Top 10 War Movies of All Time

Top 10 War Movies

The horror of war is a difficult one to depict, many directors have tried and many have failed, but when it all comes together the product can be simply breathtaking, and one of the greatest spectacles you will ever witness. Here are a few honorable mentions that just missed the list:

Letters From Iwo Jima (2006): A very nice representation of war, but the rest of the film is just a bit bland and lacks any real punch that could land it in the top 10.
Saving Private Ryan (1998): The first third of this film is excellent, the rest is a horrible cliche of over dramatized and pretentious bullshit that ruins the chance of this film having any sense of a strong narrative or realism.
The Hurt Locker (2008): Won the best picture award for a good reason, but compared with other war movies on a bigger budget it still leaves a lot to be desired.

#10 Tora Tora Tora (1970)   (7/10)

There have been many terrible movies centered around Pearl Harbor over the years, but this isn't one of them. Instead of going for the usual 'America is amazing' approach, this film goes for the complete opposite, depicting Americans as blundering morons, which is probably why it was a flop at the box office. The film tells the story of both the preceding events and the impacts on the American and Japanese sides of the Pearl Harbor story.

The film does tend to ponder and meander about in the beginning, I wouldn't be surprised to hear you say it was dull, but when the action sequences come later in the film you realise that this earlier pace was necessary to create a very accurate and technical interpretation of the events, even if there are a few historical Inaccuracies. The film also looks very good, even for 1970, the special effects are expertly done and the sound effects seem better than in the majority of films today. There definitely isn't any reliance on flashy looks, the director knows when and how to employ nice looking visuals to accompany what is an accurate representation of war. No stupid pathetic love triangles, this is just the cold hard truth, even if it takes a while to get there.

#9 The Dambusters (1955)   (8/10)

A brilliant tale based on the real life story of the bouncing bomb, and so as you would expect this film is very patriotic, and very realistic as well, you can certainly tell that it's a British film, something completely different from the likes of Hollywood blockbusters with huge budgets and massive pointless explosions. I simply love the technical elements of this film, everything is filmed with pinpoint precision, that means it includes realistic aircraft that where piloted by real pilots in order to make this film seem as accurate as possible, it sometimes fells like a documentary rather than an actual drama.

There are two standout moments that put this film on the list. The first being the brilliant ending, a sour note to end on what has been a film of great triumph. The final shot is Gibson walking away to 'write a few letters' to the victims of the many casualties suffered, showing that even in times of jubilation there is still misery for some. The final, and probably most famous reason is the absolutely epic soundtrack, is anything quite as powerful as the Dambuster's March? It quite simply is one of the greatest pieces of music in the history of the world, and caps of what is a very good film.

#8 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)   (8/10)

This film is actually a work of fiction, but based on the real life events on the building of the Burma Railway during WW2. On paper this film doesn't sound particularly great, the overall premise is based around pensioners plotting to blow up a bridge, not exactly gripping. But the thing is that this actually works very well, the plot is very suspenseful and is paced exceptionally well right up until the fitting finale which doesn't fail to disappoint.

Probably the standout role is that of Alec Guinness, who unfortunately isn't playing Obi Wan Kenobi, but instead the role of officer Nicholson, which actually might be his best role ever, even above Star Wars. He really captures the essence of a British commanding officer and the viewer really gets a connection between themselves and the cast, even though it may be a fictional story it still seems real to the viewer, the whole film is just technically brilliant, it really was a film very far ahead of its time.

#7 Where Eagles Dare (1968)   (8/10)

This film might be slightly weaker than the other candidates, it definitely doesn't have any 'epic' or standout moments like the others, but what this film does have over the others is an amazing soundtrack. The Ron Goodwin composed piece is like nothing else, it really does make the film, an exquisite piece that outshines the rest of the film.

Having said that, the film certainly isn't terrible, it's very well paced and there is certainly a climax, although maybe not on the same scale as the others on this list. There is also a very well constructed plot that incorporates many twists for what is essentially a very simple premise. This film has gained a classic status over the years, and for good reason. But I definitely think it should be the preferred choice over other popular films such as 'The Great Escape', because really this film eclipses them when it comes to the brilliant atmosphere it creates.

#6 Paths of Glory (1957)   (9/10)

Here comes the brownosing Stanley Kubrick segment, but seriously though that guy was a genius, and it really shows in this film. This is essentially about as anti war as a film can possibly get as Colonel Dax, who is played by Kirk Douglas, refuses to lead his troops into a suicidal assault. Douglas really is the star man of this film, his performance as the colonel is brilliantly convincing and contains some of the most powerful lines in the history of cinema, the viewer really does get a sense of isolation the character has in the juxtaposition between the trenches and the mansions of the commanders, and you too share the frustration that the colonel has.

The film really does capture the atmosphere of trench warfare, Kubrick's brilliant directing is put on display here as sweeping shots through the trenches and a fantastic pace that builds up to a brilliant, yet optimistic climax in a film ridden with death and despair. Another triumph on the stellar list of Stanley Kubrick.   

