War makes great movies, there’s no denying that. Drama, suspense, thrills, action, romance, tragedy and comedy can all be found in war, so it comes as no surprise that it’s a popular theme for Hollywood. Here are some of the best war movies so far of the 21st century:
- Jarhead (2005)
Set in the Iraq War, this Sam Mendes movie delves into what seemed like an endless and foggy, confusing conflict. The story follows a young Jake Gyllenhaal as a marine trying to understand what on earth he’s doing there and what is the point of it all. Whilst not judged as one of the director’s best, it’s certainly one that offers a great deal of insight into the human condition.
- Black Hawk Down (2001)
Based on a 1999 best-selling book, Black Hawk Down takes a gritty, uncomfortable look at the U.S military’s nightmare raid in Mogadishu 1993. A strong cast makes for edge-of-the-seat viewing as the soldiers were attacked by Somali militia who brought down two Black Hawk helicopters. A rescue mission follows as those in the air and on the ground watch on with horror. It was also an acting debut for Tom Hardy.
- Defiance (2008)
This moving film follows the story of four Jewish brothers hiding in the Belarus woods during the Second World War. They existed living off nature and took in any fellow survivors. It’s a high-energy tale set in beautiful surroundings but covering a most human struggle of survival against all the odds.
- The Hurt Locker (2008)
This movie made Jeremy Renner’s character the strongest image imprinted in people’s minds of the Iraq War. The film is full of tense action, suspense and fingernail-biting tension. Directed by a woman, Kathryn Bigelow presents us with a lethal yet addictive picture of war and one which succeeded in winning an Academy Award for Best Director, the first and so far, only woman to achieve such an honour. If you’ve always fancied your own high octane experience of battle, why not opt for the much safer but extremely fun Tank Driving experience from armourgeddon.co.uk/tank-driving-experience
- Dunkirk 2017)
This movie’s brilliance is its simplicity. Rather than bombard the viewer with complicated plot twists and in-depth analysis, Christopher Nolan presents us with dazzling visuals and as close as possible real-life experiences from the nightmare of relentless German attacks from explosions, bombs, Luftwaffe strafing and the constant threat of torpedoes.
