Recent war films are more like psychological thriller/horror survival films. I approve of this. Even for the Victor war should not be a gaudy thing.

Films like Dunkirk, the German release of All Quiet on the Western Front and even Hollywood’s Fury still show courage, valor and decency but the same time in the face of a much more plausible horror, life under the constant threat of death, enormity of the cost of war.

Happily gone are the ridiculous jingoistic cowboy war films like Pearl Harbor, Midway and their like.
In my opinion, if a war film doesn’t fill you with dread, or disgust at the wastefulness of it - it has failed.

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JSul3 · 70-79

The 1930 Universal picture All Quiet on the Western Front was an anti-war film.

The vast majority of Hollywood productions during WW2 were propaganda pieces.

The film Go For Broke, though flawed in some respects, showed that there were patriotic Americans, who were not white guys, fighting against the Nazis.

The Vietnam war brought several very graphic tales of war. John Wayne's Green Berets was his typical "gung ho" version of war.

Many vets of D Day state that the graphic opening scenes of Saving Private Ryan were accurate.

Richard65 · M

I like war films as much as the next guy, but really, making a film drama about war simply acts to normalise it. It becomes almost clichéd and loses any potency. As someone once said, you should only be allowed to watch war films in a trench whilst someone hurls live grenades at you and a sniper tries to blow your head off with real ammunition. Then you might appreciate something of the reality of it.

wildbill83 · 36-40, M

I think they're absolute dogshit.

the actors they generally cast are a bunch of soyboys wearing makeup... the last kinds of people you'd see in combat, let alone survive it; and everything is too "clean", the actors, the equipment, etc.

they weren't cruising around in chrome plated planes & airbrushed tanks in WW2...

Castenmas · M

@wildbill83 Certainly Ben Affleck in his cgi P40 wouldnt have lasted long.

soar2newhighs

One film, a classic done in B& W, though nowhere near the graphic scenes in some of past war movies was, “Paths of Glory” which I feel touched on the horrors of those who sought fame and glory at the expense those who actually were living the horrors of combat.

JSul3 · 70-79

@soar2newhighs Starring Kirk Douglas!
Great film! I forgot that one when I made my earlier comment.

Bravo.

wonkywinky · 51-55, M

Nah,those films are too up their own ass.
Dunkirk is crap.The 1958 Dunkirk was superior.
WW2 was unique in that a lot of people and soldiers each felt they were fighting for a cause be it good or bad,they knew what they were fighting for.Unlike Vietnam etc.

Musicman · 61-69, M

The two best recent war movies are In the Company of Heroes and the remake of Midway.

Castenmas · M

@Musicman Midway was terrible,

Musicman · 61-69, M

@Castenmas I am sorry you didn't like it. ☹️

Patriot96 · 56-60, C

Even Hollywood cant show true horror of combat

soar2newhighs

@Patriot96 Seen my fair share of war movies. Two that IMO are graphic are We were Soldiers and Hacksaw Ridge.

wildbill83 · 36-40, M

@Patriot96 hollywood films will never capture the context of war; films appeal to the viewers emotions; emotion only gets you killed in combat...

darkmere1983 · 46-50, M

war doesn't frighten me as i don't fear death.

Castenmas · M

@darkmere1983 Then you won’t mind having a tank drive over the top of you, or drowning in the pitch black of a torpedoed ship sinking at night, or burning alive as white phosphorous shrapnel peppers your body.

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DDonde · 31-35, M

Thin Red Line does a good job with this as well, IMO.

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