Since the birth of cinema, war movies they acted as powerful vehicles to convey distressing anti-war messages, exploiting the deteriorating effects of conflict. While some films may present themselves as anti-war, in the process they often end up glorifying battle, and the shedding of blood seems like a heroic act to be praised and praised. However, there have been some truly effective anti-war films that have shown the soulless, unnecessary, and inhumane nature of allowing citizens to fight and die for political causes from which they will not even benefit.
All of the greatest war films of all time echo themes around the need to end conflict, but not all of them were outright anti-war. Some of the most compelling anti-war films were produced while conflicts were still ongoing and acted as calls for those with the power to do so to end unnecessary violence and ensure that soldiers could reunite with their families sooner. of facing unspeakable harm. With films that convey both the personal and the political, The best anti-war films show the harrowing realism that lies at the heart of all forms of violence.
15
Johnny Got His Gun (1971)
Directed by Dalton Trumbo
The famous Roman Holiday screenwriter Dalton Trumbo adapted his own 1938 novel Johnny got his gun to one of the most excruciatingly dark anti-war films ever made. Set in the middle of World War I, it starred Timothy Bottoms as Joe Bonham, a young soldier who woke up to discover that, after being hit by an artillery shell, he had lost his eyes, ears, mouth, nose and limbs. However, despite being unable to communicate, he remained conscious, a prisoner in his own body, with no means of warning the world about the true price of war.
14
Born on the 4th of July (1989)
Directed by Oliver Stone
Born on the Fourth of July was Oliver Stone’s powerful anti-war story that detailed the life of Ron Kovic (Tom Cruise) over 20 years. Although young Kovic grew up with an unwavering desire to fight for his country, military service during the Vietnam War left him paralyzed. This true story turned Kovic into a passionate anti-war activist for he could share with the world his own difficult experiences and the empty life of alcoholism and injuries that awaited him when he returned home after trading his ability to walk to fight for a war he didn’t believe in.
13
The Great Dictator (1940)
Directed by Charlie Chaplin
As the definitive comedian of the silent film era, it’s incredible to note that when Chaplin finally decided to open his mouth, he had something vital to say. The Great Dictator was a hilarious satire that showed the true absurdity and egomania of tyrannical leader Adolf Hitler by mocking fascism, anti-Semitism and Nazis. Although Chaplin later said that if he had known the true extent of the Holocaust, he might not have done so. The Great Dictator (through BBC), remains the most pressing example of the general public’s opposition to the war as it was happening.
12
Platoon (1986)
Directed by Oliver Stone
Platoon was one of the most realistic and urgent of all Vietnam War films, whose harrowing ground-level view was made all the more effective by writer-director Oliver Stone’s genuine wartime experiences. Stone was a veteran of the 25th Infantry Division from 1967 to 1968 and was wounded twice in combat. He wrote Platoon based on his own war experiences. With a strong story elevated by fantastic performances from Charlie Sheen and Willem Dafoe, Platoon He presented the war in a way that no one before him had and made an honest and powerful plea to end the bloodshed.
11
Schindler’s List (1993)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
The true story of Oskar Schindler He was one of the most inspiring of the entire Second World War, as he exercised his power as a factory owner to save the lives of thousands of Polish Jewish refugees from the Holocaust. Directed by Steven Spielberg, this powerful anti-war drama signaled the director’s maturity, as the Best Picture winner earned a reputation as one of the greatest films of all time. With a moving performance from Liam Neeson as Schindler and a surprisingly vile performance from Ralph Fiennes as the soulless Nazi Amon Göth, Schindler’s List showed the horror and humanity of World War II.
10
All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
Directed by Lewis Milestone
Despite being released almost 100 years ago, All Quiet on the Western Front has remained among the most powerful anti-war films of all time, as its terrifying depiction of the First World War will forever be etched in viewers’ minds. With a surprising performance from Lew Ayres as Paul Bäumer, All Quiet on the Western Front showed the shell-shocked nature of conflict veterans. As a gruesome and morbid war story, director Lewis Milestone made a doc that would stand the test of time and remain highly relevant, with an excellent 2022 remake in the works.
9
The Deer Hunter (1978)
Directed by Michael Cimino
The Deer Hunter showed the deteriorating effects of the Vietnam War on soldiers’ psychology better than any other film. What began as a group of three close-knit friends from Pennsylvania setting out to fight for their country quickly turned into a heartbreaking story of personal destruction, best summed up by Christopher Walken as Corporal Nikanor Chevotarevichwho won an Oscar for playing a veteran who would rather stay in Vietnam and play underground Russian roulette than face the horrors he experienced. Lasting more than three hours, The Deer Hunter was a captivating and terrifying anti-war film.
