Most Realistic Military Movie to date?

2014-11-04T21:08:57-05:00

Im going to go with Lone Survivor

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Nov 4 at 2014 9:10 PM

2014-11-04T21:10:56-05:00

Somewhere between, "Stripes" and "Blackhawk Down", the realism lies.

Response by Cpl Shawn Hueter made Nov 4 at 2014 9:20 PM

2014-11-04T21:20:24-05:00

I'm going with Lone Survivor. I watched Hurt Locker and laughed my ass off, I got about 15 minutes and almost tossed it.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2014 11:33 PM

2014-11-04T23:33:56-05:00

Hurt Locker? Really? I haven't seen Lone Survivor so I can't speak on it's authenticity, but Hurt Locker was in no way shape or form realistic. From what I've seen the most realistic military related media that isn't a documentary is the Generation Kill miniseries. I would also assume that Band of Brothers and The Pacific are pretty high up there, but I obviously wasn't around during WWII.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2014 11:37 PM

2014-11-04T23:37:22-05:00

Hurt Locker was not good at all. Hang your head in shame.

My vote is for Restrepo unless a documentary doesn't count.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2014 11:37 PM

2014-11-04T23:37:31-05:00

Yes, i said hurt locker, some similarities right? Lol

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 4 at 2014 11:40 PM

2014-11-04T23:40:39-05:00

"In The Army Now" better not get mentioned........oops.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2014 11:42 PM

2014-11-04T23:42:47-05:00

I don't know about the entire movie, but the Boot Camp segment of Full Metal Jacket was pretty realistic.

I also think Platoon may rank high.

Im surprised no one mentioned "Pearl Harbor" yet

Response by MAJ Dallas D. made Nov 4 at 2014 11:46 PM

2014-11-04T23:46:32-05:00

Well let's go with Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous

LOL

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2014 11:46 PM

2014-11-04T23:46:37-05:00

I'll go with lone survivor

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 4 at 2014 11:54 PM

2014-11-04T23:54:22-05:00

Starship Troopers

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2014 12:35 AM

2014-11-05T00:35:37-05:00

In terms of Documentaries, I would have to say Restrepo and Korengal.

If looking at purely movies: Saving Private Ryan, Blackhawk Down or Lone Survivor

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2014 12:42 AM

2014-11-05T00:42:29-05:00

In my opinion the Hurt Locker was one of the most unrealistic military movies of all times. I was looking forward to watch this movie when it came out and it was very disapointing.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2014 1:29 AM

2014-11-05T01:29:20-05:00

For Air Force movies we lack in this department unfortunately. The most realistic Air Force movie for its time would have been Strategic Air Command staring BG(RET) Jimmy Stewart. The movie was a propaganda flick for our SAC bomber crews during the start of the Cold War. The premise was a bunch of former WWII B-29 Air Crew were recalled back to active duty to fly the new B-36 Peacemaker and later the B-47 Stratojet. I thought they got the Air Crew mentality right and showed the less glamorous side of being in the military. All the crews had just started lives after WWII to be abruptly recalled to AD.

Not a real shoot stuff blow things up thriller piece. It is known to be the some of best surviving areal footage of planes that are long gone from the inventory. There are only a couple museums that even have B-36 on display which was a neat plane for its time. Ran with 6 Large Radial Piston Engine's and 4 Jets for assistance during takeoff. It was the last major combat bomber to be piston driven as its primary power plants.

Response by SPC Richard White made Nov 5 at 2014 3:48 AM

2014-11-05T03:48:41-05:00

Fury in my opinion.Those guys who portrayed tankers did a damn good job and the rest of the movie was pretty spot on.The best Job I ever had.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Nov 5 at 2014 4:15 AM

2014-11-05T04:15:11-05:00

I'm not sure about most realistic movie, but I definitely vote for this as the most realistic video game:

http://www.theonion.com/video/ultrarealistic-modern-warfare-game-features-awaiti,14382/

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2014 5:26 AM

2014-11-05T05:26:12-05:00

Starship Troopers obviously, only the first one though since the others don't exist.

Response by 1LT William Clardy made Nov 5 at 2014 6:48 AM

2014-11-05T06:48:04-05:00

If you're willing to include television series, how about "Combat"?

