The period between Halloween and Christmas is all about cosying up and, for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, enjoying the dark fall vibes with some classic movies. And that’s where Paramount+ is absolutely one of the best streaming services this month, delivering heaps of new flicks to keep us glued to our sofas.
Deciding exactly what to go for can be tricky, but for me, nothing beats a classic action movie for a big night in, especially of the historic war movie variety, and among the best Paramount+ movies arriving in November are three of the absolute best.
From Spielberg to Vietnam, if you’re in the mood for an action packed epic then read on as I give my pick of three of the best, all with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Saving Private Ryan (1998) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers – YouTube
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Runtime: 170 minutes
Main cast: Tom Hanks, Edward Burns, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore
Director: Steven Speilberg
RT Score: 94%
Steven Spielberg’s WW2 epic completely changed the game when it exploded into cinemas in 1998, delivering a muddy, bloody and unbearably intense portrayal of one of history’s deadliest conflicts.
Following Tom Hanks’ Captain John Miller, the film opens with a harrowing portrayal of the D-Day landings, before Miller and the remaining members of his squad — Ed Burns, Tom Sizemore, Jeremy Davies, Barry Pepper, Adam Goldberg, Giovanni Ribisi and Vin Diesel — are tasked with tracking down the sole surviving Ryan brother (Matt Damon) after the US Department of War learns that his three brothers have been killed in action.
What follows is ostensibly a classic rip roaring yarn of wartime escapades as Miller and his squad journey across France in search of Ryan. However, what sets Saving Private Ryan apart is a move away from the ‘good vs evil’ heroics of previous WW2 films as these American soldiers threaten to murder surrendering enemies, are advised to leave children to die and have mercy rewarded with death. But far from an exercise in bleakness, Saving Private Ryan carries themes of bonding and brotherhood at its heart, which, while making the losses experienced throughout its runtime all the more devastating, gives the film a certain sense of comfort as we journey along with this proto-band of brothers.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers – YouTube
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Runtime: 115 minutes
Main cast: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, Ronald Lacey, John Rhys-Davies, Denholm Elliott
Director: Steven Speilberg
RT Score: 94%
Before you roll your eyes at this being a cheats entry on a list of war films, Raiders of the Lost Ark is a film in which the spectre of the Second World War looms large, set just three years before the outbreak of the conflict and revolving around a Nazi plot to seize global power before the Allies have a chance to mobilise.
Starring Harrison Ford at his absolute best as Indiane Jones, Raiders sees the action hero archaeologist taking on Nazi German forces in a race to recover the long-lost Ark of the Covenant before the evil-doers can use its powers to make their armies invincible. Following a reunion with former flame Marion Crane (Karen Allen), the pair endeavour to discover the location of the ancient artifact before old rival René Belloq can lead the Nazis to it.
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It’s unlikely that I need to sell you on one of cinema’s all-time classics, but put simply, Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of the most enjoyable films ever made. The combined forces of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas come together to deliver a breathless adventure, anchored by Ford’s irresistibly charming performance. Thrilling, funny, and downright scary in places, Raiders of the Lost Ark is perfect for those lazy Autumn evenings.
Hamburger Hill (1987)
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Runtime: 110 minutes
Main cast: Michael Patrick Boatman, Don Cheadle, Dylan McDermott, Tim Quill, Courtney B. Vance, Steven Weber
Director: John Irvin
RT Score: 100%
An altogether different type of action movie, Hamburger Hill is a somewhat forgotten classic from the Vietnam movie era of the late 80s that also gave us the likes of Platoon and Full Metal Jacket.
Following battle weary Staff Sergeant Frantz (Dylan McDermott) and his five new recruits, the film charts the assault on Hill 937, dubbed ‘Hamburger Hill’ by the soldiers due to those fighting on the hill being “ground up like hamburger meat.” Facing fierce resistance and poor weather, the squad are involved in numerous attacks on the hill, amassing casualties as the reality of war sets in.
While the film certainly comments on the futility of the conflict and the waves of young men sent to die, unlike its stable mates, the focus is squarely on depicting the genuine experience of a small group of soldiers, with the larger scope of the war and its politics kept in the background. As harrowing and intense as the action scenes are, it’s in the quieter moments that the film soars, as the group receive messages from home and discuss their place in an increasingly anti-Vietnam War society. Hamburger Hill is far from an easy watch, but is absolutely worth seeking out from under the shadow of its better-known contemporaries.
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