The quality of a war film is defined by a complex set of conditions.
Impactful cinematography, authentic and logical costume and prop design, or the visual effects of pyrotechnics and explosions—these are all factors used to gauge whether a war film is good. However, even if all of these are executed at the highest level, it does not necessarily mean the film is excellent.
War is not a tangible object. If explosions alone were art, then the best-selling war film in history would be the cockpit footage of the bombers during the U.S. air raid on Hiroshima. What truly elevates a war film lies beyond these external spectacles. It is called the "spiritual core." In dramatic structure, it is known as the "thematic narrative."
Chapter 248