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The 5 must-see war movies

The war has often inspired unique works by filmmakers who each time offer a very particular vision of it. From the madness of Apocalypse Now to the contemplation and intimacy of La Ligne Rouge, here are the 5 must-see war movies.

Perhaps, surely, there will one day be a film recounting the terrible war that is currently being played out on Ukrainian soil. The war film is a buoyant genre , almost all of humanity's great battles have already been brought to the screen in films that always attract more audiences. If the genre speaks to you, here are the 5 must-see war films.

    Apocalypse Now - Francis Ford Coppola (1979)

    At the height of the Vietnam War, Captain Benjamin Willard is sent on a dangerous mission that officially "does not exist and never will ". His objective is to locate and eliminate a mysterious Green Beret Colonel named Walter Kurtz, who has led his personal army on illegal guerrilla missions in enemy territory. Where when the madness of war descends on a man who completely loses his footing.

    The Red Line - Terrence Malick (1998)

    The Red Line tells the story of a group of soldiers, who change, suffer and eventually make vital discoveries about themselves during the fierce Battle of Guadalcanal during World War II. The film follows their journey, from the surprise of an unopposed landing, through the bloody and exhausting battles that follow, to the final departure of those who survived.

    Saving Private Ryan - Steven Spielberg (1998)

    As American troops storm the beaches of Normandy, three brothers lie dead on the battlefield, and a fourth is trapped behind enemy lines. Ranger Captain John Miller and seven men are tasked with breaking into German-held territory and bringing the boy home. This incredible odyssey has acquired over the years the status of cult film with in particular this surreal scene of the landing.

    Dunkirk - Christopher Nolan (2017)

    The story of the miraculous evacuation of Allied soldiers from Belgium, Great Britain, Canada and France, who were isolated and surrounded by the German army on the beaches and in the port of Dunkirk between May 26 and June 4, 1940 during World War II. With his particular sense of rhythm and playing on different temporalities, Christopher Nolan composes a very meticulous film on the hours, minutes and seconds that preceded this miraculous rescue.

    Full Metal Jacket - Stanley Kubrick (1987)

    An idealistic U.S. Marine observes the dehumanizing effects of the Vietnam War on his fellow soldiers, from their brutal training at a boot camp to bloody street battles in Hue.

    Special mentions: Jarhead:The End of Innocence, 1917, Natives, Requiem for a Massacre, Journey to the End of Hell, Platoon.

    • Also read: How do you define a war crime?