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....
Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. Amethyst (1957)
Director: Michael Anderson
Starring: Richard Todd, William Hartnell, Akim Tamiroff, Donald Houston, Keye Luke
The Royal Navy Frigate H.M.S. Amethyst (whilst on a peaceful mission) comes under fire and is run aground up the Yangtse River. After rescue attempts... Read more
Yossi and Jagger (2002)
Director: Eytan Fox
Starring: Ohad Knoller, Yehuda Levi
This unusual gay-themed war drama from Israel tracks a squad of soldiers stationed along the Lebanese border and the romantic relationship that develo... Read more
Youth Without Youth (2007)
6.3/10
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Tim Roth, Alexandra Maria Lara, Bruno Ganz, Andre Hennicke, Marcel Iures
At 70, Professor Dominic (Tim Roth) is contemplating suicide; his wife is dead, and he can't seem to complete his life's work on the origin of languag... Read more
Zelary (2003)
7.7/10
Director: Ondrej Trojan
Starring: Ana Geislerova, Gyorgy Cserhalmi, Ivan Trojan, Miroslav Donutil
Based on Kveta Legatova's novella about Eliska (Ana Geislerova) a nurse involved in the Czech resistance movement in Prague. When forced to flee into... Read more
Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
7.4/10
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Starring: Joel Edgerton, Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke
Controversial military thriller from director Kathryn Bigelow ("The Hurt Locker") about the mission by American special operations forces to capture o... Read more
Zero Dark Thirty ( Blu-ray ) (2012)
7.4/10
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Starring: Joel Edgerton, Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke
Controversial military thriller from director Kathryn Bigelow ("The Hurt Locker") about the mission by American special operations forces to capture o... Read more
Zero Dark Thirty ( Blu-ray ) (Copy) (2012)
7.4/10
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Starring: Joel Edgerton, Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke
Controversial military thriller from director Kathryn Bigelow ("The Hurt Locker") about the mission by American special operations forces to capture o... Read more
Zozo (2005)
6.7/10
Director: Josef Fares
Starring: Imad Creidi, Antoinette Turk, Elias Gergi, Yasmine Awad, Carmen Lebbos, Viktor A...
The Lebanese civil war is in full swing, but young Zozo (Imad Creidi) and his family try to carry on as normally as possible. Zozo's grandparents have... Read more
Zulu (1964)
7.8/10
Director: Cy Endfield
Starring: Stanley Baker, Michael Caine, Jack Hawkins, James Booth
Michael Caine stars in this epic story of the battle of Rorke's Drift, on January 22nd 1879, where 1,200 British troops found themselves completely ou... Read more
Zulu (Blu-ray) (1964)
7.7/10
Director: Cy Endfield
Starring: Stanley Baker, Michael Caine, Jack Hawkins, James Booth
Michael Caine stars in this epic story of the battle of Rorke's Drift, on January 22nd 1879, where 1,200 British troops found themselves completely ou... Read more