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....
Von Ryan's Express (1965)
7.1/10
Director: Mark Robson
Starring: Frank Sinatra, Raffaella Carra, Trevor Howard
As the Allies begin to push the Nazis back toward Germany, U.S. combat pilot Colonel Joseph Ryan (Sinatra) is shot down and placed in a prison camp. I... Read more
War and Peace (1966)
7.9/10
Director: Sergei Bondarchuk
Starring: Vyacheslav Tikhonov, Ludmila Savelyeva, Sergei Bondarchuk
Sergei Bondarchuk's massive epic production of Tolstoy's masterpiece is remarkable for its production values - it took five years to complete and cost... Read more
War Collection - Arnhem: A Bridge Too Far / The Dambusters / Battle of the Atlantic (1975)
'Arnhem': A Bridge Too Far' - Illustrated with the pick of British, German and American archive film, much of it rarely seen, this programme also talk... Read more
War Dogs (2016)
7.1/10
Director: Todd Phillips
Starring: Jonah Hill, Bradley Cooper, Miles Teller, Ana de Armas
With the war in Iraq raging on, Efraim Diveroli offers childhood friend David Packouz a chance to make big bucks by becoming an international arms dea... Read more
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
7.5/10
Director: Matt Reeves
Starring: Steve Zahn, Woody Harrelson, Andy Serkis, Judy Greer, Toby Kebbell, Terry Notary
Caesar and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless Colonel. After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Cae... Read more
War Horse (2011)
7.2/10
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: David Thewlis, Emily Watson, Niels Arestrup, Peter Mullan, Jeremy Irvine
Based on Michael Morpurgo's childrens book and its subsequent stage adaptation, this powerful drama set against the backdrop of World War I follows yo... Read more
War Witch ( Rebelle ) (2012)
7.1/10
Director: Kim Nguyen
Starring: Rachel Mwanza, Alain Bastien, Serge Kanyinda, Ralph Prosper, Mizinga Mwinga
A.k.a. "Rebelle". Komona (Rachel Mwanza) is only 12 years old when she is kidnapped by rebel soldiers and enslaved to a life of guerrilla warfare in t... Read more
War, Inc. (2008)
5.7/10
Director: Joshua Seftel
Starring: Ben Kingsley, Dan Aykroyd, Joan Cusack, John Cusack, Marisa Tomei, Hilary Duff
A political satire set in Turaqistan, a country occupied by an American private corporation run by a former US Vice-President (Dan Aykroyd). In an eff... Read more
Waterloo (1970)
7.3/10
Director: Sergei Bondarchuk
Starring: Rod Steiger, Christopher Plummer, Orson Welles
An epic historical film centering around Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo. Tremendous action and superb cinematography. Stars Rod Steiger, Christopher Pl... 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