Best Modern War Movies According to Rotten Tomatoes

Until the turn of the new millennium, the majority of war movies dealt with two topics: World War II and the Vietnam War, with a smattering of movies dealing with other notable conflicts, such as the Korean War, Civil War, or Revolutionary War.

Since the turn of the century, most war films deal with the conflicts that have occurred recently in the Middle East. May of these films hot close to home to those who fought the battles or know someone who did.

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Here is a review of some of the best modern war movies as noted by Rotten Tomatoes:

1. "The Hurt Locker" (2009)

A winner of six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker" tells the story of a bomb disposal team who find themselves doing their job as part of the Iraq War. The film stars Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, and Brian Geraghty, and deals with the physical and emotional scars that working as part of a team like this leaves.

2. "Saving Private Ryan" (1998)

Part of Tom Hanks' run during the mid- to late-1990s when he seemed to be up for every acting award, "Saving Private Ryan" is the story of a platoon's quest to find the last remaining brother of a family whose other sons have been killed during World War II. The film features an all-star cast, led by Hanks, who portrays Captain John Miller, who leads the expedition. Others in the film include Matt Damon as Private James Ryan, as well as Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore, Barry Pepper, Adam Goldberg, and Vin Diesel.

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3. "Three Kings" (1999)

An unconventional war movie, "Three Kings" is the story of three American soldiers taking part in the Persian Gulf War who attempt to steal gold that belongs to Kuwait. The film stars George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Ice Cube. Given its subject matter, the film was well received by both movie fans and critics alike, with Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert calling it a "weird masterpiece."

4. "Black Hawk Down" (2001)

Another star-studded cast appears in 2001's "Black Hawk Down, including Josh Hartnett, Tom Sizemore, Ewan McGregor, Hugh Dancy, and Ioan Gruffudd. The film depicts the actions of the U.S. Army Rangers' Delta Force as they attempt to conduct a raid on Mogadishu following a coup in the nation. The film took home a pair of Academy Awards, including Best Film Editing, which was a tribute to the numerous action scenes in the movie.

5. "American Sniper" (2014)

Directed by Clint Eastwood, who has starred in his fair share of war movies himself, "American Sniper" is the autobiographical story of Chris Kyle, who registered 255 kills during his four tours during the Iraq War. Bradley Cooper stars as Kyle and Sienna Miller stars as his wife, Taya. The movie was nominated for six Academy Awards, but only claimed the Best Sound Editing Oscar.

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