What is the draw of war films? Why is it such a popular genre?
War films draw audiences that for the most part love action and drama. The war film genre is indeed a hybrid between drama, thriller, and action movies. It draws in those who like to see a little blood and gore in movies, those who want to see the sadness and drama of war on the big screen, and a lot of the time people who just like to watch quality films. Because really when it comes down to it, there are some very good overall films in the genre of war that have been critically acclaimed. With that being said, their are also quite a few poor war films, but that can be said for every genre of film. There is something about war that galvanizes people, whether it be the power of war, or the effect it has had on the vast majority of human beings. War has either directly effected some people, or it represents a powerful entity that many could only dream of experiencing. Film can be used as an outlet for these people who can only imagine war as well as those who know war all too well. I believe this is why the genre is so popular, regardless of how skewed the depiction of war may be on the screen, film allows people to in other words “experience” the most formidable of human experiences, war. There is a certain power of depiction in film, and the genre of war has proven to be a phenomenal vessel for this power of depiction.
Adam Lackey's Cinema Blog 