Great war movies for Memorial Day

The last Monday in May is Memorial Day and is designated as a national holiday to commemorate those members of the American armed forces killed in war. In honor of all our military personnel who have fallen in war, here’s a list of movies intended to pay them tribute.

Patton (1970)
World War II

This epic film biography of the controversial, bombastic, multi-dimensional World War II general and hero George S. Patton captures the larger-than-life, flamboyant, maverick, pugnacious military figure, nicknamed "Old Blood and Guts." Known for his fierce love of America, his temperamental battlefield commanding, his arrogant power-lust ("I love it. God help me, I do love it so. I love it more than my life"), his poetry writing, his belief in reincarnation, his verbal abuse and slapping of a battle-fatigued soldier, his anti-diplomatic criticism of the Soviet Union, and his firing of pistols at strafing fighter planes, the movie is an unforgettable look at the man behind the myth. The opening monologue by Patton (George C. Scott) is brilliant.

Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
World War II

Director Clint Eastwood's piece is a masterpiece. It is based on the book of the same name (see Flags of Our Fathers) written by James Bradley and Ron Powers about the Battle of Iwo Jima and the six men who were involved in Raising the flag on Iwo Jima. It shows the effects of war on the veterans and how they suffered from memories of the war for the rest of their lives.

The Longest Day (1962)
World War II

Many of the military consultants and advisors who helped with the film's production were actual participants in the action on D-Day, and are portrayed in the film. A wonderful ensemble cast makes the movie.

Glory (1989)
Civil War

One of the very best, fact-based Civil war films, and based on the letters of Colonel Robert G. Shaw. Shaw was an officer in the Federal Army during the American Civil War who volunteered to lead the first company of black soldiers. One of the very best, fact-based Civil war films.

Shaw and his company were forced to deal with the prejudices of both the enemy and of his own fellow officers.

The film focuses on the hard training and the troops' battle to earn credibility with prejudiced military authorities to actually demonstrate their courage and determination during combat. The movie climaxes with their final, suicidal assault in 1863 on the impregnable Fort Wagner near Charleston, South Carolina - it fails but ultimately turned the tide of the war.

The Deer Hunter (1978)
Vietnam War

This is a disturbing, emotionally powerful film about Robert De Niro, John Savage and Christopher Walken as steelworker buddies who are forever changed by imprisonment during the Vietnam War. There, among other things, they are forced to endure a game of Russian Roulette in the P.O.W. camp.

Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Vietnam War

Stanley Kubrick's thought-provoking Vietnam War two-part drama. The first part of the film takes place at Parris Island training-boot camp where drill instructor Gunnery Sgt. Hartman transforms young Marine cadets into killing machines "Joker," a cynical Stars & Stripes military correspondent/journalist, is the bridge to the second half of the film on the nightmarish, violent front lines on the eve of the 1968 Tet Offensive.

Saving Private Ryan (1999)
World War II

Steven Spielberg's war epic opens, in its first half-hour, with the brutal, uncompromising, and graphic depiction of the landing at bloody Omaha Beach on D-Day (June 6, 1944). The film's aftermath revolves around the rescue of a downed paratrooper in the French countryside, Pvt.  James Ryan (Matt Damon), whose three brothers have recently been killed in action, by a group commanded by veteran Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks in an Oscar-nominated role). The film was a critical and box office smash.

Platoon (1986)
Vietnam War

A harrowing, visceral, realistic, visually-shattering Vietnam-war film, based on the writer/director's Oliver Stone’s, own first-hand knowledge as a Vietnam combat soldier. Young, naive, 19 year-old enlisted infantry soldier Chris (Charlie Sheen) serves in Vietnam in a fragmented, schizoid, rifle platoon/troop under two radically-different, veteran officers. In the violence of combat, the two 'good' and 'bad' sergeants clash, forcing Chris to examine his own loyalty and perspective toward violence.

M*A*S*H (1970)
Korean Conflict

It’s not easy finding humor in war, which is exactly why Robert Altman's satire is such a classic work. Only miles from madness, the doctors are more concerned with booze and skirts than the bloody soldiers they operate on.