If you look past the Germans driving U.S. military surplus vehicles and the cast regulars being unkillable, the stories and dialog had a definite feeling of authenticity.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2014 6:50 AM

2014-11-05T06:50:26-05:00

I know many people may not have seen it, but Taking Chance. Its about a Marine colonel whom takes on the duty to escort a soldier to his final resting place... was pretty moving. And by many accounts pretty spot on, especially the guys I work with that worked C-17's say people are very solemn around one of our fallen.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1019454/

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2014 8:32 AM

2014-11-05T08:32:03-05:00

Most Realistic?

Blackhawk Down. No contest.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2014 8:35 AM

2014-11-05T08:35:50-05:00

With all the "Hurt Locker" mentions (puke, sorry, I will clean that up later) I am surprised no one has brought up "Green Zone" (Isn't Matt Damon just so adorable as a Warrant Officer?!?! LOL)

Response by SSG Maurice P. made Nov 5 at 2014 3:22 PM

2014-11-05T15:22:08-05:00

Sorry SPC Bergseid but the hurt locker wasn't all that real to me, every time we came upon a ied and put our distance between it and us we would get (EOD) to check it and to dispose of it.
not one time did i ever see a soldier dressed in bomb removal gear defuse it and carry it away never.
EOD would send in the big robot or the small robot first and remove it if it was possible or blow it in place...OIF 3 2004-2005 CAMP LIBERTY IRAQ 1-156 ARMOR BATTALION 256 INFANTRY BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM.....THIS IS THE 2 TANK CREWS OF HEADQUATERS COMPANY 1-156 ARMOR BN OF WHICH I WAS A CREWMEN...

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 6 at 2014 1:59 AM

2014-11-06T01:59:33-05:00

Delta Farce!!! J/k.. but it was funny and goofy and how Larry could hook up with that sharp Mexican girl is a stretch. Or for that matter, the one in the start of the movie. lol.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2014 12:28 AM

2014-11-07T00:28:54-05:00

I'm surprised that I haven't seen We Were Soldiers be mentioned.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 8 at 2014 7:25 PM

2014-11-08T19:25:14-05:00

Hollywood sure picks the "beautiful people" to portray the real characters. Mine would look like Peter Griffin from "Family Guy."

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Nov 8 at 2014 7:39 PM

2014-11-08T19:39:17-05:00

No one mentioned Act of Valor...that movie used real operators I believe...or am I wrong?

Response by SFC Dave Joslin made Nov 8 at 2014 8:08 PM

2014-11-08T20:08:58-05:00

"Lone Survivor" for me. Although in the conventional side of things, I fought in the Hindu Kush mountains not far from where Operation Red Wing happened - this hit home to me and was very difficult to watch.

Oh, and "Courage Under Fire" gets a close second - not too many people talk about this one, but I think it was really well done although completely fictional.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2014 8:21 PM

2014-11-08T20:21:42-05:00

Tropic Thunder for sure.

Response by SFC James Rigdon made Nov 10 at 2014 3:36 AM

2014-11-10T03:36:33-05:00

I am going with Lone Survivor, but did anyone mention "Platoon"

Response by Sgt Robert Kelly made Nov 10 at 2014 10:39 AM

2014-11-10T10:39:38-05:00

Heart Break Ridge. Also Don't forget Boy's in company C

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 3:59 PM

2014-11-10T15:59:14-05:00

Saving Private Ryan

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 4:01 PM

2014-11-10T16:01:56-05:00

Top Gun.

*runs*

*hides*

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Nov 10 at 2014 6:15 PM

2014-11-10T18:15:55-05:00

Band of Brothers, by far.

Response by Sgt Robert Kelly made Nov 11 at 2014 6:46 AM

2014-11-11T06:46:46-05:00

Has anyone thought about Wind Talkers?

Response by CPT Jephro Kimbo made Nov 24 at 2014 7:08 PM

2014-11-24T19:08:07-05:00

Here is an Old One but a "Good One" !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsDT6e-QzYQ

Maybe a little old school and spit and polish but does anyone recognize the three drill sergeants?

