Today marks the 35th anniversary of the release of Apocalypse Now. With this in mind, we thought we would take a look back at our favourite war films.
Most are terrified of the notion of watching an old war film, one that inevitably was filmed in the 1920’s from a dodgy World War I fighter airplane and unfortunately, more often than not, a little boring. However, war films have changed dramatically over the last few decades, providing platforms for arguing humanitarian issues but also becoming some of the most engaging cinema pieces being released. Here are seven war films you need to watch...
1. Schindler’s List
Spielberg’s first film to make the list, Schindler’s List is perhaps one of the greatest films depicting the horror of war and its impact on those affected.
2. Platoon
Considered by many veterans to be the most realistic version of events in Vietnam, Platoon is one of Oliver Stone’s war masterpieces, besides Born on the Fourth of July.
3. Saving Private Ryan
Entirely worth the watch for the first twenty minutes alone... Those beach landings, that sound and that atmosphere. Second to none.
4. Inglourious Basterds
Not a war movie per se, but perhaps one of the best scripted war related films, Inglourious Basterds is arguably one of Tarantino’s best scripts.
5. The Hurt Locker
Kathryn Bigelow picked up the Oscar for Best Director for this one and what an interesting piece this is; a war film, directed by a woman.
6. Braveheart
Not a depiction of modern warfare, Braveheart focuses on the struggle to be free and the price one pays for their freedom.
7. Apocalypse Now.
Another of the Vietnam War classics, it's difficult to believe that the stunning Apocalypse Now is now 35 years old. The film revolves around a soldie who is sent to assassinate a colonel who has declared himself as a God to a local tribe.