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The new Bollywood action-adventure “War” is probably only for fans of marquee-topping actors Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff , the former of whom stars in the goony but likable superhero series “Krrish” and the latter of whom will star in an upcoming, officially licensed Indian Rambo remake. Stylistically, “War” is Maximum Masala, and maybe features more tonal shifts and berserk plot twists and convolutions than even established Indian film buffs can handle.

“War” features: a couple of good-enough musical numbers; “ Top Gun ”-levels of homoeroticism, intended or otherwise; way too much who-is-the-mole intrigue; a superfluous romantic sub-plot that dove-tails with a random Christmas scene involving a cute widdle kid; an entertaining motorcycle chase where the two dueling stars link arms and spin around like computer-graphics-enhanced dervishes; an endearingly sappy plot tangent involving the mother of Shroff’s character; and a show-stopping church-set hammer fight that follows a sports-car chase across a frozen river. Many muscle shirts, computer-graphics artists, and wind machines were put to great and terrible use on this movie. Thankfully, established Desi/Bollywood fans may find that “War” rewards more than it tests their patience (barely, but still). 

Roshan and Shroff play Kabir and Khalid, respectively, two smoldering Indian anti-terrorist spies who are out to nab evil international arms dealer/terrorist Rizwan Ilyasi (Sanjeev Vasta), who looks weirdly like Geoffrey Rush cosplaying as Fran Leibowitz, dressed as he in red circular-framed glasses, cream-colored khakis, and white pinstriped jacket. But before Kabir and Khalid set off to catch Vasta’s flamboyant-looking, but barely-developed baddie, the two leads take a while to size each other up. Which makes sense since “War” is basically structured like a bonkers “Marvel Team-Up” jam session, only starring two of Bollywood’s biggest contemporary stars instead of Spider-Man and Ben Grimm. 

Kabir doesn’t want to work with Khalid, not even after a (genuinely fun) establishing action scene where Khalid disarms a room full of drug-dealers in what looks like one long take. A pair of sudsy reasons are given for Kabir’s on sight enmity—Khalid’s dad betrayed his country! Also: Khalid has bad peripheral vision!—but these are obviously just excuses to get Roshan and Shroff to give each other sexy looks, declare their love for India, and dance together (it’s an okay dance number, mind you, but both stars have done better).

The same is basically true about, oh, all of the immaterial plot. Two handsome leading men, both of whom amass bloody scars across their chiseled cheek bones and jawlines, must work together despite their mutual fear of betrayal. Never mind Kabir’s hetero-romantic sub-plot with single mom Naina ( Vaani Kapoor ), a civilian asset who becomes reluctantly involved with Kabir’s plan to catch Ilyasi; Kabir and Naina’s romance is tellingly only emphasized at the start of the film’s post-intermission second half. “War” frequently promises and sometimes delivers a series of over-the-top confrontations between Roshan and Shroff, the latter of whom goes to weird lengths to make Roshan seem like the sturdier of the two stars (Shroff pouts a lot , is all I’ll say). 

Fans of Roshan and Shroff will probably flock to “War” for a handful of fun, gonzo set pieces that are immodestly dispersed throughout a litany of densely over-written, meagerly thought-through dialogue scenes. Both types of scenes can be fun. I’m rather partial to a later scene where Kabir retro-actively explains, through a series of flashbacks, the underlying method to his investigation’s maddening trajectory. So while the “four invisible chess pieces” metaphor that Kabir uses to both explain and applaud himself is gibberish, the montage that’s used to illustrate Kabir’s insane plan is as dynamic and goofy as the explanatory kicker at the end of a satisfyingly pulpy whodunit. If you’re going to “War,” you should probably go expecting some high-toned nonsense. 

“War” works best when it’s a Michael Bay-goes-Bollywood take on the “ Mission: Impossible ” films. What makes this a dicey proposition (for some): there’s a lot more “ Mission: Impossible II ”—and the “Heroic Bloodshed” spirit of John Woo , that sequel’s director—in this movie than I suspect many readers will care for. An out-of-left field bungee-jumping scene ends with one hero nervously walking away from oncoming cops after the other guy swings around a bridge and swan-dives into the water below. This scene is nutty, and not altogether well-made, but its creators’ dedication to flamboyant excess will be appreciated by fans.

My only warning for those who are interested in “War”: don’t go in expecting a smooth ride. There’s too much narrative padding and only some of it is the good kind of silly. There have been crazier Indian action movies this year (“Saaho” being the most recent) and more effective spy-thrillers, too (“India’s Most Wanted,” of all things). But “War” is satisfying for what it is: a star vehicle that’s too weird to be dismissed, and too plodding to completely work.

Simon Abrams

Simon Abrams is a native New Yorker and freelance film critic whose work has been featured in  The New York Times ,  Vanity Fair ,  The Village Voice,  and elsewhere.

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Film credits.

154 minutes

Hrithik Roshan

Tiger Shroff

Vaani Kapoor

Ashutosh Rana

Dipannita Sharma

Anupriya Goenka

Keith Dallison

R. Bhakti Klein

Miguel Cirillo as Dinesh

• Siddharth Anand

Writer (story)

• Aditya Chopra
• Shridhar Raghavan
• Abbas Tyrewala

Cinematographer

• Aarif Sheikh
• Vishal Dadlani
• Shekhar Ravjiani

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Common sense media reviewers.

Slick Bollywood action thriller has bloody violence.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Loyalty, honor, trust, and courage are key themes.

Many of the characters are driven by patriotism. B

Very violent scenes. Fist fights resulting in brok

Brief fast-forwarded CCTV footage of a couple in b

One use of "s--t."

Musical sequence is shot at a lavish party. Brand

Character smokes a cigar. Characters sip wine in o

Parents need to know that War is a violent but thrilling Bollywood Hindi-language action movie -- subtitled in English -- that deals with issues of patriotism, loyalty, and family. The movie has two dance sequences that break up the stylized violence that occurs when two special forces agents -- played by…

Positive Messages

Loyalty, honor, trust, and courage are key themes. Patriotism and justice are also paramount. Some double-crossing and misdirection.

Positive Role Models

Many of the characters are driven by patriotism. But a character also learns to love their family as much as their country.

Violence & Scariness

Very violent scenes. Fist fights resulting in broken bones. Stabbings in various body parts, including the neck and hands. Characters are shot in the body and head, sometimes with CGI blood splatter. A character is about to be publicly stoned to death but is saved. Another is tortured and beaten. A schoolchild is beaten by fellow pupils. Someone is thrown from a height and is shown dead with blood pooling from their head. Lots of car crashes and explosions. Poisoned character has blood coming from mouth.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Brief fast-forwarded CCTV footage of a couple in bed together. Some bikini-clad characters during a party scene. There are some homoerotic undertones between the two main characters.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Musical sequence is shot at a lavish party. Brand logos visible throughout movie.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Character smokes a cigar. Characters sip wine in one scene. Song lyric about getting "tipsy."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that War is a violent but thrilling Bollywood Hindi-language action movie -- subtitled in English -- that deals with issues of patriotism, loyalty, and family. The movie has two dance sequences that break up the stylized violence that occurs when two special forces agents -- played by Bollywood superstars Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff -- face off. Although unsaid, there appears to be a distinct sexual chemistry between the two male leads. Fight scenes are visceral, with bone-crunching impact shots. There are also lots of gun and knife fights, with bloody but not gory results. The characters hold patriotism above all else, with honor and loyalty a close second. A character also learns to value family love. Special forces generally kill enemies rather than arrest them. Set in the real world, the Indian special forces are tracking down an ISIS target. There is a brief shot of CCTV footage of two characters in bed together. Parties in the movies are lavish idealized visions of wealth and high-end brand logos are visible throughout the movie. A song features a lyric about getting "tipsy." A character smokes a cigar and two characters sip wine. There is one use of the word "s--t." A character is described as being like a god or an idol to another. The movie begins with a disclaimer that states it does not wish to offend any religion, caste, or race. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say (3)
• Kids say (2)

Based on 3 parent reviews

War is a entertaining action thrill ride that contains graphic cinematic violence and explicit scenes

What's the story.

In WAR, after a failed mission, elite Indian special forces agent Kabir ( Hrithik Roshan ) goes rogue. In response, rookie agent Khalid ( Tiger Shroff ) is set on a violent globetrotting mission to track down his former mentor.

Is It Any Good?

Violently smashing together the most iconic elements of '80s and '90s Hollywood with Hong Kong action cinema and repackaging with modern effects and audience expectations, War is a tour de force. Presented -- where available -- in stunning 4K, the camera loves stars Roshan and Shroff, perhaps as much as they love each other, as suggested by the distinct, yet unsaid, homoerotic undertones. Their smouldering performances are exactly what this kind of big, brash, and bombastic movie needs. The violence is suitably bone-crunching and thrilling, mixing the frenetic action of John Woo 's explosive Hong Kong crime movies with the best of James Bond , with white-knuckle action taking place in exotic locations across the world. The film's score is also a highlight, raising a smile whenever the gigantic main theme tune kicks in.

Like the gung-ho Hollywood movies that inspired War , the movie's politics can be seen as questionable depending on the viewer's take on patriotism and a take-no-prisoners approach to national security. However, it balances it out slightly with the inclusion of love interest Naina ( Vaani Kapoor ) who offers a glimpse at a love beyond one's country. Punctuated by a couple of glossy musical numbers, War is a great-looking movie that throws just enough inventiveness into its big theatrical action pieces to make it a successful mission.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the violence in War . How did it make you feel? Did it feel necessary to the story? Do some types of media violence have different impact than others?

How is patriotism displayed in the movie? Should people love their country above all else? What are the positives and negatives of patriotism?

Talk about the relationship between Kabir and Khalid. How is Kabir a mentor to Khalid? Do you have a mentor? What is the benefit of having one? Do you think there is anything more to Kabir and Khalid's relationship?

Discuss how music and dancing is an integral part to Bollywood movies. Does it add or detract to the entertainment?

Movie Details

• In theaters : October 2, 2019
• On DVD or streaming : November 28, 2019
• Cast : Hrithik Roshan , Tiger Shroff , Vaani Kapoor
• Director : Siddharth Anand
• Inclusion Information : Indian/South Asian actors
• Studio : Yash Raj Films
• Genre : Action/Adventure
• Topics : Friendship , Music and Sing-Along
• Character Strengths : Courage , Integrity
• Run time : 154 minutes
• MPAA rating : NR
• Last updated : June 1, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Indian agent Khalid goes on a mission to hunt and eliminate his former mentor, the country's top agent Kabir who has gone rogue. A deadly war begins. Indian agent Khalid goes on a mission to hunt and eliminate his former mentor, the country's top agent Kabir who has gone rogue. A deadly war begins. Indian agent Khalid goes on a mission to hunt and eliminate his former mentor, the country's top agent Kabir who has gone rogue. A deadly war begins.

• Siddharth Anand
• Aditya Chopra
• Shridhar Raghavan
• Hrithik Roshan
• Tiger Shroff
• Vaani Kapoor
• 636 User reviews
• 36 Critic reviews
• 25 wins & 19 nominations

• Major Kabir Dhaliwal

• Captain Khalid Rahmani

• Naina Verma

• Colonel Sunil Luthra

• Aditi Nahta

• Firoze Contractor
• Rizwan Iiyasi

• Dr. Mallika Singhal

• Khalid's mother

• Dr. Utpal Biswas
• Lieutenant colonel Jimmy Shroff

• Rock Thrower
• Raziwan's Bodyguard
• School Bully 1
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

Did you know

• Trivia Hrithik Roshan signed the film on a condition that Tiger Shroff should be cast in the other role.
• Goofs For selection in Army candidate has to go through complete medical test therefore during his medical examination they must have notice his defect in peripheral vision and he would not have been selected for army in first place.

