowing reviews, and its success enabled the band to tour the US several times over the next two years.

Not ones to stand still, the band quickly began writing a follow up album, Get Going, which was recorded at Chicago Recording Company with Dave Rieley, and mastered with Trevor Sadler at Mastermind Productions in Milwaukee. The first single, "Big T," packs the same tightness and pummeling melody of their previous work, with a maturity and sincerity of a DIY band coming into their own.

Wisconsinites can catch The Box Social on tour Fri 4/4/08 in Milwaukee w @ The Borg Ward or Sat 4/5/08 in Madison WI @ The Annex. Both night's shows feature The Box Social w/ Sleeping In The Aviar, IfIHadAHiFi, Mise En Place.

Still looking for your first listen? Check out a few tracks from the band below:

The Box Social - "Big T"
The Box Social - "Hot Damn"

Be friends with The Box Social on Myspace