Epic Movies to Watch Absolutely

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Epic movies are a film genre with a grand and sweeping staging and are focused on a brave protagonist. They are films made with large budgets and in this category there are some movies to watch absolutely, masterpieces of silent and modern cinema. The enthusiastic nature of an epic movie differentiates it from other types of films such as historical movies or travel movies. Historical epic movies typically take a historical or mythological event and also include lavish set design and costumes, accompanied by a great musical arrangement with a cast of famous actors, surely making them one of the most expensive films to create.

The term “epic” initially originated from the poetic style of works such as the Epic of Gilgamesh and also the works of the Trojan War cycle. In timeless works of literature, epics are works focused on the deeds or journeys of heroes upon which the fates of many individuals depend. Epic movies generally take a historical personality and typical subjects are nobility, gladiators, military leaders or main characters of a historical era. There are some epic movies that are defined only on the basis of their long running time and the wide panoramic view of their settings like How the West Was Won or East of Eden.

An epic movie is usually set during a time of war or other social conflict, and typically covers a much longer period of time, often spanning entire generations. Such films generally have a historical setting, although fictional settings such as science fiction have become common among epic movies in recent years. The main stake of the film is generally a far-reaching, often societal-transforming achievement. The activities of the primary characters are usually instrumental in solving the social problem. Biopics are sometimes variations of this category.

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What Are Epic Movies

Many authors could define any type of “feature” film as epic, leading to the question of whether it really is a “genre”. What you recognize when you watch films like Lawrence of Arabia is that the term epic does not refer to the expense or the sophistication of the production, but to the dimension of the concepts and the vision. The epic movie is one of the first cinematographic genres, with a notable early example being Giovanni Pastrone’s Cabiria, a three-hour mythic film about the Punic Wars, which he prepared for later silent epics by DW Griffith.

The category reached its peak of appeal in the very early 1960s, when Hollywood regularly collaborated with international film studios such as Cinecittà in Rome to use quite unique areas in Spain, Morocco and other locations for the production of impressive films such as El Cid (1961 ) or Lawrence of Arabia (1962). This boom period in international co-productions is thought to have ended with Cleopatra (1963), The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964) and Doctor Zhivago (1965). 

Epic movies continued to appear, with a notable example being War and Peace, which was released in the former Soviet Union between 1967 and 1968. The enduring appeal of epic movies is often created by their ability to appeal to a large target market . Most of the highest-grossing films of all time have actually been epic movies. The epic movie Gone with the Wind is the highest-grossing film of all time, along with Titanic and Doctor Zhivago. 

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The Best Epic Movies to Watch

Here is a strictly chronological list of the best epic movies to watch for fans of this genre. 

Cabiria (1914)

Cabiria is an Italian silent historical epic movie from 1914, directed by Giovanni Pastrone and shot in Turin. The film is set in ancient Sicily, Carthage and Cirta for the duration of the Second Punic War (218-202 BC). It tells the story of a kidnapped woman, Cabiria, and includes an eruption of Etna, rituals at Carthage, Hannibal’s massive voyage, Archimedes’ loss of the Roman fleet during the siege of Syracuse, and Scipio’s journey in North Africa. The film is notable for being the first film ever in which the screen character Maciste makes an appearance. According to Martin Scorsese, in this work Pastrone launched the epic movie and is worthy of credit for many of the later epic movies of DW Griffith and Cecil B. DeMille. Among the innovations was the full use of a moving camera, freeing the narrative feature film from “the fixed gaze”.

Intolerance (1916)

It is a 1916 epic silent film directed by DW Griffith. Considered among one of the most significant films of the silent period, the impressive three-and-a-half-hour runtime alternates 4 stories, each divided by the ages: initially, a modern melodrama of crime and redemption; 2nd, a Jewish narrative: the goal and the death of Christ; 3rd, a French narrative: the events surrounding the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre of 1572; as well as the fourth, a Babylonian tale: the loss of the Babylonian empire to Persia in 539 BC Each tale had its own distinct color tone in the initial printing. The scenes are linked by shots of a woman representing Eternal Motherhood, shaking a cradle.

