2013 | 2 hours 1 minute | Directed by Peter Berg
 
Starring Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch
 
The year is 2015. When military intelligence discovers that Taliban leader Ahmad Shah is hiding out in a far-off village, the War in Afghanistan is already well underway. Marcus Luttrell (Mark Wahlberg) and his crew embark on an operation to capture or eliminate him. In one of the most heroic battles of modern warfare, Marcus and his men are left to fight for their lives. Through dramatic events, Lone Survivor is incredibly effective at conveying the stress and trauma soldiers experience over a seemingly brief period in their lives. The shock and trauma often result in suicides for the returning veterans, not to mention the villages that become battlefields and the lives of people there that are forever changed. This movie does a far better job depicting this deadly tension than most others in the genre. Yet, it also makes it a lot more challenging to watch. Lone Survivor is an extremely violent and mature film. Viewers should be ready for an intensely emotional and violent cinematic experience.

2014 | 2 hours 13 minutes | Directed by Clint Eastwood
 
Starring Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Kyle Gallner
 
Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper), a Navy SEAL sniper, becomes a legend on the battlefield thanks to his razor-sharp accuracy. After four tours of duty, Chris returns to his family but discovers that the one thing he can't leave behind is the war. The complex story of modern history in American Sniper is seen through the eyes of a person who experienced it firsthand. Moreover, director Clint Eastwood also highlights the psychological toll that war takes on its victims. While spotlighting Kyle's accomplishments in the Navy SEALs, Eastwood also explores some private aspects of his life, including his marriage, children, and most importantly, the mental anguish brought on by war. The cinematography is so realistic that it is difficult to watch. After seeing the movie, you won't be able to sleep as peacefully as you used to.

2012 | 1 hour 50 minutes | Directed by Mike McCoy, Scott Waugh
 
Starring Alex Veadov, Roselyn Sanchez, Nestor Serrano
 
A CIA agent is kidnapped. During the rescue operation, Navy SEALs managed to obtain a cell phone that belonged to one of the individuals who kidnapped and abused her. However, this led to the uncovering of a much broader plot by terrorists to attack the United States. Gut-wrenching. Bold. Un-Hollywood. Gritty. The plot is an accurate and true presentation of the daily struggles that SEALs and their families face. It becomes even more plausible just by knowing that the actors are all actual, in-service Navy SEALS. This film also serves as a reminder that these situations are ongoing around the clock, and most of us are utterly clueless about the work brave troops and sailors do year-round. This is authentic storytelling at its best. Prepare for two hours that will astound you and thoroughly captivate your attention.

2001 | 2 hours 24 minutes | Directed by Ridley Scott
 
Starring Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore
 
Black Hawk Down recounts the story of 160 elite American soldiers who entered Mogadishu in October 1993 to capture two of a warlord's lieutenants. However, they found themselves in a bloody conflict with many well-armed Somalis. You might have noticed that most war movies either focus on a single hero or show us a group of warriors who are all prescribed a specific "type." However, Black Hawk Down adopts a different strategy by presenting us with a highly diverse range of characters, none of whom are distinctly singled out as heroes. With this movie, you also get the impression that you're viewing documentary footage of an actual military operation gone horribly wrong. This may cause viewers to become a little detached from what's happening, and although Black Hawk Down perhaps lacks this emotional resonance, it makes the most of this to produce a work that is as complex to make as it is stunning to see.

2016 | 2 hours 24 minutes | Directed by Michael Bay
 
Starring James Badge Dale, John Krasinski, Max Martini
 
Jack Silva (John Krasinski) is given a new assignment as a guard at the US diplomatic facility in Benghazi, Libya. However, on September 11, 2012, his routine job got much more complicated. When a group of insurgents breaks into the embassy and tries to kill the US Ambassador, Jack and his crew are forced to choose. They either heed their commander's orders and remain outside or defy them and go rescue their fellow soldiers. One of Michael Bay's best works, 13 Hours, is a dramatic war thriller that is exhilarating, stressful, and heartbreaking. The gallant soldiers who willingly risked their lives are given the respect they merit in this movie. It pays tribute to individuals who have passed away and provides the audience with a true and accurate picture of what transpired that evening. More than that, there is no worship of war. Instead, there is a solemn reflection on the nature of conflict and what it does to these men. For that, this movie does a clear and admirable job.

