A month or two ago I spent an entire Saturday doing nothing but klapping beer and re-watching the the buddy cop trilogy of Rush Hour, Rush Hour 2 and Rush Hour 3. Yesterday while grafting and listening to some old rock and roll tunes on a shuffled Spotify list, the song War came up and it reminded me of this iconic scene from Rush Hour:
I’ve recently also heard the song in Sylvester Stallone’s Grudge Match and recall coming across it in the first season of Billions. I’m a bit skaam to admit that I had no idea that it originally was a Temptations song. It was initially written as an anti-Vietnam War song by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong and recorded by The Temptations in 1969. The following year, Edwin Starr recorded the version that most of us are familiar with and his version is the one that wen to the Billboard number 1 spot for three weeks. It became the most successful protest song to become a pop hit to date!
This song put me on another train of thought: What lekker war movies can I stream this weekend? It of course has nothing to do with the fact that I am also going to be playing as much of Call Of Duty: War Zone this weekend, seeing that I actually have some time for myself for the first time in a long time! 
So here is the list of oorlogflieks I am going to kyk this naweek:
12 Strong (2018)
12 Strong follows the true story of the Army’s Special Forces, the “Green Berets”, who within weeks responded to the 9-11 attack. With the help of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), they took over Afghanistan and allowed other Special Forces and the rest of the conventional military to initiate a more publicly visible war. Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky play a couple in the movie but they also are married, with kids, in real life.
Rating: 6.6
From the peanut gallery:
“The movie could have ended earlier if he brought his Hammer to fight”
Fury (2014)
During the last days of World War II, a group of five veterans of an American tank nicknamed “Fury” makes their way through the unforgiving landscape of the war-torn Nazi Germany. Their bow gunner is killed in action and the four remaining soldiers have to accept a inexperienced private, Ellison, as his replacement. Initially he is shaken by the horrors he sees and experiences but as time moves on, he gradually integrates into their group. This film was the second time a genuine Tiger I tank was been used in the production of a WWII film. It features “Tiger 131” from the UK’s Bovington Tank Museum, which is the only fully functioning Tiger I tank in the world.
Rating: 7.6
From the peanut gallery:
“The movie is way better than the trailer!”
Train of Salt & Sugar (2016)
Closer to home, we should be be very proud of this Mozambican production which tells the story of a very dangerous train journey through war torn Mozambique. Civilian passengers are both protected and harassed by a troop of ill-disciplined soldiers on board to fight off a rebel army in the bush. Everyone on board must work together to fix a sabotaged track in order to reach safety. This movie was an official submission of Mozambique for the ‘Best Foreign Language Film’ category of the 90th Academy Awards in 2018. They lost out to Chile who submitted A Fantastic Woman, directed by Sebastián Lelio.
Rating: 6.5
From the peanut gallery:
“Wow, almost no views? People have no appreciation for good art. Plus it was submitted for the fokken Oscars!”
Midway (2019)
In May 1942 the Imperial Japanese Navy launches an attack on the island of Midway in the Pacific Ocean. Securing it will provide a base for operations against Pearl Harbour and ultimately allow them to attack the US west coast. However, US Navy Intelligence has worked out their plan. Admiral Chester Nimitz sends two US Task Groups with three aircraft carriers to set a trap for the Japanese fleet. What follows is one of the most important battles in history! The wreckage of the Akagi and the Kaga were found the month before the film’s premiere!
Rating: 6.7
From the peanut gallery:
“I just saw this a few hours ago. An excellent movie with no distractions (such as romances, etc.) and a lot of action. It also shows the battle from both sides, which was very beneficial. It was dedicated to the sailors and pilots from both sides of the battle.”
Machine Gun Preacher (2011)
Another lekker true life story! Sam Childs is a real-life ex-biker gang member who decides to turn his life around by heading to Sudan in East Africa to help repair homes that have been destroyed by civil war. He is affected by the plight of the people, especially the children. Against advice, he begins building an orphanage in militia territory. He also goes on an armed mission to rescue the children who have been kidnapped by the militia and forced to become child soldiers. The photos that Sam shows the banker while trying to get the loan for the orphanage, are the actual photos taken by the real Sam Childers in Sudan. The photos can also be seen during the closing credits.
Rating: 6.8
From the peanut gallery:
“Its never too late to find your own true meaning in life!”
For more ideas on what to stream in South Africa – head on over to Showmax Stories.
Local is fokken lekker!