10 ACCURATE BATTLE FILMS
More than 80 years after World War II began, there are few aspects of humanity’s most catastrophic war that have not been explored many times over by Hollywood. Yet World War II-themed films keep coming. But how often do these films get things right, accurately portraying either a particular event or capturing what it was really like for those who were there at the time? It is a valid question, both artistically and historically.
Listed below are 10 of the most accurate World War II movies based on three criteria: First, did the filmmakers get the basic storyline correct, accurately portraying the timeline of events and the characters involved? Second, did they capture the “feel” of the time, the conditions in which the military and civilian participants lived and fought, and the way they typically interacted with each other? Third, did the filmmakers get the “look” of things right, clothing their actors in accurate uniforms with the right patches and insignia, using the actual weapons and equipment, and employing the tactics used at that time? All three criteria play a part in creating a historically accurate movie.
Such criteria present a significant and potentially expensive dilemma for moviemakers. Combat rarely occurs in a tight, straightforward sequence of events. Anyone who has fought in battle, large or small, can tell you that
