Cross of Iron

One of the most interesting and unknown channels on cable is FLIX. It's part of the Showtime package and it features an eclectic lineup of movies from the 60's, 70's and 80's. And last night they showed a forgotten movie by legendary director Sam Peckinpah ("The Wild Bunch", "Straw Dogs"). It's called "Cross of Iron" and its a unique war movie. First, because we see war through the eyes of a German platoon, but mostly because it says that soldiers, when in the middle of battle. are not thinking of country and ideals like old movies used to tell us. They are thinking of staying alive. That's all. This being a Sam Peckinpah movie, it also features great battle scenes and some scenes that will make you cringe. FLIX will also show "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia", a truly weird Peckinpah movie about a bounty hunter that carries around, well, the head of Alfredo Garcia (flies buzzing around and all). Not one of my favorite movies, but it it amazing that studios in the 70's would give money for such a bizarre concept.