Griffith chose to make the film partly in response to his previous film The Birth of a Nation (1915) for which he was accused of endorsing the racial stereotypes of the Ku Klux Klan. The film was not, however, an apology, as Griffith felt he had absolutely nothing to excuse: in various meetings he explained that the film was a response to his critics and that he really felt they were, in fact, the intolerant. In the years following its release, Intolerance has strongly influenced the cinematic movements

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The Ten Commandments (1923)

It is an epic movie and spiritual film 1923 American silent Cecil B. DeMille. Written by Jeanie MacPherson, the film is divided into two parts: an opening that recreates the scriptural account of the Exodus and a contemporary tale involving two brothers and their particular visions of the Ten Commandments. Admired for his beautiful and epic scenes, he uses the Technicolor 2 procedure. It is the first of DeMille’s writing trilogy, which include The King of Kings (1927) and The Sign of the Cross (1932).

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Gone with the Wind (1939)

It is a romance, epic, and historical movie adapted from the 1936 book by Margaret Mitchell. The film was produced by David O. Selznick of Selznick International Pictures and directed by Victor Fleming. Set in the American South against the backdrop of the American Civil War and the Reconstruction period, the film tells the story of Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh), the headstrong daughter of a Georgia vineyard owner, who is in love with Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard), who is married to his kinswoman, Melanie Hamilton (Olivia de Havilland), and his subsequent marital relationship to Rhett Butler (Clark Gable).

The film had a difficult production. Due to Selznick’s decision to use Gable for the role of Rhett, the start of filming was delayed two years until January 1939. The actress for the role of Scarlett was hard to find and 1,400 women were auditioned for the role. The initial director, George Cukor, was fired soon after filming began, and was replaced by Fleming. Post-production ended in November 1939, just one month before its launch. At the 12th Academy Awards, it garnered 10 Academy Awards from thirteen nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director (Fleming), Best Screenplay to Sidney Howard, Best Actress (Leigh), as well as Best Actress Supporting Star (Hattie McDaniel, becoming the first African-American to win an Academy Award). 

Ben-Hur (1959)

Ben-Hur is a 1959 American epic historical film directed by William Wyler, spawned by Sam Zimbalist, as well as starring Charlton Heston as the title character. A remake of the 1925 silent film, it was adapted from Lew Wallace’s 1880 book Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. Ben-Hur had the largest budget ($15.175 million), along with the largest production sets built, of any film made at the time. It was shot between Italy, in Cinecittà, and Californian studios, in widescreen format. Over 200 camels and 2,500 horses were used in the making of the film, with approximately 10,000 extras. The nine-minute chariot race actually turned into one of cinema’s most famous action scenes. 

El Cid (1961)

El Cid is a drama movie 1961 historical Anthony Mann. The film is loosely based on the life of the 11th century Castilian warlord Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, called El Cid. The film stars Charlton Heston in the title role and also Sophia Loren as Doña Ximena. The screenplay for the film is credited to Fredric M. Frank, Philip Yordan and Ben Barzman. The film garnered mostly favorable reviews, especially for Heston and Loren’s performances, cinematography, and musical arrangement. It was nominated for 3 Academy Awards for Best Direction, Best Score and Best Original Song.

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Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Lawrence of Arabia is a 1962 British historical epic movie based on the life of TE Lawrence and the 1926 novel Seven Pillars of Wisdom. It was directed by David Lean and starred Peter O’Toole as Lawrence with Alec Guinness playing Prince Faisal. The film also stars Jack Hawkins, Anthony Quinn, Omar Sharif, Anthony Quayle, Claude Rains and Arthur Kennedy. The screenplay of the film was written by Robert Bolt and also by Michael Wilson.

The film illustrates Lawrence’s experiences in the Ottoman districts of the Hejaz and Greater Syria during World War I, especially his assaults on Aqaba and Damascus and his participation in the Arab National Council. Its themes include Lawrence’s psychological relationship to the physical violence of war, his identification and his divided loyalties between Britain and the people of the Arabian Desert. The film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards at the 35th Academy Awards in 1963; it won 7, including Best Film and Best Director. Maurice Jarre’s score and Freddie Young’s Super Panavision 70 cinematography also garnered critical acclaim from film critics. Lawrence of Arabia is regarded as one of the greatest epic movies ever made in the UK. 

