War and Anti-War Films
"War and Anti-War Films" often acknowledge the horror and heartbreak of war, letting the actual combat fighting or conflict (against nations or humankind) provide the primary plot or background for the action of the film. Typical elements in the action-oriented war plots include POW camp experiences and escapes, submarine warfare, espionage, personal heroism, "war is hell" brutalities, air dogfights, tough trench/infantry experiences, or male-bonding buddy adventures during wartime. Themes explored in war films include combat, survivor and escape stories, tales of gallant sacrifice and struggle, studies of the futility and inhumanity of battle, the effects of war on society, and intelligent and profound explorations of the moral and human issues.
Listed below are all the very best of this genre. Scroll yer heart out....
A Bell for Adano (1945)
6.8/10
Director: Henry King
Starring: Gene Tierney, John Hodiak, William Bendix
Major Joppolo and his men are assigned to restore order to the war-torn Italian town of Adano. He has to manage getting supplies into town without int... Read more
Waterloo (Blu-ray) (1970)
7.3/10
Director: Sergei Bondarchuk
Starring: Christopher Plummer, Orson Welles, Rod Steiger
An epic historical film centering around Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo. Tremendous action and superb cinematography. Stars Rod Steiger, Christopher Pl... Read more
One Against the Wind (1991)
6.9/10
Director: Larry Elikann
Starring: Judy Davis, Anthony Higgins, Sam Neill
Mary Lindell works for the French Red Cross in Occupied France during World War II and helps allied soldiers who have been shot down to escape to the... Read more
The Tenth Man (1988)
6.9/10
Director: Jack Gold
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Kristin Scott Thomas, Derek Jacobi, Cyril Cusack, Brenda Bruce
Based on the novel by Graham Greene, this is a story of a French advocate Chavel (Sir Anthony Hopkins), who, while imprisoned by the Germans during th... Read more
The Burmese Harp (Blu-ray) (1956)
8/10
Director: Kon Ichikawa
Starring: Shoji Yasui, Rentaro Mikuni, Naito Taketoshi
A moving anti-war drama about a wounded Japanese soldier in British custody during the last days of World War II. Sent out into the Burmese jungle to... Read more
Eagle Shadow Fist (1973)
Director: Zhu Wu
Starring: Jackie Chan, Wang Qing
In 1937, Japanese Imperial Forces invaded and occupied areas of mainland China. With their occupation came oppression and brutality. Jackie Chan is a... Read more
Shaurya (2008)
7.4/10
Director: Samar Khan
Starring: Rahul Bose, Kay Kay Menon, Seema Biswas, Deepak Dobriyal, Javed Jaffrey
Captain Javed Khan has been charged with mutiny, treason and killing a fellow officer. Old friends Akash and Sid are assigned as defense and prosecuti... Read more
Three Came Home (1950)
7.4/10
Director: Jean Negulesco
Starring: Claudette Colbert, Sessue Hayakawa
Based on the autobiographical book by Agnes Newton Keith. Claudette Colbert stars as Agnes Newton Keith, who, along with her British husband, was arre... Read more
Dunkirk (Blu-Ray) (1958)
7/10
Director: Leslie Norman
Starring: Bernard Lee, John Mills, Meredith Edwards, Richard Attenborough, Robert Urquhart
A group of soldiers lead by Corporal "Tubby" Bins (John Mills), stranded in France, must make their way to the shores of Dunkirk in hopes of a rescue.... Read more
Léon Morin, Priest (1961)
7.7/10
Director: Jean-Pierre Melville
Starring: Jean-Paul Belmondo, Emmanuele Riva
In World War II, the widow Barny sees the Italian soldiers arriving in occupied Saint Bernard while walking to her job. Barny lives with her daughter... Read more