July 4th Weekend: Five Movies to See to Celebrate Independence Day
With the Fourth of July weekend coming up, there will be a number of picnics and barbecues celebrating the holiday. However, for those who just want to stay home and enjoy a good movie, here is a list of some patriotic movies to celebrate the USA Independence.
1. "Born on the Fourth of July"
Oliver Stone's beloved film tells the story of Ron Kovic, a paralyzed veteran from the Vietnam War. After his disillusion with the war and feeling betrayed by his country, he becomes an anti-war and pro-human rights political activist. When the film was released in 1989, it was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won two including Best Director. The film ranks as one of the best performances in Tom Cruise's career and is still among Stone's best works.
2. "Captain America: The First Avenger"
If you're not feeling up for drama, there is nothing more entertaining than the first Captain America film. The Marvel actioner is not only funny and beautifully shot, but it also contains strong performances by Chris Evans and Dominic Cooper. Additionally, Hugo Weaving's villain ranks among the best in comic book films. "The First Avenger" tells the story of Steve Rogers, rejected from the military due to his weak physicality, who transforms into Captain America after getting a heavy dose of a "Super-Soldier serum".
3. "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"
For those interested in a classic film from 1939, Frank Capra's "Mr. Smith" is the best film for the holiday. Starring James Stewart, the film tells the story of a naive man who is appointed to fill a vacancy in the US Senate. However, his plans promptly collide with political corruption -- but Smith refuses to back down. Hailed as one of the best films of all time, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" was nominated for 11 Oscars and won one for writing. The movie contains comic elements as well as the dramatic, and it's entertaining for the whole family.
4. "Independence Day"
For those excited about the sequel to this film, this is a fun science fiction flick that is considered a modern-day schlocky classic. Starring Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum and Randy Quaid, the movie tells the story of aliens who come to destroy Earth. As a result, humanity must give it their all to survive and regain their "independence" once more. A number of films have tried to copy the premise and formula of this movie, including the upcoming "Pixels," but few have been as successful as this one.
5. "The Patriot"
This is one of the quintessential American Revolution films that reminds viewers what Independence Day was originally about. Starring Mel Gibson and the late Heath Ledger, this film tells the story of peaceful farmer Benjamin Martin, who is driven to lead the Colonial Militia during the American Revolution after a sadistic British officer murders his son. While the film scored mixed reviews when it was released, it was still nominated for three Oscars. The movie has since obtained a following, and is even used for educational purposes.
Subscribe to Latin Post!
Sign up for our free newsletter for the Latest coverage!