Khalid : No one knows Kabir like I do. I can guess his next move. I understand him.

• Connections Featured in 65th Amazon Filmfare Awards (2020)
• Soundtracks Ghungroo Vocals by Arijit Singh & Shilpa Rao Lyrics by Kumaar Mixed by Vijay Dayal Mastered by Donal Whelan Music by Vishal Dadlani & Shekhar Ravjiani

User reviews 636

• Oct 1, 2019
• How long is War? Powered by Alexa
• When is War due to release in the U.S.A.? How do I find screening locations?
• October 2, 2019 (United States)
• Official site (Japan)
• Official Website.
• Lisbon, Portugal
• Betterfly Films
• Reverie Entertainment
• Yash Raj Films
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $21,000,000 (estimated)
• Oct 6, 2019
• $67,179,155

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 31 minutes
• IMAX 6-Track
• AGA Sound System
• Dolby Digital
• Dolby Atmos

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War Reviews

...a movie that’s exhilarating from start to finish and one with enough pizzazz to keep its audience glued to every eye-popping frame.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Feb 27, 2023

War settles into a series of long-drawn-out action set pieces and contrived plot sleights designed to give Hrithik and Tiger the room to go all out.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/5 | Jul 15, 2020

Forget Hobbs & Shaw - this is the bona fide, brawny, brain-free John Woo-style machismo cinematic face-off of the year.

Full Review | Nov 6, 2019

Unlike its beefed-up heroes, there's no meat in the plot...

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Oct 14, 2019

War is a defining action movie of our time. It's Hollywood enough to rock the multiplexes, but it doesn't forget its roots.

Full Review | Oct 14, 2019

All the space is gobbled up by Hrithik and Tiger, and they are so busy strutting across the screen, in all their glory, so ripped, so brawny, that the poor baddies don't really get a chance.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Oct 5, 2019

The male leads, separated by a couple of generations and united by their ability to land punches and execute pirouettes without breaking a sweat, set the screen on fire.

Full Review | Oct 4, 2019

A star vehicle that's too weird to be dismissed, and too plodding to completely work.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Oct 4, 2019

Siddharth Anand's 'War' is a truly pulpy entertainer that casually reinvents Bollywood action films.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 4, 2019

That WAR also happens to be a barnstorming, knuckle-busting and an immensely enjoyable action movie under the guise of a meta bromance tale is just the icing on the gluten-free cake.

Full Review | Oct 2, 2019

War is a popcorn entertainer and you can't ask too many questions but if you're willing to suspend disbelief, the twists and turns exert a solid grip.

...an ode that is particularly cynical and offensive considering that the past five years have heralded unprecedented Islamophobia in India.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Oct 2, 2019

You get roughly 154 minutes of mildly impressive action sequences heavily inspired from the Mission Impossible films, sandwiched between a wafer thin plot that becomes incrementally bizarre as the film inches along...

Watch the film for its world-class action and be prepared for the sequels to come down the line...

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 2, 2019

Like the quintessential entertainer, War serves up a little bit of everything in its narrative - action, drama, music, romance, exotic locations and car chases.

War, a big spectacle film, is definitely worth a watch for the sheer joy of seeing this dream pair of Hrithik and Tiger on the silver screen.

The film's charm is aided by the fact that both the actors share an electric chemistry and the action set-pieces thrill with their fluid choreography, and occasional ingenuity.

Access Bollywood

Hindi movie reviews and streaming video news.

Movie Review: War (2019)

Buy the DVD at Amazon Buy the soundtrack at iTunes

Pitting two of Bollywood’s biggest action stars against one another lives up to the hype in War , a tremendously fun, globetrotting thrill ride.

Indian super-spy Kabir (Hrithik Roshan) has gone rogue. A task force including his former pupil, Khalid (Tiger Shroff), must track Kabir down and figure out what happened. Their boss, Colonel Luthra (Ashutosh Rana), assigns another agent to lead the task force because Khalid is “too close” to Kabir. Khalid’s colleague Aditi (Anupriya Goenka) covertly funnels him information, because she wants to find Kabir as badly as he does.

Kabir’s team was the best of the best, hot on the trail of international criminal Rizwan Ilyasi (Sanjeev Vasta) when Khalid joined them as a promising new recruit. The onboarding process was rocky, since Kabir worried that Khalid might harbor some resentment for Kabir having killed his agent-turned-terrorist father (in self defense!). But Khalid proved both loyal and capable, winning Kabir’s trust — only for Kabir to turn on the government he swore to protect.

Khalid’s desire to join Kabir’s team stems both from a need to show the world that he is not his father’s son and from his infatuation with Kabir. Roshan as Kabir gets one of cinema’s most loving introductions, stepping out of a helicopter with the wind blowing his hair, striding muscularly, like a being made of pure testosterone. Khalid gawks at him on behalf of all of us.

Not to be overlooked is Khalid’s own introduction, via one of Bollywood’s best-ever fight scenes. The fight choreography and Ben Jasper’s camera work as Khalid tosses drug dealers around an apartment are spectacular. Shroff’s athletic prowess is just as impressive.

War is among the most expensive Indian films ever made, and it looks it. Chase scenes — whether on foot or via car or motorcycle — in foreign locales are as exciting to watch as they are stunning to look at. The scale is big, the stakes are high, and writer-director Siddharth Anand pushes the envelope even further than his previous action spectacular, Bang Bang , which also looked great but was disappointing. The lessons learned from that film translated into a thriller that can stand up alongside anything Hollywood has to offer, with well-integrated CGI, practical effects, and complicated stunt work.

Another improvement is in the quality of acting Anand gets from his performers. Roshan was miscast in the action-comedy Bang Bang , but he plays Kabir perfectly as steely but not unfeeling. Shroff has always been his best when playing underdogs, and he uses that here to show how Khalid’s over-eagerness makes him reckless. Goenka’s role is utilitarian — she’s always there with the right information at the right time — but she gives Aditi a spark.

Vaani Kapoor has a small but impactful role as Naina, a dancer Kabir befriends while tracking Ilyasi on a solo mission in Italy. Naina pegs Kabir’s martyr streak as dangerous. Kabir says his team is his family, but Aditi has a fiance and Khalid has his mother — Kabir’s the only one with no one else to come home to. It helps to remind Kabir that real people are involved, something the movie notes when Colonel Luthra acknowledges some Portuguese soldiers killed in a mission gone wrong. The characters don’t just rampage through cities without consequence.

Sure, some loose ends are left hanging at film’s end, and the ridiculous climax includes what is essentially a really-effective Audi commercial. But no one can ever accuse War ‘s cast or crew of phoning it in. Anand wanted world-class stunts and powerful action sequences, and he got them. Roshan and Shroff look jacked, and their fights and dance scenes are impressive. Kapoor stands out in her acrobatic showcase dance number as well. War is just tremendous fun and a great example of a movie that warrants viewing on the biggest screen possible.

• War at Wikipedia
• War at IMDb
• Wikipedia list of most expensive Indian films
• My review of Bang Bang

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15 thoughts on “ movie review: war (2019) ”.

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Perfect review, good movie too. But they could have done away with that exponentially implausible twist that almost ruined the fun. But the action sequences and the leads made it worthwhile.

Thanks, Siddharth! At least when they decided to go crazy with the twist, they went full crazy! 🙂

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Although story wise, the script was weak to be honest but the action sequences and the execution of the stunts, the car and bike chases plus the performances of the two leading men was what made up for the glitches. Both of them looked super hot 😀 Everything looked very stylish, I loved the final product

The whole film looked so slick. Glad you enjoyed it, Amit!

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Saw War only recently and wow, I thought this movie was good fun, certainly a lot more so than the last Mission Impossible. It captures a lightness of tone that has gone missing from the MI series, and the action, even if heavily borrowed is at least expertly executed.

I was LOLing when two cars supposed to be racing somewhere in the Arctic Circle crash into a full-fledged Grand Cathedral with a glass dome. The Pope must have sanctioned a massive budget for converting the Inuit people. Also, going by the tender glances Tiger and Hrithik were giving each other, any other romance in this movie would have been just a blind.

“It captures a lightness of tone that has gone missing from the MI series” — I totally agree. Also, everything that happens once they get on that ice breaker ship is completely bonkers, LOL!

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War movie review: Hrithik Roshan-Tiger Shroff drama is high on action, low on story

War movie review: with swag, style and sass in abundance, where is the substance in hrithik roshan and tiger shroff’s new film.

War Director - Siddharth Anand Cast - Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Vaani Kapoor

War has swag, style and sass in abundance, and comes peppered with high-octane action scenes, car-and-bike chases and jaw-dropping series of twists. What else do you expect from a film that has Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff as the lead pair?

Directed by Siddharth Anand, War is an espionage thriller that serves you with just the right amount of action, humour and tops it with ridiculously good-looking people. However, don’t expect too much from story because with two bonafide action stars fighting it out on the big screen, everything else is secondary.

War opens with Kabir ( Hrithik Roshan ), a rogue agent, killing his own. Through a flashback sequence, it is established how he met Khalid ( Tiger Shroff ) who went on to join his unit in an intelligence agency. Story takes an interesting turn when Khalid, who has always worshipped Kabir as his mentor, is assigned the task of finding and arresting him. Khalid is also supposed to find out why Kabir went bad and another flashback sequence post intermission reveals his reasons.

Watch War public review

Throughout War, Hrithik and Tiger’s onscreen camaraderie is on point. It is the USP of the film — just as makers intended. Each frame where the two appear together receives whistles and cheers from fans. Whether they’re fighting or dancing, or just flaunting their six-pack abs and chiselled bodies — it’s nothing short of a visual treat. The best aspect of War is that no actor is aiming for one-upmanship, instead you see them feeding off each other’s energy. There’s a pleasant comic vibe, too, between Hrithik and Tiger and director Siddharth Anand uses it cleverly without it sounding awkward.

Hrithik — Bollywood’s resident Greek god, unapologetically flaunts his age and swag. You’d love those wrinkles. Tiger — the hot favourite among youth — delivers an honest performance even though he seems absolutely star struck by his reel and real life mentor. But who’s complaining?

Unfortunately, War doesn’t give any scope to its female lead to perform. Vaani Kapoor only appears in the film in its second half, and before you can even understand what her role in the plot is, she disappears. The 20-minute forced cameo, with a song thrown in, doesn’t impress one bit. Vaani’s role seems to be limited to adding glamour to the film. It’s sad that even in today’s day and age, that’s what many filmmakers cast female actors in their film for.

And you’ll feel the same for supporting actors too. Fine performers such as Ashutosh Rana and Soni Razdan are wasted in War, even though they somewhat justify their screen time with whatever little comes their way. Anupriya Goenka, however, does make her presence felt.

The one element that you get in abundance in War is beautifully-choreographed action. The first half has these sequences in plenty and it only gets better in the second half. Shot at exotic international locales like Morocco and Portugal, as well as Delhi and Kerala, the film excels in the action department. War gives a callback to action extravaganzas such as Mission Impossible and Fast & Furious, and Hrithik’s earlier outings Dhoom 2 and Bang Bang.

Amid all this, you wonder what happened to the story if at all there was any. Just like we had Saaho a month back which was all things action but no story, War too makes you question why filmmakers don’t put enough thought into having a substantial plot. War suffers from a relatively weak screenplay that does not go unnoticed as the two good-looking actors overshadow everything else.

Also, no matter which genre a film belongs too, if it’s Bollywood, you can’t do without songs. However, we have no complaints as it is a treat to watch Tiger and Hrithik dancing together. Jai Jai Shivshankar might seem like it came out of nowhere but when these two show you their moves, you just can’t enough of them.

War, a big spectacle film, is definitely worth a watch for the sheer joy of seeing this dream pair of Hrithik and Tiger on the silver screen.

