Happy Independence Day! In honor of the day, I have put together a list of what I believe are some of the best "Patriotic" movies of all time. Enjoy!
10. Air Force One
9. Independence Day
Unlike Independence Day, The Patriot actually does have something to do with the Revolutionary War. It may not be historically accurate, but it's difficult not to root for Mel Gibson when he fights for both vengeance and his country at the same time. I also have to say Jason Isaacs plays one of the most incredible villains of all time. You seriously want Mel Gibson to rip that bastard's throat out.
Yes, Team America is a satire on both bandwagon patriotism and misinformed protesting. Trey Parker and Matt Stone set of to offend both sides of the political spectrum equally, and they succeeded beautifully. In spite of how it pokes fun at how Patriotic we (and some of our movies) are, it does leave you feeling proud to be an American - particularly with its ridiculous theme song.
6. Inglourious Basterds
Historical accuracy? Fuck that. I'm Quentin Tarantino! Inglourious Basterds invents an alternate History where Nazi-hunting military misfits and a movie theater projectionist are responsible for ending World War II. You can't look at a movie about "Killin' Nazis" and not think of it as American as can be.
5. Patton
...Just watch the video.
4. Forrest Gump
A uniquely American experience if I ever saw one. Modern U.S. History is retold from the eyes of a developmentally challenged man who apparently lived through it all. Tom Hanks' performance in this film is timeless. You may or may not agree with it taking home the Oscar for Best Picture, but it is an enduring, unforgettable film that warms your heart from start to finish.
3. United 93
I consider it one of the best movies of the last decade. Director Paul Greengrass approached this sensitive subject matter the right way. His cast was largely unknown, which worked in the film's favor because no one upstages the seriousness of the events. While it is a movie that takes place on one of the darkest moments in History, it is also a display of a group of average Americans who stood up and took a chance to save more lives from being lost. It is a story of courage in the face of darkness.
2. Anything by Michael Bay
Michael Bay is allegedly America's most despised director. Which is funny, because he's also one of America's most successful directors. He's that one director no one wants to admit they like, yet they'll shell out the cash to watch every single one of his movies. I wrote in my previous article how his movies do a whole lot of pandering, well... Throw on a Michael Bay movie. Every single one of them has a military-inspired original score, lots of political-military jargon... and let's face it, they're all pretty much wrapped in the American flag. His movies drip with Patriotism, it's almost unreal. But it works. Go ahead. Give it a shot. Armageddon. Pearl Harbor. The Rock. Hell, even the Transformers trilogy. All-American filmmaking. With lots of explosions.
1. Saving Private Ryan
10. Air Force One
HOPE
Say what you will, but you WISH we had a President like Harrison Ford. While George W. Bush was out there sending troops to take out Saddam Hussein, Harrison Ford was all like... "Get off my plane!" And that dude took out the terrorists himself. Because you just don't fuck with President Ford.
9. Independence Day
Fourth of July fireworks show gone awry.
Unless the title is ironic, you can bet that a movie called "Independence Day" is gonna be pretty fuckin' Patriotic. Maybe it's not about the Historical Independence Day, but damn if it didn't instill a sense of National Pride, particularly with President Pullman's title-dropping inspirational speech. I mean, sure, the aliens blow up more than half the country, but we sure as Hell persevered.
8. The Patriot
Pictured: Something vaguely racist or anti-Semitic.
Unlike Independence Day, The Patriot actually does have something to do with the Revolutionary War. It may not be historically accurate, but it's difficult not to root for Mel Gibson when he fights for both vengeance and his country at the same time. I also have to say Jason Isaacs plays one of the most incredible villains of all time. You seriously want Mel Gibson to rip that bastard's throat out.
7. Team America: World Police
Let's see Gepetto try to pull THIS off...
6. Inglourious Basterds
This wasn't in our History books...
Historical accuracy? Fuck that. I'm Quentin Tarantino! Inglourious Basterds invents an alternate History where Nazi-hunting military misfits and a movie theater projectionist are responsible for ending World War II. You can't look at a movie about "Killin' Nazis" and not think of it as American as can be.
5. Patton
Pictured: AMERICA, bitch!
...Just watch the video.
4. Forrest Gump
Mamma always said, life is like a box of catch phrases...
A uniquely American experience if I ever saw one. Modern U.S. History is retold from the eyes of a developmentally challenged man who apparently lived through it all. Tom Hanks' performance in this film is timeless. You may or may not agree with it taking home the Oscar for Best Picture, but it is an enduring, unforgettable film that warms your heart from start to finish.
3. United 93
No caption... I'm not that freakin' insensitive.
I consider it one of the best movies of the last decade. Director Paul Greengrass approached this sensitive subject matter the right way. His cast was largely unknown, which worked in the film's favor because no one upstages the seriousness of the events. While it is a movie that takes place on one of the darkest moments in History, it is also a display of a group of average Americans who stood up and took a chance to save more lives from being lost. It is a story of courage in the face of darkness.
2. Anything by Michael Bay
Enjoy it while it lasts, Cuba. After this, it's Daddy Day Camp.
Michael Bay is allegedly America's most despised director. Which is funny, because he's also one of America's most successful directors. He's that one director no one wants to admit they like, yet they'll shell out the cash to watch every single one of his movies. I wrote in my previous article how his movies do a whole lot of pandering, well... Throw on a Michael Bay movie. Every single one of them has a military-inspired original score, lots of political-military jargon... and let's face it, they're all pretty much wrapped in the American flag. His movies drip with Patriotism, it's almost unreal. But it works. Go ahead. Give it a shot. Armageddon. Pearl Harbor. The Rock. Hell, even the Transformers trilogy. All-American filmmaking. With lots of explosions.
1. Saving Private Ryan
"Damn it, why do I keep getting shot in the buttocks?"
There is nothing I can say about this movie that will even begin to do it justice. It is an ode to courage under fire. A story about "no man left behind", bringing a mother's only son back home from battle. You get to know these soldiers, who they were, who they are, and what they're fighting for. The D-Day invasion at the beginning alone was enough to win us over. And it just keeps going.
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