War Film for ASD 12 year old

[BrunchBarBandit]

My 12 year old ASD son has developed a special interest in geo-politics and wars around the world over several centuries and can talk about them (endlessly it seems, bless him)

He’s never been very interested in films, and sitting down as a family to have a movie night but it occurred to me that we might tempt him with a war film.

I’m looking for ideas. Some realism (blood and guts) would be ok but not too excessive.

It can be any war

Can I ask for MNtrs recommendations?

Flyboys (2006) is based in and around WW1

Dunkirk - WW2

Kelly’s Heroes - WW2

Dunkirk or war horse

Warhorse - WW1

Enemy at the gates
Pearl Harbour
Empire of the sun

The Tuskgee Airmen 1995 - WWII pilots
Kingdom of Heaven 2005- 3rd Crusade
Schindler’s List 1993- WWII Holocaust
Letters from Iwo Jima 2006- WWII Japanese perspective
Blackhawk Down 2001- Somalia peacekeeping mission
The Siege of Jabotville 2016- Irish UN troops during Congo crisis in 1961
The Patriot 2000- US Revolutionary War 1776
The Eight Hundred 2020- Chinese under siege from Japanese invasion of 1937
The Four Feathers 2002- British Army in Sudan in 1885

Hmm. Probably watched ZULU at that age. Although i found it hard. To empathetic and hate violence.

American civil war films? I'm thinking things fairly historical and made a while ago tend to be less gruesome and a bit more removed from current life.

The great escape. Bizarrely it seems to be a Christmas film so topical. Great until the last 5 minutes......

Series-
blackadder
Foyles war
MASH

We just watched The Blitz on Apple TV new war film very good

I’d forgotten about this one. Thanks!

This has really animated my husband! He says it’s a great caper

Great suggestions. Thanks!

Wow, thank you. I really appreciate the detail you have set out here

Ahhh- the Great escape! Good call. We’ll probably start there tonight. And also yes to Blackadder. His older brother loved that a few years ago

Three older WW11 films that are excellent, but slightly less graphic than some of the excellent later films:
In Which We Serve - naval about the crew and families of a destroyer.
The Battle of Britain- RAF
The Longest Day - epic D-Day film with every actor you can think of from the 1960’s.

Oooh. Will check that out. Thanks!

The Great Escape
In which we Serve
A Bridge too Far
The Cruel Sea

The Hunt For Red October (Cold War)

Wonderful! These will be added to the list - I think the Longest Day might be perfect for us

Yes these, my son is now 13 but got into WW2 a few years ago and watched all the classics. A Bridge Too Far as well.

Paths of Glory is classic and some serious moral discussions can take place. Not sure about R12 though!

Memphis Belle
Bridge over the river kwai

A Town Like Alice

this website can be useful to gage an idea of what goes on in a film so you know if its going to be upsetting or triggering
id recommend this site to anyone who can struggle to watch a film not knowing what content they may be exposed to
www.doesthedogdie.com