Take the high ground finale

Army standard 1953 style

Response by PO2 Corey Ferretti made Nov 24 at 2014 8:12 PM

2014-11-24T20:12:25-05:00

I would have to go with Loan Survivor myself also

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2014 1:01 AM

2014-11-27T01:01:47-05:00

It is a toss up Fury and Lone Survivor without a doubt! Best Job I've EVERY HAD!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2014 2:53 AM

2014-12-11T02:53:45-05:00

I didn't see anyone mention "Flag of Our Fathers" or "Letters From Iwo Jima" yet.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2014 2:11 PM

2014-12-11T14:11:01-05:00

Yes. Plus "Act of Valor".

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2014 2:13 PM

2014-12-11T14:13:42-05:00

I'll list a couple of my favorites, Full Metal Jacket, Platoon, Black Hawk Down, Lone Survivor, and We Were Soldiers Once and Young...Band of Brothers really sets the standard...but Full Metal Jacket resonates well with me. My bunk mate in Bootcamp was a Gomer Pyle, and thanks to me I helped get him out...or that would of been me with the rifle. I'm so glad I watched that right before going to Basic. I'm probably forgetting a few movies...just recently watched Green Beret with John Wayne...it was a different time. Restrepo was a long but legit documentary film...sort of boring, but war does have boredom.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2014 3:12 PM

2014-12-11T15:12:48-05:00

Almost forgot...one of my all time favorites, mostly because of the actors and soundtrack, but a pretty good plot as well,"Apocalypse Now", and if you want a sort of war movie, Apocalypto, if you haven't see it...it is really good...

Response by Cpl Anthony Pearson made Dec 11 at 2014 3:16 PM

2014-12-11T15:16:00-05:00

Good choice. Certainly very real and intense.

We Were Soldiers is pretty damn good.

Full Metal Jacket, also very real.

Saving Private Ryan, VERY real, too...

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2014 3:31 PM

2014-12-11T15:31:39-05:00

Someone said Heartbreak Ridge...that is about as unrealistic as it gets.... And Jarhead was a joke as well.....just saying...my opinion. Clint Eastwood should rectify that crappy movie with a real Recon...movie.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2014 4:33 PM

2014-12-11T16:33:48-05:00

Full Metal Jacket and Heartbreak Ridge were pretty accurate at depicting life in the Corps. Not sure about the actual battle scenes for Viet Nam or Grenada, but the boot camp scenes from Full Metal Jacket and training scenes from Heartbreak Ridge were pretty damned accurate.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2014 4:59 PM

2014-12-11T16:59:15-05:00

I will go with The Thin Red Line

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 13 at 2014 4:58 PM

2014-12-13T16:58:04-05:00

Saints and Soldiers

Response by SFC Michael Jackson, MBA made Dec 13 at 2014 5:07 PM

2014-12-13T17:07:35-05:00

We Were Soldiers

Response by PO2 Brad Colonna made May 14 at 2015 4:22 PM

2015-05-14T16:22:15-04:00

1. Saving Private Ryan
2. Platoon
3. Black Hawk Down
4. Lone Survivor
5. Band of Brothers

Response by SGT Hector Rojas, AIGA, SHA made May 20 at 2015 12:43 PM

2015-05-20T12:43:16-04:00

The Red Badge of Courage hands down.

All quiet on the Western Front a close second. The Best Years of Our Lives is a tie.

Modern war movies' focus is on particular events or on explosions/FX.

The old war movies focused on War itself and its effects on the Soldiers fighting them.

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Aug 11 at 2015 11:09 AM

2015-08-11T11:09:30-04:00

Heartbreak Ridge wasn't bad. Not 100% accurate, but it'll do

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Sep 10 at 2015 3:34 PM

2015-09-10T15:34:08-04:00

"The Hurt Locker" (2008)

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 3:34 PM

2015-09-10T15:34:51-04:00

Platoon (1986), Full Metal Jacket (1987).

Response by CPT Ahmed Faried made Sep 10 at 2015 3:36 PM

2015-09-10T15:36:53-04:00

Act of Valor

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 11 at 2015 9:34 AM

2015-09-11T09:34:37-04:00

We were Soldiers

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 11 at 2015 11:04 AM

2015-09-11T11:04:04-04:00

if you can count band of brothers the mini series... its probably one of the closer to realistic options there is...

