Great Antiwar Films

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Please

Don't even start.

And quit speaking like Yoda.

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In no particular order; these are my favorite films that deal with the subject of warfare; neither of which paint war in a positive light and most definately are Anti-War in my mind.

I keep trying to think of films that GLORIFY war and am stumped; just because a film is made up of camp and cheese like a Navy Seals or a Delta Force or a Rambo or even a John Wayne Sands of Iwo Jima film, does not mean the war is being glorified no matter how heroesque it may seem.

Sometimes in history there are heroic stories to be told of good vs evil; The Allies and the Nazi Empire for example (and as previously mentioned) come ot mind

Sometimes within the micrcosm of war there are tales of heroes and heroics.

IS this glorifying war itself ? Does anyone really think war is a good thing ?

Braveheart
Schindler's List
The Killing Fields
Das Boot
The Thin Red Line
The Last Of The Mohicans
Good Morning, Vietnam
Casulaties of War
Saving Private Ryan
The Pianist
We Were Soldiers
Born On The Fourth Of July
Forrest Gump
Saving Private Ryan
Platoon
Patton
Empire Of The Sun
Three Kings
Gallipoli
Glory
The Bounty
The Deer Hunter
Full Metal Jacket
Apocalypse Now

Or is this one of those things where we have to list obscure European films or classics long forgotten from the avante garde cinema ?
 
Or is this one of those things where we have to list obscure European films or classics long forgotten from the avante garde cinema ?
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I am impressed by your speed of writing...
I listed American movies too... And again, i am trying to put a list together, and in the process we are exchanging ideas... Why anger?
 
Great list John, but I think that Rambo, well technically First Blood, is a great example of the horrors of war and the lingering effect it leaves on people.

Now, most importantly, Volcano, remember, history is written by the victors, and history is very often far from the truth...

We are not talking about truth here, we're talking about films and no film, whether we're talking documentary or narrative is pure truth to all people.

There is a fine line that is being walked here...

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Back on topic:

Born on the Fourth of July... this is an amazing example because this film is the only I can think of that I could classify as an excellent film and actually portrays war in all regards. The Ron character portrayed by Tom Cruise is motivated by stories of his father in WW2 and the pitch from the marines and runs off full steam to Vietman. He does his tour, see his attrocities, and then returns to his small town as a hero haunted by his ghosts of experience. This then manifests until he ultimately if a pro soilder right advocate who happens to be anti war. Perhaps the most complete dynamic character based on a true story within the war genre (but if you read Kovic's book, it is still far from 100% true to the material), and I'm shocked it wasn't discussed further to this point.

Great example and a film that should deserve it's own thread to be discussed for the complexities and beauty conveyed throughout.

-Jeremy
 
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