Ready for a fight? Do you want to see the best war movies that were released in the last nine years? Here’s Real Military Network’s pick for the best war movies of the past nine years:
1. Gladiator (2000): For the quintessential story of a Roman soldier, the fictional general Maximus Decimus Meridius played by Russell Crowe, who goes from a general who led legions into battle to a slave, to a gladiator who challenged an emperor. The opening battle scene is one of the most dramatic ancient Roman war scenes ever filmed.
two. Taegukgi (2004): This Korean movie is “Saving Private Ryan” from the Republic of Korea and it’s worth watching. It vividly portrays the Korean War (1950-1953), with beautifully crafted battle scenes, from the perspective of the South Koreans and North Koreans.
3. 300 (2007): Highly stylized, yet exciting, this film depicts the passion and fury of the Spartan 300’s famous stand against the Persians in the narrow pass of Thermopylae. Thermopylae is a major battle for the development of Western culture and this is a must-see war movie to understand why the story of the 300 Spartans resonates to this day.
Four. The Alamo (2004): As much as I respect John Wayne movies, this is, without exception, the best Alamo movie ever made. Most historians agree that “The Alamo (2004)” is the most accurate depiction of the battle for the besieged Texan fortress ever filmed. It is also the most dramatic.
5. “Flags of Our Fathers” (2006) and Letters from Iwo Jima (2006): For an excellent depiction of the ferocity of the fighting for Iwo Jima (1944) and for showing both sides of the battle.
6. Kingdom of Heaven (2005)for the magnificent battle scenes of the Crusades and the depiction of the Battle (Siege) of Jerusalem.
7. Enemy at the Gates (2001), depiction of the Battle of Stalingrad; for the representation of the dramatic and monumental Battle of Stalingrad, 1942-1943.
8. The War (Russian: ??????) (2002) , for his graphic depiction of modern combat in Chechnya during the Second Chechen War 1999-2000. This film provides accurate information about the corrupt Chechen militia, the incompetent Russian army, and the careless attitude of the Russians regarding the plight of their soldiers who were captured by the Chechens. The film was made in Russia, but was produced in Russian and English.
9. Napoleon (2002) (TV miniseries): For an exciting insight into the Napoleonic War. The first episode dramatically depicts the young Napoleon’s first Italian campaign and his heroic leadership at the Battle of Arcole. This miniseries also depicts the Battles of Eylau, Austerlitz, Waterloo, and the Russian retreat.
10 The Big Attack (2005)for telling a forgotten story of great bravery on the part of a group of US Army Rangers rescuing American and Filipino prisoners of war from a Japanese prison camp during World War II.
Honorable mentions:
1. The Lost Battalion (2001)for the only WWII war film of substance created within the 2000-2009 time period.
two. Master and Commander: The Other Side of the World (2003)for bringing to life the tactics of naval warfare during the Napoleonic Wars.
3. Saints and Soldiers (2003) for an excellent story on the Battle of the Bulge during World War II (December 1944)
Four. Hannibal – Rome’s Worst Nightmare (2006), this BBC TV depiction of the Second Punic War). The epic battle of Carthage and Rome is dramatically shown in this excellent film.
5. The Patriot (2000), depiction of the American Revolution and particularly for the depiction of the tactics used in the final battle, which is based on the Battle of Cowpens. In Patriot, Mel Gibson plays Benjamin Martin, a character inspired by Francis Marion, the famous southern militia leader known as Swamp Fox.