Gallipoli

Mel Gibson has never been afraid of making a scene.  And he makes one of his first stirring on-screen impressions in the 1981 military drama Gallipoli.  The movie with the funny title traces the friendship of two young runners who enlist in the Australian Army during WWI.  Frank (Gibson) and Archy (Mark Lee) travel to Turkey and wind up participating in one of the war’s most brutal and doomed battles.  Director Peter Weir masterfully captures the camaraderie between his heroes, which makes the second half of the film even more heart-wrenching.  Brace yourself for stunning visuals and a chilling depiction of the true cost of war.  But beware:  by the movie’s end, you might want to cancel that meeting with your neighborhood Army recruiter.