Three War-Related Movies to Watch This Year

I think the occasional war movie is a healthy part of one's viewing diet, especially as these movies remind us of the persistent reality of ongoing bloodshed in this broken world and the cost necessitated to maintain order amidst the chaos.

Band of Brothers is always an obvious pick for a list such as this, so I will exclude it for that reason. Here are three movies you haven't watched in a while (or at all) that will be worth your time (all of which are based on true stories):

1) We Were Soldiers. I watched this movie again in one of our B-hut office complexes in Afghanistan. What it lacks in character development, it makes up for in showing the unvarnished emotion of war--both for the soldiers and for the families at home. While the Vietnam War shares many similarities with Iraq and Afghanistan (no front lines, no clear identification of combatants and civilians, risk of ambush, etc.), this movie highlights they type of full warfare rarely seen in the modern conflicts. For me, this movie is all about the psychological impact of soldiers/families.

2) Lone Survivor. I hosted a movie night for all of my redeploying soldiers one of our final nights in country, and we watched a bootleg copy of this movie (perfectly legal out there). While most war movies present the big picture with zooming in on individuals, this account was all about a handful of individuals who fought--and largely died--alongside each other. It neither glorifies war or the combatants (their body armor can take a lot of hits and adrenaline and loyalty can keep a wounded soldier in the fight), nor does it disparage them. It shows the uncertainty of decisions made in that environment, and the consequences that follow such decisions. War is messy. Since this takes place in Afghanistan, you'll get a much fuller flavor of elements of life out there.

3) Taking Chance. This made-for-HBO movie followed a Marine colonel who had never deployed and wanted to support our fighting men and women by escorting the body of a fallen Marine home. The story follows the COL and the fallen soldier home to Wyoming, with touching moments of love and patriotism along the way. You will be impressed by the care the military takes for its fallen heroes, as well as the way such tragedy draws people together in grief and in pursuit of comfort.

It also reminds me of the many military funerals I have performed for veterans--from performing the honors alongside veterans from other wars, folding flags, playing TAPS, and looking a grieving widow in the eyes. The first two movies on this list survey the battlefield. The last movie will take you where every fallen soldier must travel: Home.