war – Anomalous Cinema

Love+War (2025)

November 28, 2025November 25, 2025 vergeoflightLeave a comment

Streaming on Hulu | imdb | trailer

This excellent doc follows Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Lynsey Addario capturing the Ukraine war while looking back on her career. Both her photography and the video of her life look so alternately beautiful and potent the overall effect is mind blowing. This should come as no surprise as it is a National Geographic production. There is a lot of disturbing content, as Addario is a conflict photographer, but that is balanced with her family life. The mix makes Love+War a well rounded documentary that I highly recommend.

Not available on Blu-ray

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Nr. 24 (2024)

February 14, 2025February 13, 2025 vergeoflightLeave a comment

Streaming on Netflix | imdb | trailer

This is an excellent docudrama on Gunnar Sønsteby, who worked his way up to be the leader of a group of resistance fighters in Norway during World War 2. He went on to become that country’s most decorated war hero. The film balances action, tension, drama, and ethical issues throughout in a really intelligent way. I found myself surprisingly invested in what was happening. Nr. 24 taught me about a part of WW2 history I was totally unaware of, and I give it an enthusiastic thumbs up.

Not available on domestic Blu-ray.

If you are a fan of Anomalous Cinema, please consider supporting this site by donating any amount (even $1.00 is appreciated) via Venmo @vergeoflight / Cash App $vergeoflight / or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.

The Imitation Game (2014)

January 10, 2025April 9, 2025 vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

I really try to avoid Oscar winners here, but this one is pretty damned Anomalous, so I’m giving it a pass. This is the dramatized version of Alan Turing’s battle to crack the Nazi Enigma code, as well as events that occurred after WW2. The man was a genius on an epic level, and his complicated story is well handled in this film. As usual with historical movies, there are several factual errors, but none that are unforgivable. I am just happy Turing’s tale has been told in a way that reached a large audience. I avoided watching The Imitation Game for years because it is a PG-13 drama. That was a mistake, as I definitely appreciated seeing it recently, and I hope that you will give it a try.

Available on Blu-ray from Starz / Anchor Bay.

Baghdad ER (2006)

November 22, 2024November 22, 2024 vergeoflightLeave a comment

Streaming on Max | imdb | no trailer available

This is a short but excellent documentary filmed during The Iraq War. It is extremely graphic right from the start, so if you are squeamish you will want to stay far away. The filmmakers managed to make a very honest and objective film, that avoids bullshit politics, and just tells the story of a frontline hospital and the people in it. There are moments that are legitimately poetic here too. I give Baghdad ER a 10/10.

Not available on Blu-ray.

Catch-22 (1970)

November 8, 2024February 22, 2025 vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

This is the first adaptation of one of my all-time favorite books, “Catch-22” (yes, the commonly used phrase originates from the novel). It is a case where the movie is not as good as the book, however it is still damn good on it’s own (much like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest). One of the original ad taglines sums up Catch-22 nicely – “The anti-war satire of epic proportions.” The cast is amazing. It seems as if anyone who was well known in 1970 is in the film. Alan Arkin is awesome as our “hero” Yossarian. I also highly recommend the 2019 Hulu mini-series starring Christopher Abbott (Possessor, etc) in the same role. Make sure to keep an ear open for a prominent Neurosis sample used on their classic “Souls at Zero” album.

Not available on domestic Blu-ray.

Cross of Iron (1977)

July 19, 2024October 22, 2024 vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

This is Sam Peckinpah’s tale of a good rebellious nazi against a bad medal-hungry nazi. Yes, our protagonist, played by James Coburn, is no Oscar Schindler or John Rabe, but he despises Hitler’s war. Clearly this is NOT Saving Private Ryan. There are plenty of flaws, yet this is still one of Peckipah’s best films. Is it day? Is it evening? Continuity is for whimps! Was that shot out of focus? Them’s fightin’ words. Cross of Iron features impressive looking locations in some scenes, particularly the industrial complex at around the 1:15 mark. I find it amazing that this long, violent, weird movie was a success in it’s day. I say it is absolutely worth watching in our modern age as well. Please watch all of the closing credits.

Available on Blu-ray from Henstooth.

Zulu (1964)

June 28, 2024October 3, 2024 vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

This is a weird one to recommend to people nowadays, but this website ain’t called Conventional Cinema. It is based on the 1879 Battle of Rorke’s Drift between British soldiers and the Zulu nation. Should the English Empire have been in South Africa? Should a movie about white “heroes” vs native tribal Africans be taken seriously in contemporary society? If you automatically are saying “no” to both questions then you should skip this movie. Anyone with a brain knows that imperialism is evil and that racism is stupid. I look at this like other historical war movies where the people we’re supposed to be rooting for are mostly white soldiers, and the “bad guys” are Vietnamese, Afghani, Somali, etc. The racial aspect is disgusting, but in the case of Zulu at least, these are soldiers who are not gung-ho nationalists. They are just trying to help their cohorts and themselves survive. With all that in mind, I believe this is a fantastic, and seriously epic war film. Keep your ears open for the samples that Dead Can Dance used on their song “The Fatal Impact.”

Not available on domestic Blu-ray.

When Trumpets Fade (1998)

June 21, 2024June 20, 2024 vergeoflightLeave a comment

Streaming on Max | imdb | trailer

Here’s a surprisingly good WWII movie made for HBO in response to Saving Private Ryan. A low-ranking burnout is ashamed of his conduct in action but gets promoted anyway and goes on to lead a dangerous mission. You will probably recognize many actors in this movie. It’s more fun if I don’t list them. When Trumpets Fade is not action packed, but it’s a proper length, never dull, and dark as hell.

Not available on Blu-ray.

The Train (1964)

March 8, 2024March 7, 2024 vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

Normally I do Amazon Prime this round, but I messed it up (I apparently have that Starz / MGM+ add-on to Prime). Thankfully the movie is available on Tubi and other plaforms.

A train carrying Nazi looted art must be stopped by French resistance fighters. The story is not based on true events, but you will not care. This is a surprisingly heavy action flick for the mid ‘60s. Damn near everything you see was done using real trains and military gear. Get ready for many suspenseful moments, as well as some dark turns. The Train is high quality entertainment that I am astonished escaped me until now.

Available on 4K UHD from KL Studio Classics.

They Shall Not Grow Old (2018)

December 8, 2023January 27, 2024 vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

This is Peter Jackson’s documentary on World War I using restored historic film footage. That sounds pretty dull, but trust me people, that definitely not the case. Jackson used every bit of technology available at the time to make the images look as if they were shot recently, including adding accurate color, sound, and dialog. This all makes the WWI footage far more real and visceral than anything seen before. The process of restoration itself is very engaging on its own, and the end results are stunning. I give this doc a 10 out of 10.

Available on Blu-ray from Warner Archives.