10 Really Bad Ass War Movies

May 25, 2009     Posted in Entertainment

the-patriotNot gonna lie – I’m not a fan of war movies.  Granted, depending on my mood, I might be persuaded to sit down and watch a couple bloody hours of awesomeness.  Most often, a boy toy convinces me to watch one and I do all I can to spend the entire time making-out with him rather than actually watching to movie.


By Katie

Now that I’ve laid that down, in honor of Memorial Day I’d like to give special attention to those movies that actually made me stop the tongue dance and watch the action (on the screen…not under the blanket).  Here’s my (very uninformed) list of the 10 greatest war movies:

The Patriot: Lots of blood and guts, but the costumes make this movie a hit for me.  Plus, Heath Ledger is pretty awesome as an innocent boy who just wants to fight for the country he thought we should have.  Thanks, fictional homie.

Schindler’s List: This is  a must see on any movie list and should probably be your first reference for war movies.  Aside from the incredible performances and intricate plot, I’m lovin’ the black and white effect in this one.  And Liam Neeson?  Very yummy in his day.

The Big Red One: I saw this one while going through a Star Wars phase (…which may or may not still be going on), since it stars a young Mark Hamill [Luke Skywalker]  as a member of a famous heroic band of men.  It’s gritty, bloody, and emotionally satisfying.

Gone With the Wind: I’m gonna include this one because it shows the other side of the war – the home front.  It’s a masterpiece, from the incredible acting to the sweeping score.  I very much enjoy the costumes in this one as well (there might be a trend here…).

Tropic Thunder: So maybe this movie isn’t actually about a war, so much as a movie about a bunch of guys trying to make a movie about a war.  At any rate, there were guns and blood, so it counts.  Plus, it was funny and if you can make a war movie funny then you’ve got some talent, my friend.

Letters From Iwo Jima: I. Love. This. Movie.  It just yields so much win.  This may be because it shows a side of World War II that I’ve never seen before (the Japanese side) represented in a relatively non-biased way or it may be because of all the hot Asian dudes in uniform.  Either one.

Good Morning, Vietnam: I like my funny and I definitely like some rebellion, so Robin Williams really delivers for me in this movie.  As an added bonus, there are some pretty sweet war sequences to get your heart rate a-going.

Braveheart: So this doesn’t actually involve Americans, per se, but I think we can all relate to the basic themes of suppression and rebellion (Revolutionary War, much?).  And the kilts aren’t bad, either.

Pearl Harbor: I’ll say right now that this is one movie where I preferred the fight scenes to the so-called story line of the rest of the movie.  Being as the movie was poorly scripted and very corny, I’m gonna say bring on the guns!

The Pianist: Get the tissues out right now.  Adrian Brody takes us through all levels of WWII, from being a top musician down to starving in the crumbling remains of the Jewish ghetto.  Hope you didn’t like your heart in one piece, because it is so broken after you watch this movie.

What are your favorites?

27 Comments on "10 Really Bad Ass War Movies"

  1. Steve says:
    Mon, 25th May 20097:15 am 

    First off, you don't have the dignity to criticize her article under your own name, so don't even think about criticizing her. Second, if you are truly Miley, you are a teenager whos reputation doesn't give you much credibility. You were in a photo, slanting your eyes like an "asian." Regardless of of whether you meant it as a joke or not, it does not take a lot of brain power to know how STUPID and RACIALLY INSULTING that can, or is, to members of that race. I apologize if I have a harder time listening to your comments than those of an "uninforment" movie critic.

    If you are someone else, declaring your name as Miley, then you should not consider ever commenting negatively about these articles again. I don't care what your reasons are, STATE YOUR REAL NAME before typing another letter into this box. Not only do I find this despicable and shameful, but it reduces your trustorthiness to almost nothing. If you don't have the courage to state your real name, then you are hiding something, and you cannot deny that.

