Many war movies capture the many stakes that exist in times of war.
War attracts many people eager to take advantage of the violence to further their own agendas.
Some movies, likeDownfall, focus on real villains of history who caused immense destruction.
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The movie paints Hitler as completely incompetent and ineffective, which ultimately made his downfall inevitable.
He never misses a chance to use his authority to make the prisoners' lives dangerous and miserable.
Additionally, the way Saito acts with no remorse for his actions makes him that much more menacing.
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Saito represents the destructive and evil nature of the Japanese empire during World War II.
This inhumanity is what makes him such a notable villain.
However, the Commandant sets himself apart.
The story emphasizes how brutal boot camp was and how abused future soldiers were.
As an individual, Hartman represents everything wrong with the American military establishment.
Konig uses the evil of the empire behind him to cause personal destruction.
He immediately meets his platoon, who are stationed at the Cambodian border.
Barnes becomes resented by the men he is supposed to lead, which puts the entire platoon in danger.
Berenger plays Barnes as a deeply cynical man from the moment he’s introduced.
Barnes represents the kind of person who uses war to lean into their most evil impulses.
Hans Landa is a ruthless villain who takes delight in inflicting brutality against those he considers his enemies.
Kurtz is accused of murder and is considered mentally unstable by his superiors once he leaves his post.
Brando plays Kurtz as someone who has been through so much, and who ultimately snapped.
Fiennes makes Goth an example of a man who chose to disregard his humanity at every opportunity.
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NEXT: 10 Essential Movies About World War I, Ranked
Sessue Hayakawa in “The Bridge on the River Kwai”. Image Courtesy of Columbia Pictures.
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