Entertainment
5 Classic American War Movies That Have Aged Like Milk
In the history of cinema, the war genre has stood out for creating marvelous entertainment that has stuck with audiences for decades. It’s a genre marked by critical and commercial success, where grand epics, captivating Best Pictures, and cinematic landmarks come to shine, and it’s only gotten stronger with time. Today, watching a war film has a profound impact on any viewer, newcomers and long-time loyalists alike. They’re emotionally gripping, thrilling from start to finish, and unforgettable. Yet, through all the amazement and acclaim, some have stood out in recent years as aging poorer than others.
Make no mistake that war is a fantastic genre, a powerful piece of storytelling that has made cinema buffs of so many of us for decades. But not all war movies are always timeless; in fact, five in particular stand out in the worst ways, becoming heavily criticized as “classics” by some when they were originally released, but have since become dated, harmful, or poorly-made by audiences today. Below are recognized American war movie classics that time would like to forget simply because of how badly they’ve aged. Whether it’s through how badly they represent history or through their glaring inaccuracies, these five aged less like fine wine and more like expired milk left over in the fridge.
‘The Dam Busters’ (1955)
Released in 1955, The Dam Busters is a British docudrama war movie based on a book of the same name by author Paul Brickhill. Showing WWII from the perspective of Britain’s Royal Air Force, it highlights the dangerous career of decorated bomber Wing Commander Guy Gibson through several notable operations, in particular, his famous bombing of several dams behind German lines. Notable for its stellar casting, including Richard Todd, Patrick McGoohan, and the legendary Robert Shaw, The Dam Busters might be a delight for some for its thrilling concept and excellent character drama, but not for everyone. Truly, its reception has aged poorly over the years.
The most obvious issue is its special effects, which, for the time, were passable, but have quickly shown their age since. They’re distracting, clearly fake, and can draw viewers away from the heart of the story. But, really, what makes The Dam Busters see its age today is its use of harmful language, particularly the unfortunate naming of Gordon’s dog, which is a terrible slur. The use of this language really makes this classic a product of a particular time rather than timeless. The film’s largely been swept under the radar for many war buffs in the years since, and it’s likely its reputation will only get worse later on.
‘Force 10 From Navarone’ (1978)
Though this next one isn’t widely accepted as a classic, it’s still brought up alongside other recognizable American WWII films, but that’s not to say it’s perfect. A sequel to one of the most rewatchable war movies of all time, Force 10 From Navarone is the continuation of the 1961 thrilling classic The Guns of Navarone. Like its predecessor, this sequel sees an all-star cast on an action-packed journey behind enemy lines in a mission to disrupt the German war machine. Unlike the ’61, this one’s reputation has dramatically changed in recent times.
Though it’s anchored by a solid Robert Shaw and Harrison Ford pairing, Force 10 From Navarone has drawn criticism for being a boring, jarring, and poorly paced film that some say is an unnecessary sequel to a well-established classic. Its story was already noticeably overdone and even outdated by the time it came out, considering the other war films at the time of its release were changing cinema and the war genre itself, particularly Vietnam War movies like Coming Home and The Deer Hunter. It hasn’t aged notably well, considering how it also has dated, negative language directed at women and Black characters. Overall, Force 10 From Navarone may have started ok, but it has gradually lost war fans over time.
‘Battle of the Bulge’ (1965)
Depicting one of the most iconic and largest battles of World War II, 1965’s Battle of the Bulge is a dramatization of the legendary operation in which Nazi Germany carried out its last major offense during the war by pushing through the Allied defenses in eastern Belgium, resulting in their crushing defeat. Led by a remarkable A-List cast including Robert Shaw, Henry Fonda, Robert Ryan, and Charles Bronson, Battle of the Bulge is Hollywood’s attempt at recreating history. But, as so many veterans and historians pointed out, it’s frustratingly inaccurate.
Today, Battle of the Bulge is considered one of the most historically inaccurate war movies ever made, and, at times, it’s insultingly deviating from what actually happened. Major battles are glossed over or never particularly mentioned, military personnel and tactics are poorly represented, the geography doesn’t even line up, and even the entire events of the operation are shortened to fit the film’s runtime. Needless to say, this misguided movie is certainly not for history or WWII buffs. If you just want to enjoy a fun but unrealistic war movie, maybe Battle of the Bulge would be right for you. But, for many, it is simply one that should be skipped.
‘The Green Beret’ (1968)
If you think Battle of the Bulge is an insult to history, get a look at his next one, which managed to tick off active service members. Released in 1968, The Green Berets is a questionable war classic that seriously hasn’t aged well, even when it first came out. Starring the legendary John Wayne, it sees him as a tough-as-nails Special Forces commander leading his team behind enemy lines to capture a vital target. It’s a simple premise, but it’s undermined by glaring military inaccuracies, highly unrealistic combat sequences, a miscast leading star, and a shameful tone that felt like propaganda.
The Green Berets‘ reputation has only gotten worse with age. In the years after the Vietnam War, the film has become an irrelevant, bloated, and painfully inaccurate depiction of real warfare. John Wayne was also very out of place for this story, mostly considering his age at the time and for how he brought his cowboy-style persona to the role, which should have been given to someone who could more authentically portray a more realistic commander. Honestly, The Green Berets is a mess that, despite being categorized as a classic by history today, has since been on a slow decline on its way to eventually be forgotten by time.
‘The Birth of a Nation’ (1915)
Considered one of the most controversial movies ever made, D. W. Griffith‘s 1915 classic The Birth of a Nation arguably helped popularize filmmaking, but it has since been cited as a dark piece of its history. It’s seen as cinema’s first blockbuster, one that was highly watched and even considered popular and acclaimed at the time. However, it is now remarked as harmful and shameless propaganda that negatively targeted other ethnicities.
Birth of a Nation now is a touchy film to even mention, and it’s not hard to see why, considering its inflammatory subject matter. It glorifies a certain infamous hate group, reshapes the South’s loss of the Civil War in a different light, and features shocking, offensive depictions of African Americans that have since been widely rejected by the public. The film is still considered a classic for its historical significance and for kickstarting cinema’s dominance in entertainment, but it has not improved with age; in fact, beyond film school students, hardly anyone would want or need to watch it.
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