My top 20 War movies
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Jarhead (2005)

Based on former Marine Anthony Swofford's best-selling 2003 book about his pre-Desert Storm experiences in Saudi Arabia and about his experiences fighting in Kuwait.
I found this a really good movie, it's interesting to see the life of American Soldiers in the Middle East.
Tears of the Sun (2003)

Bruce Willis plays a Special-Ops commander who leads his team into the jungle of Nigeria to rescue a doctor played by Monica Belluci who will only go with them if they agree to rescue 70 refugees too.
This is absolutely a guilty pleasure of mine. Actually it's a Action film like you see it all the time, but I really enjoyed it. The director paid a lot attention to the visuals and you can see that. The locations are just amazing and he uses beautiful colours. The action scenes are also looking really good and Burce Willis is always good to see in a movie like this.
The Hurt Locker (2008)

Forced to play a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse in the chaos of war, an elite Army bomb squad unit must come together in a city where everyone is a potential enemy and every object could be a deadly bomb.
Another good movie about the war in the Middle East. You can feel the tension all the time, one little mistake and it goes all wrong. The squad was on full pressure every moment and you could see that. Good job!
The Patriot (2000)

Peaceful farmer Benjamin Martin is driven to lead the Colonial Militia during the American Revolution when a sadistic British officer murders his son.
The American Revolution is an interesting story, but I don't know a lot of movies about it. The big fightign scenes were great, just like the beautiful settings. Jason Isaacs plays a great villain, I think his performance is undervalued. It's a bit to patriotic sometimes, so this place is the max.
Black Book (2006)

In the Nazi-occupied Netherlands during World War II, a Jewish singer infiltrates the regional Gestapo headquarters for the Dutch resistance.
As a Dutchman I really like movies about WOII in Holland. This is one of the best I think. It's a brilliant story and very well directed by Paul Verhoeven. Definitely a must-see for fans of War movies.
The Longest Day (1962)

The events of D-Day, told on a grand scale from both the Allied and German points of view.
This is that kind of movie you just have to see. It's an instant classic with such an amazing story. It's on the Dutch television every year at Liberation Day and I always love to watch it again.
Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Following the Normandy Landings, a group of U.S. soldiers go behind enemy lines to retrieve a paratrooper whose brothers have been killed in action.
Another great movie about WOII. This one is a bit more heroic, but it is an amazing film. Especially the first part at the beach is brilliant. Just fanatstic directing there. The rest of the movie is also really good, with good acting and an amazing end battle at the town.
Defiance (2008)

Jewish brothers in Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe escape into the Belarussian forests, where they join Russian resistance fighters and endeavor to build a village in order to protect themselves and about 1,000 Jewish non-combatants.
Another film about the Sovjet side of WOII. This time you about the Jewish resistance in Belarus. It's a amazing movie and you can feel the fear of the Jewish people, the fear to be discoverd by the Nazis. That's the part I like, the constant danger to get discovered, absolutely well odne!
Black Hawk Down (2001)

123 elite U.S. soldiers drop into Somalia to capture two top lieutenants of a renegade warlord and find themselves in a desperate battle with a large force of heavily-armed Somalis.
A great non-stop action rollercoaster about this true story. The action blasts on your screen so hard, you almost forget how horrific this has to be for the soldiers and the innocent Somalian people.
Come and See (1985) (1985)

After finding an old rifle, a young boy joins the Soviet Army and experiences the horrors of World War II.
This film is by far the most impressive film from the list. It's gave me a sick feeling, it just so dreadful to watch. I was really impressed by this movie. In this movie you can see the worst part of the human, and that's good to see.
Soldier of Orange (1994)

This film depicts World War II through the eyes of several Dutch students. It follows them through the beginning of the war, the Nazi occupation and the liberation.
Another great Dutch WOII movie. This is definitely my favorite Dutch movie of all time. There are so much brilliant stories in this movie, I just love this movie. The performances of the cast are just brilliant. I would really recommend this film to everyone who haven;t seen it yet.
The Pianist (2002)