Cleopatra (1963)

Cleopatra is a 1963 American historical epic movie directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, with a screenplay adapted by Mankiewicz, Ranald MacDougall and Sidney Buchman from the 1957 publication The Life and also Times of Cleopatra by Carlo Maria Franzero, and also from stories by Plutarch, Suetonius and Appia. The film stars Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Rex Harrison, Roddy McDowall and Martin Landau. It narrates the battles of Cleopatra, the young queen of Egypt, to resist the conquest of Rome.

Walter Wanger had long thought of making a Cleopatra biopic. In 1958, his production company partnered with Twentieth Century Fox to create the film. Elizabeth Taylor played the lead for a then-record salary of $1 million. Rouben Mamoulian was hired as director and the script underwent various changes. Mamoulian, due to illness, was replaced by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and the production was transferred to Cinecittà. With production costs of $31 million, the film became one of the most expensive films ever made and virtually bankrupted the production.

The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964) 

It is a 1964 American historical epic movie directed by Anthony Mann and produced by Samuel Bronston, with a screenplay by Ben Barzman, Basilio Franchina and Philip Jordan. The film stars Sophia Loren, Stephen Boyd, Alec Guinness, James Mason, Christopher Plummer, Mel Ferrer and also Omar Sharif.

When filming on El Cid (1961) was effectively finished, Anthony Mann found a similar project in Edward Gibbon’s 1776-1789 six-volume collection The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire at Hatchards Bookstore. He wrote a film adaptation for Samuel Bronston, who then agreed to produce the project. Charlton Heston retired from film and famous actors were cast to play different roles in the film. The film’s title does not refer to the collapse of the Roman kingdom, which actually lasted for centuries beyond the time shown in the film, but rather to the onset of corruption and decadence that led to the demise of Rome. It deals deeply with the problem of the royal family and also analyzes the relationship between father and son on the history of Roman politics. 

War and Peace (1967)

It is a 1966-67 epic movie co-written and directed by Sergei Bondarchuk, adapted from Leo Tolstoy’s 1869 novel. The film, distributed in four parts between 1966 and 1967, stars Bondarchuk in the lead role of Pierre Bezukhov, alongside Vyacheslav Tikhonov and Ludmila Savelyeva, who plays Prince Andrei Bolkonsky and Natasha Rostova.

The film was made by the Mosfilm studio with considerable support from the Soviet authorities and also from the Red Army which aided the production in thousands of horses and over 10,000 soldiers. It was one of the most expensive films made in the Soviet Union. Since its release, the film has been widely regarded as the greatest epic movie ever made, with many insisting its massive output was once-in-a-lifetime.

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The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

It’s a western film 1966 Italian epic Sergio Leone and also starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach. The screenplay for the film was written by Age & Scarpelli, Luciano Vincenzoni and Leone, based on a story by Vincenzoni and Leone. Cinematographer Tonino Delli Colli was responsible for the film’s widescreen cinematography, and Ennio Morricone composed the score. The film is notable for Leone’s use of long, close-up shots, along with his unconventional use of violence, tension, and gunfights. The story focuses on 3 gunslingers who are competing to discover a lot of gold in a hideout amid the fierce turmoil of the American Civil War as they join battles along the way. The film was the third collaboration between Leone and Clint Eastwood, and also the second with Lee Van Cleef.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly was marketed as the last and third installments of the Dollars trilogy, following A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More. The film was a commercial success, earning over $38 million in international ticket sales and is credited with catapulting Eastwood to fame. Due to spaghetti western bias among critics at the time, it didn’t get many favorable reviews, but in later years it acquired mainstream praise, eventually becoming the “definitive spaghetti western”.

Doctor Zhivago (1966) 

It is a romance film directed by David Lean with a screenplay by Robert Bolt, based on the 1957 book by Boris Pasternak. The story is set in Russia during World War I and the Russian Civil War. The film stars Omar Sharif in the title role as Yuri Zhivago, a married doctor and poet whose life is changed by the Russian Revolution and subsequent civil strife, and Julie Christie as his love passion Lara Antipova. Geraldine Chaplin, Tom Courtenay, Rod Steiger, Alec Guinness, Ralph Richardson, Siobhán McKenna and Rita Tushingham play supporting roles.

