War, What is it good for?
With today being Armistice Day, it makes sense that this week’s movie challenge is all about war-themed films.
While on the surface "war films" may not be your cup of tea, war movies come in all shapes and sizes, covering everything from ancient historical battles or futuristic sci-fi conflicts against aliens through to more personal pieces. If you’ve got an interest in history, human resilience, or just love a good story with high stakes, there’s a war movie for you. Let’s dive into a few different subgenres, so you can find the perfect watch for this week’s theme.
For those interested in history, war movies set before the 20th century offer a great look at ancient and historical battles. Movies like Braveheart (1995), which tells the story of Scottish hero William Wallace’s fight for freedom, and Gladiator (2000), a tale of revenge set in ancient Rome, bring legendary battles to life with intensity and drama. Then there’s The Last of the Mohicans (1992), which explores love and survival amid the French and Indian War in the 1700s.
World War I and II movies are perhaps the most well-known war films, with iconic depictions of global conflict. For World War I, 1917 (2019) stands out with its gripping, single-shot style as two soldiers race against time to save lives. On the World War II front, Saving Private Ryan (1998) pulls no punches with its intense portrayal of the D-Day landings and The Thin Red Line (1998) offers a haunting look at the Battle of Guadalcanal.
If you’re into sci-fi or future-set films, there are some great futuristic war movies that take the theme of conflict beyond Earth. Starship Troopers (1997) shows humans fighting against alien bugs in a darkly satirical take on military propaganda, while Edge of Tomorrow (2014) combines sci-fi warfare with a unique time-loop twist as Earth fights against an alien invasion. For more grounded sci-fi, Children of Men (2006) shows a dystopian future where society fights to survive as the human race faces extinction.
Finally, if you prefer something a bit more personal and reflective, with less action, there are plenty of war movies that focus on individual lives and experiences without a lot of actual battle scenes. Movies like The Pianist (2002), which tells the harrowing true story of a Jewish pianist’s survival during the Holocaust, or Grave of the Fireflies (1988), an animated film about two siblings struggling to survive in wartime Japan. Lawrence of Arabia (1962), while set during WWI, also takes a deeply introspective look at the life of T.E. Lawrence and the personal impact of war on identity and purpose.
Below we’ve added some suggestions/recommendations for movies that would count for the challenge. Let us know what you’ve watched, what you’re thinking of watching, or whether you’ve got any recommendations to pass to your fellow CineChums.
Suggestions
These movies are mentioned in the video as potential suggestions for the challenge.
Challenge Stats
- Completed the Challenge
- 46
- Total Movies Watched
- 79
- Different Movies Watched
- 60
- Hours Watched
- 152
Most watched actors
Glory (1989)
Uprising (2001)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
The Last Metro (1980)
Uprising (2001)
Operation Mincemeat (2022)
Hearts and Minds (1974)
The Round Up (2010)
The Last Metro (1980)
The Crow (1994)