Best War Movies Ever

A look at Rotten Tomatoes gives the crown to the Civil War

(NEWSER) - The new Steven Spielberg-Tom Hanks series The Pacific got the folks at New York magazine's the Vulture blog wondering which war has produced the best movies. They looked up every one they could think of at Rotten Tomatoes, then averaged the scores. The winner: the Civil War. Here are the results, along with a top scorer from each conflict: More»

Domestic issues must trump unwinnable war: Dem elder statesman

(NEWSER) - When George McGovern hears about President Obama's plans for Afghanistan, he reluctantly reaches an unavoidable conclusion. "I can only think: another Vietnam," the 1972 Democratic presidential nominee writes in the Washington Post . "I hope I am incorrect, but history tells me otherwise." After 9 years at war, he asks: "Why waste these fine soldiers any longer?" More»

From Larry the Cable Guy to Antonio Banderas, these actors should have said no

(NEWSER) - Some films—including a few released mere weeks ago (we’re looking at you, All About Steve)—are just plain bad. Rotten Tomatoes compiles the absolute worst 100 of the decade so far. A sampling from the top 10, aka the bottom 10:

• Witless Protection: “Larry the Cable Guy continues his critical losing streak with this insipid, tasteless caper comedy.”
• Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2: “Superbabies continues to prove that bad jokes still aren’t funny when coming out of a toddler’s mouth.”

Grandson remembers his famous forebears

(NEWSER) - Living up to the legacy of one’s father can be hard, but it’s particularly trying for Benjamin Patton, the son of decorated Korean and Vietnam vet Maj. Gen. George Patton—himself the offspring of World War II titan Gen. George S. Patton. Immortalized by George C. Scott in Patton, the eldest Patton wasn’t all grit, NPR reports. More»

Across Europe, World War I remains the defining conflict of modern times

(NEWSER) - Ninety years ago today the Allies and Germany signed the armistice that ended World War I, a conflict of unprecedented brutality and expense. But where today Americans celebrate Veterans Day, a commemoration of wars' survivors, in Europe the mood is "altogether more somber," historian Alexander Watson writes in the New York Times. In Britain and France especially, today—Armistice Day—is a day for the dead. More»