While exceptionally important in the West, Pasternak’s publication was banned for years in the Soviet Union. As a result the film was not shot in the Soviet Union and was mainly recorded in Spain. It was a global co-production between Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Italian producer Carlo Ponti. Film critics disliked the 3+ hour length and said it trivialized the historical context, but appreciated the strength of romance and human feelings. At the 38th Academy Awards, Dr. Zhivago won 5 Oscars.

Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)

It is a 1968 Spaghetti Western epic movie directed by Sergio Leone, who co-wrote it with Sergio Donati based on a story by Dario Argento, Bernardo Bertolucci and also Leone. It stars Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, Jason Robards, and Claudia Cardinale. The photography is by Tonino Delli Colli and the music by Ennio Morricone.

After directing The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Leone decided to abandon Westerns and intended to produce a film based on The Hoods, which at one point became Once Upon a Time in America. Leone had an agreement with Paramount Pictures for the availability of Henry Fonda and a budget to create another Western. He hired Bertolucci and Argento to create the film’s story in 1966, looking over various other western films as he did so. After Clint Eastwood turned down a deal to play the film’s lead character, Bronson was tapped for the part. When first released on December 21, 1968, the film ran for 166 min. This variation was received in European cinemas and was a box office success. For its US release on May 28, 1969, Once Upon a Time in the West was edited to 145 minutes by Paramount and was a cheap flop.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

It is among the greatest unmade science fiction film , shot by Stanley Kubrick in 1968. Kubrick eschewed traditional cinema and traditional storytelling strategies to make an experimental film. The soundtrack integrates various works of symphonic music, by composers including Richard Strauss, Johann Strauss II, Aram Khachaturian and György Ligeti. The film has received various crucial feedbacks, ranging from those who saw it as darkly apocalyptic to those who saw it as a hopeful story for humanity. The film deals with the great themes of human development, modern technology and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. The film is currently considered among the most significant films ever made. 

In prehistoric times, a people of hominids are driven away from their waterhole by a group of competing hominids. The next day, they find that an alien monolith has appeared where they live. They then discover how to use a bone as a weapon, and after their first hunt, they head back to chase off their competitors with the new weapon. Millions of years later, Dr. Heywood Floyd, president of the US National Council for Astronautics, takes a trip to Clavius ​​Base, a lunar station in the United States. During a layover at Space Station 5, he meets Russian researchers who are concerned that Clavius ​​appears to be unresponsive. Heywood worries about the secrecy obligation regarding their latest discovery: a monolith buried 4 million years ago near the lunar crater Tycho. He and others travel in a Moonbus to the monolith. As they take a look at the object, it is struck by sunlight, upon which it produces a high-power radio signal.

Jeremiah Johnson (1972)

It is a 1972 American western film directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Robert Redford and Will Geer. It is based in part on the life of John Jeremiah Johnson. The screenplay was written by John Milius and Edward Anhalt; the film was shot in numerous locations in the state of Utah. He attended the 1972 Cannes Film Festival.

Mexican-American War veteran Jeremiah Johnson is a mountain man who lives isolated in the Rocky Mountains as a hunter. His first winter season is rough and he has an encounter with Paints-His-Shirt-Red, a chief of the Crow people. He begins hunting with a .30-caliber Hawken rifle until he discovers the frozen body of mountain man Hatchet Jack holding a .50-caliber Hawken rifle. its remains. With his new rifle Johnson accidentally interrupts the grizzly bear hunt of the eccentric and elderly Chris Lapp, nicknamed “Bear Claw”, who teaches him to live on the mountain. 

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Aguirre, The Wrath of God (1972)

It is a 1972 West German epic and historical film produced, written and directed by Werner Herzog. Klaus Kinski plays the lead role of Spanish soldier Lope de Aguirre, who leads a team of conquistadors up the Amazon River in South America trying to find the fabled city of gold, El Dorado. Using a rigorous method of narration and dialogue, the film develops a vision of madness and recklessness in conflict with the Amazon forest. Based loosely on what is known about Aguirre, Herzog acknowledged years after the film’s launch that his story is a work of fiction. Some of the circumstances and even the people may have been influenced by Gaspar de Carvajal’s account of an earlier Amazonian exploration.

