The stories of World Wars have always been the most touching ones. The struggle, the separation and the solitary in lives of almost every single soldier who fought the war are too agonizing to listen to, but if you’re into historical movies that revolve around wars then look no further. Here we have compiled a list of top war movies of this century you should watch. Most of these are based on true stories whereas some are the creation of very talented writers and directors of Hollywood.
9. Fury (2014)
This movie stars Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Scott Eastwood and Jon Bernthal in lead roles, they camp in a tank as they try to fight off Nazis. ‘Fury’ playfully progresses into a heartbreaking climax, you’ll be stunned as the end credits roll in. In the cruel world of war and destruction, this movie will leave you with a striking ray of hope that despite everything, few humans are still good at heart. Brad Pitt again proves he is one of the most versatile actors ever to have stepped in the Hollywood.
8. American Sniper (2013)
Directed by the great Clint Eastwood and based on ‘American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History’ by Chris Kyle, the movie follows the life of Kyle, who sniped over 200 terrorists in his four tours in the Iraq War. It shows us how the soldiers face problems in their personal life even after their duty ends. In one of the scenes, Kyle is asked if he is haunted by the things he did in the war, to which he replies “all the guys (he) couldn’t save that haunt him”.
7. Black Hawk Down (2001)
Based on the 1999 non-fiction book of the same name by Mark Bowden, the movie tells you how the Captain Mike Steele commands a team of around 100 US Army Rangers who travel to the capital city of Mogadishu to bring down the Somali warlords. After the build-up, it is 100 minutes of a non-stop battle of Somali militiamen against American helicopters and troops. All things considered, get ready for consistent scenes of blood, casualties and graphic content.
6. The Hurt Locker (2008)
‘The Hurt Locker’ won six Academy Awards, including the ‘Best Director’ and the ‘Best Picture’. As of 2017, this is the sole film by a female director to win in either of these two categories. Shot in Jordan, it had Iraqi refugees as extras and they worked in the intense heat of Middle East to satiate Bigelow’s goal of originality. A well-crafted scintillating piece of work from Bigelow had been expected since her arrival in the Hollywood, this masterpiece indisputably does the trick!
5. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
The director Tarantino wrote the script for this movie back in ’98, then made both volumes of Kill Bill and Death Proof, only after having finished those he started the production of this gem of a film. In it, Jewish soldiers are on an undercover mission to bring down the Nazi government and put an end to the war. Meanwhile, a woman wants to avenge the death of her family from a German officer. Furthermore, it has the typical Tarantino spice to it(of course). Oh, and did I forget to mention that Christoph Waltz, Brad Pitt, and Michael Fassbender star in it?
4. Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
It is quite different from most of the war movies, ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ is the true story of Desmond Doss, an army medic who refused to even touch a gun, the director Mel Gibson depicts the story in an intelligible way. You cannot take your eyes off when those battle scenes roll in, it is hard not to get emotional in last stages of this movie. Above all, while being ostracised by fellowmen at first, he went on to save many lives and earned their respect eventually.
3. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
Told from the perspective of the Japanese who fought the battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Imperial Japan during World War 2, this movie is about loss. While it is just fine as an individual film, but you can obviously watch ‘Flag of Our Fathers’ to know all about the parallels of it. This movie shows the inconsolable human side of the war.
2. The Pianist (2003)
It follows the story of an acclaimed Polish musician Wladyslaw who faces problems from all sides as he loses contact with his family during the Second World War. He struggles for survival as he hides in the ruins of Warsaw. The Director Roman Polanski does everything to make you feel for the protagonist. The lead character played by Adrien Brody is quite likable, there is no melodrama to this movie, but it is the sheer simplicity which drives the movie. Hence, ‘The Pianist’ is a true work of art.
1. Dunkirk (2017)
In the 1940s, Germany advanced into France, trapping Allied troops on the beaches of Dunkirk. It follows the story of the evacuation of 330,000 soldiers from those beaches. There are no words to describe how it felt to watch this movie in IMAX. Cristopher Nolan is a freaking genius, after the ‘Batman Trilogy’ and movies like ‘Inception’, ‘Interstellar’, this guy drops in a war movie featuring the likes of Harry Styles, Tom Hardy, Mark Rylance and Cillian Murphy. The movie has three non-linear story-telling phases, one on land, one in waters and one in the air. ‘Dunkirk’ converges these plots into a mind-blowing climax. Moreover, Nolan’s name is a reason enough for you to watch it ASAP!
Read More: War Movies on Netflix