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War movie review: Hrithik Roshan starrer is flashy but familiar

War movie review: the chief trouble with war is that all the space is divvied up between hrithik roshan and tiger shroff, that the poor baddies don’t really get a chance..

War movie cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor, Anupriya Goenka War movie director: Siddharth Anand War movie rating : Two stars

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What do you expect when you have the two most beautifully-muscled, elastic bods in Bollywood playing I spy in a Yashraj movie?

Every frame bristling with the combined smirk-and-swag of Hrithik-Tiger? Check. Lavish locations all around the world? Present and accounted for. Lots of fast-paced chases? War has all of the above, and yet, it’s in the not quite there zone. Not quite smart enough, and most importantly, not quite new enough.

The set-up has promise. Agent Kabir (Roshan) who is a patriot to beat all desh-bhakts, has gone rogue. Former star-struck pupil Agent Khalid (Shroff) is assigned by chief spymaster (Rana) to track Kabir, and the cat-and-mouse chase, of one man on the tail of another, is as old as the spy saga itself. Veteran movie spies like Bond and Bourne and their minders have to work very hard to keep us glued with newer, flashier plot devices, spiffier toys and yes, deadlier enemies. In War, you can see the twists coming a mile off.

War’s insistence on being a family entertainer leads it towards the predictable template of song-and-dance, played-for-laughs dialogue-baazi-in-fights, teary mothers and loving sons. A rumbustious Holi dance in the middle of a remote outpost gives our lads, who move like greased lightning, a chance to shake their admirable booties. But it also makes us roll our eyes, which would be fine if the film was in full-on comic book mode. But of course, it’s not.

All the space is gobbled up by Hrithik and Tiger, and they are so busy strutting across the screen, in all their glory, so ripped, so brawny, that the poor baddies don’t really get a chance. Not one scary villain who sends the shivers down our spines? Then the spies might as well be playing ring-around-the-roses with each other.

Scads full of cash must have been needed to take the cast from as diverse places as Portugal to Sydney to Kerala, and there’s no been stinting there. But a story with freshness and zing? Missing in action. It talks of the ‘desh ke dushman’ as did movies of the 70s and 80s; dated dialogues which combine ‘Musalmaan’ and ‘vatanparasti’ only add to the casual bigotry which is becoming common parlance these days.

The girls, Vaani Kapoor as a lissome dancer, and Anupriya Goel as an ace code-cracker, get some air-time, but it’s the boys who have all the fun: falling off choppers, zooming about in fast cars, diving off bridges, getting in some bloody fisticuff-time. Shroff shouldn’t ever team up with Roshan again though; on his own, Tiger is a dream dancer with jaw-dropping moves, and can take on five hundred armed desperadoes; when Hrithik is around, though, he recedes into the background.

The last time Hrithik looked as sexy, was in Dhoom 2 (2006), also a Yashraj film. The golden streaks have been replaced with a bit of grey at the temples, but the bronzed cheekbones decorated with a few fetching scars, the fighting-fit figure in fatigues-and-dark-glasses and the case-hardened look, is full eye-candy. I’m not revealing anything by telling you that War looks all set to be a franchise: next time maybe go complete comic-book silly? Now that’s a spy I will buy.

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Home » Reviews

War Movie Review: Yet Another Addition To – ‘Not Every Good Looking Movie Is A Good Movie’

If you remove the bgm from some scenes, you'll see how this is a love story between hrithik and tiger..

Star Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor

Director: Siddharth Anand

What’s Good: Hrithik’s style & Tiger’s action – the two out the four pillars of the film, rest of the two – story & dialogues are sadly hollow

What’s Bad: Depends on what are you watching this movie for, if you’re watching it for a good story then your bad, if not then mine!

Loo Break: When Tiger isn’t performing any stunts & when Hrithik isn’t setting up the screen on fire with his presence

Watch or Not?: Only if you’re craving to watch good locales & action on a big screen, keep your expectations limited

As the trailer suggested, War is a story about an agent, from Indian Intelligence, named Kabir (Hrithik Roshan) going rogue for the reasons best known to him. His protege Khalid (Tiger Shroff) gets the mission of shooting Kabir on the spot. A flashback takes us two years ago from the present day to build up the bromance between Kabir & Khalid. There it’s revealed that Khalid is the son of a traitor who was killed by Kabir.

Khalid joins the intelligence just to clean up the mess his father created for his family. He gets into the team with Kabir, earns his respect by fighting some bad guys and taking a bullet for him (that’s a must). This brings us back to the present day in this forced non-linear storyline. Khalid has to find Kabir who’s killing some major Government employees, and ask him why he’s doing all this. Why is he doing all this? Your guess is as good as the predictable twists in the movie.

War Movie Review: Script Analysis

I don’t understand if you’re getting 100s of crores to make a movie, how hard it is to put a solid script on the place? War suffers from a similar loop of ‘what the audience wants to see’ and ‘what kind of films makers are creating’. If the creators will keep on creating ordinary scripts laced with style, the audience will have to settle on the mediocre content. It’s in the times when we have talents waiting to get explode. I know it’s not a child’s game to scale a film on such a huge scale, but I also know our audience deserves way better than this.

When you’re calling the film a ‘ war ‘, why to show bromance between the leads? You either pit them against each other without any mercy or call the movie as ‘War’n’err’ Brothers. Not comparing, but the story of this year’s Hobbs & Shaw is miles ahead and that’s how you treat a bromance. If you’re hanging on a thin thread at the scripting level, at least make sure to have some punchy dialogues. But, Abbas Tyrewala’s lines are satisfactory at the best. If you remove the BGM from some scenes, you’ll see how this is a love story between Hrithik and Tiger.

War Movie Review: Star Performance

Hrithik Roshan is, without any doubt, the most good-looking guy in Bollywood right now. He’s stylish, he’s confident and has a different aura around him in this film. From his walk to the way he winks, Hrithik is very convincing in his role.

He is brilliantly aided by Tiger Shroff, and we all already know how good he’s at the action sequences. But, still, he surprises with those moves and will garner many ‘oh wows’. As far as acting is concerned, it’s as usual pretty ordinary but a step ahead is always good.

Vaani Kapoor’s role is as short as Shahid Afridi’s contribution to the 2011 Cricket World Cup. She’s doing Trapeze and lazy dancing despite being such an energetic dancer, that’s where the makers’ vision lacks. Ashutosh Rana is wasted as a supporting character. He gets no scope to display his acting skills.

War Movie Review: Direction, Music

Siddharth Anand does this second time in a row after Bang Bang! Mind-blowing locales, brilliant action, superlative cast but no story. No major complaints with Siddharth Anand as the director, because the blame is on Siddharth Anand the writer. I loved the bridging shots he has used to build an impact. But nothing stays with you because of the ordinary narrative.

Background score by Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara is a perfect mix of mass and class. It goes extremely well with the action scenes pumping up the required adrenaline rush. I just wonder why not many makers are considered Balhara brothers for background score? They’re gems waiting to be explored. Jai Jai Shiv Shankar is a delight to watch on screen, whereas Ghungroo is good just because of Vaani’s presence.

War Movie Review: The Last Word

All said and done, War is a timepass watch and nothing more than that. Hollywood feeds us such movies on a regular basis & if you just want to see how Bollywood has achieved that, go for it. Watch it for the action & style because there’s nothing else to look up to.

Two and a half stars!

War Trailer

War releases on 02nd October, 2019.

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13 COMMENTS

Punwani dhiley review dena chodh de vrna koimoi bandh ho jayega itni faad movie ko aisa review de rha h sudhr ja u just dont deserve it bhootiye???

tumko sirf KHANs ka movie main 5 star dete ho, zero, TOH, BHarat ka kya hua , 5 star diya tha tum, abhi war ko 2.5, chal hatt, sale tumlog WAR is 5 star movie

Abhe bhosdike Khan film bhi aishe hii diya Bharat 2.5 kyun dusron ko galat thehera rahen ho abhi War ko 2.5 diya toh kya Salman ne karwaya hai kya iss tutchise ke liyeh Unki pass time nahin iss chota saa App ke liyeh…. Tum aisha karo koimoi office meh jao aur joh bolna bollo bindas se chutiya

Just finished watching war and joker back to back…and now I have decided I will watch only those movies who will get BELOW three stars on koimoi…

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Twitter Reactions - War

went to see #War again with my mom this time..nd i was so surprised to see that although she hates action movies..s… https://t.co/PaZ8MJSKAy — isha (@isha49717385) 1570291236000

This is an Rise of an Superstar again! Look at the madness for Hrithik 💥💥💥i will suggest @iHrithik to not underesti… https://t.co/4qodap1Z07 — Piyush Ailsinghani (@Piyushh31) 1570287332000

Watching you @iHrithik That's all I wanted you to see like after Dhoom 2... Thanks for #War https://t.co/nm3usLKi79 — Tahmina Afroz (@tahmina_18) 1570237395000

One of the best action movie I have ever watched, u'll be glued to ur seat till end. This is the best high end actn… https://t.co/9lLv4Jbc6j — Sugam Sahu (@iRealSSahu) 1570175199000

Watching @iHrithik in big screen is SURREAL EXPERIENCE. I can watch him all the day alone. What an top CLASS actor.… https://t.co/XXPAAc7ZE1 — Sohail (@sohailrocks11) 1570154835000

Watched #War yesterday & M still having hangoWAR 😀 I went with my kids, d moment @iHrithik appears on screen my 5 y… https://t.co/uXhTgSqb8r — Dakshesh Barot (@DBarot26) 1570080464000

• What is the release date of 'War'? Release date of Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff starrer 'War' is 2019-10-02.
• Who are the actors in 'War'? 'War' star cast includes Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Vaani Kapoor and Ashutosh Rana.
• Who is the director of 'War'? 'War' is directed by Siddharth Anand.
• Who is the producer of 'War'? 'War' is produced by Aditya Chopra.
• What is Genre of 'War'? 'War' belongs to 'Action,Thriller' genre.
• In Which Languages is 'War' releasing? 'War' is releasing in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

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Predictometer.

WAR is the story of two patriotic soldiers fighting against each other. Khalid (Tiger Shroff) is the son of an army officer who had joined hands with the enemies. As soon as Khalid's mother (Soni Razdan) found out, she informed the army and the father gets killed by fellow officer, ...  Kabir (Hrithik Roshan). For an important mission, Khalid is assigned a part in Kabir's team. Kabir obviously is apprehensive but Khalid wins him over with his loyalty and bravery. The story then moves two years ahead. Kabir is assigned the duty of eliminating a dreaded terrorist. Instead of killing him, Kabir bumps off his commanding officer, V K Naidu (Mohit Chauhan). Khalid and others are shocked that someone like Kabir has gone rogue. Khalid is instructed to kill Kabir immediately before he causes any more harm. While Khalid is trying to find out Kabir’s whereabouts, the latter steals army equipment in a daredevil mid air stunt. In another act of bravado, Kabir comes in front of Khalid and informs him that his next target is a certain Dr Utpal Biswas (Arif Zakaria). What happens next forms the rest of the film.

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15 Best Bollywood War Movies of All Time

War Movies have always been a special niche liking of Bollywood’s mainstream audience. Well, that and India Vs. Pakistan cricket match. On a serious note, there have been plenty wars — more often than not with our neighboring countries — that have left their marks on the soul of this country. There have been deep sociological as well as psychological impacts of these on the popular consciousness of the Indian society. Naturally, Bollywood has picked up on these trends and tried to portray these wars on the silver screen. Some have been good, some bad, and some brilliant. Today we present to you the list of best Bollywood movies based on war.

15. Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Sathiyo (2004)

Starring Amitach Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, and Bobby Deol this movie is an ensemble production based on a fictional terrorist attack on the famous Amarnath temple. It has various plotlines happening concurrently and parallel to the main plotline of some terrorists planning to attack the holy temple. Major Rajeev Singh (Akshay Kumar) an officer of Indian Army is Missing in Action leaving behind a newly wedded Shweta Singh (Divya Khosla). Captain Kunal (Bobby Deol) grandson of a war veteran falls in love with Shweta, planning on leaving everything for her including his duty to the country. Revolving around a disappointed grandfather, a choice selection of love stories, and a sinister plot to induce political unrest in the country this war movie is a full package of entertainment.

14. Deewar (2004)

A story not about what war entails but what it leads to. Welcome to an army prison in Pakistan where Indian soldiers from the 1971 War have been held captive. Major Ranvir Kaul (Amitabh Bachchan) and 30 of his fellow Prisoners of War face off every day with the jailor Sohail (Kay Kay Menon) who despises the Pakistani government for keeping them alive. A ray of hope comes in the form of Major’s son Gaurav (Akshay Khanna) who informs them of a plan to take them out of prison secretly. What ensues is a brilliant prison break plan and an equally entertaining movie. A different movie with a focus on the untold repercussions of war.

13. Tango Charlie (2005)

An unorthodox film on quite a few fronts. Firstly instead of focusing on a contingent of the Indian Armed Forces, Tango Charlie weaves the story of one soldier Tarun Chauhan (Bobby Deol) who gets stationed on four different battlefields around the country. Secondly, instead of concentrating solely on the Indo-Pakistan Border as every other war movie does, it tells of many other battles being fought across the country. Alongwith the Pakistan border, Tarun is stationed to serve amidst Naxalites in Andhra Pradesh, handle Hindu-Muslim riots in Gujarat, and fight rebels in the North-East. The moral: There are many anti-social groups in India aside from the terrorists who end up on the wrong side of the law, resulting in a country getting torn from inside.

12. War Chhod Na Yaar (2013)

One of the few movies to take a comedic stance on the India-Pakistan issue. Starring Sharman Joshi and Javed Jaffrey, this war movie tells the tale of two battalions each of Indian and Pakistani army stationed on the Line of Control. The film uses witty jokes, dark humor, and spot-on comic timing by the two protagonists to throw a spotlight on the issues of War. To solidify its point and moral henceforth it shows how the battalions of the two nations, however different, deal with day to day matters in a similar way. And ultimately get betrayed by the true villains: the bureaucrats and politicians.

11. The Ghazi Attack (2017)

Almost every war movie made in India and perhaps the world focuses on the Army perhaps for obvious reasons; they are the most involved ones in a war situation. This offbeat but brilliant movie proves itself an exception and focuses on the Indian Navy. Set during the 1971 India-Pakistan War, it is based on the mysterious sinking of PNS Ghazi, a submarine owned by Pakistan navy. Starring Kay Kay Menon, Rana Daggubati, and Taapsee Pannu although this movie didn’t run that well on the box office, it was widely appreciated by critics all over especially for the exquisite acting portrayed by the lead three.

10. Rangoon (2017)

Vishal Bhardwaj’s ‘Rangoon’ may not match up to his other films but it is still quite a respectable effort considering the film required such an epic storytelling. If you have an eye for aesthetics, detailing and a taste for overlooked history then ‘Rangoon’ is just the right film for you. The virgin locations of Arunchal Pradesh, a haunting background score and excellent cinematography lends the film a melancholic tone which works in its favour as it tells a tale of love, betrayal and war. Definitely most ambitious Vishal Bhardwaj film to date.

9. LOC: Kargil (2003)

A true rendering of the 1999 India-Pakistan battle, this war movie portrays a step by step account of how the Kargil War happened, the reasons behind it, and how it ultimately played out. Consisting of a plethora of famous Bollywood superstars including Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan, Sunil Shetty, and Saif Ali Khan it intricately describes when two nations fall into war; how it affects the residents as well as the smallest members of the army. The film weaves a beautiful story of martyrs like Captain Vikram Batra and Manoj Pandey, who didn’t flinch in front of death for their country.

8. Yahaan (2005)

Gone are the days when Kashmir was called ‘Heaven on Earth’. This movie tells the ugly truth which exists in today’s era. On one side are the terrorists who are bent on destroying the peace of the valley and fulfilling their selfish intentions. On other side is the Indian Army who are bound by duty to go to any extent, when it comes to extracting valuable information about the enemy. In the middle constantly struggling with their life are the Kashmiri residents who are harmed regardless of which side they choose. In between all this, we see a love story between an army official Aman (Jimmy Shergill) and a local Kashmiri resident Adaa (Minissha Lamba). A story about the constant tussle between two fundamental forces of society: freedom and patriotism.

7. Mission Kashmir (2000)

Terrorists are always viewed as people with wrong purposes and misdirected thinking. This war movie tries to display the other side of the coin by showing how a terrorist is created. The film starts with a perfectly happy family in Kashmir who lose all they have leaving behind a defenseless child. This child is then brain washed by a man with evil intentions. He grows out to be an adult with misdirected anger. Planning on redemption for his family’s death but acting as a puppet in a sick man’s plan, he attacks Kashmir in a hope to escape the perils of his past. The only hope to stop him is to remind him of the family he still has left.

6. Shaurya (2008)

Inspired by Tom Cruise’s ‘A Few Good Men’, the movie Shaurya focuses on the bureaucracy and corruption that exists in the Indian army. When Captain Javed Khan (Deepak Dobriyal) of the Indian Army kills his commanding officer Major Rathod, there is a Court Martial initiated against him. For his lawyer Major Siddhant Chaudhary (Rahul Bose) the issue seems very straight forward, but as he delves further he finds that there is a greater controversy at work. As he investigates further and gets to the bottom of the issue we get ourselves a brilliant courtroom drama with a backdrop of the Kashmir conflict and some relentless acting by Kay Kay Menon.

5. Airlift (2016)

One of the recent movies of Akshay Kumar which mark his latest and perhaps most successful career stints, Airlift gives a new definition to the phrase ‘War movie’. Based on the 1990 invasion of Kuwait by Iraq and thematically similar to Ben Affleck’s Argo, this film portrays how two lakh Indians were stuck in a war zone after the Kuwait invasion ensued. It revolves around a true story about the trials and tribulations of those Indians with a particular focus on the ones who were instrumental in safely extracting those people out of Kuwait. Airlift weaves a story out of the largest and the most successful evacuation done by a country in the event of a crisis.

4. 1971 (2007)

The film is based on true story of 6 brave soldiers who escape from the clutches of the Pakistan Army and risk death with honour and courage with sacrifice towards their journey home. One of the underrated war films, ‘1971’ deserves the place so high on this list due to its gritty execution and solid rendering of a heartbreaking story of sacrifice.

3. Haqeeqat (1964)

Set against the Sino-Indian War of 1962, Haqeeqat revolves around a small platoon of Indian soldiers in the hilly terrain of Ladakh who are considered dead but are rescued by Ladakhi tribesmen and by a Captain of Indian Army. They are asked to retreat from their post (chowky) as the Chinese have surrounded them. In the end all of them die fighting for their country. Haqeeqat is well known for its patriotic songs. The film itself also holds up quite well even to this day.

2. Lakshya (2004)

Lakshya tells the story of Karan Shergill (Hrithik Roshan), an aimless and irresponsible man who is confused about what he wants to do in his life. A careless joke and a bitter breakup makes him steel his resolve and join the Indian army. After that, he doesn’t stop. He sets off with a target, a Lakhsya in his mind: saving his motherland from any one who would see it harmed. The acting portrayed by Hrithik Roshan and Preity Zinta in this movie mixed with soulful music and a fictionalized backdrop of the 1999 Kargil War makes this film a complete package for any fan of the genre.

1. Border (1997)

Based on the real story of Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri (Played by Sunny Deol) and the famous Battle of Longowala of 1971 fought between Indian and Pakistan, this movie erases the boundaries between war, love, and compassion. The plight of a soldier sitting on the border thinking about his family and that of his family waiting for their only child to come back; this movie encompasses it all. The entertainment quotient of this film rests on the spectacular acting portrayed by early Bollywood giants like Sunny Deol, Sunil Shetty, Akshay Khanna, and Jackie Shroff, as well as some soulful music by Anu Malik and Aadesh Shrivastava. This one is sure to bring the patriot out of you.

Read More: Best World War II Movies

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Average Ratings: 2.94/5 Score:  86% Positive Reviews Counted:10 Positive:7 Neutral:1 Negative:1

Ratings:. 2.5/5 Review By: Rajeev Masand  Site: News18

For those that will buy a ticket simply to gawk at the collective handsomeness of its leading men, War gives you your moneys worth. Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff practically burn up the screen when theyre matching steps in synchronized dance numbers, or going brawn for brawn when pitted against each other in fight scenes. Yet you cant shake off the feeling that any film starring these two talented and genetically blessed movie stars should be smarter and more thrilling that this one that they decided to make.Im going with two-and-a-half out of five for €œWar€. Its too long at 136 minutes. Come on, how much can you take of a beefcake buffet!

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Ratings:. 4/5 Review By: Taran Adarsh  Site: Twitter

Escapist cinema at its best… Aces: Hrithik and Tigers power-packed act and chemistry + dazzling action pieces + stunning visual appeal + ample thrills, twists, suspense… Dear BO, get ready for the typhoon.

Ratings:. — Review By: Komal Nahta  Site: Zee ETC Bollywood Business

On the whole, War is a sureshot hit. It has the magical chemistry of two handsome hunks, their superb action, and an outstanding dance picturised on both of them as its major plus points. The film will join the Rs. 100-crore club in no time; it will also soon become a part of the Rs. 200-crore club. It has the potential to even touch the Rs. 250-crore mark. It will do business at great speed. The film could prove to be the starting of a new franchise for the Yash Raj Films banner.

Ratings:. — Review By: Anupama Chopra  Site: Filmcompanion

War isnt trying for depth but the story isnt afraid of being slightly more twisty. The film is too long and the post-interval portion sags. In places, the narration gets clumsy theres a flashback within a flashback and the songs are force-fitted. In fact, the background music by Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara has more impact than the two songs by Vishal-Shekhar. This is a testosterone-heavy universe the women, Vaani Kapoor, Soni Razdan, Anupriya Goenka briefly saunter in to provide the emotional centre. But War is very much a bromance which sparkles because Hrithik and Tiger are combative without being competitive. I had a good time. I think you will too.

Ratings:. 2/5 Review By: Shubhra Site: Indian Express

The chief trouble with War is that all the space is divvied up between Hrithik and Tiger, and they are so busy strutting across the screen, in all their glory, so ripped, so brawny, that the poor baddies dont really get a chance. Not one scary villain who sends the shivers down our spines? Then the spies might as well be playing ring-around-the-roses with each other.

Ratings:. 3/5 Review By: Rachit  Site: Times Of India

Like the quintessential entertainer, War serves up a little bit of everything in its narrative — Action, drama, music, romance, exotic locations and car chases. The screenplay makes room for every commercial movie element. In a bid to make it Hollywood-esque, director Siddharth Anand and his team have designed the many stunts of the film to recreate thrills that youd usually watch in movies like Mission Impossible and Fast And Furious. The relentless action and the dialoguebaazi is entertaining, but the predictable storytelling and the not-so-original screenplay leave a lot to be desired in this desi action flick. On the back of films like Hrithik’s Dhoom 2 and Tiger’s Baaghi 2, War is a decent addition to both actors’ action film legacy. But this high-profile bang bang show is at best, popcorn entertainment for action movie buffs.

Ratings:. 2.5/5 Review By: Vinamra Site: Mid Day

Aditya Chopra and Siddharth Anand, who have co-written the plot, want to stimulate and shock the audiences at the same time. And simultaneously infuse the pride of Deshbhakti into our hearts, as if Kumar and Abraham didn’t do it correctly. But hardcore fans of the actors won’t scoff at the idea even for a second. All they wish to do is witness two of the most revered action and dancing sensations together in the same frame. The men do deliver, but the film doesn’t. War’s greatest achievement could be being better than Anand and YRF’s last few offerings. That may be enough to make this a blockbuster!

