#1 Invasion of Normandy Omaha Beach from "Saving Private Ryan"

Veterans of the beach landings during D-Day World War II have commented regarding the realism with which this scene was filmed. They have had very emotional reactions, and some have stated the scene was a screened replay of the exact events they experienced. The emotions, sounds, and chaotic feeling the viewer experiences is breathtaking. The director, Steven Spielberg, molded this scene to be a first hand account of the actual Omaha Beach Invasion. The devastating effects of the Germans' defense was described with vivid imagery and gruesome detail. The number of soldiers that were killed and wounded during this invasion was portrayed exceptionatly effectively. The staggering number of bodies floating in the surf and stacked on the beach was horrifying. The surf turned red with blood, and the use of color was utilized for dramatic effect. This scene is considered by many to be the most realistically detailed battle scene ever filmed.

#2 Final Battle Scene from "We Were Soldiers"

This scene dramatizes the final advance of the United States Army Air Calvary against the North Vietnamese Army during the Battle of Ia Drang. As the U.S. Army charges the fortification occupied by the N.V.A, we see one of the most realistic depictions of the Vietnam War. The brutality of hand to hand combat, small arms weapon fire, and air support are conveyed effectively in this scene. After several days of brutal fighting, the U.S. Soldiers leap from their defensive positions and charge the well fortified Vietnamese Army. The director does not reveal the planning stages of this action, and the viewer is shocked by this event. The Vietnamese Army is also surprised, and the U.S. Soldiers race up the mountain. The Colonel has planned to meet fierce resistance at a certain point during the attack and employs helicopters armed with Gatling guns to decimate the enemy forces. The detail and graphic nature of this scene propels the viewers as if they were advancing with the soldiers.

#3 Second Helicopter Crash Site scene from "Blackhawk Down"

"Blackhawk down" is based on a battle fought by the United States Army Rangers and Delta Force in Mogadishu. In an effort to capture top figureheads in a local militia, the team of United States Soldiers is faced by an overwhelming force of combatants. The chaos that engulfs these soldiers proves to be unexpected, and two of the U.S. Blackhawk helicopters are lost to militia rocket propelled grenade attacks. The mission quickly developed into a rescue operation out of necessity, and the operation demanded resources that were not available to the soldiers. This scene portrays two volunteer Delta Force Soldiers' attempt to rescue any survivors of the second crash. They find one pilot has survived, and carry him from the wreckage. They are faced with hundreds of enemy fighters, and fight to secure the area. The Delta Soldiers are overwhelmed, killed, and the pilot is captured. The insurmountable number of Militia Fighters is staggering to the senses of the viewer and captured the brutality of this battle.

#4 "Battle of the Bulge" Scene from "Band of Brothers"

The multi-part series, "Band of Brothers," follows the combat missions of the Easy Company in the 101st Airborne paratrooper division during World War II. The complete series could find a place in this category, but I chose the Battle of the Bulge Depiction. The series was produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, and their attention to specific historical details is evident. This scene details the harsh environmental conditions, and constant casualties the soldiers faced during this battle. The soldiers were sent to the combat lines with inadequate winter clothing, food, and ammunition. The unforgiving climate and constant bombardment by the German Soldiers, injured and killed many Allied Soldiers. The medics were constantly placed in dangerous situations to aid those that were wounded in battle. The medic in this scene rushes to the side of an injured soldier during a combat situation.

#5 from "BraveHeart"

The Movie "Braveheart," was loosely based on the first Scottish War for Independence. Most of the scenes in the film fit into this category, but this scene depicts one of the larger battles. The characters portray the savagery of medieval warfare, and raw emotional involvement these fighters must have felt. The tactical maneuvers that the king's army used appear to be consistent with historical accounts of this type of battle. The director displayed the fighting and resulting physical mutilation these techniques caused in vivid detail. Many of the fighting scenes display full screen detail of each injury or death. I am obviously without firsthand experience, but I can not imagine that this film leaves much to our imagination. The graphic detail and realism displayed in the battle scenes during this film are not often captured in other works.

#6 Scene from "Flags of our Fathers"

This scene portrays the historical beach landing on the Mountain Island of Iwo Jima. As this scene portrays an actual event, the director was challenged to capture the enormity of the invasion. The scene depicts the black volcanic beaches contrasted with the streaming military vessels converging from the ocean onto Iwo Jima. The director uses computer animation to his advantage when displaying the magnitude of our invasion force. Allied invading forces were not aware of the fortifications that the Japanese had built into the island and were surprised to begin the beach invasion without being attacked. The Japanese soldiers waited until the beaches were filled with Allied soldiers before beginning their attack. As Iwo Jima's beaches filled with a large concentration of military men and equipment at the base of Mount Suribachi, the Japanese began firing on the Allied Soldiers from their entrenched positions. This scene portrays the resulting battle and its enormous size in gruesome detail.

#7 From the film "Full Metal Jacket"

The next scene is from the film "Full Metal Jacket." The unit of soldiers face a Vietnamese sniper, who has wounded a soldier from their squad. The director modeled this scene after factual events from the Vietnam War. A sniper would purposefully wound a soldier in an open area, then kill any troops that attempted to rescue him. The unit was hesitant to venture into the open, but eventually another soldier risked his life to aid his fallen comrade. The sniper continued to wound both soldiers in an effort to draw the rest of the unit into firing range. The enemy sniper wounds the squads' medic while he attempts to help the first victim. Eventually, the next courageous soldier decides to advance on the sniper's position. Finally, the unit is able to overtake the sniper, but not before she is able to kill several squad members.

#8 From the film "Shooter"

Though "Shooter" is not a War film, I found the battle scenes believable and extremely well executed. The opening scene of the film portrays a sniper team perched on a mountain top. The main character, Bobby Lee Swagger, is accompanied by his scout sniper, who is also his longtime friend. Their mission to support an extracting combat team does not go as planned, and they are left to fight ground troops and a helicopter gunship alone. They fire upon hostile combatants with flawless precision. The ground troops do not know their location, but fire mortars that rain explosions very close to the sniper team's position. The scene reaches the pinnacle when an enemy helicopter locates them and begins firing at them. Bobby's friend is killed, and it appears that he will be also. After several attempts, the well trained sniper is able to shoot down the helicopter with a large caliber rifle. The action is riveting, and the director uses slow motion while Bobby is firing in desperation over his friend's death.