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....
Home Fires: Series Two (2016)
8.2/10
Starring: Samantha Bond, Ruth Gemmell, Claire Price, Claire Rushbrook
A drama following a group of inspirational women in a rural Cheshire community during World War II. Read more
Hong Kong 1941 (1984)
6.8/10
Director: Leung Po Chi
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Cecilia Yip Tung, Alex Man, Wu Ma
This poignant action drama deals with the often-forgotten Japanese occupation of the island state during WWII, as three young friends struggle to carr... Read more
Hope and Glory (1987)
7.4/10
Director: John Boorman
Starring: Sarah Miles, David Hayman, Derrick O'Connor
John Boorman's critically acclaimed memory of childhood - moving, funny, bittersweet. The main character, Bill, is a seven year old boy, Sarah Miles h... Read more
Hornblower 1: The Even Chance (1998)
Director: Andrew Grieve
Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Robert Lindsay, Dorian Healy, Michael Byrne, Robert Bathurst
Set against the backdrop of the 18th century Anglo-French wars, the bloodiest time in British naval history, these films trace Hornblower as he grows... Read more
Hornblower 2: The Examination For Lieutenant (1998)
Director: Andrew Grieve
Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Robert Lindsay, Denis Lawson, Ian McNeice, Andrew Tiernan
AKA 'The Fire Ship'. A TV dramatisation of CS Forester's classic maritime adventure. Here Horatio Hornblower faces many challenges as he tries to st... Read more
Hornblower 3: The Duchess and the Devil (1999)
8.2/10
Director: Andrew Grieve
Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Robert Lindsay, Cherie Lunghi, Christopher Fulford, Ronald Pickup
Epic in scale and full of action, adventure, suspense and romance, the Hornblower series is based on C S Forester's classic maritime adventures - the... Read more
Hornblower 4: The Frogs and the Lobsters (1999)
Director: Andrew Grieve
Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Robert Lindsay, Antony Sher, John Shrapnel, Samuel West, Peter Va...
AKA 'The Wrong War'. Hornblower's ship, the Indefatigable, together with three other ships carrying French emigre troops (the Frogs) and British Infan... Read more
Hornblower 5: Mutiny (2001)
Director: Andrew Grieve
Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Robert Lindsay, David Warner, Paul McGann, Nicholas Jones, Jamie...
On board the 74-gun frigate Renown, destination unknown, and with a deeply paranoid and deluded Captain, discipline quickly starts to deteriorate and... Read more
Hornblower 7: Loyalty (2003)
Director: Andrew Grieve
Starring: Lorcan Cranitch, Ioan Gruffudd, Robert Lindsay, Paul McGann, Julia Sawalha, Barb...
Our man Horatio takes advantage of his time off and falls in love, but it's not long before he's called back as the Commander of the Hotspur and he se... Read more
Hornblower 8: Duty (2003)
Director: Andrew Grieve
Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Robert Lindsay, Julia Sawalha, Paul McGann, Lorcan Cranitch, Barb...
Hornblower is filled with trepidation on his wedding day, but he has given his word - how could he dishonour his bride Maria and live with himself? Ad... Read more