Top Ten War Movies

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of the summer season in the United States. It is an anticipated time of the year when schoolchildren wrap up the academic year and have a few months off to travel, go to the beach, or attend camp.

Unfortunately, the holiday is losing its meaning that is referred to as a “long weekend” by Vice President Kamala Harris and received strong criticism from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Its roots go back to ancient Rome. However, the holiday has a deeper meaning as it traces back to the Civil War in our country.

Throughout the history of cinema, there have been countless movies that depict the horrors of war or even the reason the United States commemorates this important holiday and why America is the “Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave”.

Here are ten movies to watch as America looks back and enjoys the true meaning of this patriotic holiday.

Saving Private Ryan

One of the most prolific masterpieces ever made for the big screen by Steven Spielberg, the movie was one of the highest-grossing films of 1998. It even brought the reality of the D-Day invasion. Some veterans who survived the “Great Crusade” thought that the first 20 minutes of the film were so real that they had to step out of the theater due to PTSD and memories being triggered.

It follows eight men who rescue a surviving brother who must return home. All but two members of the squad who lay down their life for this brother. 

Act of Valor

Following a group of Navy SEAL operatives, the movie tells the story of how a seven-man team takes down a most-wanted terrorist attempting to launch a 9/11-like attack on the United States.

The film features a cast with prior military experience and inspired by real-life events. It brought the life of a special operative to the big screen. Despite receiving negative reviews, movie audiences enjoyed this patriotic movie that would receive Golden Globe nominations.

Flag of Our Fathers

This Clint Eastwood film follows the survivors who raised “Old Glory” on the top of Mount Siribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima.

We Were Soldiers

Mel Gibson gave one of the most underrated performances in his acting career. Gibson portrays Lt. Col. Hal Moore as he engages the North Vietnamese Army in the first ever battle of the Vietnam War. Some of his men laid down their lives for others in this battle.

Windtalkers

Sorry to offend those who despise Nicholas Cage, but this WW2 flick deserves some recognition. The movie is based on a true story about a group of Navajo Indians recruited by the Marine Corps to help in the Pacific Theater. They were instrumental in the Battle of Saipan. Cage’s character is assigned to protect him and the Navajo code from falling into the hands of the enemy.

Gettysburg

The movie centers around the crushing defeat of General Robert E Lee. The turning point of the Civil War was brought to life by filmmaker Ronald F Maxwell with an all-star cast and an outstanding performance. Be ready to watch this for three hours straight as Maxwell covers every detail of this pivotal battle of the American Civil War.

Hamburger Hill

Hamburger Hill was seen as one of the bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War. The movie is based on the account of the fifteen soldiers who fought in the ten-day battle which  saw 72 men killed and less than 400 wounded. The movie even features a familiar face to FBI: Most Wanted fans as Dylan McDermott made his film debut.

Glory

Denzel Washington won an Oscar in this fact-based film that tells the story of the first African American regiment for the Union during the American Civil War. The movie tells the story of the 54th Massachusetts under the command of Colonel Robert Shaw and ends with the siege on Fort Wagner in South Carolina.

Black Hawk Down

In 1993, Rangers and Delta Force were sent to capture a warlord in Mogadishu. The raid would soon fail as two helicopters are shot down by local militia causing hours long of gunfighting that resulted in the death of 19 members of the special mission units and 73 wounded. The movie even shows two men going to the site of the second crash knowing full-well that it is likely that they will not survive. One powerful line from the film that gets me every time is “What you do now makes a difference”.

Midway

The movie features a star-studded cast in the retelling of the turning point of the Pacific Theater. The movie has a patriotic theme to it. It was even deemed historically accurate than its original film of the same name in 1976.

Have a Memorial Day film fest. Take it outside if the weather is right with family and friends. Learn the true meaning of Memorial Day through these films. Surely, there will be more to come.