Ratings:. 2.5/5 Review By: Umesh Site: Koimoi

All said and done, War is a timepass watch and nothing more than that. Hollywood feeds us such movies on a regular basis & if you just want to see how Bollywood has achieved that, go for it. Watch it for the action & style because theres nothing else to look up to.

Ratings:. 4/5 Review By: Hungama Site: Bollywood Hungama

WAR begins on a rocking note. The entry sequence of Kabir has a twist and startles viewers. If Kabirs entry impresses, Khalids entry blows one away as its a smashing action scene shot in one take. One expects the cat and mouse chase sequence to begin immediately from hereon. But instead, the film goes on a flashback mode to explain the dynamics of Kabir and Khalids bond. The mid-air action scene is quite fun while the intermission comes at a decisive point. Post interval, the Hrithik vs Tiger saga begins in full force and makes for a fun watch. The film also gets a bit stretched but the twist in the tale saves the day to an extent. Ideally a film like this should have ended on a high but the finale fight is tedious and too long.On the whole, WAR is a paisa-vasool action entertainer which has style as well as enough twists and turns to keep the viewers engrossed. At the box office, the extended weekend, dazzling action, stunning international locales and stylish execution will ensure mammoth footfalls for the film.

Ratings:. 3/5 Review By: Gaurang  Site: Times Now

War is finally upon us! The movie comes straight to the point and we are told that Major Kabir (Hrithik) has gone rogue who is killing army officials. His protege Khalid (Tiger) is given the task of chasing him down. So far, we have seen the equation shared between Kabir and Khalid as the first half is mainly a flashback. Hrithik Roshan as Kabir is charismatic and is channelising his inner Mr A (if you know what I mean). There are grey shades to his character, or we are made to believe so. Tiger Shroff, on the other hand, surprises. While he is great in action sequences, it is the dramatic portions where he excels.I also loved the complex dynamic the two share in the film. Having said that, I think I know why Kabir is doing what he is doing and I hope that is not the case here. So far, War is a gripping action fest. Here’s looking forward to the second half.

Tiger Shroff Upcoming Movies

Hrithik Roshan Upcoming Movies

The biggest action entertainer of the year will see both these incredible action stars push their bodies to the limit to pull off never-seen-before, death-defying action stunts that will keep you on the edge of your seats. War is set to be a visual spectacle for quintessential action cinema lovers as they would witness Hrithik and Tiger pull off jaw-dropping sequences as they try to beat each other.

War Release Date:

Oct 2, 2019 ( India)

Hrithik Roshan Tiger Shroff Vaani Kapoor

Director:  Siddharth Anand

Producer:  Aditya Chopra  

Run Time:  2 hour 34 Minutes

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My favorite war movie just arrived on Netflix — and it’s better than ‘Saving Private Ryan'

“1917” is a stunning thrill ride set against the backdrop of The Great War

I vividly remember seeing “1917” for the first time. I had the privilege of watching this epic war movie at the BFI IMAX in London which boasts the largest cinema screen in Britain, and to say I was blown away would be an understatement. It was a remarkable movie-watching experience and has stayed with me even five years later. 

I subsequently caught the movie a second time in theaters (sadly this time on a regular-sized screen), and have also rewatched it a handful of times on 4K Blu-ray, and at this point, it’s pretty much my favorite war movie ever made. Yes, I even rank it above genre heavyweights like “Saving Private Ryan”, “Apocalypse Now” and “All Quiet on the Western Front”. 

“1917” arrives on Netflix U.S. this week (on Saturday, June 1) and I’m delighted that more people will get the chance to watch this masterpiece. Here’s why you need to drop everything and watch this exhilarating war movie as soon as possible…

‘1917’ is a stunning cinematic achievement

Directed by Sam Mendes (known primarily for helming Daniel Craig’s second-best Bond entry, “Skyfall”), “1917” is loosely inspired by the stories told to the filmmaker by his grandfather Alfred who served during World War I in the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade on the Belgian Front. 

The movie follows two British soldiers, Will Schofield (George McKay) and Tom Blade (Dean-Charles Chapman), tasked with trekking across enemy lines to deliver a vital message that will save the lives of more than a thousand men. But time is the real enemy here, as the pair only have hours to deliver this urgent warning before a doomed offensive attack begins.  

“1917” is presented in a single-shot format, which means (almost) the entire movie plays out in a continuous take without any cuts. Not only is this a stunning achievement from a technical standpoint, but it provides an unparalleled sense of urgency and momentum. 

These two soldiers are on a desperate mission, with the clock ticking every step of the way, and the lack of cuts makes you feel like you’re right there alongside them. I’ve always had a fondness for long takes, and while “1917” is far from the first movie presented in a single-shot format, it’s the most effective use of the style I’ve ever seen.

Plus, the legendary Roger Deakins is on cinematography duty so it won’t come as any surprise when I say that “1917” looks gorgeous. It packs some of the most stunning, and haunting, shots in any war movie. With a mid-movie sequence in the French town of Écoust-Saint-Mein a genuine visual marvel as flares light up the dramatic events on screen. 

‘1917’ is more than a technical showcase

Upon its release “1917” was extremely well received, it earned critical acclaim (it holds an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes ) and was nominated for a slew of awards including 10 Oscars (winning three for Best Sound Mixing, Cinematography and Visual Effects). 

However, one recurring criticism was the notion that it was a marvelous cinematic achievement on a technical level but lacked the memorable characters or gripping narrative of its genre peers. This is an opinion that I most certainly don’t share.

While “1917”’s story is not as sprawling as some war movies — though this is very much by design — I find it extremely easy to get invested in the plight of Schofield and Blake. After all, the two young soldiers are on a mission to save some 1,600 men from being sent to the slaughter, including Blake’s brother , so you'll be instantly rooting for their success. 

There’s also a particularly heart-wrenching scene around a third of the way through that hits home the senseless violence and brutal realities of conflict. But there are green shoots of hope too with scenes that remind viewers that even during humanity's dark hours people were capable of selfless acts to help others. 

The movie also boasts a cast list stacked with the best British acting talent including Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Daniel Mays, Colin Firth and Benedict Cumberbatch. Some of these men only appear for a single scene (or just a few seconds of screen time in one case), but they all leave an impression. 

For me, “1917” is the complete package. It offers a gripping story, compelling characters (portrayed by a star-studded cast) and some of the most exhilarating action sequences ever captured on film, with a dramatic climax that will have your adrenaline spiking. It’s a modern masterpiece that excels in every area. 

Stream ‘1917’ on Netflix right now 

If all my praise above didn’t make it clear, I strongly recommend that you stream “1917” on Netflix as soon as possible. 

This war movie is an incredible experience, and even if plays best on the big screen, it’s still amazing when enjoyed at home — just make sure you at least watch it on a good-sized television, this isn’t a movie made for watching on a mobile phone. 

If you're putting together a marathon of war movies on Netflix be sure to add the excellent 2022 version of “All Quiet on the Western Front” , but be warned it’s emotionally scarring. Alternatively, if you need something more lighthearted, “Operation Mincemeat” is a wonderful drama that balances its serious subject matter with charming humor. 

“1917” is just one of the many must-watch movies and shows arriving on Netflix this month, check out our full roundup of what’s new to Netflix for a complete rundown of the top picks. 

More from Tom's Guide

• New on Netflix in June 2024 — all the shows and movies you need to watch
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Rory is an Entertainment Editor at Tom’s Guide based in the UK. He covers a wide range of topics but with a particular focus on gaming and streaming. When he’s not reviewing the latest games, searching for hidden gems on Netflix, or writing hot takes on new gaming hardware, TV shows and movies, he can be found attending music festivals and getting far too emotionally invested in his favorite football team. 

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• Singinpig It’s a worthy movie, but, IMHO, not as good as Ryan. A lot of running through trenches. Reply
• David Castle Whoa slow down there Ryan. I assume you put out this headline to get clicks cause yes, it's a good film well done but it doesn't match the totality of what Asking Private Ryan achieved Reply
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The 13 Worst War Movies, Ranked

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The war genre is a difficult one to tackle appropriately, at least as far as movies are concerned. Such films often have to walk a line between being entertaining (or at least engaging) while also showing the horrors inherent to war, be it the tedium, death, or destruction they cause… or all of the above. Movies tend to have to be compelling on some level, but there’s also a risk in making warfare look too cinematic or exciting, at least as far as some war movies go.

All these things have to be taken into account, but if a war movie stumbles in one of these areas and also feels lacking from a technical perspective, it has the chance to be considered among the all-time lows for the genre . Such movies fit into this unfortunate camp, and can - for one reason or another - be included among the worst war films of all time.

13 'Pearl Harbor' (2001)

Director: michael bay.

Those who want a genuinely good (and somewhat accurate) movie about Pearl Harbor are better off watching Tora! Tora! Tora! from 1970 , rather than the infamous Michael Bay -directed film, simply called Pearl Harbor . It’s a notoriously long and drawn-out movie, and doesn’t really strike much by way of balance between its love triangle plot and the wartime scenes involving the attack on Pearl Harbor.

It feels like it’s trying to scratch the same itch as 1997’s Titanic , which was also an epic-length war movie that balanced high-intensity action/disaster sequences with romance, but did so in a far smoother manner. Pearl Harbor isn’t really worth anyone’s time, especially when it takes so much time to watch , and even those who are willing to defend most of what Michael Bay’s made tend to struggle with this one.

Pearl Harbor (2001)

Rent on Apple TV

12 'Alexander' (2004)

Director: oliver stone.

Oliver Stone has made a handful of good historical/biographical films in his time, but Alexander was not one of them. It can’t be faulted for its ambitions, given it’s an epic that runs between 167 and 214 minutes, depending on which one of the four cuts you watch, and spans a great many years in its attempt to tell the life story of Alexander the Great.

There are aspirations for greatness, but this Alexander movie is not Great at all, sadly . It jumps around and feels all over the place narratively, and has some very “interesting” casting decisions, not all of which pay off. At its worst, Alexander can also be very boring, but some of the technical qualities - and the admittedly impressive scale of the battle sequences - do prove to be small glimmers of light/quality in an otherwise dim film.

Watch on Tubi

11 'Ambush at Cimarron Pass' (1958)

Director: jodie copelan.

There are some qualities to Ambush at Cimarron Pass that make it something of a curiosity or oddity , but sitting through it is still a bit of a slog. That’s really saying something, considering the film is just 73 minutes long, and stands out for being one of Clint Eastwood’s earliest starring roles … but these are the only qualities that come close to making the film watchable.

Otherwise, Ambush at Cimarron Pass is a bland blending of war and Western genres, narratively being about various soldiers banding together to fight against numerous Native American warriors. It’s an old-fashioned film that feels a little like a war movie, owing to the amount of combat and the fact that some characters are soldiers. Regrettably, the action here is tedious, and the characters barely have any interesting qualities . It’s the sort of movie where most people involved probably sleepwalked through it, and, funnily enough, anyone who tries to watch it will probably just sleep through it.

Ambush at Cimarron Pass

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10 'Captain America' (1990)

Director: albert pyun.

Just over 20 years before the titular character was done justice, 1990 saw the release of a cheesier and lower quality take on Captain America with a film simply called… Captain America . This was in the days before superhero movies were cool/mainstream , and so anyone returning to this in a post-MCU world will probably be alarmed by how cheap and B-grade (for lack of a better word) it all looks.

It's predominantly a superhero movie, but given the character of Captain America is tied to World War II – particularly regarding his origin – 1990’s Captain America does operate as something of a war film for some of its runtime. Things get a little wilder and more science fiction as it goes along , but it remains pretty clunky throughout. That means it might appeal to fans of low-budget schlock, but when judged as a war, sci-fi, or superhero film, it’s hard to call it good in the traditional sense.

