Every movie fan has their favorite genre, be it action, adventure, horror, or award-winning
drama.
But it�s the stories of those who take up arms to defend a nation that can capture every
one of those strengths.
War films combine all these elements into tales of survival and heroism that, when done
right, can stand as lasting memorials for decades.
Here are Screen Rant�s 5 Best Military Movies of All Time.
Black Hawk Down
When two American Black Hawk helicopters were shot down in enemy territory in 1993, the
rescue slowly turned from an hour long mission into an overnight siege.
The Battle of " Mogadishu" would be re-told in Ridley Scott�s Black Hawk Down, dropping
audiences into the confusion, the endless firefights, and the incredible bravery that
managed to save the mission.
The battle made headlines at home, but the movie showed that hearing about combat is
nothing compared to seeing it up close.
Apocalypse Now
Francis Ford Coppola�s epic war story may have been a nightmare to film, but he couldn�t
have known how influential Apocalypse Now would eventually become.
When an American army colonel goes rogue during the Vietnam War, a soldier is given orders
to track him down, and kill him.
The movie isn�t based on any real events of the War.
Instead it's an updated version of the story found in the famous novel "Heart of Darkness."
Apocalypse Now has more to say about the horrors of war and humanity in general than Vietnam
in particular, and it's seen today as one of the greatest films ever made.
Platoon
Unlike other war movie directors, Oliver Stone actually served in the Vietnam War � making
Platoon a more realistic story, even if it is fiction.
The film was based on real battles and soldiers he saw firsthand.
Stone�s commitment to realism meant putting the cast through real military training.
He even launched explosive attacks while they slept to leave them as worn out as he had
been during the war.
In the end, the movie�s story of one man�s loss of innocence spoke to an entire generation,
and Platoon became a classic for military fans looking for realism, not just spectacle.
Full Metal Jacket
"Vietnam can kill me, but it can't make me care."
The movie�s tagline tells you all you need to know about its view of the Vietnam War,
following a single platoon from basic training to the actual combat.
Director Stanley Kubrick focused almost entirely on the insanity and dark humor war makes possible,
and he explored what killing can actually do to the average person.
Making the case that not every war is glorious - or even rational � the movie�s message
is summed up perfectly by the Marines� unforgettable battle song:
Saving Private Ryan
A squad of soldiers heading through World War 2-era France to find just one private
sounds like a small story, but Saving Private Ryan was anything but.
The movie begins with a massive re-enactment of the Omaha Beach assault.
Director Steven Spielberg used more than 1,000 extras to capture the scale and intensity
of the D-Day invasion in this 27-minute long sequence; and it was just the beginning.
The story that followed recreated the war in detail, with many veterans stating it was
as close to the actual battles as possible.
The movie renewed interest in the war, and forever changed how it would be shown on film
� ensuring its place as arguably the greatest war movie ever made.
Conclusion
So what do you think of our list?
Did we miss any of your favorite military movies?
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