The 10 Best Conservative Movies of 2005

FrontPageMagazine.com ^ | 12/30/2005 | Don Feder

[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.

[DollyCali]

I am getting the little message that I need a plug in. then it tells me none are available. I know there must be a way to override whatever program my computer now has for showing these things. Somehow I think something became the default w/o my understanding what was going on (like about 85% of my computer experience)

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

How was LA Confidential a conservative movie?

That's what I thought until I remembered the Exley character played by Guy Pearce. The incorruptible Sergeant who gets promoted to lieutenant and brings down the evil Capt Dudley played by James Cromwell.

[TIElniff]

I'd like to suggest "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" for a good treatment of the naturalism / supernaturalism problem, a problem which is at the heart of the philosophical struggle between liberalism and conservatism.

[b9]

I went out and bought the DVD.

There are so many ironies in that movie, and the plot entwining every character. I've seen it 3 or 4 times already.

We live in a wonderfully mixed community, so the racial messages are really poignant to me.

[DollyCali]

crash site

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/crash/

[DollyCali]

want to see that again.. it was quite a few years back.. Recall it being a ltitle confusing to me with the characters. Overall thought it was great & the real heroes did the right thing at the end.

[Howlin]

Try this one:

http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=8509

or this one:

http://www2.warnerbros.com/happyfeet/

[Howlin]

I'm going to have to get that one. I love Sandra Bullock and I love "small" movies like that.

Have either of you seen Cookie's Fortune?

[b9]

It's a complicated movie. A lot of sub-plots going on, and "heroes" who are deeply flawed. But in the end, they make a stand against the truly evil amongst them, and win back some of their integrity and humanity. At its core,its about the redemption of people who've taken some really wrong turns in life. Kinda like Saul of Tarsus, who became Paul after a little incident on the road one day......

HA! I thought you were describing CRASH at first.

[TRY ONE]

Merriam-Webster

Main Entry: conservative movie:

"a series of pictures projected on a screen in rapid succession with objects shown in successive positions slightly changed so as to produce the optical effect of a continuous picture in which the objects move and depict people paying lower taxes, having increased personal freedoms, and otherwise not needing the federal government..."

[VegasCowboy]

Have you seen CRASH?

I did. It is a great movie. Definitely one of the more balanced looks at race issues I've seen in a movie.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Merchant of Venice, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory lost and forgotten...

[b9]

Have either of you seen Cookie's Fortune?

Nope...just googled and it looks like a great cast.

[b9]

Definitely one of the more balanced looks at race issues I've seen in a movie.

Perfect description.

[Paul_Denton]

Indeed it was :)

[The Toll]

I love all the mentions for Serenity. I thought the movie was great and the Firefly series is only $40 for all 12 episodes on DVD.
Since we're talking decade in some references I'll throw in "Life is Beautiful" for an accurate portrayal of strength of character.

[MattinNJ]

Agreed on Cinderella Man and March of the Penguins. Terrific conservative family movies. One that often goes overlooked is the incredibles. A family that sticks together, pro-marriage, anti-trial lawyer, exposes evil for what it is etc...

[VegasCowboy]

Yes! I forgot about the Incredibles. I love how Dash says, "Another way of saying everyone is exceptional is that no one is," or something to that effect. The whole point of the movie is that we are not all the same, and those who are exceptional should be recognized, rather than bringing us all down to the lowest common demoninator.

[handy]

“Open Range” (2003),

Great Western!

[b9]

YES! The Incredibles!!!
Did you see the extra DVD showing how it's made?
"Syndrome" looks exactly like the creator, Brad Bird.