Thewarmovie genre is one of the most versatile, as the way conflict is experienced internationally, personally, and by the soldiers on the ground changes the way these narratives unfold. However,there are still plenty of tropes and formulas that can be seen across the genre,and these have become the elements that audiences and critics think of when they picture a film about war. While a movie can fit into this mold and still be an incredible contribution to cinema, this also creates the opportunity for movies that strike a different tone to stand out.
Some of themost underrated war moviesuse unexpected cinematic techniques, directorial styles, and story structures to distinguish themselves among the many films that fall into this category.Many of the best directors of both the past and present have tried their hand at the war genre,putting their own spin on these stories and imbuing them with their social and political opinions. It’s often the movies that present the most unique and revolutionary stories that end up being remembered as the clearest picture of what war was like during these conflicts.
Dunkirktakes many of the familiar beats of a Christopher Nolan movie and refreshes them to suit the gravity of the subject matter inDunkirk. Thoughthis wouldn’t be the last time the director engaged with World War II,as he returned to the topic with his 2023 filmOppenheimer, it’s a great addition to the genre. The editing immediately setsDunkirkapart from the typical war movie, as it uses different timelines and structures to give insight into various experiences of the conflict.
Dunkirkalso does a good job of demonstrating the tension and horrors of warwithout including much bloodshed or grotesque violence. The lack of gore and battle sequences givesDunkirka sparse and detached atmosphere, as it’s a tale about the agony of waiting and the possibility that these men might never have been rescued. There are manyactors Christopher Nolan should cast in his movies, as he did a great job elevating the performances of newcomers like Fionn Whitehead throughDunkirk.
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Full Metal Jacketis remembered as one ofStanley Kubrick’s best movies, taking direct aim at the Vietnam War and the dehumanizing effects of conflict in general. Though the film was released in the late 1980s, the public consciousness hadn’t forgotten about the devastating effects of the Vietnam War or the movement dedicated to ending American intervention. Though it wasn’t new for a war film to take a deep dive into the psyche of a soldier,Full Metal Jacketwas unlike anything audiences and critics had seen.
For the first chunk of the film, the viewer is taken through basic training and the horrors the characters have to endure before they’re even deployed. ThoughFull Metal Jacketdidn’t strike a new tone in terms of its thematic purpose,the dialogue and script are what make the film stand out.The way the characters interact with each other and their environment is purposefully jarring and disconnected, making the audience uncertain and off balance from the first moments of the story.
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The balance of the comedic and serious tones in the 1970 movieMASHwent on to inspire the hit TV show of the same name that ran for eleven seasons. Based on the original 1968 novel by Richard Hooker,MASHtakes a look at the ins and outs of an army hospital positioned close to the front line during the Korean War. It was well known at the time of the movie’s release that though the story took place in Korea,it was directly in conversation with the contemporaneous Vietnam War.
Featuring an iconic leading performance by Donald Sutherland as Hawkeye and expert direction by Robert Altman,MAS*Hmade waves because of how funny this war movie managed to be.
Featuring an iconic leading performance by Donald Sutherland as Hawkeye and expert direction by Robert Altman,MASHmade waves because of how funny this war movie managed to be. While every drama needs elements of lightness to combat the relentless crush of war,MASHwas most concerned with how its characters are able to retain their spirit in the face of witnessing young men die on their operating tables every day. Achieving this juxtaposition and making the audience care so deeply is the legacy ofMAS*H.
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It’s no secret that woman-centric war movies are few and far between, let alone one led by a cast of phenomenal Black actresses. However,The Woman Kingproved that this was a niche that needed to be filled by bringing the story of the Agojie to life. The Agojie were a unit of female warriors in West Africa, andThe Woman Kingblends the historical importance of remembering these women withthe brilliantly choreographed action sequences that make the narrative so propulsive.
The heart and soul ofThe Woman King, Viola Davis,has recently been tapped to star in theupcomingChildren of Blood and Boneadaptationalongside Thuso Mbedu, who also costarred with her inThe Woman King. The actresses will reunite withThe Woman King’s director, Prince-Bythewood, who’s slated to directChildren of Blood and Bone. After the stellar performances that Davis and Mbedu gave inThe Woman King, it’s exciting to imagine them back onscreen together in a fantasy film. However,The Woman Kingisn’t only memorable because of its cast but because of how it tells its story.
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Children of Blood and Boneis slated to be released in 2027 (viaThe Hollywood Reporter).
Though the recent 2022 remake ofAll Quiet on the Western Frontmade waves, this film, and almost every anti-war filmed after 1930, owe a lot to the originalAll Quiet on the Western Front.Based on the experience of German soldiers during World War I,All Quiet on the Western Frontsees a unit of young men become disillusioned by the promise of glory and heroism in war. The main characters enlist, expecting to quickly win the war and return home, only to find devastation and an inescapable cycle of violence.
As a pre-code film,All Quiet on the Western Frontwas able to use violent and graphic imagery that later films wouldn’t be able to portray.
