Marines are members of the United States Armed Forces who are trained to serve both on land and at sea. They act as the Navy's backup force, and the word "marine" comes from the French word for "sea." People often refer to Marines as the "point of the spear" because they must be able to respond quickly to any situation, whether on land or at sea. When portrayed by Hollywood movies, Marines are often seen as the first to fight. This quality leads to stereotypes that they are bloodthirsty, reckless, quick to anger and unintelligent. Not all depictions are negative, and many Hollywood movies portray the honor and bravery of the Marine in war. Here are some of the best movies about the Marines.
Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
The first on the list is the 2006 American war film Flags of our fathers, directed by Clint Eastwood. The film is based on the book of the same name by Ron Powers and James Bradley. It tells the story of the famous flag-raising that took place on Iwo Jima by five Marines and a Marine Corpsman captured in an iconic World War II photograph.
Critics and average moviegoers highly praised the film. It earned a positive Rotten Tomato critic and ratings. Critics praised the intelligence and sincerity of Eastwood's directing style. The film was part of a two-movie project in which Eastwood filmed the events of the American side in one film and the Japanese side in the other. The second movie, Letters from Iwo Jima, was released in full Japanese a few months later. This second film also had a Japanese release that predated the American one. Marines in the film are portrayed positively. The film honors those who fought, but at the same time does not portray them as unrealistic superheroes.
Semper Fi (2019)
Semper fi is a 2019 mystery thriller about a group of close friends who decide to enlist in the Marine Corps Reserve. The movie stars Jai Courtney, Nat Wolff and Finn Wittrock. After nearly getting thrown out of a bowling alley, the group of friends enlists in the Marines reservation, with the group's police officer, Cal, as their sergeant. When Cal's brother is thrown in jail for accidentally killing someone, the Marine group devises a plan to break him out of prison.
While the film's critical reception has been mixed, it enjoys high praise from audience reviews. People praise the accuracy of the military's rendering. The film gets many essential details right that many Hollywood movies skip. The performances are well done thanks to the strong cast, with many fun character scenes. The movie is a mish-mash of genres that might not work for some people, but it's still a fun watch with solid cinematic engineering behind it.
The Marine (2006)
The Navy is a 2006 action film directed by John Bonito. It stars famed professional wrestler John Cena in his very first feature film. In the film, Cena plays John Triton, a US Marine serving time in Iraq. On a mission to rescue hostages, Triton disobeys his orders to wait for additional reinforcements to quickly rescue the hostages. After his rule-breaking actions, he is honorably discharged, despite returning the hostages safely. Triton now tries to adjust to civilian life, but as fate would have it, he gets involved in stopping criminal elements in his new job as a security guard.
The movie was perceived as cheesy and campy when it first came out, but it has stood the test of time. It was financially successful and was able to spawn a large number of sequels. But on closer inspection The Marine's cheesy action and high octane explosions are part of its charm. John Cena gives an excellent performance and does a great job in the action sequences.
Rules of Engagement (2000)
Engagement Rules is a 2000 war film that explores the legal side of the Marines. It is directed by William Friedkin and stars Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson. It tells the story of a military court-martial in 1996 where a decorated naval officer, played by Jackson, is being tried for a rescue mission gone horribly wrong. To defend him, he hires a naval lawyer, played by Jones, to defend him against military judges.
Critics and moviegoers have praised the film for being intense and provocative. It shows sides of marine life that are often not present in other marine films. The movie is entertaining and well cast. It's an often underrated and underappreciated war movie in its own right that has a lot to say about the combat arenas Marines have been a part of throughout American history.
Megan Leavey (2017)
Next on the list is the movie Megan Leavey. This film is a biographical drama about the relationship between a young marine and her combat dog. It is based on the true story of the real Meagen Leavey, a US Marine Corporal. The film tells how the Marine and Dog couple served two tours in Iraq together. Leavey was ordered to dispose of the K-9 military unit following a disciplinary decision. While performing her cleanup duties, she bonded with Rex. Rex was an aggressive dog with behavior issues similar to how she felt. The unruly pair quickly began training and would complete more than 100 missions together. Trouble ensues when an improvised explosive device hurts them, leaving them in a desperate situation for survival.
Flying Leathernecks (1951)
Flying Leathernecks is a film that highlights the experiences of Marine aviators during World War II. The movie stars John Wayne, Robert Ryan and John Taylor. It is directed by Nicholas Ray and based on a story by Kenneth Gamet. One of the characters, Major Kirby, was inspired by a real World War II aviator, Major John Smith. The film was critically acclaimed at the time of its release. It was notable for combining color footage of real combat action with studio shots to make the film feel believable. The film contains many exciting scenes of sealers over the South Pacific. This part of World War II history is often not seen on film.
Jarhead (2005)
Jarhead is a dramatic war film based on the memoirs of US Marine Anthony Swofford. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Swofford, and the film also features Jame Foxx, Peter Sarsgaard, and Lucas Black. It was released in 2005 and despite the loss of money, there were three sequels. The name refers to a slang term for Marines used by other military branches. The premise of the film is Swofford enlisting as a Marine in the 1980s, and the film follows his time in boot camp and the sniper course. He ends up being shipped off as a sniper in the Gulf War.
Jarhead excellently presents both sides of the anti-war film. It shows how young Marines are inspired to fight for reasons beyond their control and that even anti-war messages can inspire them to fight. You get to see a quieter side of war and experience the consequences of what happens before and after battle. The film has minimal action and is more of a character study and a psychological portrait of how boring war can be.
Windtalkers (2002)
In Windtalkers, you get to see a different side of World War II. The film focuses on the Najavo code talkers who helped keep Allied messages safe. Their language was never written down, making it ideal for use as a code language. In an interview with Cinema.com, the director said he admired Najavo's bravery and loyalty during their World War II achievements. People often praise the movie for its gripping scenes and intense violence that holds nothing back. Nicholas Cage puts on a spirited performance that at times delves into corny but enjoyable territory.
A Few Good Men (1992)
Near the top of the list we have Some good men. This 1992 war drama focuses on the actions of a group of Marines that led to the death of one of their team members. The movie stars Tom Cruise, Demi Moore and Jack Nicholson. It uses close-up camera work to perfectly capture the fantastic performances and drama in the film. These performances lead to many memorable lines and are compelling from start to finish. Tom Cruise plays a military lawyer who must defend two Marines accused of killing a fellow Marine. Cruise must sort out the mystery of the murder conspiracy masterminded by a commanding officer, played by Jack Nicholson.
Full metal jacket focuses on a single platoon of US Marines during the Tet Offensive in the Vietnam War. The film was directed by Stanley Kubrick and was one of the last films he released in his lifetime. As is typical of Kubrick's directing style, the film is tightly constructed and intense. The film also gets darkly comical at times. It has received tremendous critical acclaim and is considered one of Kubrick's best films. The movie is full of excellent character work and memorable scenes.
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