Aguirre was the first of five collaborations between Herzog and Kinski. They had differing opinions on how to play the role and clashed during filming; The recording took place in the Peruvian jungle on the Amazon River over a tough five weeks. Actors and crew climbed hills, uprooted heavy vines to open pathways to different forest areas, and rode treacherous river rapids in boats crafted by local craftsmen. Aguirre was praised by critics and quickly became a major cult film , as well as one of the director’s most popular films. Numerous film critics have stated that the film is a work of art. 

The Towering Inferno (1974)

It is a 1974 American disaster film directed by John Guillermin, which includes a cast led by Paul Newman and Steve McQueen. [8] It was adapted by Stirling Silliphant from the books The Tower (1973) by Richard Martin Stern, it is from The Glass Inferno (1974) by Thomas N. Scortia and Frank M. Robinson. The film garnered favorable reviews from film critics upon its release and was a box office success.

Architect Doug Roberts returns to San Francisco for work on the Glass Tower, which he created for James Duncan. The tower, 515 meters high and 138 floors, is the tallest structure in the world. During the groundbreaking ceremony, an electrical failure starts a fire on the 81st floor just after another such failure occurs in the main storage room. Upon discovering this, Roberts sees that the circuits are inadequate and thinks Roger Simmons, Duncan’s subcontractor and son-in-law, has cut corners. Roberts confronts Simmons, who feigns innocence.

A Bridge Too Far (1977)

A Bridge Too Far is a 1977 war epic showing Operation Market Garden, an unsuccessful Allied operation in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands during WWII. Based on a nonfiction publication of the same name by chronicler Cornelius Ryan, the film is directed by Richard Attenborough with a screenplay by William Goldman. It stars Dirk Bogarde, James Caan, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Edward Fox, Elliott Gould, Gene Hackman, Anthony Hopkins, Hardy Krüger, Laurence Olivier, Ryan O’Neal, Robert Redford, Maximilian Schell and Liv Ullmann.

It was the second film based on the events of the failed Operation Market Garden during WWII. A co-production between the UK and the US, the film was shot in an area in the Netherlands, most of the actual locations where the historical events took place. At the time of its release, it was one of the most expensive films ever made. The movie is expensive, huge, and star-studded, but it’s not impressive. It has been called the B-movie longest war

Blade Runner (1982)

It is a 1982 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples. Starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young and Edward James Olmos, it is an adaptation of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? It is a dystopian movie set in 2019 Los Angeles, in which artificial people called replicants are bioengineered by the Tyrell Corporation. When a fugitive team of replicants led by Roy Batty (Hauer) escape to Earth, police officer Rick Deckard (Ford) hesitantly agrees to their quest.

Blade Runner initially underperformed in North American theaters and among film critics, with some praising its thematic complexity and visuals, while others criticized its slow pacing and lack of action. He later became a cult film, and has been considered one of the best science fiction films of all time. Blade Runner is often considered both a leading example of neo-noir cinema and a seminal work of the cyberpunk category. The soundtrack of the film, composed by Vangelis, was chosen in 1982 for a BAFTA and a Golden Globe. The film has actually influenced several science fiction films, computer games, anime and television series. He brought the work of Philip K. Dick to the interest of Hollywood, and many of his works later became films. 

The Mission (1986)

British epic historical drama about the experiences of a Jesuit missionary in 18th century South America. Directed by Roland Joffé, the film stars Robert De Niro, Jeremy Irons, Ray McAnally, Aidan Quinn, Cherie Lunghi and Liam Neeson. The film garnered favorable reviews from film critics for its stunning visuals and Ennio Morricone’s famous score, although some feel that the dialogue and psychological portrayals do not delve deeply into the characters.

In 1750, Spanish Jesuit priest Father Gabriel arrives in northeastern Argentina and the jungles of eastern Paraguay to convert the Guarani to Christianity. The Guaraní are not at first in favor of Christianity or outsiders in general, and when Gabriel sends a priest to join them, they place the priest on a wooden cross and send him to die in the Iguazu Falls. Gabriel himself then takes a trip to the waterfalls, joins the protagonists and, in an attempt to establish a bond with them through music, plays his oboe. 

