Recommendations: Modern War Films

[Scabutz]

Anyone got some recommendations for good modern war films? I've seen Blackhawk Down, Lone Survivor, Shooter, American Sniper, Special Forces, 3 kings, Green zone, behind enemy lines.

When I say good I'm not looking for critical acclaim. Just lots of guns, helicopters and explosions.

[RDM]

Kajaki is the best in my eyes, 13 hours is pretty good.

[ukaskew]

Films depicting modern wars or modern war films?

If the latter, Hacksaw Ridge is pretty impressive and a huge assault on the senses (or it was in the cinema, at least).

[Scabutz]

Yes sorry films depicting modern war. Fighter planes, helicopters, missiles, snipers etc.

[parabolica]

Not a film, but the short-series Generation Kill was excellent IMO; from the same guy who wrote The Wire, based on the real-life experience of an embedded Rolling Stones reporter who traveled with a Recon Marines troop as they entered Iraq back in 2003. Only big names in it are Alexander Skarsgard and James Ransone, plus a few Marines who were tech advisers and also play themselves. Like a modern day Band of Brothers; I watch it maybe once or twice a year. Only 8 episodes long but worth it. #

Edit to correct title, as per Silvagod below. Can't believe I got it wrong after having watched it so many times! I think I was probably thinking of War Machine as well, but that's more of a satirical take on modern war, rather than an action film.

Edited by parabolica on Wednesday 3rd October 20:45

[silvagod]

parabolica said:

Not a film, but the short-series Generation War was excellent IMO; from the same guy who wrote The Wire, based on the real-life experience of an embedded Rolling Stones reporter who traveled with a Recon Marines troop as they entered Iraq back in 2003. Only big names in it are Alexander Skarsgard and James Ransone, plus a few Marines who were tech advisers and also play themselves. Like a modern day Band of Brothers; I watch it maybe once or twice a year. Only 8 episodes long but worth it.

Just to avoid confusion, it's Generation Kill.

Generation War is a German TV series.

[stongle]

Hunter Killer out next week. Submarines and special forces.... could be good, but it's starring Gerald Butler so has high probability of sh@t.

Black Hawk Down, 13 hours and Lone Survivor most obvious. I also liked 9th Company- but it's short on big explody stuff (it's Russian so watch Rambo 3 straight after to restore balance). 12 Strong is on Prime now. It's ok-ish, but a bit too sentimental. Act of Valor worth a watch.

Rambo 4? Not quite planes and big bangs, but it's modern in a way.

I have a soft spot for the 1st Transfomers movie, which if you ignore the robots is a basically US arms companies doing product placement on a grand scale.

[Wobbegong]

Top Gun

[frisbee]

I thought the 3rd of the recent Planet of the Apes films had some of the best war scenes of recent films.

[davebem]

Hurt Locker is one of my fav films. Jarhead is also worth a shout.

[bingybongy]

We Were Soldiers fits the bill.

[and31]

Get the box set of band of brothers-best fighting scenes you’ll ever see imho
The fact that it’s a true story makes it even better

[Tuvra]

Eye in the sky

[LimaDelta]

parabolica said:

Not a film, but the short-series Generation Kill was excellent IMO; from the same guy who wrote The Wire, based on the real-life experience of an embedded Rolling Stones reporter who traveled with a Recon Marines troop as they entered Iraq back in 2003. Only big names in it are Alexander Skarsgard and James Ransone, plus a few Marines who were tech advisers and also play themselves. Like a modern day Band of Brothers; I watch it maybe once or twice a year. Only 8 episodes long but worth it. #

+1 Excellent mini series.

Also take a look at Act of Valour. Filmed using a genuine Seal Team rather than actors, and the plot is pretty far fetched, but the action sequences are some of the best ever produced. The hot extract scene filmed on a training area in the US to allow the use of live(!) ammunition for the miniguns(!!) is worth checking out on youtube even if you don't watch the whole movie. If you are looking for "Just lots of guns, helicopters and explosions" you will not be disappointed.

Jarhead is realistic in a dull sort of way. Not much in the way of 'action'.

For a more modern (and slightly less homoerotic) 'Top Gun' take a look at Chevalier du Ciel. Only in French (No English subtitled version AFAIK), but some great aerial footage of Mirage 2000s.

[vixen1700]

ash73 said:

Kajaki is crap, imo.

It's a great flick.

[kdri155]

I'd suggest the Siege of Jadotville, it tells the true story of the company of Irish soldiers serving the UN who held off a numerically superior force and fought until they ran out of ammunition.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Jadotvill...

The men in question and especially their commanding officer were poorly treated by the Irish Goverment for over 30 years until a Goverment review.

[daddy cool]

Its Sci-Fi rather than a true "war" movie, but "Battle: Los Angeles" [2011] is a guilty pleasure of mine.
They're fighting aliens, but theres lots of US Army men doing, y'know, Army men stuff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Pd-uuDi28U

I saw "Special Forces" mentioned above - not sure if its the same film I like (the 2011 version) but its good - some awesome sniping action:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjTEfpjEIGM

Another vote for Act of Valour too - the opening scene is fecking brilliant.

[Gary29]

Apart from all those already mentioned, I'd add Jarhead to the list.

I really enjoyed it.

[parabolica]

Just remembered another short-docu series (sorry, not a film) called "The Fighting Season"; a Neflix-produced documentary about US forces' efforts to maintain civility in Afghanistan.

[pidsy]

Another vote for 13 hours.

Bit of a made for tv feel about it but good film overall.