Posted on 12/30/2005 8:54:50 AM PST by Mike Bates
It wasn’t a particularly good year for conservative cinema. It rarely is. Yet alongside the cavalcade of ideology, mediocrity and stupidity that is Hollywood today, a few gems shone forth dazzlingly.
What is a conservative film?
Let’s start with what it isn’t. It’s not about men with bulging biceps and even bigger guns. It’s not cartoonish action heroes. It isn’t revenge tales masquerading as heroism.
Conservative cinema does more than entertain; movies that do no more are visual candy. It instructs and inspires.
Conservative films celebrate virtue. They tell timeless tales of individuals overcoming all manner of adversity to achieve true greatness. They’re about honesty, loyalty, courage and patriotism. They’re concerned with conservatism’s cardinal values – faith, family and freedom.
If I were to list the best conservative movies of the last decade, they would include: “Lord of The Rings: The Return of The King (2003)” “Open Range” (2003), “LA Confidential” (1997), Mel Gibson’s “The Patriot” (2000), and “Spiderman,” I and II (2002 and 2004). But also some quieter films, like last year’s “In Good Company” and “The Family Man” (2000) would make my list.
Here, then, are my choices for The 10 Best Conservative Films of 2005.
1. Cinderella Man – The miraculous, 1930s comeback of boxer James J. Braddock became a metaphor for America’s struggle to get to its feet after the pounding it took in the Great Depression.
SNIP
2. King Kong – “King Kong” is the blockbuster movie of the 2005 holiday season. How often is a remake better than the original? Peter Jackson’s “King Kong” beats both the 1933 original and the eminently forgettable 1976 remake.
(Excerpt) Read more at frontpagemag.com ...
How could 'Serenity' not make the list? The need for faith in something, the evils of government utopias, the need to live free, self sacrifice, family values...
Saints and Soldiers should be on that list too.
I liked that girl a lot.
Curious why he would ignore the other two LOTR movies. Although they're really just one movie.
:-)
That is what I am wondering.
Did you see the promo for Happy Feet?
"Serenity is my personal favorite."
Serenity was *THE* conservative movie of 2005. Even more so than Cinderella Man.
I never heard of "Little Manhattan" either. It never came to my area.
We have a couple "artsy" theaters in the greater Cleveland area that play the independents but often for a shorter run. In summer I am so busy working in yard or playing outdoors that my movie attendance is cut somewhat (not out completely, mind you).. it may have floated thru here in that time..
No, but I just found the trailer on the net. Eeeee, it looks cute. Hope they don't screw it up. The Bugs Bunny and pen-goo-in cartoon on the DVD was pretty cool, too :)
Loved march of Penguins.. saw twice on big screen. is the dvd differnet?
For years, movie experts have told us "Citizen Kane" was the greatest movie ever made. It was good but the greatest movie ever made was the original "King Kong."
Too bad Hollywood can't come up with an original idea. No doubt they can upgrade the quality of filming, use more extras, better landscapes, etc.
But to paraphrase Fay Wray upon her introduction to Naomi Watts ("There's only one Ann Darrow"), there's only one King Kong and two subsequent attempts to feed off the glory.
I would put HOTEL RWANDA as one of the most inspiring conservative movies made in the past 5 years.
This is the story of one man's courage in saving over a thousand people in the middle of hopeless carnage.
It also shows the courage of a few dedicated soldiers who were willing to defend the helpless in the midst of hopeless odds.
Plus, it is an indirect criticism of that inutile, one world body called the United Nations ( which could do nothing without the United States ).
It is also a finely acted movie that manages to show the horror of genocide WITHOUT actually resorting to blood and gore.
What more can you ask for ?
King Kong was conservative???
Have you ever read the Bible? : )
Hotel Rwanda was absolutely fantastic. What an inspiring movie based on a true story.
iT'S ABOUT FIGHTING CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT gOOD OLE BOYS. pLUS PEOPLE WAKING UP FROM A DEGENERATE LIFESTYLE AND TRYING TO START NEW. Sorry for yelling caps off.
So far I have managed to see not a single one of these films. So far, 364 days into 2005 I have managed to donate not one red cent to Hollywood in this century.
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