War is arguably the most powerful genre in cinema. While movies are designed to entertain at a fundamental level,they can also offer commentary and perspective on real-world issues. Whether current or historical, films can provide education and insight into the horrors of war in ways that no other forms of media can. Movies likeAll Quiet on the Western FrontandCome and Seeprofoundly impacted audiences, contextualizing war and opening a discussion on its futility.
As prominent as war has been in human history, movies dealing with it have a considerably rich history that, more often than not, coincides with global events of the time.Some movies serve as anti-war statement pieces, while others use conflict as a backdrop for more focused narratives. Despite these movies often depicting quite disturbing subject matter,they can still be stunningly realized visually. This is a selection of the 10 best-looking war movies ever made.
10’Full Metal Jacket' (1987)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
A Vietnam War story in two halves,Full Metal Jacketfollows the freshly enlisted Private Joker (Matthew Modine). A victim of ruthless drill instructor Sergeant Hartman’s (R. Lee Ermey) wrath, Joker is forced to take the bumbling but well-intentioned Private Pyle (Vincent D’Onofrio) under his wing. Post boot-camp, Joker finds himself on the frontlines of the horrific conflict, witnessing firsthand the brutality and overall senselessness of a war that should’ve never happened.
Legendary directorStanley Kubrick’s war movies are unlike anything else the genre has to offer. Rich with metaphors and densely layered,Full Metal Jacketis perhaps his most intricately designed war movie. The relatively civilian first half gives way to asecond half of sweeping action sequences captured with a technical gustothat only Kubrick could manage with such finesse. As horrific as much ofFull Metal Jacketis,there’s no denying that it’s breathtaking to look at.
Full Metal Jacket
9’Ran' (1985)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa
Set in medieval Japan, aging warlord Hidetora Ichimonji (Tatsuya Nakadai) decides to retire and divides his ownership between his three sons. Wishing only to spend his final years with his kin, Ichimonji is unaware of the lust for power and the level of corruption that such a decision incurs. While previously banished for his lack of trust in his brothers, the youngest son, Saburo (Daisuke Ryu) is his father’s only hope in preventing a great betrayal that would see devastating consequences.
Among the most prolific filmmakers to have ever lived,Akira Kurosawais no amateurwhen it comes to crafting expansive war epics. As thrilling as it is vibrant and expressive,Ranis a masterwork that has stood strong against the test of timeand remains one of the most gorgeous war movies cinema has to offer.The spectacle is undeniable and dazzling, executed with the sort of technical precision one could only expect from a master such as Kurosawa.
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8’Dunkirk' (2017)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
The year is 1940. 4000 British and French soldiers are trapped in the port town of Dunkirk, France, awaiting evacuation as an overwhelming German force advances on them. This telling of the miracle at Dunkirk is given three different perspectives: a pair of fighter pilots, a group of soldiers stuck on the beach, and a civilian vessel on its way to assist in the evacuation.
DirectorChristopher Nolanis one of the brightest minds to come out of Hollywood in the modern age, andDunkirkis among his best works. While it does offer the grandiose spectacle one would come to expect from a Nolan movie, it’s alsoone of those blockbusters that is as engaging as it is thoughtful. The real story of what happened at Dunkirk is told in an unconventional but thoroughly compelling manner that separates it from other films of the genre. One ofthe all-time best British war movies,Dunkirkis visceral, intense, beautifully crafted, and, in parts, uplifting.
7’Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb' (1964)
After an overzealous American Air Force general calls for a bombing attack on the Soviet Union, a group of politicians and military advisors seek to rectify the mistake before it’s too late.Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the BombshowcasesStanley Kubrick’s anti-war sentiments and his affinity for off-beat humor.
Not onlyone of the greatest satires ever made,Dr. Strangeloveoperates on an entirely different wavelength than most other comedies.The jokes are prickly, pitch-black and absurd, but the backdrop and real-world parallels (especially considering when the movie was made) are eerily serious.Dr. Strangeloveis amasterful lampooning of the established governmentthat still feels fresh and inventive. Along with this,Dr. Strangelovelooks fantastic. As meticulously curated as one could expect from Kubrick,the black-and-white photography captures striking visual contraststhat wonderfully complement the movie’s dark humor.
Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb
6’Inglourious Basterds' (2009)
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Set in Nazi-occupied France during the height of World War II, an American Military unit of Jewish commandos led by Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) bring judgment upon any Nazis unlucky enough to cross their path. Meanwhile, a plot of revenge is hatched against the ruthless SS Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz)by a young Jewish girl and victim of his tyranny, Shosanna (Mélanie Laurent).