8
The Thin Red Line (1998)
Directed by Terrence Malick
The thin red line was Terrence Malick’s powerful adaptation of James Jones’ 1962 novelwhich fictionalized the Battle of Mount Austen in World War II. With an impressive cast that includes Sean Penn, Adrien Brody and George Clooney, this darkly philosophical film captured the emotional depth and harrowing intensity of those caught up in conflict. While The thin red line underperformed at the box office and was overshadowed by the success of Saving Private Ryan in the same year, it remains a vital document of anti-war cinema.
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
Director Stanley Kubrick made several incredible anti-war films throughout his career, all touching on different aspects of the conflict. All-metal jacket itself played out like two different films, as viewers were subjected to the rigorous challenges of army boot camp before being thrown straight into the sheer intensity of the ongoing conflict in Vietnam. Although the entire film boasted a powerful anti-war message, the most effective aspect of this film was Vincent D’Onofrio’s portrayal of Private Leonard “Gomer Pyle” Lawrencean obese and ridiculed recruit who suffered a mental breakdown and ended his own life before he even made it to war.
6
The Boot (1981)
Directed by Wolfgang Petersen
The film about the West German submarine The boot portrayed the excitement and tedious nature of the U-96 crew’s life during the First World War. However, as the crew sets out on a dangerous patrol in the Battle of the Atlantic, they experience the sheer terror and claustrophobic nature of war at sea, where no matter where they turn, there is no way to avoid the conflict of battle. Like a great, epic story, The boot captured the intensity of their conditions with a believability that most war films never achieve.
5
Paths of Glory (1957)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
The anti-militarist stance Paths of Glory It was highly controversial when it was first released in 1957, but that’s exactly why it has lasted so well over the last few decades. With Kirk Douglas as Colonel Daxdirector Stanley Kubrick showed the courage it took to stand up for what’s right, as Dax refused to send his men on a suicide mission. This refusal to engage in unnecessary bloodshed meant that Dax was court-martialed for cowardice, in a development that highlighted with poignant accuracy the hypocrisy of war and the men behind the scenes who view human life as disposable.
4
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Directed by Isao Takahata
It’s rare for Western audiences to see the WWII conflict from the Japanese perspective, which made Studio Ghibli’s animated film Grave of the fireflies even more powerful. Being the story of two orphaned brothers struggling to survive in the final months of World War II, the horror and heartache were on full display as this anime showed the true cost of war on society’s most vulnerable citizens: the children. With a chilling story that ended with the death of a four-year-old child, Grave of the fireflies did not shy away from presenting a sternly anti-war stance.
3
Doctor Strange (1964)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
political satire Doctor Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb starred the incomparable comedian Peter Sellers playing three roles. As a satire on the Cold War conflict and fears of an imminent nuclear holocaust, Doctor Strange It has come to be considered one of the best comedies ever produced and one of the most effective anti-war films of all time. With a sharp humor that is as relevant today as it was 60 years ago, Stanley Kubrick truly created an eternal time capsule exploring the ridiculousness of conflict with Doctor Strange.
2
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola powerfully transferred the horror of Joseph Conrad’s novel Heart of Darkness to the conflict-filled setting of the Vietnam War for his cinematic masterpiece, Apocalypse now. How the winner of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film FestivalThis timeless classic showed the deteriorating effects of war, as demonstrated by Martin Sheen’s impeccable performance as Captain Willard and Marlon Brando’s astonishing performance as Colonel Kurtz. From iconic quotes like “I love the smell of napalm in the morning” to his classic “Ride of the Valkyries” helicopter sequence, Apocalypse now reached the very heart of darkness.
1
Come and See (1985)
Directed by Elem Klimov
Although Hollywood has produced its fair share of influential anti-war films, none have ever reached the harrowing intensity of Elem Kilmov’s Soviet war drama. Come and see. As the story of a child soldier named Flyora, Come and see did not shy away from portraying the intense and destructive nature of life during the Nazi German occupation of Belarus. With a mix of hyperrealism and disorienting surrealism, Come and see was the most powerful anti-war film ever made, forcing viewers to confront its existential, psychological, political and apocalyptic themes.
Source: BBC