Tough question. Trying to think of some films that are both NOT egregiously historically inaccurate while still quality in terms of filmmaking.
Mongol, Gangs of New York (a personal favorite), The Lion in Winter, Master and Commander, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Glory, All Quiet on the Western Front (I’ve only watched the remake, but I hear that the original is much better), Oliver Stone films, Full Metal Jacket, The Deer Hunter, All the President’s Men, The Queen, United 93, The King’s Speech, The Thin Red Line, Patton (excellent), The Pianist, Saving Private Ryan, Downfall, Das Boot, Flags of Our Fathers/Letters from Iwo Jima, Taegukgi (a Korean-made Korean War film, and a good one). If you’re looking to cry, Grave of the Fireflies.
If you’re looking for something that’s not a war film, then there are a lot of biopics out there as well. If it’s strict historical accuracy you want, can’t go wrong with a good documentary.
Hmm. Anyone have any recommendations?
Other Recommendations:
Thirteen Days is a good Cuban Missile Crisis movie.
The Director’s cut of Kingdom of Heaven is still pretty unhistorical, but a fantastic film.
I actually like that film a lot! I wasn’t going to put it because it wasn’t so well-received by critics, but I recommend it too.
How about Tora, Tora, Tora?