Nicholas Cage, Heath Ledger, even Yellowstone's Wes Bentley: it's like everyone and their mother has been in war dramas at some point; some of them were actually good, some... not so much.
1. "Windtalkers" (2002) It's WWII, and the U.S. is in desperate need to keep its messages secret from the Japanese. Enter the Navajo code talkers, an elite group skilled in creating unbreakable codes.
The film follows Joe Enders (Nicolas Cage), a marine assigned to protect code talker Ben Yahzee (Adam Beach) — but with a dark twist. If Ben's about to be captured, Joe's got orders to protect the code at all costs, even if that means taking Ben out.
Questionable accents, some serious Cage rage, and dramatic moments that'll make you chuckle. But hey, it's a wild ride!
2. "The Patriot" (2000) Mel Gibson taking on the British? Oh, you bet! Set during the American Revolution, Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) seeks vengeance after his son is brutally killed by a British officer. From tomahawk action scenes to the stereotypical portrayal of the Redcoats, there's a lot to scratch your head over.
The film tries hard to be an epic, but sometimes, it feels like it's trying too hard. Still, there's no denying the thrill of watching Gibson in action.
3. "Stealth" (2005) Yes, it's more tech-warfare, but bear with me. Three top pilots find themselves with a new wingman – an AI-driven unmanned aircraft. But surprise, surprise! It goes haywire. The AI, with its own mind, starts initiating random attacks, and it's up to the human pilots to take it down.
Think Top Gun meets Terminator but on a B-movie budget. A plane with feelings? You can't make this stuff up… or can you?
4. "Behind Enemy Lines" (2001) Navy flight officer Chris Burnett (Owen Wilson) gets shot down over enemy territory and it's a race against time before he's captured. Gene Hackman stars as the admiral determined to rescue him.
The plot's pretty standard fare but what really stands out? The slow-motion running scenes. Wilson sure does a lot of running, and you'll find yourself almost cheering for him. Almost. It's like an action-packed game of tag. Good ol' times.
5. "The Great Raid" (2005) Based on a real-life story, this film revolves around the daring mission to rescue more than 500 POWs from a Japanese camp during WWII. Lieutenant Colonel Mucci (Benjamin Bratt) leads the raid, while Major Gibson (Joseph Fiennes) tries to keep morale high in the camp.
The film has its moments, but occasionally it wanders into over-dramatic territory. For instance, the romantic subplot? Felt like it was from another movie. But the rescue scenes? Popcorn-worthy for sure.
6. "Flyboys" (2006) Let's zip back to World War I. Young Americans head over to France to fight as fighter pilots before the U.S. officially enters the war. The film wants to juggle romance, friendship, and some dogfights in the sky. James Franco plays the Texan lead, Blaine Rawlings, trying to find his purpose amidst war.
Some aerial scenes are genuinely exhilarating, while others... well, the CGI hasn't aged too gracefully. But remember the bar fights and Franco's cowboy stunts? Man, those were some moments!
7. "Hart's War" (2002) Colin Farrell stars as Lieutenant Hart, who, after being captured, is sent to a German POW camp. When an African-American pilot is accused of murder in the camp, Hart must defend him in a court-martial.
The plot's intriguing, mixing war with a courtroom drama. But the twists? Oh boy, some of them you can see coming a mile away. Remember the surprise witness moment? Classic movie courtroom drama right there!
8. "Tears of the Sun" (2003) Bruce Willis as a Navy SEAL? Say no more. Lieutenant Waters (Willis) and his squad are assigned to rescue Dr. Lena Hendricks (Monica Bellucci) from war-torn Nigeria. But she refuses to leave without the refugees under her care. Now, Waters must choose between orders and doing what's right.
The jungle trek, the intense standoffs, and yeah, the predictable moments of heroism give it that so-bad-it's-good vibe. Also, if Willis in camo doesn't scream entertainment, I don't know what does.
9. "We Were Soldiers" (2002) Mel Gibson's back! Now he's leading soldiers in the early days of the Vietnam War. The Battle of Ia Drang was brutal, and this film doesn't shy away from the grit. While some battle scenes can feel repetitive, there's this one part where Gibson's character, Moore, yells to his men, "We will leave no one behind!" and you kinda want to salute the screen.
It's over-the-top, sure, but in a way that keeps you hooked.
