KnockBack, Episode 235 | Saving Private Ryan

Really enjoyed getting a few glimpses of Colin’s love of history

Chuck Rude

Just wrapped up on this one. Great episode lads. But good grief Colin, your history credentials should very much be challenged on your understanding of how the Second World War was fought there at the end. I think I understand what you’re trying to say, but with how you portrayed your argument is exactly why the many Europeans (wrongly) downplay the American sacrifice.

I’m definitely going to give this a rewatch. I remember hating how cynical it was. All good deeds go punished in this. Which I know is how real life works but in movies you usually want a positive theme to walk away with otherwise it’s just a horror film. I think Spielberg went through a deeply cynical period starting with Jurassic Park Lost World. Not sure why but his films definitely lacked good feelings about humanity for a while. Like I said, you guys definitely inspired me to give it another chance.

David

Indeed. Good shit.

Colin Moriarty

This movie is fascinating, because it's a completely fictional and dramatized story that is utterly grounded in the harsh reality of war. I don't think anyone has made a war movie like it since. Shoutout to Barry Pepper, his scene where he is shooting up the German army while muttering Psalms to himself is absolutely iconic.

Evan Frankfort

That's very sad, yes. The finality of it. Horrible.

Colin Moriarty

That's awesome.

Colin Moriarty

One of the best Knockback episodes yet, and one of my favorite movies ever. So many unforgettable scenes ever, but the one that sticks out to me is Wade (Giovanni Ribisi) talking about his mom and how he pretended to sleep, as a father it is absolutely heartbreaking and might be the saddest scene in the movie for me. A few years ago my son was mad at me over something, and I came home late and went in to say goodnight. I stood there to see if he was awake but he didn't move, and instantly this scene came to mind. I wondered for a long time if he was asleep or just pretending. Incredible performances all around, not a single flaw in the cast, I will always adore this movie even though it is so horrifying and difficult to watch.

Bryan Finck

I met my best friend through fantasy baseball via the old Electronic Gaming Monthly message boards. The old internet was such a different place.

macdaddyx4

It's so good!

Colin Moriarty

Sorry for the dual comment- listening to this in real time. But Colin mentions Dwight D Eisenhower and questions why we don't have anyone like that today. The reason is because we haven't had a sitting president that has engaged in war firsthand since George HW Bush. Every president after him avoided a draft or had children that didnt volunteer.

Dylan Paulson

Great episode guys! Really great conversations between you both. I'm also glad that Hacksaw Ridge got a shout-out because that movie is excellent

Dylan Paulson

I just don't know where that content fits anymore! There is SO MUCH good World War II stuff out there already.

Colin Moriarty

Never heard of it, I'll need to check that out.

Colin Moriarty

That's a good one.

Colin Moriarty

Totally true. Thanks for writing in.

Colin Moriarty

This conversation left me wanting so much more. Colin I know you moved on from doing the history podcast however would you ever consider a knock back about ww2. Maybe a 3 part series European / Pacific / African conflict. Some questions that popped up during listening to this were. Was Paton really a true bad ass General or was he a mascot fabricated to scare the Nazie war machine? Did America have to use nuclear weapons to end the conflict in Asia? Finally did high ranking Nazie Officers escape Europe and find refuge in South America. This period in human history is still so fascinating all these years later.

Doug Hogancamp

The whole misdirection mission of the allies prior to D-day is portrayed in a recent film called “Operation Mincemeat”. I would recommend it as someone who didn’t know anything about it.

Viktor

I would love to see you two talk about Letters From Iwo-jima some day when you guys do your next war movie.

Tacoyaki

Please don’t judge me Colin, because I know you do know your shit. I do feel that I should bring up that there were so many directly involved in the Asia-Pacific war against Japanese Empire. It wasn’t just the U.S. with other nations in a smaller supporting role. The British Empire played a significant part with boots on the ground in several theaters from Australia, India, New Zealand, Canada, and more that played a similarly sizable role to the US. There were many campaigns where other allies were the primary force with the US having little involvement in, such as Burma. The exiled Dutch also played a role. And of course a massive amount of fighting and loss in the Asia-Pacific war was shouldered by the Chinese. Lesser known was that the USSR did engage with the Japanese in Mongolia in a campaign that coincided with the dropping of the atomic bombs, prior to the surrender of Japan. It lasted nearly a month and ceased well after said surrender. Pretty crazy stuff and my mind is regularly blown at the immense and unimaginable scope of WWII. So many layers and unknown stories. I think in a strange reversal to how the US’ role in the European theater is sometimes diminished or not given appropriate credit, the other allies involved in the Asia-Pacific war have not been given their appropriate credit in comparison to the US. Some recommended reading I’d lend would be Richard Frank’s “Tower of Skulls” which focuses on China’s war with Japan as well as Frank McLynn’s “The Burma Campaign”.

Stray_Bullets