Anti-war war films

flossyb182

New member
I've just watched Saving Private Ryan and A Bridge Too Far again. They're probably my favourite war films in that (I think) they capture the brutal and dismal reality of war. They might not intend to be anti-war, but they don't glorify war either, and I don't think anybody's going to watch them and think "I wanna be a soldier". Are there any other war films that (don't deliberately) send out an anti-war message?
 
The Iron Cross.

And to convey how you have to a certain extent lose your morality to be a proper "soldier",

Dances with Wolves and Little Big Man - different War, same sentiment.
 
Oh yes. I wouldn't automatically class them as war films, but I see your point. Particularly LBM, probably my fave Hoffman film. My daughter's middle name is Cheyenne, influenced by LBM)
 
Oh yes. It gets a little Hollywood after that, but the realities of the siege of Stalingrad (and the Soviet method of warfare) are well captured.
 
For that you need the film Stalingrad (German film, very good)

or if you want to see the mentality of the last few days in Berlin, watch 'Downfall',
very good film.
 
Another good anti war film showing the mentality of war is 'The long, the short and the tall'. (although its a little dated now).


War films, my speciality. :D
 
Das Boot is the best anti-war film ever. Although the 5 hour mini-series captures it all better.
 
I think all war films are essentially anti-war aren't they? I can't think of a single one that does glamourise war. The armed forces recruitments aRAB (of any country) glamourise the lifestyle much more than Hollywood ever has.
 
Though you all missed the most obvious one (though least known...unless you like Metallica) - 'Johnny Get Your Gun' based on Dalton trumbo's book of the same name.

I dare any of you to try and read the book and NOT want to put it down and immediately go off and sign up for every anti-war movement going.

Brilliantly written book and not bad film. I think it's available on R1 DVD - starred Jason RobarRAB.
 
That's what I think and one of the reasons why I found it hard to answer this thread.

So, I'll say another one.

Forrest Gump. (I'm waiting to be shot down in flames).
 
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