    So perhaps, maybe you are truly Miley Cyrus. Welcome to the world of celebrity teens. You'll fit right in.

    Katie's article about these movies are purely her impressions of these movies, and her personal favorites in a genre that clearly isn't her top choice. She gave some VERY good movies to watch under this genre, and Tropic Thunder may be categorized primarily as a comedy, but it is a war movie. They aren't shopping for shoes in a mall.

    Great article Katie!

  2. Steve says:
    Mon, 25th May 20097:18 am 

    Ok, it looks like "Miley's" comment was removed. Oh well.

  3. Casey says:
    Mon, 25th May 20097:32 am 

    Another awesome (sarcasm) LIST by Katie.

  4. Linda says:
    Mon, 25th May 20098:19 am 

    War movies?

    What a shitty list.

  5. Alexa says:
    Mon, 25th May 200910:22 am 

    Regardless of this author's previous lists and articles, I agree with Steve and think that these are actually quality movies. Plus, they're all different and I think that because of their range, most people would find at least one that they liked from this list.

  6. Sam says:
    Mon, 25th May 200912:08 pm 

    Apocalypse Now should definitely be added, in my opinion.

  7. Amy says:
    Mon, 25th May 200912:20 pm 

    Schindler's List is one of the greatest movies ever.

    And it is impossible for me to watch Pearl Harbor or the Patriot without shedding tears…

  8. criolle johnny says:
    Mon, 25th May 20095:45 pm 

    People in Hollywood. People who have never worn a uniform. Making money off of the misery of people who have made the sacrifice.

    I refuse to watch war movies. I haven't seen one since '75.

    can't

  9. This site is a joke says:
    Mon, 25th May 20097:20 pm 

    A) My comment is removed because I formally disagree with the poster? At not time did I use any sort of obscenity or anything that could be characterized as mis conduct.

    CENSORSHIP at its best.. delete those who challenge you. What a waste of a website.

    B) Steve… you're a moron. Yes, I'm Miley Cyrus who just so happens to spend my spare time, when I'm not sucking some guys dick, writing comments on COLLEGE CANDY of all places.

  10. Really says:
    Tue, 26th May 200910:52 am 

    "And it is impossible for me to watch Pearl Harbor or the Patriot without shedding tears…"

    Are you kidding? No wonder Hollywood sucks now, with standards such as these…

    Oh, and a lot of these aren't "War Movies" as much as they are dramas (or comedies) using war as a backdrop. Tear-jerker crap like Pearl Harbor is NOT a war movie. It's a movie about guys pining for a chick, but in the middle of their pining, they have to fight some Japanese invaders. It could've taken place in ANY time period, and it simply uses the events of Pearl Harbor as an excuse for overblown special effects.

    Big difference between something like that and, say Saving Private Ryan or Apocalypse Now.

  11. Mary says:
    Tue, 26th May 20092:00 pm 

    Where's Full Metal Jacket? Platoon? Saving Private Ryan? Apocalypse Now?

    A lot of the movies on this list are the more Hollywood-ified, tear-jerking side of war. Pearl Harbor? Sure it had fight scenes, but the romance in it was enough to cancel out any aspect of it being a "Bad Ass War Movie".

  12. Casey says:
    Tue, 26th May 20098:00 pm 

    Really, and Mary, That was the basis for my comment. The one that someone tried to disregard by saying these were quality movies. Although some of these movies are good movies, they are not good movies that represent war. You can't write an article on something you really don't know about. I agree Saving Private Ryan was one of the best war movies, and Enemy at the Gates was a pretty good one too, Jarhead and Glory even. Movies that are actually ABOUT war, not a story that takes place during a war.

  13. Alexa says:
    Mon, 1st Jun 20099:40 am 

    The point of any "best" or "great" list is that it's opinion-based and the author did make it clear that this isn't her go-to genre of cinema. Anyway, I wasn't trying to be dismissive of anyone's comments but without any elaboration, it did seem as though people automatically make assumptions about an article before even reading it if "Katie- Michigan State University" is the header. The point is that it's really not worth putting energy into huffing over what a "shitty list" this is.

