20 hard and exciting war films

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Scotland's battles for independence, World War I and II, Vietnam and battles in Somalia.

We have already written about the Soviet classics dedicated to the Great Patriotic War on Victory Day. It also contains the best foreign films based on various armed conflicts.

1. Save Private Ryan

• USA, 1998.
• Drama.
• Duration: 169 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 6.

Three brothers from the Ryan family died at once on the fields of World War II. Then the command decided to return home the only survivor, James Ryan. John Miller is sent to rescue the private with a team of eight soldiers. And this will be the most dangerous task in their life.

This stunning film from the legendary Steven Spielberg is considered one of the best examples of films about the horrors of war. He managed to show large-scale battles and write in them a chamber story about the salvation of just one person. In the filming, 250 soldiers of the Irish army participated as extras, and German Tiger tanks based on working Soviet T-34s were also created for the tape.

2. Apocalypse Now

• USA, 1979.
• Drama.
• Duration: 194 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 4.

In the midst of the Vietnam War, a special agent is sent down the river in Cambodia. He must find and kill the insane colonel who has established power in a remote area. But along the way, the hero sees such horrors of war that he gradually loses touch with reality.

Francis Ford Coppola created one of the most famous anti-war films. It has strayed quite a bit from Joseph Conrad's original book, Heart of Darkness, which has been repeatedly attempted on screen. But it was Coppola who managed to convey the atmosphere of madness that is happening during the hostilities.

Interestingly, the picture was filmed in the Philippines, and the local government provided the crew with helicopters. And during the breaks, these helicopters took part in real battles with the rebels.

3. Lion of the desert

• USA, VSNLAD, 1980.
• Drama, historical.
• Duration: 173 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 4.

The film is set in 1929. Benito Mussolini appoints General Rodolfo Graziani as Governor of Libya. But the resistance, led by former teacher Omar Mukhtar, does not recognize the ruler. And, despite the gap in weapons, they do not allow the invaders to finally take over the country.

4. Paths of Glory

• USA, 1957.
• Drama.
• Duration: 88 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 4.

During World War I on the Western Front, Colonel Dax commands an infantry regiment of the French army. Allies cannot take an unapproachable enemy position in any way. However, the head of the corps orders to organize another attack. And after the expected failure, he demands to shoot three random, supposedly cowardly soldiers.

The great Stanley Kubrick managed not only to show the unreasonable cruelty of the military leadership, but also created one of the standards of cinema realism. For example, the scene where the generals talk to the soldiers was filmed in one shot without editing. It lasts more than a minute, with dozens of actors involved, and explosions occur in the background.

5. Submarine

• Germany, 1981.
• Drama, thriller.
• Duration: 150 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

In the fall of 1941, a German submarine is to sail for the Atlantic Ocean. The sailors are trying to have time to have a good fun on the last day, and a war correspondent is going to sail with them. But all the love talk and jokes end when the boat gets to the scene of the fighting.

Director Wolfgang Petersen made every effort to show the characters as realistically as possible. During the year of filming, the actors lost weight, turned pale and overgrown with beards, like real submariners.

6. Brave heart

• USA, 1995.
• Historical, biography.
• Duration: 178 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

The action takes place in 13th century Scotland. William Wallace lost his father early at the hands of the British. Uncle Orgyl took him to Europe and gave him a good education. Returning as an adult, William leads the struggle for his country's independence from England.

The directorial work of Mel Gibson, who also played the main role here, became a triumph for the 1996 Oscars. The film was nominated in 10 categories and took away five statuettes, including Best Picture and Best Director.

7. Full metal jacket

• USA, UK, 1987.
• Drama.
• Duration: 116 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

The action takes place at the American Marine Corps Training Base. Recruits are drilled according to the most brutal methods, punishing all for the misdeeds of one. As a result, not everyone manages to maintain their sanity. But when already trained soldiers are sent to Vietnam, it becomes even worse.

This film made Lee Ermey famous: it was he who played the famous rude Sergeant Hartman. Although initially it was not supposed to act in the film at all. In fact, Ermey is a former military man and was hired as a consultant. But director Stanley Kubrick realized that no one could play this role better.

8. Bunker

• Germany, Italy, Austria, 2004.
• Drama, historical.
• Duration: 156 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 2.

By April 1945, Soviet troops had already approached Berlin. The Nazi elite are hiding in a secret bunker. At the same time, Hitler assures that Germany will still win, and plans to destroy the entire country.

It is curious that part of this picture was filmed in St. Petersburg not far from the Baltic station. Rumor has it that the condition of the houses in the area closely resembled the devastation in Berlin in 1945.

9. The Great Escape

• USA, 1963.
• Drama, action, adventure.
• Duration: 172 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 2.

