10 Classic Epic War Movies That Still Impress Today

THE war The film genre has produced some of the best and most influential films of all time. Since Georges Méliès made what is widely considered to be one of the first war films, Sea combat in Greece By 1897, the genre had evolved and produced many iconic films. While cinema evolves, the quality of films from a given era does not change, and some are still considered extremely important works of art that have stood the test of time.

Naturally, many war films have not aged well, but in some cases, hard-hitting war films can stay with you emotionally forever. Like any film genre, the war film can take many forms. Some may portray the brutality of combat with hard-hitting battle scenes regardless of their accuracy, while others may delve into the psyche of those involved in the conflict. However, for a war film to be considered a classic and impress modern audiences, it must have certain attributes.

10

Paths of Glory

Directed by Stanley Kubrick (1957)

One of the earliest examples of a war film that still holds up today is Stanley Kubrick’s 1957 anti-war epic, Paths of Glory. The legendary filmmaker brings all of his trademark cinematic skills to the film, along with a great cast, who superbly bring to life the story of three soldiers tried for cowardice. The film, which presents some fascinating behind-the-scenes facts, is rightly considered a timeless classic of the genre.

More recently, fans of the war genre have witnessed sublime camerawork in films such as 1917 2019, with its unique photos proving to be an immersive experience of life in the trenches. However, it is Kubrick’s camera work that is even more impressive, given that he had the limitations of the time to work with, in terms of the camera technology that was available to him. Paths of Glory stands up because of its ability to not only shock but also offer an impartial depiction of war.

9

Gettysburg

Directed by Ron Maxwell (1993)

Some of the best war films tend to have one thing in common; they are incredibly long. While this is not a criticism of the genre, it is indicative of the fact that war films generally need to be a factual reenactment of past events. Naturally, this isn’t always the case, but one film with a length that would have made moviegoers wish for a break was 1993’s. Gettysburg.

Focusing on the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, the film has a duration of more than four hoursbut the need to accurately portray key moments of the battle, along with multiple character arcs, justifies its length.

Filmed on a real battlefield, Gettysburg still offers a stunning depiction of the war during its three-day conflict. Gettysburg is a must-see epic civil war film that manages to maintain historical accuracy with a stellar cast.

8

The Last of the Mohicans

Directed by Michael Mann (1992)

Watch any film by the great Michael Mann and one thing will become apparent very quickly; he has meticulous attention to detail. Set at the height of the French and Indian War, The Last of the Mohicans tells a sweeping story of Hawkeye, played by Daniel Day-Lewis, son of the Mohican chief Chingachgook. The film is considered one of Daniel Day Lewis’ best and still holds up wonderfully well.

Mann has previously admitted that adapting the 1936 film had been in his head since he was three years old, and you can see the love and attention to detail in his final work. The Last of the Mohicans still holds up today thanks to Mann utilizing the film’s scope and beautiful setting to enhance his main characters’ journey, while also strangely adding more than just a touch of emotion to the narrative.

7

Lawrence of Arabia

Directed by David Lean (1962)

When considering what makes a war film still impressive in modern times, you need to consider some of the reasons why some war films, especially from the 1950s and 1960s, don’t work as well now. Maybe they have outdated quality and their pace is too slow. These are not attributes you could use in directing David Lean’s 1962 epic film Lawrence of Arabia.

For starters, the film’s scope and beautiful visuals are still extremely impressive. It’s another classic, sweeping and graceful war film that manages to maintain an engaging narrative within its timeless production design. Peter O’Toole’s Lawrence is one of cinema’s great characters, and his conflicted and violent journey, with his alliances between the Arab and British sides, is as captivating today as it was in 1962.

6

A bridge too far

Directed by Richard Attenborough (1977)

Much like the doomed wartime operation on which it was based, Richard Attenborough’s operation A bridge too far It had a chaotic production but has since become one of the best war films of the 1970s. The film tells the story of Britain’s heaviest defeat after D-Day during the Second World War and, in particular, the fateful Operation Market-Garden. It was also filmed before the invention of CGI, so everything you see on screen is real.