Rent on Amazon

9 '300: Rise of an Empire' (2014)

Director: noam murro.

The original 300 might be a relic of its time (and that time is only getting further and further away), but it nevertheless delivered when it came to stylish visuals and plenty of action/death . It had a follow-up in the form of 300: Rise of an Empire eight years on from the original, and it’s overall much harder to find defenders of said follow-up than it is to find fans of the first movie.

It’s partly a sequel, but also plays around with time a little, having some events take place before and at the same time as events depicted in 300 . It does depict some battles (not necessarily in a historically accurate way) that are said to have happened more than 2000 years ago, but the action isn’t as satisfying, and though 300 wasn’t masterful from a storytelling point of view, it was at least competent in a way that 300: Rise of an Empire ultimately isn’t .

300: Rise of an Empire

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8 'Cavalcade' (1933)

Director: frank lloyd.

Cavalcade may have won an Academy Award for Best Picture , but nowadays, it feels like an absolute slog to get through, and there are plenty of movies from the 1930s that hold up a whole lot better. It’s a movie that takes place over several decades, starting at the very end of the 19th century and ending in the early 1930s, following the trials and tribulations of two different English families across the decades.

Given the Second Boer War and World War I occurred during this period of time , they get touched upon during Cavalcade , turning this drama into a war movie for some of its runtime. Whether it’s dealing with war or not, Cavalcade is consistent in being dull, and will probably only be of interest to anyone who wants to watch every single Best Picture winner (and even then, watching this might make you regret such a commitment).

7 'Captain Corelli’s Mandolin' (2001)

Director: john madden.

Nicolas Cage has appeared in a surprisingly high number of war movies that aren’t particularly good , with 2001’s Captain Corelli’s Mandolin being one of them . It’s about a love triangle with a woman at the center, brought about because her husband goes off to fight in World War II, leading to her falling in love with another man stationed nearby: the titular Captain Corelli (Cage’s character).

It’s melodramatic and kind of goofy, but not quite enough to feel particularly funny, nor could it really be called so bad it’s good, either. It’s got a memorably dumb title, and there is some amusement to be found in how all-over-the-place all the accents are (with Cage playing an Italian soldier, after all), but Captain Corelli’s Mandolin is also sluggish and tedious in its worst moments. It’s probably best avoided, in all honesty.

6 'Jarhead 2: Field of Fire' (2014)

Director: don michael paul.

2005’s Jarhead could well be up there as an all-time great war movie , or at least one of the most underrated of the past couple of decades, delving into and depicting the tedium of war without ever feeling too boring to watch. Quite bafflingly, it was a film that ended up getting three direct-to-video sequels released throughout the 2010s, the first (and arguably worst) being 2014’s Jarhead 2: Field of Fire .

It's really just a generic war movie, featuring combat (but boring combat) in a way that goes against what the first film was trying to say. It really just maintains the name, and is otherwise very dissimilar to the first Jarhead , unsurprisingly carrying over little by way of story, characters, or cast members. It’s hard to know who was asking for a film like Jarhead 2: Field of Fire , but nevertheless, it established Jarhead as a “series” and got two more sequels.

Jarhead 2: Field of Fire

5 'missing in action' (1984), director: joseph zito.

Though Missing in Action might succeed as a brainless Chuck Norris action movie , it doesn’t fare nearly as well when judged as a war movie (and even action fans are going to have to overlook some tedium and technical shakiness throughout). It feels like a First Blood / Rambo sequel, but perhaps even a little worse, with Norris starring as a one-man army tasked with rescuing American soldiers who are being held captive in Vietnam.

Throughout Missing in Action , there are a good number of explosions, guns fired, and other acts of violence/destruction committed, but it’s all captured pretty lifelessly and eventually feels repetitive. Even some fun character actors showing up – like M. Emmet Walsh and James Hong – can only do so much in giving Missing in Action more of a pulse, and it ends up being shockingly boring for something that’s technically so action-packed .

4 'Time to Kill' (1989)

Director: giuliano montaldo.

Somehow, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin is not the only time Nicolas Cage has played an Italian soldier in a movie, as he did the same thing 12 years earlier in an even worse movie called Time to Kill . This is real bottom-of-the-barrel stuff , made with a shoestring budget and having uncomfortable scene after uncomfortable scene, making it hard to recommend, even to people who might otherwise like to see Cage giving a bizarrely passionate performance for a film that doesn’t really deserve it.

He plays a soldier who unravels psychologically while having to find his way to a hospital after being hurt and separated from his fellow soldiers, yelling, screaming, and committing heinous acts along the way. Time to Kill almost feels like an exploitation film, but not a good or fun one. It’s honestly odd and would probably be completely forgotten, had it not featured a young Cage in a starring role. Even with Cage, it’s still mostly forgotten, and maybe the more forgotten it remains, the better.

3 'Air Strike' (2018)

Director: xiao feng.

On the surface, the generically named Air Strike looks like it might have something to offer, being a war movie about a clash of cultures , and having a story about an American pilot training people in China during World War II. It also stars two well-known American actors, Bruce Willis and Adrien Brody , though ultimately was a Chinese production.

Unfortunately, neither Willis nor Brody do any of their best work here, but it’s not like they were given much to work with screenplay-wise . Outside the writing, Air Strike barely feels coherent as far as the editing goes, stringing together one tedious scene after another, and never really impressing when it comes to combat scenes, either. It’s the kind of movie that’s been done before, but better; just about any vaguely war-related movie about flying and dogfights is worth watching over this one.

2 'USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage' (2016)

Director: mario van peebles.

If you were after a trilogy of bad Nicolas Cage war movies, you’ve got one in the form of Time to Kill , Captain Corelli’s Mandolin , and then USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage , which is perhaps the worst of the lot. The last of those might sound promising as a funny bad film , though, given it’s a World War II movie that ends up being more about surviving against shark attacks, once the titular vessel is destroyed, and its crew members find themselves stranded at sea.

USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage is confounding and very silly at times, retelling a true story and making it schlocky in a way that feels more than a bit disrespectful. But because of that loose true story, it can never really lean into the cheese or go all-out action-wise . It’s almost funny-bad at times, but is perhaps more baffling because of the no man’s land it occupies between seriousness and schlock.

Watch on Amazon

1 'Sniper: Special Ops' (2016)

Director: fred olen ray.

Those wanting some good action will find absolutely nothing of the sort in Sniper: Special Ops , though it’s purportedly a war/action movie that stars Steven Seagal , who’s of course best known for his action films. He spends most of Sniper: Special Ops sitting down, mumbling, and occasionally shooting people, giving one of the most disinterested and static lead performances in cinema history.

Otherwise, Sniper: Special Ops is pretty tedious and laughably barebones as far as production values go, making a story about rescuing an American congressman from the Taliban feel strangely boring and entirely lacking in energy. It’s the sort of film that’s so still and boring that it kind of has to be seen to be believed , but the absurdity of its existence and execution does mean it might offer some laughs for those who approach it with the right frame of mind.

NEXT: The Worst Zombie Movies, Ranked

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One of the best war movies ever made lands on netflix today, and you absolutely need to watch it.

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1917 is a masterpiece.

When I say that 1917 is one of the best war movies ever made, I’m not giving it full credit. This is one of the best movies ever made, period.

Director Sam Mendes has made some great films over the years— Road To Perdition, American Beauty, Skyfall— but none of them come close to the brilliance of this World War 1 picture. The movie has been on other streaming services for a while now, including Showtime and HBO, but now it’s on Netflix and you absolutely must watch it.

Part of 1917’s brilliance is how it’s shot, in two very long shots that are only broken up once in the middle of the film (though the film used techniques to give it the appearance of one long shot; a brilliant illusion). Cinematographer Roger Deakins— True Grit, Fargo, Prisoners— is at the top of his game. Very few movies are as visually impressive. This one has such a sense of urgency and flow that it’s impossible to look away.

1917 isn’t a dialogue-heavy movie, especially in its second half. The film stars George MacKay as Lance Corporal Will Schofield and Dean-Charles Chapman as Lance Corporal Tom Blake. The two men are sent on a desperate mission to bring a message to a British colonel (Benedict Cumberbatch) who is about to send his men into an ambush. This mission takes the two young men across enemy lines, through booby-trapped trenches, and into one peril after another. It’s extremely tense, though there isn’t a lot of the actual war shown, since this is a bit more of a zoomed-in, intimate story.

I won’t spoil any more. The film has many, many cameos from actors like Andrew Scott, Mark Strong, Colin Firth and more. I’ve seen in it three times and loved every second of it.

Check out more streaming recommendations in my weekend streaming guide right here .

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Screen Rant

The 20 best war movies based on true stories.

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15 Best Military Movies Ranked

How the kingdom of heaven director's cut improves eva green's character, 15 most rewatchable war movies, ranked.

• Not all war movies are based on true stories; but those that are can increase the realism of the film and up the stakes.
• Accuracy is crucial in movies based on true stories, altering events only for narrative purposes.
• The best war movies based on true stories can be an important way to connect with history.

War movies based on true stories are a popular genre for filmmakers who are interested in the action and intensity of battle as well as the stakes that come with being based on a real event. The best war movies are not necessarily based on true stories , and it's an important distinction to make. Unless a war movie is set in a fantasy world like Warcraft or is a science fiction film like Starship Troopers , the film is likely set within a real world period, during an actual conflict that happened. However, this does not mean that the film is 'based on a true story'.

So a film like Saving Private Ryan , while incredible, does not match the criteria as the story is fictional , despite the war itself being real. The characters and specific events (outside of the broader setting of the war) are fictional. Similarly, completely realistic depictions of military action are not totally necessary for a true war movie to be successful. What's crucial is that the specifics of a historical event or person within a war are captured accurately , and the factual events are only altered to serve narrative purposes, not twisted to fit the thematic goals of the filmmaker. The best war movies based on true stories are accurate, illuminating, and express why these real stories are important.

Epic war movies are a staple of cinema, and the best military movies capture the greatest heroism and harrowing brutality of war like no other medium.

20 Testament Of Youth (2014)

A poignant look into the cost of war.

Watch on Amazon Prime Video

Testament of Youth is a 2014 British war drama based on the First World War memoir of the same name by Vera Brittain, a British nurse and activist. Alicia Vikander plays Vera and Kit Harington plays Roland Leighton, a poet and soldier, and Vera's love interest. When WWI begins, every man in Vera's life goes off to fight and die, leaving her alone. She decides to become a nurse in the field to help her countrymen, but comes to learn that the Germans wounded in battle are no different from the men she knows.

It's a moving and philosophical film that challenges the idea of evil and the wartime belief that the enemy is some monstrous, unknown being. Vikander's acting perfectly portrays the anguish and resiliency of Vera, who lost two of her lovers and her brother in the fighting. A slow burning movie, Testament of Youth is beautifully shot and engaging from the beginning.

19 The Train (1964)

A thrilling chase to stop the nazis from stealing french art.

Watch on Amazon Prime Video In The Train , based on the non-fiction work Le front de l'art by French writer Rose Valland, Paul Labiche (Burt Lancaster), a real life French art dealer, is a French Resistance member during WWII. Throughout the war, the Nazis have been moving stolen art out of France to their homes in Germany. The Train refers to train No. 40,044, one of the last cargo locomotives to leave Germany after the liberation of Paris becomes imminent. Colonel Franz von Waldheim (Paul Scofield) is attempting to steal as much as he can, leaving Labiche to find a way to stop him.

It's a thrilling story that not only features Lancaster in a classic, heroic movie star role, but also has a critical message about the importance of art, even in wartime. The film was nominated for Best Story and Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen at the 38th Academy Awards and along with its impeccable script comes beautiful wide, long shots of France.

