Posted on 07/05/2016 5:09:09 AM PDT by Kaslin
On the 4th of July, its always important to recognize the strength and resolve of the American spirit. At times, it may seem that Hollywood takes that idea for granted but despite that, filmmakers continue to create great patriotic features that remind us about what being an American is all about.
With that in mind, heres a list of five movies — all from the past dozen years—that do a great job in capturing and celebrating American patriots.
Miracle (2004): Aside from the 4th of the July, there arent that many major events when thousands of people rally around our country and celebrate our nations victories. The Olympic Games is one of those occasions. That is especially true when our nations athletes face off against the athletes of a nation that is warring against us.
Such was the case in 1980 when the mens U.S. Olympic hockey team faced off against the Russians in an intense match-up. The Russian team was favored (by a lot) but the U.S. mens team defeated them in a historic upset and went on to win the gold medal. The 2004 Disney film Miracle chronicles how coach Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell) defied expectations and led his team — and our nations spirit — soaring in the midst of the Cold War.
Lincoln (2012): In Steven Spielbergs commendable historical drama Lincoln, the 16th President (played by a terrific Daniel Day-Lewis) faces a nation divided. The Civil War was ending but our country wasnt prepared for what happened next.
Lincoln aligns himself with members of Congress — of both political parties — to ensure that former slaves cannot be returned to involuntary servitude after the war is over. Above everything else, Lincoln knew what was right for our country and pushed the United States, which had been divided for years, to embrace our best ideals.
Lone Survivor (2014): Based on the book Lone Survivor, this Peter Berg-directed war movie brings the heroic Marcus Luttrells story to life. The feature revolves around a military mission to target a Taliban leader in Afghanistan.
Although the mission faltered and the results were tragic, this patriotic drama showcases the sacrifices that our men and women make every day on the battlefield. Luttrell and his fellow officers were heroes who fought bravely for our country in a war that has cost thousands of soldiers their lives.
Selma (2014): Although our nation was founded on great ideals, we havent always lived up to them. Such was the case in the 1960s when African-Americas were fighting for equal rights. The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought bravely against the status quo to make our nation live up to its most noble values.
Played by David Oyelowo, King takes center stage in Ava DuVernays remarkable 2014 drama, Selma. The feature captures Kings use of nonviolence protests to show the brutality that African-Americans faced in this country. The feature captures Kings obvious personal flaws but it also showcases his fight for a better America — an America that grants all of his citizens equal rights.
Bridge of Spies (2015): Director Steven Spielberg, who made this list earlier with Lincoln, has directed a great number of patriotic films. His greatest one was undeniably the classic Saving Private Ryan (1998) but in 2015, the Tom Hanks-drama Bridge of Spies offered a look at a different type of patriot.
The drama takes on the true story of James B. Donovan (played by Hanks). In the feature, Donovan is tasked with representing a Soviet spy in court. Despite a public backlash, Donovan did his best to represent the spy. He wanted to show that the justice that a Soviet spy faced in America would be fairer (and more humane) than the justice that American spies would face in the Soviet Union.
Donovans diplomatic skills — used effectively in the eventual prisoner swap here and in this leaders eventual work in Cuba — helped the United States free thousands of prisoners who were being held overseas.
Looking for more films that celebrate American patriots? Click here for our full list.
“The Great Raid” is very important. Saw it on Netflix or Amazon a few years ago. Wouldn’t have even known about that WWII operation if not for the movie.
Would also like to add “American Sniper” to the list.
The first time I realized the CW was not all about Slavery was from an old 1950 movie STAGE TO TUSCON in which two men get in an argument about the coming break up of the union.
***
Man 1: Are you an Abolitionist?
Man 2: I don’t have no SLAVES!
Man 1: Well what about all those WAGE SLAVES and TARIFFS in the North!
***
Wage slaves? Tariffs? I thought the war was to “free the slaves” in the South as that is what I had always been taught in History class!
No. I'm saying 3/4ths of that money came from slavery in the states where it still existed. New England was making profits from Slavery in the Southern and border states.