The Last Emperor (1987)

It’s a 1987 biographical epic movie about the life of Puyi, the last emperor of China. It is directed by Bernardo Bertolucci from a film script he co-wrote with Mark Peploe, adapted from Puyi’s 1964 memoir. The film depicts Puyi’s life from his accession to the throne as a child to prison to “political rehabilitation” by the Communist Party of China. It stars John Lone, Peter O’Toole, Joan Chen, Ruocheng Ying, Victor Wong, Dennis Dun, Vivian Wu, Lisa Lu and Ryuichi Sakamoto who also contributed music to the film with David Byrne and Cong Su. It was the first Western feature film allowed by the People’s Republic of China to shoot in the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Bertolucci has the ability to make Pu Yi’s prison term seem even more paradoxical because the entire film was shot in an area within the People’s Republic of China, and he was also allowed to film within the City Forbidden, a huge medieval city that covers about 100 hectares and also includes 9,999 spaces. The story and the quality of the film cannot be separated from the remarkable scenographic impact of the Forbidden City, from the costumes and many other tricks on the set to recreate the everyday life of this emperor child.

The Last of the Mohicans (1992)

It is a 1992 American historical epic movie set in 1757 during the Indian and French war. It was directed by Michael Mann and was based on the 1826 novel The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757 by James Fenimore Cooper and the 1936 film adaptation. The film stars Daniel Day-Lewis and Madeleine Stowe, with Jodhi May, Russell Means, Wes Studi, Eric Schweig and Steven Waddington in supporting roles. The film is a fascinating journey that plays offhandedly with the setting and brings out an action-packed film out of it. Film critics who applauded the film for its cinematography and sound.

In 1757, British Army Major Duncan Heyward shows up in Albany, New York during the French and Indian War. He is appointed to Colonel Edmund Munro, the head of Fort William Henry in the Adirondack Mountains. Heyward is charged with taking Munro’s 2 children, Cora and Alice, to their dad. Before they leave, Heyward asks Cora to marry him, but she asks for more time before giving her answer. A Mohawk called Magua is assigned to assist Heyward, the two women and a troop of British soldiers at the fort, however it is actually a Huron who leads them into an ambush which eliminates most of the soldiers. Mohican Chingachgook, his son Uncas, and his adopted white son “Hawkeye” arrive and eliminate all of the Hurons except Magua. The trio agree to take the women and Heyward to the fort. En route they discover another massacre on a farm.

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The Thin Red Line (1998)

It is a 1998 American war epic movie written and directed by Terrence Malick. It is the second film adaptation of the 1962 story of the same name by James Jones, as the film made in 1964. Telling a fictionalized variation of the Battle of Mount Austen, which became part of the Guadalcanal Pacific campaign of World War II, it shows the US soldiers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, played by Sean Penn, Jim Caviezel, Nick Nolte, Elias Koteas and Ben Chaplin. Considered among the best war films ever made, with great combat scenes. It is not only a historical film but above all a psychological film with emotional images: a film about development overcoming conflicts and about love.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

It is a 2000 film directed by Ang Lee which includes actors of Chinese ethnic origin, including Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh , Zhang Ziyi and Chang Chen. It is based on the Chinese book of the same name by Wang Du Lu. The story unfolds similar to a comic book, with the characters and scenarios being painted using large brush strokes with a theatrical and grandiose approach. The film is an ingenious mix of stunning fight scenes, beautiful set design and drama. 

In 19th-century Qing Dynasty China, Li Mu Bai is a distinguished Wudang swordsman and his friend Yu Shu Lien, a machete warrior, heads a personal security firm. Shu Lien and Mu Bai actually had feelings for each other for a long time, however, since Shu Lien had been engaged to Mu Bai’s friend Meng Sizhao before his death, Shu Lien and Mu Bai they feel committed to Meng Sizhao and do not express their feelings for each other. Mu Bai asks Shu Lien to give his legendary 400-year-old sword “Green Destiny” to their benefactor Sir Te in Beijing. Long ago Mu Bai’s instructor was eliminated by Jade Fox, a woman trying to discover Wudang’s abilities. 

