What Was The Last Military Movie That Was Actually Really Good...?

[SteyrAUG]

When I think of great films, I go back to Tora, Tora, Tora (1970), A Bridge Too Far (1977) and the like.

When I think of modern war films I immediately think of absolute crap like Windtalker, Thin Red Line and Pearl Harbor. I think of failed attempts like Dunkirk, Midway and every other film with CGI as a major character.

But I happen to catch Flags of out Fathers (2006) the other night and it's an excellent film. And it reminded me that Saving Private Ryan (1998 and a great film even with major historical inaccuracies), Black Hawk Down (2001), We Were Soldiers (2002), The Patriot (2000), The Pianist (2002), Zero Dark Thirty (2012), Act of Valor (2012) and a lot of other really excellent films have been made recently and it is possible.

1917 (2019) is a great example. I expected NOTHING from this film and was pleasantly surprised by a good (not spectacular, but good) solid film. A lot of attention was paid to details and accuracy of gear, environments and the challenges faced by soldiers in the First World War. It's not a cliched predictable film but doesn't go to extremes to play "gotcha" and try and catch you off guard. It feels like you are watching a story where real life "unexpected things" actually happen.

It's not an action shoot em up and Michael Bay wouldn't have gone anywhere near this film. As a result I think most here would enjoy it.

So what are the other "really good" films that have come out in the last 20 years that didn't get huge, big budget releases? The ones we should have watched instead of Dunkirk or Midway?

[ABNAK]

I liked The Outpost.

Modern war films worth their salt have started to add in things like tracers, and the sound of rounds zipping past. Bonus points for the ones that show a round zipping past before you hear the sound of the weapon firing.

[wigbones]

I really enjoyed 13 Hours, Fury, Hacksaw Ridge, and The Great Raid.

[BoringGuy45]

I really enjoyed 13 Hours, Fury, Hacksaw Ridge, and The Great Raid.

The Great Raid was underrated. Admittedly, it was pretty slow overall, but the final raid made it worth it.

Though it was based on a fictional war, Tears of the Sun was pretty good (Bruce Willis' backwards mounted Aimpoint not withstanding).

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

I thought that Hyena Road was based on a true story, kind of like how I thought Hustle and Flow was too. Neither was,

Good? Realistic? Entertaining? Respectful? Insightful?

What is recent? Blackhawk Down?

[StovePipe_Jammer]

I have to second 1917. The way it was shot in one continuous sequence gives it a feel like your along on the mission with them.

Fury and 13 hours were pretty decent. Act of Valor and Lone Survivor are good watches as well.

[BoringGuy45]

I thought that Hyena Road was based on a true story, kind of like how I thought Hustle and Flow was too. Neither was,

Good? Realistic? Entertaining? Respectful? Insightful?

What is recent? Blackhawk Down?

I think we're defining recent as "past 25 years". Up until Saving Private Ryan, there was a real lull in war movies in the 90s. Ever since the Iraq War, with a few exceptions, all the movies have been "support the troops but not the war" type films, and have been 10% about the war and 90% about the soldiers dealing with PTSD and disillusionment when they get home.

[seb5]

I agree with most and although not "great" by any stretch I enjoyed Danger Close recently but kept waiting on the star, recently from The Vikings, to draw a battle axe. Outpost was very good as well.

[HKGuns]

Dunkirk was utterly horrible. I enjoyed Midway, but understand why it isn't very popular.

Hacksaw Ridge and Unbroken were really good. I don't see unbroken mentioned much.

[chuckman]

So, what's a "good" war flick? Historical veracity? The action? The acting chops? It's so hard to find a balance: a good story; if is true, the historical accuracy; good acting/drama; good 'action' with accurate tactics.