Band of Brothers
Apollo 13
The Right Stuff
Something I have just recently realized is that the morally motivated abolitionist were an extreme minority in the North. *MOST* of the people who were opposed to slavery did not oppose it out of concern for slaves. They opposed it because they saw it as an unfair threat to their own labor and wages, and because of resentment that wealthy people would get rich from slave labor.
Basically the same attitudes that are prominent in the Unionized areas of the USA nowadays.
thanks for the info, the best book to read on the Civil War is “Battles and Leaders of the Civil War” a 4 volume set about 800 pages each book. It is comprised of articles written after the war by the very people who were in the various battles on both sides. It is considered to be the foremost work on the subject IMHO and others.
After looking at my response, I realized I probably didn't explain it clearly enough.
3/4ths of the value of all US exports in 1860 came from Southern agriculture products, meaning Cotton, Tobacco, Molasses, etc. Most of the value of these products was created by slave labor.
The returning import trade from Europe was mostly paid for by the value extracted from those US exports to Europe. The curious thing is why it mostly came back through New York rather than returning to the ports from whence it's value originated, meaning Southern ports.
That is an interesting story in and of itself, and I will explain it as best I can to anyone who wants to hear it, but the fact remains that most of that money coming into New York was the result of slave labor from slave states.
Yes, the US government (which ran on that tariff money) was mostly funded by slave labor in the slave states.
I don't have that much info regarding the battles. I think that by the time those started, all the politics of the situation had solidified, and the reasons why it started were no longer significant to the outcome.
Once enough blood had been shed, the war took on a life of it's own, and regardless of why it started, it was going to keep grinding out till it's bloody end.
It may have began over the loss of money, but by the time it was over, it was fueled by a desire for revenge.
Don’t care much for PC Liberal take on history,
Band of Brothers is the only one you need to see.
I saw 2 of them. Lincoln which was boring. The good one was lone survivor which I saw twice. Can’t imagine watching it on 4th of July. Who has time for watching a movie with BBQ, beer, guests and then fireworks. No thanks.
If your going full Tom hanks then Forrest Gump must be added. Nothing more American then Forrest Gump.
Aye. Me as well. Watched it on a little black and white TV. Still get goose bumps
Why not? You don't think it was an important event?
You think that Hollywood covered it correctly and HONESTLY?
No way.
If tariffs are the metric you use to measure economies then you need to remember that tariffs are collected on imports not on exports. Imports were mostly from Europe and therefore not products of slavery.
Most of the agricultural exports from slave states were done through southern ports like Baltimore, Charleston, Savannah, Mobile and New Orleans.
I honestly don't know. But the subject matter is interesting enough for anyone who believes in Unalienable rights.
I don't dispute that, but even though it wasn't most of their commerce, the European trade was still very significant to New England. Significant enough to start a fight over it.
Prior to the building of the Erie Canal, New York City was a comparatively minor port. New York was an important port because of its proximity to Europe and to the Hudson River.
Geography was very kind to New York. It is the primary reason for it's wealth. The same is true of San Francisco and Chicago too.
If tariffs are the metric you use to measure economies then you need to remember that tariffs are collected on imports not on exports. Imports were mostly from Europe and therefore not products of slavery.
You cannot have imports without balancing exports, else you run what is called a "trade deficit."
The normal and usual condition is that export value is offset by import value, the two being approximately equal with only minor variations over time.
Therefore, the imports from Europe *WERE* products of slavery. That European trade and currency was recompense for products sent to Europe which were produced by slavery.
Most of the agricultural exports from slave states were done through southern ports like Baltimore, Charleston, Savannah, Mobile and New Orleans.
Yes they were, but almost all of the returning money and imports came back through New York.
Now how do you suppose such a thing as that happens?
The description states”Luttrell and his fellow officers”. Lutrell was not an officer, neither were 2 of his 3 squad mates.
Vote for Hillary, she’s as honest as the typical Hollywood screenplay regarding race or politics.
No thanks. Speak for yourself.
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