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....
An Empress and the Warriors (2008)
5.9/10
Director: Tony Ching Siu-Tung
Starring: Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Xiaodong Guo, Kelly Chen
In the tradition of "Seven Swords" comes the action saga of a kingdom locked in a desperate battle for survival. In ancient China, in the vacuum of th... Read more
Andersonville (1995)
7.5/10
Director: John Frankenheimer
Starring: Jarrod Emick, Frederic Forrest, Ted Marcoux, Cliff De Young
This harrowing Civil War drama focuses on the inhumane conditions suffered by prisoners of war at the confederate Andersonville compound. Powerful, ha... Read more
Angels One Five (1952)
6.5/10
Director: George More O'Ferrall
Starring: Jack Hawkins, Michael Denison, Dulcie Gray
The title refers to the cognomen bestowed upon a group of WWII British fighter pilots whose squadron leader, Tiger Small (Jack Hawkins), is taken out... Read more
Anthony Quinn Triple Pack: The River's Edge, The Visit, The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1957)
Director: Bernhard Wicki, Stanley Kramer, Allan Dwan
Starring: Anthony Quinn, Ray Milland, Debra Paget, Ingrid Bergman, Anna Magnani, Virna Lis...
The River's Edge: A murderous thief on the run with stolen loot forces a poor rancher to guide him across the desert into Mexico. Accompanying them i... Read more
Anzac Girls (2014)
8/10
Starring: Georgia Flood, Antonia Prebble, Laura Brent, Anna McGahan, Caroline Craig
A moving six-part miniseries based on true stories of Australian and New Zealand nurses at Gallipoli and the Western Front. 'ANZAC Girls' is based on... Read more
Anzio (1968)
6/10
Director: Edward Dmytryk
Starring: Robert Mitchum, Peter Falk, Earl Holliman, Robert Ryan, Arthur Kennedy
AKA 'The Battle for Anzio'. This blazing actioner about the Allied assault on Italy in WWII features spectacular battle footage and an all-star cast i... Read more
Apocalypse Now (1979)
8.5/10
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Sam Bottoms, Robert Duvall, Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Laurence Fishburne, Har...
A flawed masterpiece, intended as the definitive Vietnam film, based on Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness'. With Martin Sheen, Robert Duvall, Dennis... Read more
Apocalypse Now ( Blu-ray ) (1979)
8.5/10
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Albert Hall, Dennis Hopper, Frederic Forrest, Harrison Ford, Laurence Fishburne,...
Francis Ford Coppola directed, produced, and co-wrote this masterful Vietnam War-updating of Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness." The film chronicles... Read more
Apocalypse Now Redux (1979)
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Frederic Forrest, Laurence Fishburne...
Huge production difficulties were faced by Francis Ford Coppola while shooting this epic-scale Vietnam War drama, including disastrous weather conditi... Read more
Appointment In London (1953)
Director: Philip Leacock
Starring: Dirk Bogarde, Ian Hunter, Dinah Sheridan
The engrossing story of a British bomber squadron in W.W.II and a high-pressured officer (Dirk Bogarde) who insists on flying a dangerous mission in s... Read more