18 A Bridge Too Far (1977)

A large scale war epic unafraid to show allied failure.

After D-Day, the Allied command made an attempt to enter the German heartland by way of the occupied Netherlands. A Bridge Too Far is the retelling of that failed mission. Based on the novel of the same name by historian Cornelius Ryan, A Bridge Too Far is the result of the combined efforts of some of the greatest talents working in Hollywood in the '70s . Richard Attenborough directs, William Goldman writes, and Michael Caine, Sean Connery, James Caan, Gene Hackman, and Anthony Hopkins star.

A Bridge Too Far is one of the more historically accurate war movies , adhering closely to what happened when 35,000 British, American, and Independent Polish forces parachuted into Holland. It's a massively staged film with some incredible sequences of men dropping en masse to the ground. It's unusual in that it's one of the early war films to show Allied failures in the war, not resorting to depicting them as heroic victors.

17 Kingdom Of Heaven (2005)

A medieval epic on a scale that's rarely seen, kingdom of heaven (2005).

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Ridley Scott's 2004 epic war film, Kingdom of Heaven , tells a rarely seen tale about the Crusades, specifically in this case the Third Crusade and Balian of Ibelin's (Orlando Bloom) fight to defend the Kingdom of Jerusalem from Ayyubid Sultan Saladin (Edward Norton). Long, brutal, and filled with the grimy and intense Scott filmmaking style, Kingdom of Heaven is a force that's a full sensory experience.

The battle scenes are incredibly staged and the balance between the Crusader defenders and Ayyubid attackers is always carefully depicted. Each side has good reason for their actions, making the final confrontation a harrowing fight in which it's hard to pick a true hero. Ridley Scott released a director's cut of Kingdom of Heaven which dramatically improved the pacing and structure of the film and should be considered the definitive version of the movie.

The director's cut of Kingdom of Heaven gives Eva Green's Sybilla depth with a sub-plot entirely cut from the original.

16 Carve Her Name With Pride (1958)

Virgina mckenna makes violet szabo jump off the screen.

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Carve Her Name with Pride from director Lewis Gilbert tells the story of real-life Special Operations Executive agent Violette Szabo (Virginia McKenna) who was captured and executed while working undercover in Nazi-occupied France. Violette leaves her daughter and family in England to help with the war effort, and aids the French Resistance and their British liaison, Captain Tony Fraser (Paul Scofield). Despite some early successes, Violette is eventually captured, tortured, and killed, though she never provides any information to the Nazis.

Though McKenna looks nothing like the real Szabo, as Szabo was brunette, dark-eyed, and short; McKenna does an excellent job leading the picture, and exemplifying the heroic and human traits that made Szabo a successful spy. She's resourceful, grief-stricken, constantly terrified, but defiant as well , and McKenna ensures all those emotions are on her face simultaneously.

15 Paths of Glory (1957)

Stanley kubrick's slow burning anti-war epic, paths of glory (1957).

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Stanley Kubrick's war movie, or better, anti-war movie, Paths of Glory is a retelling of the Souain corporals affair from WWI. In the film, Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas) is a French commanding officer whose soldiers refuse to obey a superior's orders when the mission to go over the trench is plainly suicidal. Dax must defend the soldiers in court after they are accused of cowardice and threatened to be executed by firing squad for disobedience.

Paths of Glory is an intense , unnerving film that accuses the French Army and other militaries worldwide of unfairly disregarding the human soldier on the line. It's grotesque and nauseating in its depiction of how sentences are passed and people are tried with little recourse in a court-martial. Controversial upon release, Paths of Glory has grown in estimation since, becoming an influential anti-war film that illuminates the dangers of middle-management in a bureaucracy.

14 The Tuskegee Airmen (1995)

A moving and inspiring tale about the first all-black army air squadron.

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A TV movie made for HBO, The Tuskegee Airmen , follows the exploits of the first Black combat pilots in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII. Focusing primarily on the intense training of the pilots, The Tuskegee Airmen stars Laurence Fishburne, Allen Payne, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Courtney B. Vance, and Andre Braugher as hopeful soldiers who have to contend with the rigors of bootcamp and their racist director of training Major Sherman Joy (Christopher McDonald).

The film earned a Best Actor Golden Globe nomination for Fishburne and 10 Emmy nominations, winning in three categories. It's a heartfelt story with a touching chemistry between the five pilots at the center. Even some clichéd war dialogue is not enough to detract from the talented actors. By the time the pilots make it to Italy, the audience has been taken on a literal soaring and emotional journey as the soldiers face hate, politics, and danger to help the war effort.

13 Gettysburg (1993)

The consummate civil war epic for history buffs.

Released in 1993, Gettysburg is a historical war drama film that adapts the novel  The Killer Angels  by Michael Shaara, written and directed by Ronald F. Maxwell. The film chronicles the titular battle during the Civil War, exploring both sides' strategies and intimate character stories as soldiers prepare for one of the bloodiest battles in American history.

At over four hours long, Gettysburg can take a few viewings to get all the way through, but for anyone even a little interested in the American Civil War, it's a must-watch. Though there are certainly some changes from Gettysburg to the real events of the battle , it's for the most part, a day-to-day retelling of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. The film starts with the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia moving into Pennsylvania and ends with General Lee (Martin Sheen) agreeing to withdraw back south.

Though only set over the course of three days, it's an explosive and thrilling story, filled with sadness, loss, and a lot of heroism, with many sequences pulled straight from history. Despite the runtime and subject, even those not interested in history will find something to enjoy in one of the few movies set on the battle. Starring Tom Berenger, Stephen Lang, George Lazenby, Jeff Daniels, Sam Elliott, and thousands of actors, Gettysburg brings the country-defining fight to life.

12 Jarhead (2005)

A realistic look at the drudgery of modern warfare.

Jarhead is a war drama directed by Sam Mendes, based on Anthony Swofford's memoir about his experiences as a Marine sniper during the Gulf War. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Swofford, the film explores the psychological challenges faced by soldiers amidst the monotony and anticipation of combat. The movie also features performances by Peter Sarsgaard and Jamie Foxx, capturing the often-overlooked emotional turmoil of military life in a desert war.

The first trailer of Jarhead told a much different story than what actually ended up being presented in the Persian Gulf War movie based on the memoir by U.S. marine Anthony Swofford. The trailer's use of Kanye West's "Jesus Walks" and scenes of Jake Gyllenhaal and Jamie Foxx swaggering around exploding desert hills indicated the film would be a rollicking, action-packed, sarcastic thrillride. In the movie, Swofford does not fire his rifle one single time outside of training .

Gyllenhaal is mesmerizing as a soldier on the brink and Peter Sarsgaard is even better as Corporal Alan Troy, a soldier who's sadly aware that he's already past it.

Jarhead is a psychological look at the boredom and drudgery of modern warfare. Everywhere the marines go, the battles have already been won. To fill their time instead, they drink copiously, fight each other, and slowly get broken down, unsure of what they are doing in this foreign country. Gyllenhaal is mesmerizing as a soldier on the brink and Peter Sarsgaard is even better as Corporal Alan Troy, a soldier who's sadly aware that he's already past it.

11 El Cid (1961)

Spain's national hero is put on the big screen, el cid (1961).

El Cid (1961) is a historical epic directed by Anthony Mann, starring Charlton Heston as the legendary Spanish hero Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar. The film portrays his struggle to unite Spain against the Moorish invaders. With Sophia Loren as his love interest, the narrative explores the themes of honor, loyalty, and heroism amidst the backdrop of medieval Spain.

Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, El Cid (an Arabic honorific meaning "The Lord"), is one of Spain's most celebrated national heros and the quintessential medieval knight. Charlton Heston plays the Spaniard in the 1961 biopic El Cid , which covers the warrior's life as he fights for both Spanish and Moorish causes, whichever he deems most noble, gaining allies and loyal followers along the way. There are plenty of moments of unintentional comedy, with Heston not always the most handy with a sword, and many lines of bombastic dialogue, but El Cid is epic pomp and circumstance in the vein of Ben-Hur .

The scenery and composition is incredible and beautiful and the battle sequences are massive and well choreographed. While El Cid may be baroque and self-important, when it's at its best, it's breathtaking. The movie earned three Academy Award nominations and Martin Scorsese himself declared the film, via the LA Times , " one of the greatest epic films ever made ".

El Cid is not available to stream, rent, or buy digitally.

10 The Great Escape (1963)

The ultimate prison escape adventure, the great escape.

The Great Escape is a World War II film directed by John Sturges, featuring an ensemble cast including Steve McQueen, James Garner, and Richard Attenborough. Set in a German POW camp, the story follows the coordinated efforts of Allied prisoners attempting a mass escape. Inspired by a true story, the film captures themes of resilience, camaraderie, and ingenuity under duress. Released in 1963, it remains an iconic adventure drama.

The Great Escape is the retelling of the mass escape of British prisoners from the Nazi POW camp Stalag Luft III in March 1944. There are many dramatic licenses taken with The Great Escape , like the addition of American soldiers as key figures, but the film still generally tracks the events well enough. In the film, British Captain Ramsey (James Donald) and RAF Squadron Leader Roger Bartlett (Richard Attenborough) begin making plans for a large scale escape from the camp, which involves digging tunnels, and hiding their plans through a well-orchestrated and totally enjoyable series of minor plots and schemes.

The Great Escape omits the contributions of Canadian forces also present at the camp who were crucial to digging the tunnels, via CanadaAtWar .

The movie was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Picture and an Academy Award for Film Editing. It's a classic of wartime action movies and an incredibly fun watch despite the grimmer aspects of the finale. Its influences can be found in numerous films from Chicken Run to the works of Quentin Tarantino, including Reservoir Dogs and Inglorious Basterds .

9 Letters From Iwo Jima (2006)

Clint eastwood's haunting look at the pacific war through the eyes of the japanese, letters from iwo jima.

Leave it to Clint Eastwood to find the time and energy to film two Academy Award-nominated movies at the same time. Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima were both released in 2006 and tell the story of the invasion of the Japanese island from the point of view of the Americans in Flags and the Japanese in Letters . Ken Watanabe stars as General Tadamichi Kuribayashi, the highest ranking officer on Iwo Jima during the invasion, tasked with defending the island to the last man, no matter the cost.

The story comes from the novel "Gyokusai sōshikikan" no etegami ("Picture letters from the Commander in Chief") by Kuribayashi before he died, relaying his account of the invasion. Letters from Iwo Jim a was nominated for four Academy Awards , winning for Best Sound Editing and won Best Foreign Language Film at the Golden Globes. It's a moving and haunting tale from a perspective rarely seen by English-speaking audiences.

8 Zulu (1964)

An epic war drama far ahead of its time.

Watch on Tubi Zulu is based on the Battle of Rorke's Drift during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, which, as the name suggests, was fought between British colonizing forces and Zulu tribesmen. The film depicts the long battle between 4000 Zulu soldiers who attack a heavily fortified encampment of 200 Welsh defenders. It is a brutal battle with gore and violence approaching the most harrowing modern war films and Michael Caine's portrayal of Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead rocketed him into stardom.

The film is a product of its time in many ways. The Zulu warriors eventually concede their attack on the British and salute their bravery, which slightly undermines some of the anti-imperialistic messaging the rest of the movie has. However, the fact a 1964 film even had an anti-imperialist bent was unusual. It's a white-knuckled and exhilarating two hours of warfare that has inspired many films, such as Gladiator .

7 Glory (1989)

A moving and heroic drama about the first all-black regiment in the civil war, glory (1989).

Based on documented events, Glory is a historical war-drama film by director Edward Zwick and tells the story of the first all-black infantry regiment in the Civil War. Being led by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, comprised entirely of volunteers, fight to protect their nation and people while facing discrimination from all sides.