2013 | 2 hours 13 minutes | Directed by Paul Greengrass
 
Starring Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman
 
On its way to Kenya, the container ship Maersk Alabama is attacked by Somali pirates. The ship's captain, Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks), employs his wits to negotiate with them to save his people. Captain Phillips is the Hollywood retelling of the true-to-life 2009 harrowing story of an American container vessel, Maersk Alabama, being held hostage by Somali pirates. This film masterfully builds tension with a story that is so human because of the unfortunate circumstances that led people to take such desperate measures, balanced with the looming prospect of lethal violence. Real life, authentic characters, and a cast and crew who come through to present some of their best work. You won't soon forget the immersive experience that Paul Greengrass has created in this movie.

2012 | 2 hours 37 minutes | Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
 
Starring Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Chris Pratt
 
In Zero Dark Thirty, the movie portrays the nearly ten-year international manhunt after the September 11 attacks in search of Osama bin Laden, leader of the terrorist network Al-Qaeda. This movie has been heavily criticized for its lack of character development. But what if that wasn't its point? This film is about finding and murdering a violent terrorist; perhaps this is why it has a semi-documentary feel to it. And although the filmmakers avoided traditional character development, the way they used the main character as a metaphor for America as a whole was incredibly brilliant. Zero Dark Thirty is a terrific (mostly) true story with epic scope, incredible editing, and badass scenes that elevate it above your typical action film. This is excellent suspense entertainment if you seek a solid thriller based on actual events.

2003 | 2 hours 1 minute | Directed by Antoine Fuqua
 
Starring Bruce Willis, Cole Hauser, Monica Bellucci
 
In a dangerous mission to save Dr. Lena Hendricks (Monica Bellucci), a U.S. citizen who oversees a missionary organization, loyal veteran Navy SEAL Lt. A.K. Waters (Bruce Willis) is dispatched into the heart of war-torn Africa. Lt. Waters is forced to decide between obeying orders and his own moral convictions when the doctor refuses to leave the refugees in her care. Together, they set out on a perilous journey through the hostile jungle while being followed by a rebel militia group, all to kill Lt. Waters' unit and the refugees under his care. It's a well-made, thrilling, and thought-provoking movie that tackles important subjects, especially as a sober evaluation of modern warfare and morals. With totally believable and powerful performances from Willis and his team and a superb performance by Monica Bellucci, this is a terrifying, gritty, and truthful film that pulls no punches.

2012 | 1 hour 30 minutes | Directed by John Stockwell, Paulette Victor-Lifton
 
Starring Cam Gigandet, Jenny Gabrielle, Anson Mount
 
The plot of the film: a skilled group of U.S. Navy SEALs raid a Pakistani stronghold in May 2011, ending the extended search for the most wanted terrorist in the world. By utilizing news footage, archive material, and enacted footage, the movie tells how a group of the best warriors completed a seemingly impossible mission. It contains just enough drama, emotion, and action. Compared to Zero Dark Thirty, it shows things from more points of view, namely from the SEALs' training and the groundwork of the agents on the ground in Abbottabad. Despite having a limited budget and being intended for television, this movie is just as captivating as any well-produced blockbuster, especially throughout the build-up to the inevitable crescendo.

1986 | 2 hours 10 minutes | Directed by Clint Eastwood
 
Starring Clint Eastwood, Marsha Mason, Everett McGill
 
The movie's plot revolves around a marine, Tom Highway (Clint Eastwood), who is close to retiring, yet takes on the task of leading a platoon of disorganized Marines during the 1983 American invasion of Grenada. In the role of "Gunny" Highway, Clint Eastwood is at his very best. This film focuses on old grizzled soldiers, military brotherhood, and patriotic values and does so pretty well. In whatever challenging situation you can think of, Tom Highway strikes you as the man you would want to be covering your behind. Eastwood does a fantastic job of portraying him, giving him a steely resolve, loyalty, sense of humor, and a fair dose of irreverence. Overall, it's a fantastic movie with a solid moral message about friendship, devotion, and virtues that we could definitely use more of in today's life.