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I like war movies and I'm betting one or two of those here maybe partial to them too.
War movies can be good on many levels. Some focus on the horrors of war, others on the the brotherhoods formed under fire. Themes vary from celebrating the courage and valour of the men involved to the moral dilemmas faced by those forced to kill in defence of their nation to PTSD to spectacular battle scenes and outright heroism in the face of incredible odds.
My favourites are:
Seven Samurai (1954) - An Akira Kurosawa black and white film about 7 masterless samurai who decide to defend a small village against a bandit army. The inspiration for the Magnicent Seven and an epic classic of cinema. My favourite movie of all time. I love how the film portrays the best of the warrior ethos. Honour and courage to protect the weak.
Zulu (1964) - An account of the Battle for Rorkes Drift where 150 British troops successfully fought off 4000 screaming Zulu warriors. 11 Victoria crosses were awarded to those who took part. I'm born English and love how this, now politically incorrect, film celebrates the best of the soldiers of what was the British Empire.
Flesh & Blood (1985) - A fictional story about mercenaries in the middle ages starring Rutger Hauer & Jennifer Jason Lee & directed by Paul Verhoven. A gory, lustful guilty pleasure that has dated over the years, but was one of the first movies I saw that portrayed the ugliness of medieval warfare. I loved it.
Black Hawk Down (2001) - Directed by Ridley Scott with a stellar international cast tells the true story of US troops caught in the middle of a hostile city. BHD managed to portray the heroism of the modern professional soldier fighting in a morally & tactically complicated situation without resorting to the grandiose dramatics of earlier films. I was in basic training when this was released so it was very influential to me.
300 (2006) - The highly stylised retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae based on a comic by Frank Miller (Sin City). 300 Spartan warriors (and some lame Greeks) face off against an army of 100000 Persians. Full of macho warrior BS which I love. Violent, heroic and tragic. The best.
What's your favourite war movie and why?
War movies can be good on many levels. Some focus on the horrors of war, others on the the brotherhoods formed under fire. Themes vary from celebrating the courage and valour of the men involved to the moral dilemmas faced by those forced to kill in defence of their nation to PTSD to spectacular battle scenes and outright heroism in the face of incredible odds.
My favourites are:
Seven Samurai (1954) - An Akira Kurosawa black and white film about 7 masterless samurai who decide to defend a small village against a bandit army. The inspiration for the Magnicent Seven and an epic classic of cinema. My favourite movie of all time. I love how the film portrays the best of the warrior ethos. Honour and courage to protect the weak.
Zulu (1964) - An account of the Battle for Rorkes Drift where 150 British troops successfully fought off 4000 screaming Zulu warriors. 11 Victoria crosses were awarded to those who took part. I'm born English and love how this, now politically incorrect, film celebrates the best of the soldiers of what was the British Empire.
Flesh & Blood (1985) - A fictional story about mercenaries in the middle ages starring Rutger Hauer & Jennifer Jason Lee & directed by Paul Verhoven. A gory, lustful guilty pleasure that has dated over the years, but was one of the first movies I saw that portrayed the ugliness of medieval warfare. I loved it.
Black Hawk Down (2001) - Directed by Ridley Scott with a stellar international cast tells the true story of US troops caught in the middle of a hostile city. BHD managed to portray the heroism of the modern professional soldier fighting in a morally & tactically complicated situation without resorting to the grandiose dramatics of earlier films. I was in basic training when this was released so it was very influential to me.
300 (2006) - The highly stylised retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae based on a comic by Frank Miller (Sin City). 300 Spartan warriors (and some lame Greeks) face off against an army of 100000 Persians. Full of macho warrior BS which I love. Violent, heroic and tragic. The best.
What's your favourite war movie and why?
