War may be hell, but it makes for some of the most gripping films you'll ever see. The war movie has metamorphosed significantly, from the rallying, patriotic films of the '30s and '40s to the massive epics of the '50s and '60s, up to the conscientious, morally ambiguous dramas of today. The modern-day war film is multidimensional, often exploring both sides of a conflict, and questioning why we take up arms against one another. Whether contemporary or historical, these war films all share a powerful mix of action, drama, and superb filmmaking. Check out our essential war movies on DVD, including:
Steve McQueen took James Dean's rebel image one step further, updating it with a beatnik swagger and infusing it with an individual Western frontier spirit. His acting was extremely physical rather than emotive and never sentimental: he brings to action films such as Bullitt and The Getaway a lean muscular energy. Not to say he couldn't be charming--a little-boy laugh and a restless intensity set many a moviegoer aswoon.
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