Response by SGT Shawn Schweinberg made Sep 15 at 2015 6:20 AM

2015-09-15T06:20:59-04:00

Its not a movie but Band of Brothers is very good. goes a long way to show army life with real events during World War II. I do believe the Movie "We Were Soldiers" does a good job as well. Warning Mel Gibson plays in that movie.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Feb 15 at 2017 10:53 AM

2017-02-15T10:53:10-05:00

First, you have to define what you mean by the 'real deal'. We were soldiers was pretty good, in my opinion, and that of my Vietnam era buddy that came out really shook up...sorry Bear. The sad part, if you read the book, this was our 'good' day in the bigger battle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13kdMg9E9aI

We Were Soldiers Broken Arrow

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Feb 15 at 2017 11:02 AM

2017-02-15T11:02:38-05:00

Parts of "Platoon" for me was the most realistic, especially the night perimeter guard scene,talk about flash backs!

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Feb 15 at 2017 11:11 AM

2017-02-15T11:11:16-05:00

Personally I'm quite fond of the movie Jarhead. I think it personally encapsulates the military experience. You've got failed relationships/cheating spouses. You've got pointless tasks. Duty swapping on holidays. Public NJPs. It shows the feelings of uselessness as you spend all this time training for a single moment and never get to use the skills you received.

Most movies like to glamorize the war aspect, which is why everyone thinks we're all kicking down doors and taking names. But the average military member isn't kicking down doors, which is why I think this movie is the closest to the real thing.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Feb 15 at 2017 11:17 AM

2017-02-15T11:17:23-05:00

With the Marines at Tarawa. The MC got the Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject. President Roosevelt had to authorize the release of the film for public consumption. No acting anywhere. It was the real thing.

Response by PO1 John Johnson made Feb 15 at 2017 11:18 AM

2017-02-15T11:18:17-05:00

I have to go with "Saving Private Ryan" or MSG Sand's choice of "We Were Soldiers". Funniest would be the first 15 minutes of "Full Metal Jacket"!

Response by CSM Thomas McGarry made Feb 15 at 2017 11:19 AM

2017-02-15T11:19:01-05:00

Not a movie but I always thought "Combat" with Vic Morrows was pretty good. Not because of the vehicles used because they generally used American vehicles even for the Germans but the way they moved the squad in a tactical environment was generally realistic.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2017 11:23 AM

2017-02-15T11:23:58-05:00

We Were Soldiers and Saving Private Ryan for movies

Band of Brothers for miniseries

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2017 12:43 PM

2017-02-15T12:43:20-05:00

PVT Private RallyPoint Member Saving Private Ryan, and parts of Full Metal Jacket and Platoon.

Response by SSgt Marc Carpenter made Oct 22 at 2018 1:42 PM

2018-10-22T13:42:01-04:00

Try an older movie called Garden of Stone it's about the old guard at Arlington national cemetery during Vietnam very good

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Oct 22 at 2018 5:47 PM

2018-10-22T17:47:53-04:00

Response by SrA John Monette made Oct 22 at 2018 6:28 PM

2018-10-22T18:28:46-04:00

Glory

Response by Cpl Mark A. Morris made Oct 22 at 2018 10:25 PM

2018-10-22T22:25:55-04:00

Platoon when Charlie Sheen was holding the towel over his head with ants on his neck. F***in ants, ticks, chiggers and mosquitos.
Good training and there is no such thing as bad weather! "I shit you not."

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 9 at 2019 8:07 PM

2019-08-09T20:07:49-04:00

Full Metal Jacket!

Response by 1SG Steven Imerman made Jul 27 at 2020 7:00 PM

2020-07-27T19:00:25-04:00

I retired in '97, so I missed all the second round in the Gulf and Afghanistan and know little about compound defense, but 13 Hours seems pretty true to what I read about that action.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Oct 25 at 2020 10:20 PM

2020-10-25T22:20:00-04:00

- Act of Valor
- The Great Raid - the story of one of the few successful raids to rescue POWs. The raid was shot all at once with the actors executing an operations order.
- Lone Survivor
- Saving Private Ryan

Response by SFC Dr. Jesus Garcia-Arce, Psy.D made Jan 4 at 2024 5:00 PM

2024-01-04T17:00:21-05:00

Really I don't think tha lo es survivor was a very realista, first the Mountain with pine tree placed they use for this movie.