Movie Reviews Net

War films abound and each year sees new releases on the subject — everything from ancient battles to the most recent conflicts. The following selections showcase the struggles and challenges war brings to a variety of points of view. The following films from different historical wars portray various angles of the crisis that impact different parties — commanders, soldiers, reporters, women, children, civilians, etc… They make for dramatic viewing based on historical accuracies.

Saving Private Ryan is a recent dramatic replication of D-Day when the allies landed in France during the darkest days of WWII to face the Germans. Starring Tom Hanks and Matt Damon, this Steven Spielberg offering is a graphic telling of the race to save the last of a family of fighting brothers. Critically acclaimed, this is the closest thing to D-Day most of us will ever witness.

Apocalypse Now, though a war film classic, still deserves acclaim from modern audiences. Based on Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, it is reset during the Vietnam conflict and stars Marlon Brando and Charlie Sheen. While portraying the war and its horrific atmosphere, it also delves into the corruption of power, the dark acts that humans seem capable of inflicting.

Zulu starring a young Michael Caine is a war film based on the British conflict with the Zulu tribes of the South African region. Originally released in 1964, this film is based on a true event — when 140 British soldiers faced the impossible task of defending themselves against 4,000 Zulu warriors.

Paradise Road, also based on true events, tells the story of women trapped behind enemy lines and held by the Japanese in prison camps on the island of Sumatra during WWII. While portraying the hardship the women faced in captivity with graphic realism, it also demonstrates their hope and courage demonstrated by their use of music to uplift them in their struggles. The film stars Glenn Close, Julianna Margolis and Jennifer Ehle.

Gettysburg is a testament to the generals — to the commanders and soldiers of the Civil War. The film is lengthy, but so factually detailed as to bring the history of this pivotal battle to life. Also graphic, it is a star-studded cast that acts so brilliantly you forget who they are — they are soldiers and the movie is well-deserving of its critical acclaim.

The Patriot is the blockbuster featuring Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger in a film about the Revolutionary War. All the action and period history one comes to expect from a film of this nature — it does everything right: good historical detail, dramatic battle scenes and a fine back story that add the personal touch to draw in its audience — an excellent film about a nation’s birth.

Enemy at the Gates stars Jude Law and Rachel Weiss. It is a film about the battle of Stalingrad, but is specifically about the role of snipers with a dramatic back-story that is at once believable as it is compelling. The Russians faced off with the Germans in one of WWII’s bloodiest battles which reduced most of the city to rubble. It does a good job retelling a battle that most Americans may not be familiar with.

A Very Long Engagement is a foreign film set during WWI, or rather, the years just after but with multiple flashbacks to the war. Several men are sent to no man’s land by their own troops as punishment for self-inflicted wounds. One woman does her utmost to find out if any survived including her lover. An interesting tale about a practice that has a basis in truth.

Platoon is an interesting selection because it does not portray the traditional war story of enemy against enemy. Instead, it depicts the dilemma of fighting within ones own ranks — when one’s fellow soldiers are corrupt. Set during the Vietnam War, it is also a graphic portrayal of war from an angle not usually seen. Fine acting from its stars — Willem Dafoe, Tom Berenger and Charlie Sheen.

The Killing Fields, also based on fact, is from the point of view of reporters caught in Cambodia at the time the Khmer Rouge took over — during the Vietnam War era. Starring Sam Waterson, Haing S. Ngor and John Malkovich, this award-winning film depicts the plight of war correspondents struggling to report with accuracy and forced to risk their lives to get their stories to press.

Hope and Glory is a British film about a boy’s memory of the Blitz — German air raids across London and what he and is family faced with both humor and desperation. One laughs and cries equally hard during this movie which will probably go down as a classic.

Blackhawk Down depicts the battle U.S. troops faced with the Somalis during the 1990s. The city of Mogadishu is the scene of the battle when a handful of troops seemed to have the whole city against them. Highly dramatic and realistic, it showcases the plight of combat troops in desperate situations.

Life is Beautiful is a foreign film set in Italy. Its poignancy is breathtaking. This is a holocaust film that is remarkably uplifting — see it for that irony alone. In any case, one family faces the camps with both imagination and ingenuity.

Master and Commander is war at sea when ships depended on its sailors to man the sails of galleons and corsairs. Starring Russel Crowe, this adventure is another realistic offering about war at sea in the era of cannon fire when the Brits faced off against the French in every corner of the watery world.

Finally, Titus features the Shakespearian play brought to life showcasing Anthony Hopkins as the Roman general who captures a Goth queen. Graphically dark, it is ancient war and intrigue brought to the screen. The film also stars Jessica Lange at her wicked best.

Of course, there are many fine war films not mentioned—one could certainly include The Deerslayer, Tora Tora Tora, Dances with Wolves, etc…but these are a few that provide different wars seem from differing angles.

Let me know whether you enjoyed these war movies, and whether there are any other war movies you enjoyed, by adding your comment below.