With a stellar cast including Sean Connery, Lawrence Olivier, Michael Caine and Ryan O’Neal, the film has become a classic on television programming during most holidays. The fact that the film focuses on a failed mission makes the film’s success a remarkable achievement. It could easily have gotten bogged down in the failures of Operation Market-Garden, but instead it offers an extremely ambitious look at the failed mission and is an emotional and poignant reminder of a time of conflict.

5

Spartacus

Directed by Stanley Kubrick (1960)

Another example of a war film that has not only stood the test of time, but also inspired countless imitations and subsequent war films, is Spartacus. The film had its battles ahead when star Kirk Douglas had a major falling out with original director Anthony Mann, so Stanley Kubrick was brought in to complete the film that audiences still love. It’s an endlessly watchable and quotable war film.

Despite experts claiming that the Oscar winner Spartacus is historically inaccurate, the film is one of the most influential epics of its time. Without the film, people like Gladiator and its sequence Gladiator IIwhich was also criticized by historians, would not exist in the same form. Kubrick’s masterpiece revels in its grandiose settings, and the perfectly executed battle between Kirk Douglas and Woody Strode’s characters matches anything from more recent times.

4

Saving Private Ryan

Directed by Steven Speilberg (1998)

Speilberg’s excellent depiction of the D-Day landings during World War II, plus the attempts to bring home a paratrooper, is now old enough to be considered a classic. However, this is exactly what Saving Private Ryan became; a classic war film with one of the best and most disturbing opening battle scenes of all time.

Saving Private Ryan has many other harrowing scenes and holds up incredibly well, 26 years later. The opening battle scene on Omaha Beach remains an extremely impressive technical achievement and is still a difficult sequence to watch due to the scenes of butchered bodies and death.

It’s a chilling reenactment of the real conflict. Ultimately, though, the film has lasting appeal thanks to the narrative’s central story, which focuses on the mission to find Private Ryan and inform him of his brothers’ deaths. Iis a story of brothers in arms, punctuated by extreme violence and great acting.

3

Platoon

Directed by Oliver Stone (1986)

The image of Willem Dafoe’s sergeant. Elias, with his arms raised after being shot in Platoonbecame one of the most iconic in the history of war cinema. It helped sell the film through its marketing campaign and ensured that the film was firmly rooted in pop culture. Director Stone has overseen many films that have stood the test of time and Platoon is one of his best films and an icon of the 1980s.

Platoon is one of the best Vietnam War films, and the film holds up incredibly today for a number of reasons. It is based on Stone’s own war experiences and, unlike other war films of the era, offers little in the way of heroism for its protagonists. Instead, it inspires a sense of fear in the viewer so that they can somehow empathize with the soldiers’ plight. The battle scenes still pack a strong punch, but it’s the depiction of war as utterly meaningless that leaves a lasting impression.

Directed by Stanley Kubrick (1987)

1957 Paths of Glory may have been Stanley Kubrick’s most interesting anti-war statement, but it’s his 1977 classic, All-metal jacketthis not only shows the horrors of the battlefield, but also condemns the entire idea of ​​war itself. It holds up well thanks in large part to Kubrick’s predictably assured direction, but also to the way it depicts the atrocities of war even before the troops set foot in battle.

R. Lee Ermy’s portrayal of the intimidating and confrontational Sergeant Hartmann is one of the main reasons why the first third of the film so memorably depicts how soldiers become desensitized to their recruitment into military service, even before the conflict begins in earnest. . It’s these moments of human despair, in addition to the excellent battle scenes, that make All-metal jacket a force yet to be reckoned with. When you witness Vincent D’Onofrio’s Private Pyle reach Endgame, the film lingers long in the memory.

1

Apocalypse now

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola (1979)

When analyzing what happens in the production of a modern war film like 1917or All Quiet on the Western Frontyou will discover that their DNA comes from one of the greatest and most influential war films of all time; 1979 Apocalypse now. Any war film released after Coppola’s masterpiece would be influenced by it in some way. The film is so iconic and features countless moments that are ingrained in the consciousness of moviegoers everywhere.

Therefore, it remains today for a number of reasons. Marlon Brando’s performance gained legendary status, thanks to reports of how he ended up adopting ‘method’ in the role. The soundtrack features songs that today are not associated with anything other than the scenes in which they appear in the film, in addition to the dialogues being constantly referenced in pop culture. It’s an opera war film that has stood the test of time, with images that are now synonymous with the genre.