A Polish Jewish musician struggles to survive the destruction of the Warsaw ghetto of World War II.
An amazing, sometimes heartbreaking story about the second World War in Poland. It's an frightful story and it's so amazing to watch. The whole atmosphere is brilliant and the acting is brilliant. Great film!
Full Metal Jacket (1987)

A pragmatic U.S. Marine observes the dehumanizing effects the Vietnam War has on his fellow Marine recruits from their brutal boot camp training to the bloody street fighting set in 1968 in Hue, Vietnam.
This legendary movie is an absolutely masterpiece. The first part, at the bootcamp is my favorite. You don't see a lot of movies about the training of the American soldiers so this was amazing to watch. The second part, in Vietnam is also brilliant. I love to see the horror and tragedic about a war and it's brilliantly done here.
The Deer Hunter (1978)

An in-depth examination of the way that the Vietnam war affects the lives of people in a small industrial town in the USA.
Another brilliant movie about the Vietnam war. The Deer Hunter focuses more about the consequenses of the war and the impact to the soldiers and their friends. It's amazing to see that and with az amazing cast like this you are really drawn into the story. Just like the other big Vietnam classics I can watch this movie over and over.
Downfall (2004)

Traudl Junge, the final secretary for Adolf Hitler, tells of the Nazi dictator's final days in his Berlin bunker at the end of WWII.
Adolf Hitler is definitely one of the most notorious and most cruel people in the history of mankind. But his story is so interesting. This movie gives a great image of his person. You also see a lot of the experiences of the German soldiers. It's a interesting but shocking movie. The performance of Bruno Ganz as Hitler is one of the best performances ever.
Platoon (1986)

A young recruit in Vietnam faces a moral crisis when confronted with the horrors of war and the duality of man
An absolutely masterpiece. You see the Vietnam war through the eyes of a young soldier. We see the horrors of this war and the sturrgle bewteen two commanders. Brilliant constricting atmosphere and great acting performances from an amazing cast.
Inglourious Basterds (2009)

In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a plan to assassinate Nazi leaders by a group of Jewish U.S. soldiers coincides with a theatre owner's vengeful plans for the same.
Between all the heavy and serious war movies, it's nice to see a lighter movie that doesn't take itself to serious. This movie has so much legendary scenes and the acting performances are outstanding. I was laughing all the time and that during a movie about WOII!
Bang Rajan (2000)

Set right before the fall of Thailand's old capital, Ayuttaya, Bang Rajan draws on the legend of a village of fighters who bravely fended off the Burmese armies. With no support from the Royal army, the villagers drives the invading Burmese away many times until their names have become legendary during the time.
This mobie is so amazing. When I watched it, I didn;'t know what to expect. But is was just blown away by this amazing film. The story is hard, ruthless and about sacrifice. The Burmese people give literally everyting to save their village and their people. One of my favorites!
Apocalypse Now (1979)

During the U.S.-Viet Nam War, Captain Willard is sent on a dangerous mission into Cambodia to assassinate a renegade colonel who has set himself up as a god among a local tribe.
This movie is the ultimate example that war isn't cool or nice. It is cruel and a horror and this movie shows that, with the aid of an amazing story about a captain who needs to find and kill a colonel. I have never seen a movie with an atmosphere that is so oppressive, terrifyng and horrific. The acting performances are legendary and I could watch this movie over and over. This movie shows the dark side of people and what war can do to people. Outstanding and amazing!

A drama about the fate of brothers forced to fight in the Korean War.
Wow, this movie is so damn amazing. The bondbetween the brothers is so strong at the beginning. So strong, the older brother decides to join the war when his brother is taken to fight against the enemy. This movie shows the horrors in a an absolutely amazing way. The main characters are suffering so much, it is heartbreaking to see. At the end, at the grave, I almost lost myself. That scene was so emotional, beautiful and overwhelming I didn't know how to react. This film fascinated me, entertained me, touched me and so much more, I can't do anaythign else then put it on the top of the list and a place in my all time top 10.
I'm a big fan of movies about wars. They are very exciting, very interesting and most of the time they have a good story.
I have to see a lot of classics, so it might happen that I will update this list from time to time.
I have to see a lot of classics, so it might happen that I will update this list from time to time.
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