Viciously entertaining and utterly untypical, as one would expect from aQuentin Tarantinowar drama,Inglorious Basterdsalsobrings the visuals to back up its extensive and gripping dialogue sequences. While not overtly flashy as to take away from its stellar array of performances,Inglorious Basterdshas its fair share of visually stunning setpieces—the burning of a Nazi-controlled movie theater being a particularly memorable feast for the eyes. Love him or hate him,Tarantino has a knack for curating an arresting atmosphere, andInglourious Basterdsis no exception.
Inglourious Basterds
5’Lawrence of Arabia' (1962)
Directed by David Lean
British Lieutenant T.E. Lawrence (Peter O’Toole) is sent to Arabia to serve as an intermediary between Arab and British military forces to enforce an allyship against the Turks. Going against the orders of his supervisors, Lawrence soon finds himself organizing a guerrilla army against an oppressive threat. While his escapades aren’t always looked upon favorably, one thing is certain; he brings change to whatever landscape he steps upon.
Lawrence of Arabiais a sweeping war epic, the scale of which (especially considering when it was made) is nearly impossible to quantify.Much of it simply needs to be seen to be believed.Desert landscapes have never been so elegantly capturedas they are here.Lawrence of Arabiais a product of unbridled passion and the spectacle of it all reflects that, daring in the best of ways and impossible to look away from.
Lawrence of Arabia
4’Waltz with Bashir' (2008)
Directed by Ari Folman
Told from an autobiographical perspective,Waltz With Bashirdepicts Israeli directorAri Folman’s personal experiences as a teenage soldier during the 1982 Lebanon War. He interviews friends and fellow veterans in an attempt to reconstruct his memories of past events. Horrific truths are unearthed as Folman learns details of some of history’s ugliest atrocities.
An animated documentary unlike anything to have come before it or since,Waltz with Bashiris a harrowingly earnest experience that captures conflict through a truly unique lens.Constructed almost entirely from drawn illustrations brought to lifevia computer animation technologies,Waltz with Bashiris avisual accomplishment that should not be overlooked. Surreal, haunting and often difficult to stomach, few war movies have managed visuals so striking and memorable.
Waltz with Bashir
3'1917' (2019)
Directed by Sam Mendes
Set on the Western Front of The Great War, two British soldiers are tasked with delivering a message to an isolated battalion. The mission is incredibly time-sensitive, with the lives of over 1600 men counting on their success. Having to traverse deep into enemy territory, the path to glory is anything but clear-cut. A story of true heroism and unabashed bravery.
What separates1917from its war movie contemporaries is its presentation.Captured and edited to give the appearance of a single uninterrupted sequence, there is no shortage of jaw-dropping visuals and camera wizardry. Far from a gimmick, this creative decision allows for a deft pace that simply does not let up.Not only an impressive feat of filmmakingbut a great piece of work all around,1917is one of modern cinema’s most inventive and visually arresting war movies.
2’Grave of the Fireflies' (1988)
Directed by Isao Takahata
Two young Japanese siblings, Seita and Setsuko, navigate their home city after it has been left devastated by the nuclear bombing of World War II. Separated from their parents and hopeless to help those around them, the pair must rely on each other if they wish to survive. The crumbling of civilization around them makes survival a daunting task.
Produced by revered animation companyStudio Ghibli,Grave of the Firefliesis an essential work of animation. Powerful and gut-wrenching, it’s anelevation of the genre that contrasts the expressive visual flair of Japanese animation with the true-to-life horrors of war. Far from an easy watch,which is appropriate considering the subject matter,Grave of the Firefliesis nonethelessas visually inspired and breathtaking as anything the legendary animation studio has ever created.
Grave of the Fireflies
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1’Apocalypse Now' (1979)
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
During the height of the Vietnam War, U.S. Army Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) is given top-secret orders to locate and eliminate a Green Beret, Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando), who has gone AWOL deep in the Cambodian jungle. Willard embarks on a mission deep into the heart of darkness, witnessing firsthand the atrocities of warfare.
Apocalypse Nowis one of themost notoriously troubled movie productionsin film history, but the results speak for themselves; it’s an absolute masterpiece that stands out asarguably the greatest war movie ever made. Legendary directorFrancis Ford Coppola’s work here transcends genres—no war movie in history is as ripe with striking iconography and visual brilliance. Every frame tells a story and the setpieces are jaw-dropping.There’s a disconcerting level of beauty to the chaos on display—Apocalypse Nowbegs to be seen on the biggest screen possible and is unlikely to ever be forgotten by those who chose to embark on the journey.
