Here are Rated Red’s top 5 favorite military movies that you have to see:
- Black Hawk Down – Black Hawk Down is a 2001 war film directed by Ridley Scott, based on the book of the same name by journalist Mark Bowden. The movie tells the story of a U.S. military mission in Somalia in 1993, which was intended to capture a Somali warlord but turned into a chaotic battle that lasted for hours. The movie starts with the U.S. forces landing in Mogadishu, Somalia to begin their mission, which involved several Black Hawk helicopters. The mission quickly goes wrong when one of the helicopters is shot down by enemy fire, causing the U.S. soldiers to be stranded in hostile territory. As the situation worsens, the U.S. military tries to extract the soldiers from the battlefield, but they are met with heavy resistance from the Somali militia. The movie follows the intense and brutal battle that ensues, as the U.S. soldiers fight for their lives against overwhelming odds.
- Saving Private Ryan – Saving Private Ryan is a 1998 war drama directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, and Edward Burns. The movie follows a group of American soldiers during World War II as they search for a paratrooper, Private James Francis Ryan, who is the last surviving brother of four servicemen. The film opens with a graphic and intense depiction of the D-Day invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, during which Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) leads his men through enemy fire to take control of a German bunker. Following the battle, Miller is given a new mission: to find and bring back Private Ryan (Matt Damon), who is somewhere behind enemy lines.
- Commando – Commando is a 1985 action film directed by Mark L. Lester and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. The movie tells the story of a retired U.S. Special Forces colonel, John Matrix, who is forced back into action when his daughter is kidnapped by a group of mercenaries. The movie begins with Matrix living a quiet life in the mountains with his daughter, Jenny. However, things quickly take a turn when a group of mercenaries led by Arius, a former dictator of a South American country, kidnaps Jenny as part of a plan to force Matrix to assassinate the current president of Arius’ country. Matrix sets out on a mission to rescue his daughter and take down the mercenaries. Along the way, he is aided by a flight attendant, Cindy, who he enlists to help him track down Arius and his men. Matrix uses his military training and expertise to take down the mercenaries one by one in a series of explosive action sequences.
- Full Metal Jacket – Full Metal Jacket is a 1987 war film directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on the novel “The Short-Timers” by Gustav Hasford. The movie tells the story of a group of U.S. Marines during the Vietnam War, focusing on their experiences during basic training and their deployment to Vietnam. The movie is divided into two parts, the first of which follows the Marines through their brutal basic training under the guidance of the sadistic drill instructor, Gunnery Sergeant Hartman. The recruits are subjected to intense physical and psychological abuse, with the goal of turning them into efficient and disciplined soldiers. The second half of the movie takes place in Vietnam, as the Marines are deployed to the front lines of the war. The focus shifts to the experiences of one particular Marine, Joker, who serves as a combat correspondent for the military newspaper, Stars and Stripes. Joker witnesses the horrors of war first-hand, including the brutality of the Tet Offensive and the senseless violence that permeates the conflict.
- In The Army Now – In the Army Now is a 1994 comedy film directed by Daniel Petrie Jr. and starring Pauly Shore and Andy Dick. The movie follows two slackers, Bones (Shore) and Jack (Dick), who join the U.S. Army Reserves to earn some extra cash and avoid being fired from their jobs at an electronics store. Bones and Jack are initially unprepared for the rigors of military training, but they eventually complete basic training and are sent to serve in the desert during Operation Desert Storm. There, they are assigned to a water purification unit, and their lack of experience and incompetence leads to a series of mishaps and misadventures. As they struggle to adapt to military life and complete their mission, Bones and Jack are joined by a diverse group of soldiers who help them navigate the challenges of military service. Along the way, they also learn important lessons about teamwork and responsibility.
