Suggestions for good war movies

[seabolt]

I admit I cannot understand the rationale of blowing yourself up instead of going into combat and killing the enemy. Your bayonet never runs out of bullets.

The No. 1 rule for (the twisted de-evolution that in 1945 passed for) Bushido was don't get captured. Not kill the enemy.

This is an ancient, elementary psychological principle that we moderns have somewhat forgotten. Captives are a huge coup for the other side. They demystify the enemy. Look at this wretched, huddling thing! He's no warrior! Give him a good kick! There's nothing here to be afraid of. These guys aren't the 8-foot fire-breathing gods of war that you thought they were. They've got snot running down their face and they flinch every time you raise your fist.

Now, go kick the asses of the rest of them.

Compare to this the prospect of facing an enemy who will slit his own abdomen---and the throats of his own children---before admitting defeat. Who in their right mind wants to face *that* guy? In defeat he's managed to make his brethren 9 feet tall and added laser vision to their fire breath.

A good Japanese soldier wasn't expected to drag his half-dead, dysenteric bones back into battle with a bayonent and take the risk of being taken alive. Killing yourself did more damage than that blade ever could.

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