As a pre-code film,All Quiet on the Western Frontwas able to use violent and graphic imagery that later films wouldn’t be able to portray. However, because of its explicit nature and unabashed anti-war sentiment,All Quiet on the Western Frontshaped much of modern filmmaking’s approach to the war genre. Few movies up to this point were able to transport the viewer into the action in the way that Lewis Milestone did.
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Shot in documentary style and in black and white,The Battle of Algiersencapsulates the Algerian War, during which Algeria struggled against the invading French colonists for independence. The intimate filmmaking style lends itself to the guerrilla warfare techniques used by the Algerian resistance fighters and the urban setting that distinguished it from so many war films set in the countryside. Considered one of the greatest movies of all time,The Battle of Algiersdemonstrated a new way to engage with war in film.
The sequence of the two bombings inThe Battle of Algiersis a testament to the film and is mandatory viewing for cinema and war buffs. By putting the audience into the action so effectively and making the movie almost look like a newsreel,The Battle of Algiersis able to touch upon the difference between how opposing sides of a conflict are portrayed through Western media. Prioritizing realism and immersion into the narrative,The Battle of Algiershas not lost any of its relevance today.
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Quentin Tarantino’s revisionist history of World War II isa violent, slapstick, and unbearably tense addition to the genre, looking at war through a lens that’s representative of its director.While there’s loss, devastation, and countless deaths inInglourious Basterds, the movie is an action-packed ride from beginning to end, doing away with realism to pave the way for entertainment and Tarantino’s unmistakable style. Even ifInglourious Basterdsisn’t for every audience member, it’s impossible to deny that it makes a statement.
While other projects about World War II are meant to make the audience reflect and grapple with the cycles of war and discrimination, Tarantino wants his audience to have fun.
Featuring one of the mostunforgettable character introductions in moviesthrough Christoph Waltz’s chilling entrance as Hans Landa,Inglourious Basterdsexpertly plays with tension and audience expectation. While other projects about World War II are meant to make the audience reflect and grapple with the cycles of war and discrimination, Tarantino wants his audience to have fun. It’s a unique take on the genre but hasn’t struggled to find its audience.
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Though it might seem strange to blend the sci-fi and war genres into one film,Starship Trooperspulls off this genre-bending narrative with ease. Initially,Starship Troopersreceived mixed-to-negative critical and audience reception.Its more subtle satirical tone and anti-war themes didn’t automatically landon the viewer. However, with time, fans of the war genre have come to respect howStarship Trooperscommunicates its anti-authoritarian message through its futuristic setting and science fiction war.
Starship Trooperstakes aim at the American government and is highly critical of its own country, giving it an edge that has aged well, connecting with contemporary audiences. Portraying the soldiers inStarship Troopersas relentlessly devoted to their cause of violence and destruction was a story choice meant to reflect the damages of the military-industrial complex. While it’s far from a perfect film,Starship Troopersis a lot more interesting and intelligent than many early viewers gave it credit for.
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Grave of the Firefliesis one of Studio Ghibli’s most underrated early worksand isn’t helmed by its most famous director, Hayao Miyazaki. Instead, Isao Takahata ledGrave of the Fireflies, a gripping and tragic film that follows two siblings struggling to survive in the wake of the destruction of their home. Like most war movies,Grave of the Firefliesisn’t always easy to watch and is engaged with some difficult themes throughout the story.
If You Loved Studio Ghibli’s Grave of the Fireflies, You Should Watch This War Anime Masterpiece Too
Grave of the Fireflies is Studio Ghibli’s soberest story, yet it harbors a dedicated fanbase, and I have just found their watchlists’ newest addition.
The reality of the Allied Forces bombing civilians takes center stage inGrave of the Fireflies, which comes off as a distinctly anti-war movie, even if the themes are more complex than that. Takahata has spoken about howhe never wantedGrave of the Firefliesto be pigeonholed simply as a war movie or as a statement of propaganda(viaCBR). Instead,Grave of the Firefliesuses its wartime setting as a tool to discuss larger themes, like loss of innocence. The movie also stands apart because there are so few animated additions to the genre.
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
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Andrei Tarkovsky would later become best known for his 1972 filmSolaris, but a decade earlier, he would break boundaries with the critically acclaimedIvan’s Childhood.Nikolai Burlyayev stars as Ivan, a boy whose life is destroyed by warwho becomes a spy for the Russians during World War II. Though the trauma and cost of war that’s inflicted on children have been explored in cinema over the years,Ivan’s Childhoodis a visual feast and emotionally ravaging, touching upon the light and darkness of coming of age.
Many filmmakers have describedIvan’s Childhoodas a pivotal influence on their work, as the non-linear story structure and juxtaposition between the intense beauty and horror of life make for an unforgettable feature.Ivan’s Childhoodwas Takovsky’s directorial debut and, at just 95 minutes, one of his shorter works. However, the breadth of his narrative and the instinctual way he captures the truth of Ivan’s tragedy makes thiswarfilm feel as though it captures a lifetime.
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