Based on true events, the story follows a group of American, British and Canadian prisoners of war who tried to free themselves from captivity over and over again during World War II. Once in the strictest camp, they came up with a plan for another escape, distracting the guards with more obvious attempts.

This film did not become popular overnight. But now he is often cited as an example of a story of true courage and resilience. And by the way, Quentin Tarantino quoted "The Great Escape" in his new film "Once Upon a Time in … Hollywood".

10. Bridge over the River Kwai

• USA, UK, 1957.
• Drama.
• Duration: 155 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

During World War II, a group of British soldiers are captured by the Japanese in the jungles of Burma. Leading the soldiers, Lieutenant Colonel Nicholson believes they are still on duty. And then the guys are sent to build a railway bridge over the River Kwai under the command of the fierce Colonel Saito.

11. For reasons of conscience

• USA, Australia, 2016.
• Drama.
• Duration: 139 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

Desmond Doss dreamed of becoming a doctor. And at the beginning of World War II he went to the front as a volunteer, but vowed never to take up arms, but only to save people.

The plot is based on the real story of Corporal Desmond Doss - the first conscientious objector to receive the highest US military award Medal of Honor.

12. Platoon

• USA, 1986.
• Drama.
• Duration: 115 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

In 1967, Private Chris Taylor volunteered for the border area between Vietnam and Cambodia. He soon realizes that the nightmare of war is not only about having to fight the guerrillas. Taylor oversees the division within his own troops and the brutality of the officers.

Interestingly, the lead role was originally offered to Emilio Esteveza. But in the end, his younger brother Charlie Sheen starred in the film. And this is partly why the film has been compared to Apocalypse Now, played by their father, Martin Sheen.

13. Deer Hunter

• USA, UK, 1978.
• Drama.
• Duration: 183 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

In the center of the plot are three Americans of Russian descent. The action begins with one of them getting married, and then all the heroes go to Vietnam. In the war, they are captured by the Viet Cong, and not everyone will be able to get out.

After its release, the picture was much criticized for its one-sided display of the Vietnam War. But that did not stop The Deer Hunter from winning the Oscars for Best Film and Directing.

14. All Quiet on the Western Front

• USA, 1930.
• Drama.
• Duration: 138 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

The adaptation of the work of the same name by Erich Maria Remarque tells about a simple German soldier Paula Beumer. After listening to the teacher's propaganda conversations, he went to war. But what he saw there made Paul a pacifist. However, others did not want to understand him.

The picture was released in 1930 and immediately made the leading actor Lew Ayres a star. And during World War II, the actor refused to fight and joined the army as an orderly and a medical aid instructor.

15. Dunkirk

• UK, USA, France, Netherlands, 2017.
• Drama, action.
• Duration: 106 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

In 1940, the defeated Anglo-French army was blocked on the coast in the Dunkirk region. The soldiers could escape from complete destruction only by sea. But the big ships could not get close to the coast, and from the air there was always danger.

Christopher Nolan used his favorite technique in this film - non-linear storytelling. On land, the action develops within a week, at sea - in one day, and in the air everything happens in an hour. In this case, all lines are shown in parallel.

16. Valor

• USA, 1989.
• Drama, historical.
• Duration: 122 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

During the American Civil War, Colonel Shaw of the Northerners volunteered to become the commander of the country's first-ever black troop unit. He must train them in a short time and lead them into battle. But Shaw has to face both the cruelty of his enemies and the racial prejudices of his comrades.

17. Atonement

• UK, France, 2007.
• Melodrama, military.
• Duration: 123 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

Thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis has a rich imagination. And one day she thought too brightly about the circumstances of her sister's rape. The innocent Robbie becomes the prime suspect. He is sent first to prison, and then to the front of the Second World War.

James McAvoy, who played one of the main roles, was nominated for the Golden Globe and BAFTA, and the picture itself earned 7 Oscar nominations.

18. Empire of the sun

• USA, 1987.
• Drama.
• Duration: 153 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

The Second World War. Young Jim Graham is lost during the Japanese invasion of China. The boy is left without parents and soon ends up in a prison camp. There he will have to fight for survival and maintain his dignity with all his might.

12-year-old Christian Bale played one of his first roles with Steven Spielberg. And first of all, this is a story about how a young hero creates his own world in order to keep calm and sanity in a difficult situation.

19. Black hawk

• USA, UK, 2001.
• Drama, action, historical.
• Duration: 144 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 7.

UN peacekeeping forces try to restore order during clashes in Somalia in 1993. The United States sends its soldiers to the country to capture the warlord who established tyranny.

Along with professional actors, several real participants in the events on which the picture is based appeared in this film.

20. Thin red line

• USA, 1998.
• War drama.
• Duration: 170 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

In the midst of World War II, American Marines are sent to the rescue of naval units waging grueling battles with the Japanese in the Battle of Guadalcanal. Over the course of several months, one of the most complex operations in history unfolds.