20 Best War Movies Released Since 2000

If you ever find yourself seeking a war movie removed from the trenches of the First or Second World War, you need look no further than John Woo's explosive epic Red Cliff. 

Detailing the bloody end of the Han Dynasty in 208AD China, Red Cliff finds Woo at his energetic best, crafting a violent, resplendent action flick stacked with kinetic choreography and expansive battle sequences. 

Released in two parts, the epic drama has an extended cut lasting just shy of five hours, but the theatrical version - at a positively short 150 minutes - does the job just fine, packing insightful historical detail into its uncompromising action and war-weary characters, the most prominent of whom is played by the great Tony Leung. 

Informative and bold, visually stunning and full of life, Red Cliff tells the story of war from many perspectives, matching Woo's typically maximalist directing style with a hearty helping of humanity and care.