Musa (2001)

It is a 2001 South Korean action epic movie directed by Kim Sung-su, starring Jung Woo-sung, Ahn Sung-ki, Joo Jin-mo and Chinese star Zhang Ziyi. The semi-historical account recounts the experiences of a Korean peace delegation as they attempt to make their way back to Korea through the inhospitable deserts of northern China. The film is regarded as one of the greatest films in South Korean cinema. At the time of its production, its budget was the largest ever for a Korean film. Includes a high level of historical accuracy in period costumes, props, staging, language. The film was the eighth highest-grossing film of 2001 with over 2 million tickets sold.

Black Hawk Down (2001)

It’s a 2001 war film directed by Ridley Scott, from a screenplay by Ken Nolan. It is based on journalist Mark Bowden’s 1999 non-fiction publication of the same name, concerning the 1993 US military raid on Mogadishu. The film includes a large cast of actors, consisting of Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Eric Bana, Tom Sizemore, William Fichtner, Jason Isaacs, Sam Shepard, Jeremy Piven, Ioan Gruffudd, Ewen Bremner, Hugh Dancy, and Tom Hardy in his prime role. Orlando Bloom, Ty Burrell and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau also have bit parts.

Though shallow on character development and social compassion, Black Hawk Down is a heart-pounding, realistic picture of warfare, created by the exceptional skill of Ridley Scott, that lets the audience experience the soldiers’ real experiences instead of showcasing them: unusual for a war film that turns genre conventions upside down.

Apocalypto (2006)

It is a 2006 historical epic movie produced, co-written and directed by Mel Gibson. The film features Native American actors and Indigenous Mexican stars including Rudy Youngblood, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Sérbulo, Dalia Hernández, Gerardo Taracena, Rodolfo Palacios, Bernardo Ruiz Juarez, Amell Rodrigo Mendoza, Ricardo Diaz Mendoza and Israel Contreras. All the aborigines in the film were Maya. The indigenous Yucatec Mayan language is translated with captions.

Set in Yucatán, Mexico around the year 1502, Apocalypto shows the hero journey of a man named Jaguar Paw, a late Mesoamerican prospector, and his fellow tribesmen who are caught in an enemy invasion. After their city is destroyed, they are thrust into a perilous journey to a Mayan city for human sacrifice. The film was a box office success, grossing over $120 million worldwide, and garnered mostly favorable reviews, with film critics applauding Gibson’s direction, Dean Semler’s cinematography, and the actors’ performance. . The depiction of the Maya world and historical accuracy, however, has been criticized.

The Road (2009)

It’s a movie post-apocalyptic 2009 American John Hillcoat and written by Joe Penhall, based on the 2006 story of the same name by Cormac McCarthy. The film stars Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee as a dad and his son in a post-apocalyptic swamp. The Road’s fidelity to Cormac McCarthy’s dark vision may also prove unrelenting to some, but the film capitalizes on effective performances from Viggo Mortensen and Kodi. It’s a haunting picture of America with characters who have to rely on themselves for the rest of their lives, with the terrifying certainty that absolutely nothing will go right.

The Tree of Life (2011)

The Tree of Life is a arthouse film 2011 American experimental and Terrence Malick and starring Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Hunter McCracken, Laramie Eppler, Jessica Chastain and Tye Sheridan in its launch feature film. The film narrates the search for meaning in life using the youthful memories of a middle-aged man and his family members living in 1950s Texas, mixed with images of the beginnings of the cosmos and the creation of life in the world. Early reviews were mixed. The film won the Palme d’Or and two of its producers, Bill Pohlad and Sarah Green, accepted the award for Malick’s loner. The Tree of Life was the first American film to win the Palme d’Or after Fahrenheit 9/11 in 2004.

Mud (2012)

It is a 2012 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Jeff Nichols. In the film Tye Sheridan and Jacob Lofland play two teenagers who meet Mud (Matthew McConaughey), a fugitive hiding on a small island, and agree to help him save himself from his pursuers. Propelled by a solid performance from Matthew McConaughey in the title role, Mud provides an interesting drama that is concerned with staying truthful. Nichols has the ability to describe emotions and generate the necessary tension, with depth and mental acuity. The film was important in establishing McConaughey as an American movie star.

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