Denzel Washington won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar and a Golden Globe for his performance as Private Silas Trip in Glory , based on the true story of one of the Union Army's earliest Black regiments in the American Civil War. Along with Washington's accolades, the film earned four more Oscar nominations , winning in two technical categories; and it received four more Golden Globe nominations, including in the Best Picture category.

Morgan Freeman, Matthew Broderick, and Cary Elwes also star. The film depicts the formation of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment and the racist roadblocks they encountered from the same country they volunteered to defend. Glory could have been heavy-handed but is instead a rousing look at resilience, anger, and honor that never strays into becoming something smaltzy, thanks in part to James Horner's soaring score.

6 Come And See (1985)

A horrifying anti-war film that's difficult but important to watch, come and see (1985).

Come and See is a 1985 Soviet war drama directed by Elem Klimov. The film follows a young Belarusian boy named Flyora as he witnesses and experiences the horrors of World War II. Through his eyes, viewers are exposed to the brutal realities of war and its devastating impact on humanity. Renowned for its stark portrayal of violence and suffering, the film is considered a powerful anti-war statement.

Come and See was hugely controversial when it came out due exclusively to the brutality that's present on screen. But that's the point. Through the eyes of a young boy, Flyora/Florian Gaishun (Aleksei Kravchenko), the violence and massacres inflicted on Belarusians by the Nazis during WWII are presented in unflinching close-up. The Soviet Belarusian film is based primarily on the infamous Nazi Dirlewanger Brigade and the Khatyn massacre. Come and See is unrelenting, exhausting, and necessary.

The term "anti-war film" is a paradoxical one, and there's an argument to be made that there is no such thing.

The term "anti-war film" is a paradoxical one, and there's an argument to be made that there is no such thing. By putting war on screen, it immediately becomes an object of fascination, for better or worse. Come and See is neither thrilling, exciting, nor fascinating. It's either the anti-war movie that's the exception that proves the rule or an example that indicates anti-war films can be possible if the filmmakers are willing to be completely honest about the atrocities people inflict on one another.

5 Dunkirk (2017)

A gorgeous, heart-pounding, thriller from a modern master.

This epic tale of World War II tells the story of soldiers from Belgium, Britain, Canada and France, who are surrounded by the German army, and the dangerous operation that evacuated and saved the lives of thousands.

Christopher Nolan's 10th movie , Dunkirk , is a dedication to the director's birth country of England. The film follows one hour, one day, and one week, overlapping and criss-crossing as only Nolan can do, obsessed with the idea of time as he is, during the Dunkirk evacuation in WWII. The movie begins with a caption stating that the "enemy" has driven the British and French to the sea where they await unlikely rescue. On a pamplet dropped by the Nazi enemy, a huge red outline surrounding a tiny white dot in the center sets the stakes.

That's the only vision of the enemy Dunkirk allows until the final moments of the film when two blurry Nazis approach from afar to apprehend the crashed, but victorious, pilot, Farrier (Tom Hardy). Bullets, bombs, and torpedoes are everywhere but never is the German soldier who fired them shown. Dunkirk isn't about defeating the enemy, it's about escaping with the resilience of an entire country. It's not heroic, but it's human and more moving for it. With eight Oscar nominations and three wins, Dunkirk enshrined Nolan as an acclaimed director.

4 Black Hawk Down (2001)

One of the most realistic depictions of modern warfare, black hawk down.

Black Hawk Down recounts the harrowing true story of a U.S. military mission gone awry in Somalia. Tasked with capturing a warlord, elite soldiers find themselves in a fierce battle against Somali militia forces.

Black Hawk Down , based on the novel of the same name by journalist Mark Bowden, is Ridley Scott's modern epic about the Battle of Mogadishu, an ill-fated "military action" taken on by the US Army in 1993 during the Somali Civil War. The film follows the 75th Ranger Regiment (highly trained foot soldiers), Delta Force operators (special forces), and flight crews of the 160th SOAR (helicopters or, Black Hawks) as they enter Mogadishu in the hopes of capturing self-proclaimed ruler Mohamed Farrah Aidid.

What happened instead was a massive military disaster that included two downed Black Hawk Helicopters, 84 US soldiers wounded, and 18 killed, along with hundreds of dead Somalians, some belligerents and some simply caught in the crossfire. Almost from the moment the film starts, it's clear that U.S. command is not organized enough for the attack and the film, while a thrilling and intense escape movie, is also a blistering indictment on the state of the modern American military apparatus.

3 Sergeant York (1941)

The quintessential american war film.

Watch on Amazon Prime Video Sergeant Alvin York was a real soldier who fought in World War I and earned the Medal of Honor for his heroics in capturing 132 prisoners during the Meuse–Argonne offensive in France in 1918. 23 years later, Gary Cooper played the decorated soldier in Sergeant York , a retelling of Alvin's heroics on the battlefield. York is a conscientious objector at the outset of the movie, but becomes a hero on the battlefield when his superiors are killed and the men look to him.

York is a modern American hero, almost mythical in stature , and this movie centers him like a superhero, but Cooper keeps the character grounded and humble, making it not feel as jingoistic as it may have otherwise. Sergeant York was nominated for 11 Oscars and won for Best Actor and Best Film Editing. It's also been entered into the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

2 The Battle Of Algiers (1966)

A frighteningly realistic and inspiring foreign language war epic, the battle of algiers.

The Battle of Algiers, directed by Gillo Pontecorvo, is a historical war film depicting the struggles of Algerian revolutionaries against French colonial rule in the 1950s. Focusing on urban guerrilla warfare, the film presents a gripping portrayal of both sides' tactics and the broader socio-political implications. With a documentary-style approach, it emphasizes the intense atmosphere and moral complexities involved in the liberation movement.

The Battle of Algiers is an Italian-Algerian joint production directed by Gillo Pontecorvo, based on actions undertaken by rebels during the Algerian War (1954–1962) against the French government in North Africa. Filmed in the style of the master of neo-realism Roberto Rossellini , which is like a newsreel, there are parts of The Battle of Algiers that are almost indistinguishable from real life. The film centers on revolutionary fighter Ali La Pointe (Brahim Hadjadj) as he fights with guerrillas to free Algeria from the rule of France.

Ennio Morricone helped score the film and Pontecorvo used non-professional actors, some of whom were revolutionaries themselves like Saadi Yacef, to give the film authenticity. The influence of The Battle of Algiers can be found in Kubrick movies, Nolan films , and in any project that's attempted to capture the real feeling of being on the ground during a revolution. It's frequently ranked near the top of Best Movie polls, via BFI , and is an epic, uncompromising masterpiece.

1 Lawrence Of Arabia (1962)

An epic, war time drama that's influenced every director who has seen it, lawrence of arabia.

The 1962 epic Lawrence of Arabia is a historical movie based on the life of a real-life British officer who played a key role in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Starring Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness, and Anthony Quinn, the Oscar-winning film displays the man's disillusionment with war and its politics.

Lawrence of Arabia is based on the life of British commander T. E. Lawrence who fought in Ottoman provinces during WWI. The film earned 10 Academy Award nominations and won seven of them, including for Best Picture and Best Director. It also went six for eight at the Golden Globes, again winning Best Motion Picture. The film has also been selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the U.S. Library of Congress. If the question ever comes up regarding favorite movies, answering, " Lawrence of Arabia " is a safe pick.

It's epically filmed, Peter O'Toole is perfectly cast as Lawrence, and it's awe-inspiring in its cinematography, acting, story, and scope. As a movie from the sixties, issues of whitewashing Arab characters are persistent and grating. Omar Sharif as Sherif Ali ibn el Kharish is one of the only Middle Eastern actors even cast in the film. However, it's impossible to deny the war movies' influence and shots like Indiana Jones riding across sandy deserts or a Sandworm coming out of the ground in Dune would not be possible without it.

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7 Months later: An Indian review of Godzilla Minus One

A roaring triumph of cgi, godzilla minus one is a spectacle for the ages that indian audiences finally got a chance to watch last weekend with the netflix release of the japanese smash hit. one indian film enthusiast reviews the film, 7 months after its global premiere..

In Case You Missed It

On June the 1 st , Netflix managed to do what distribution companies could not – it finally brought Godzilla Minus One to Indian screens. Released in November of 2023, the Japanese smash hit Godzilla Minus One received high praise for its visual effects, a wave it rode all the way to the Oscars, where it won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

Produced on a mere $15 million budget, the film ended its theatrical run with a gross earning many times that amount at the box office, enjoying enormous commercial success the world over – but not in India.

Last weekend, Indian viewers finally got a chance to watch the spectacle, and in the humble opinion of this reviewer, it has been worth the wait.

At this point, everyone knows who Godzilla is. Hollywood has made sure of that, with repeated and increasingly painful renditions of the Japanese kaiju on the big screen. Of late, a different trend emerged – the monster has started to become the protagonist of his own movies. It’s a trope that anyone who knows Hollywood (and the United States) would have seen coming, and director Takashi Yamazaki and his team set out to make things right.

Appearing in films since 1954, many forget that Godzilla served as a giant allegory for the United States itself, and its merciless use of nuclear weapons at the end of the Second World War. Yamazaki seems well attuned to this fact, and Godzilla once again stomps through the land as an unspeakable terror to the people of Japan.

But this is not just a movie about monsters destroying cities. Godzilla Minus One ups the ante by downsizing on the scale – here is a story more intimate, told from the perspective of a Kamikaze pilot who finds himself face-to-face with the beast during the final days of WW2.

Abandoning his post and wracked by guilt, pilot Shikishima is an unlikely survivor – Kamikaze pilots were explicitly instructed to dive bomb enemy bases if their craft was going down, effectively committing suicide.

It’s an attitude that prevailed throughout Japan during the first half of the 1940s, and one that director Yamazaki is overtly critical of. By setting his film in the aftermath of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, he shows us Japan at one of its lowest points in history, struggling to rebuild while also coming to terms with the innate failings of the nation that led it to that state.

In the midst of it all is the hulking Godzilla in all his destructive glory. It hits you right away what a fantastic job the team behind the design have done – from the minute you first see him, it’s clear that this isn’t some toy dinosaur scaled to towering heights. This avatar of the giant is some abomination of nature, a vicious, mottled creature with an unquenchable thirst for blood.

It helps that the menagerie of colourful creatures who usually accompany Godzilla on his PG-rated adventures don’t appear here. This is a solo performance, and Godzilla steals every scene he’s in.

He evokes a fittingly terrified response from the protagonists who encounter him, but for a change, this film is just as invested in their own, smaller stories. Chief among the film’s messages is the one that Japan must change its ideas if it wants to go on, and that starts with living to fight another day. It’s an effort that suffers somewhat because of lead actor Ryunosuke Kamiki’s overly animated performance, but the arc his character traverses from opening title to end credits is a satisfying one.

Joining Kamiki are able fellow performers Minami Hamabe, Munetaka Aoki, Kuranosuke Sasaki and Hidetaka Yoshioka, who breathe believability into what would otherwise have become an out-and-out “monster movie”. Yoshioka’s character Kenji Noda, the archetypal Professor, comes up with a clever, refreshingly original plan to take down the beast which for once doesn’t involve “bomb him to kingdom come”.

It’s suspenseful stuff, and Yamazaki pulls it off with aplomb. Bodies crunch underfoot, central characters meet their end, and the villain of the piece proves to be surprisingly hard to kill. That’s a good thing, since he never looked this good, and when his dorsal fins (read: scales) retract before he launches his signature blue atomic heat beam, you can’t help but delight at the spectacle. Here is a Godzilla film made by someone who truly loves Godzilla.

Hollywood should sit up and take notes. Godzilla Minus One is the very antithesis of everything that the recent, laughable Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is: the plot makes sense, the stakes are real, the CGI is excellent, and Godzilla is the rightful bad guy.