Ten Movies To Watch On This July 4th, 2017
Using your favorite web search engine (Google, Yahoo, etc.), you would easily find dozens of websites recommending a variety of war and patriotic movies to watch this July 4th, 2017.
For example, “The 12 Highest Rated Patriotic Movies On Netflix To Stream Over The July 4th Weekend” is an esoteric collection of twelve familiar and not-so-familiar movies. There is another list of five “patriotic” war movies. Yes, they are excellent, but just because Americans celebrate their July 4th with fireworks doesn’t necessarily mean that they are interested in watching just war movies this weekend. Besides, some combat veterans will not watch war movies this week for a variety of obvious reasons.
So, here are ten movies, ranging over eight decades, listed in the order of year they were released. These films should satisfy many Americans this upcoming holiday as their subjects include drama, action, fiction, music, war, love, science fiction, adventure and history. Most, if not all can be accessed by your favorite online movie source.
1. ‘Yankee Doodle Dandy’ (1942)
James Cagney stars in a musical biography of prolific composer and playwright, George M. Cohen.
2. ‘Patton’ (1970)
George C. Scott stars as outspoken and controversial U.S. Army Lt. General George S. Patton, who commanded the Third United States Army in France and Germany following the Allied invasion of Normandy. Those who saw this movie remember his inspiring speech at the beginning of the movie. Most people are unaware that this particular speech was actually a series of speeches Patton gave to his troops prior to the Allied invasion of France.
3. ‘1776’ (1972)
This movie is the story of how the Declaration of Independence was written by some of our Founding Fathers. Some of the dialog and song lyrics “were taken directly from the letters and memoirs of the actual participants of the .Second Continental Congress”
4. ‘Top Gun’ (1986)
This is one of Tom Cruise’ most memorable performances as a U.S. Navy fighter-pilot-in-training with others at their Fighter Weapons School at Miramar in San Diego, Calif. After graduating, they engage MIG fighters in a crisis situation in the mideast.
Note: Cruise is now scheduled to return as Maverick in the sequel, ‘Top Gun 2 – Maverick’ which will start filming in 2018.
5. ‘Glory’ (1989)
This Civil War film is a biography of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw who commanded a unit in the Union Army consisting of all volunteer African-American men. The screenplay was based on Shaw’s personal letters.
6. ‘Forrest Gump’ (1994)
Tom Hanks stars in this epic film based on Winston Groom‘s novel with the same name. The unusual nature of the film is the insertion of Gump into real-life pictures and historic film appearing, meeting and shaking hands with deceased people.
7. ‘The American President’ (1995)
In this political romantic comedy-drama (aka dramedy) film, Michael Douglas stars as President Andrew Shepherd who falls in love with lobbyist Annette Bening. Of course, sparks will fly.
8. ‘Independence Day’ (1996)
This film was appropriately released on the July 4th weekend in 1996. Even though it was a science fiction film, it also brought together in just one story: invading aliens, science, love, family and America leading the world in its fight for survival. Some might consider it to be a perfect film.
Note: a sequel to this movie entitled, ‘Independence Day Resurgence’ was released last year – again on July 4th. It starred many who were in the original film, and included a female president. However, if you haven’t seen the movie, die hard fans of the first epic might be disappointed to find that it’s missing Will Smith.
9. ‘The Patriot’ (2000)
Mel Gibson stars in this historical drama as a man who is drawn into the American Revolutionary War. His character is a composite of four actual figures in this time period.
10. ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ (2011)
Captain America is a fictional superhero who first appeared in a comic book published by Marvel Comics in 1941. Captain America fought the Axis powers in World War II with his shield which showed the red, white and blue colors of the American flag. After years in suspended animation, Captain America is brought back to life in our present time Avenger series of books and movies.
So all y’all should add to your holiday plans by choosing to watch one or more of these great films on this July 4th, 2017.