  14. Mad Matt says:
    Wed, 24th Jun 20092:20 pm 

    NO WAY…

    Lets go with these…

    1.The Big Red One – WW2

    2.Glory – American Civil War

    3.Saving Private Ryan – WW2

    4.The Pianist – WW2

    5.Passchendaele – WW1, Canadian film

    6.All Quiet on the Western Front (1979 version)

    7.Platoon – Vietnam War

    8.Full Metal Jacket – Vietnam War

    9.Revolution – American Revolutionary War

    10.Memphis Belle – WW2, B-17 bomber setting.

    Believe me, there were plenty of runner ups. Apocalypse now contained less action, and more crazy; The Outlaw Josey Whales is actually POST Civil War so it's not really a war film, though it is very dear to my heart; The Patriot was indeed a rad movie about the American Revolution, but the movie Revolution was better. Gettysburg was intense, but only in the fashion of a complete Civil War buff, as it is like 4 hours long… and by way of default, WW2 movies have had the most exhausting heavy combat battle scenes produced, EVER. It just wins the most slots because it seems it was indeed the most hectic war the world has ever known. I would like to extend my interest in a German WW2 film called Stalingrad.. it should have made it on this list.

  15. Mad Matt says:
    Wed, 24th Jun 20092:24 pm 

    ah crap, I forgot Gallipoli!!! Well, it's up there..

  16. joe says:
    Mon, 13th Jul 200912:19 am 

    WEAK!!!!!!!!! this list is boooorrrring!! Full metal jacket, saving private ryan, platoon, the thin red line, enemy at the gates, platoon leader, jarhead, we were soldiers, the big red one, the dirty dozen, were bad ass war movies, to name a few off the top of my head, the civil war movies were so boring, some were good but it was like a chore to watch them, pearl harbor sucked donkey balls it might as well have been called titanic 2, and as for gone with the wind come on give your head a shake its not even close to a war movie its a damn romance, if a movie does not closely represent the actual conflict within a battle of arms or the people closely involved in combat it does not count as a bad ass war movie.

  17. ryan says:
    Fri, 9th Oct 20091:25 am 

    holy dumb f#c* you people suck all of you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  18. ryan says:
    Fri, 9th Oct 20091:25 am 

    all of your technical bullshit is retarted

  19. ryan says:
    Fri, 9th Oct 20091:26 am 

    GET A LIFE ASSHOLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  20. ryan says:
    Fri, 9th Oct 20091:34 am 

    SUCK MY HAIRY COCK AND BALLS YOU FUCKEN NO LIFE ASS LICKIN DICK FUCKERS

  21. Dick says:
    Fri, 9th Oct 200910:25 pm 

    Steve I hate break it to you buddy but your riding in on a white horse and being a hero doesn't mean that this Katie chick will give it up. I think you're still going to be stuck humping that well used Luke Skywalker doll.

  22. You suck says:
    Sun, 11th Oct 20094:54 pm 

    Those are not the best war movies. Saving Private Ryan, We Were Soldiers, most recent Rambo, Full Metal Jacket

  23. steve says:
    Sun, 8th Nov 20094:32 pm 

    what about blackhawk down and saving private ryan?????????

  24. tomas anderson says:
    Sat, 14th Nov 200911:04 am 

    those are not war movies,they are staged ina war environment,but are not about war.

    A bridge too far, the longest day, we were soldiers, those are war movies,because explain a historical event from the perspective of one of the warring factions.

    most of the movies ypou picked are about emotion or drama

    wich leads me to think you are a maricon.

  25. war movies says:
    Fri, 18th Nov 20117:33 pm 

    nice list. I would have to include The Thin Red Line and Blackhawk Down in my list.

Tell us what you're thinking...