#5 The Thin Red Line (1998)   (9/10)

This fictional tale is based on the Guadalcanal campaign of the Second World War and presents what is a rather beautiful depiction of war. This means that sometimes the blood and gore are substituted for stunning visuals and areas of genuine mystery. The acting, well leaves something to be desired, I feel the characters sometimes become disjointed from the actual plot and their performances are a little unconvincing.

The film actually feels a bit like an English lesson, historical accuracies and intriguing plot are substituted for vivid imagery and symbolism, and sometimes it does just feel like you're rambling through a well paced, but unrealistic poem. I just feel that the content of this film is sometimes lacking in areas where it shouldn't be. Having said that the film excels everywhere else, the battle sequences are fantastic and the score is another Hans Zimmer masterpiece, but the big flaws stop it from entering this list any higher, which is a bit of a shame.

#4 The Deer Hunter (1978)   (9/10)

The Deer Hunter is a film about the story of three American steelworkers in the Vietnam War, and there story really takes you on a journey. Probably the centerpiece to this film is the controversial Russian Roulette sequence, this may be historically inaccurate but in terms of power and symbolism, it is in a class of its own, never in a war film have I ever felt that exhilarated after watching just one sequence. The beauty of this film is showing that anyone can be affected by war, even three generic steelworkers, and the film really does hammer home how it ruins their lives, both physically and mentally.

I don't honestly believe that I have ever seen any film that develops its characters so brilliantly, from marriage to death we see a dramatic change in all three characters, and of course the universal catalyst for this is war. What this film is, if anything, is a personal statement to the audience, a powerful epic that shows viewers the horrors of war, and this continues in to the unforgettable final moments of this film, 'God Bless America'. A genuinely amazing film.

#3 Platoon (1986)   (9/10)

Well this is about as anti war as you can possibly get. Forget 'The Deer Hunter', this is on a totally different level. This film has the advantage of having a Vietnam veteran actually directing it, that man is Oliver Stone, and Stone shows this throughout the film by substituting the stereotypical scenes of war and just showing viewers the cold, hard and brutal facts about war. Here war is completely exposed, no sugarcoating anything, the film is designed to leave a lasting impression on the audience by just showing it as it is, and it certainly does.

Don't expect heroes in this film, there aren't any, everyone is portrayed as the villain. There also isn't really a plot, the only premise of the film is to show what war does to people. The viewer really does get a sense that this is as realistic as it gets and every situation and issue is presented as dangerous and impossible to win. However the standout image for me is how the score accompanies every tragic event perfectly, it really does cap off a captivating movie that may just change your opinions of war forever.

#2 Full Metal Jacket (1987)   (10/10)

This is definitely Kubrick's best interpretation of war, even if it is presented as a dark comedy. The story is split into two halves, one at boot camp and the other on the front lines, and follows the character Joker on his realization of what war actually means and how it effects the people around him. This is represented by Kubrick with his iconic helmet shown above that reflects the duality of man. The standout section of course is the first half, which is where we find the MVP of the film, Sargent Hartman. Hartman's one liners just make this segment, and the climax is just as shocking and exhilerating as the brilliantly paced boot camp sequence. The second half is often overlooked by critics, but I enjoy it. Sure it's nowhere near as good as the first half but the content is still to the point and appropriate to the subject, and while it may not show the horrors of war like some other entries, it does show it from its own unique perspective. Oh, and then there's 'Surfin Bird'.

This film is just the pinnacle of many of Kubrick's other brilliant works, namely 'Dr. Strangelove', which is another brilliant dark comedy. However here we have a film that isn't afraid to show its anti war messages, in many dark comedies they are disguised, but here we get them through many graphic and powerful scenes. Even if this is a tale of two halves it still packs one hell of a punch, and Kubrick shows us the importance of character development in a war film.

#1 Apocalypse Now (1979)   (10/10)

I may rate 'Full Metal Jacket' higher as an overall film, I just find the premise behind it so much more complex and intriguing, but as a war film this is the better example. This film is based off of Joseph Conrad's novella 'Heart of Darkness' and tells the story of a company who have been tasked with finding Kurtz, a former marine who's gone rogue. I feel this movie can be summed up in just two words, which are also the two words that echoes through the mind of the antagonist during the conclusion. "The horror, the horror". Basically this is on a different level to Platoon, the horrors of war echo throughout the whole film and Coppola blurs the lines between right and wrong to portray war as a travesty.

Definitely the standout performers are Robert Duvall and Martin Sheen, who play a gun happy colonel and the protagonist respectively, together they string together amazing sequence after amazing sequence that are also beautifully paced and end with a fitting, if a little vague, finale. The score is also amazing, the line up is beyond belief. The Rolling Stones, The Doors, even Wagner make an appearance to create one of the best soundtracks, if not the greatest, ever. Apocalypse Now goes to a much darker place than any other war film, a place that will stay with the viewer for a long time. The message of this film is in fact even greater than the tour de force of acting and directing on display, quite simply an amazing achievement.