WWI remains, I think, the central visual touchstone for any depictions of conflict set prior to 1939 in film. Napoleonic Warfare is WWI, medieval warfare is WWI, ancient warfare is WWI. Every war post-1930 or so, however, becomes WWII.
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Even in space, it's World War II. The Battle of Endor could easily be Hollywood Midway with spaceships. And then they take it even further in (shudder) The Last Jedi by having level bombers and arcing (laser?!) fire in *space* for some reason.
Endor wasn’t really Midway IMO since the capital ships were in contact for most of the battle. I agree the influence is WW2 naval warfare but the emphasis on battlecarriers prevents any analogue to a historical engagement. Maybe a Britain vs Japan night battle counterfactual?
I do think the US Civil War does manage (more or less) to fall into it’s own space, not so much for the liminal/transitional nature of the fighting, but because so many filmmakers are American, and it’s a touchstone piece of national identity.
>Ask Hollywood director if his battle scene is WW1 or WW2
>He doesn't get the question
>Pull out diagram explaining impact of world wars on visual arts
>Director laughs and says "it's a good battle scene sir"
>Watch movie
>It's WW1 with fire arrows
See e.g. Ridley showing the British in trenches at the Battle of Waterloo (only to come *out* of the trenches to form squares when the cavalry attack!?!)
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Oh, wait, you mean the space stuff, obviously, I know what Midway was, d'oh!
Yeah, possibly, never thought of it like that--the fighter scenes are Dam Busters mashed with Tora Tora Tora tho
I do think the US Civil War does manage (more or less) to fall into it’s own space, not so much for the liminal/transitional nature of the fighting, but because so many filmmakers are American, and it’s a touchstone piece of national identity.
>He doesn't get the question
>Pull out diagram explaining impact of world wars on visual arts
>Director laughs and says "it's a good battle scene sir"
>Watch movie
>It's WW1 with fire arrows
(I very much chose to not see that film)