Worst2First: My Top Ten Films to Watch on Independence Day

Worst2First: 

My Top Ten Films to Watch on Independence Day

Fireworks.  Hot dogs.  Beer.  Apple pie.  All are staples of Americana, especially on the celebration of our nation's birth.  Throughout the years, cinema has released classic films that would be perfect for the long Fourth of July weekend, and here are my personal top ten favorites, Worst2First.

**There will be no spoilers.**

#10

Pearl Harbor

Albeit a little lengthy, this Michael Bay-directed epic centers on the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and the Doolittle Raid.  This action/dramatic film features great performances by Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, Kate Beckinsale, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Alec Baldwin, and centers around one of the darkest days in American history, as well as the American resolve to not lie down.

#9

Forrest Gump

Tom Hanks stars in his Oscar-winning role as Forrest Gump, a naive, slow-witted but kind man who influences, witnesses and changes some of the most defining events in American history.  Winner of Best Picture, Best Director, Best Visual Effects, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing, Robert Zemeckis' Americana film is a must-see for the long weekend.

#8

Flags of Our Fathers

Clint Eastwood directed this masterpiece about the five Marines and one Navy Corpsman who raised the American flag on Iwo Jima during World War II, and how that momentous event changed their lives, and features great performances by Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford, Adam Beach, Paul Walker and Jamie Bell.  Eastwood also directed "Letters From Iwo Jima" focusing on the Japanese side of the story, but since this is the Fourth of July it's "Flags of Our Fathers" that you should watch.

#7

Top Gun

"I feel the need...the need for speed!"  This Tom Cruise classic has it all: explosions, jet planes, shirtless volleyball montages.  The film centers around cocky young Navy pilot Maverick Mitchell who must learn the value of teamwork at the Navy's pilot training academy.  Boasting a tremendous soundtrack ("Danger Zone," "Take My Breath Away") and award-winning director Tony Scott, and you've got a truly American film that's so patriotic, it caused a real life surge in enlistments after it was released.

#6

Glory

"Glory" is the story of the first military unit of the Union Army made up almost entirely of African-American soldiers, with the exception of their commanding officers.  Told through the eyes of Colonel Shaw (Matthew Broderick), this epic tale tells the story of their battle at Fort Wagner, as well as showcasing a darker time in American history as we were going through our Civil War.  Considered one of the best films about the Civil War, "Glory" was nominated for five Academy Awards and winning three - including the first Oscar for actor Denzel Washington.  Morgan Freeman, Cary Elwes and Andre Braugher round out the talented cast, and the film serves as a glimpse of American history when the country couldn't have been more divided.

#5 

Black Hawk Down

Directed by the great Ridley Scott, "Black Hawk Down" centers around the 1993 raid of Mogadishu by the U.S. military, sent to capture Mohamed Farrah Aidid, the enemy faction leader, which resulted in the Battle of Mogadishu.  As heartfelt as it is action-packed, the film features a huge ensemble cast including Josh Hartnett, Eric Bana, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore, William Fichtner, Jason Isaacs and Ty Burrell, and won the Oscars for Best Film Editing and Best Sound Mixing.

#4

Born on the Fourth of July

The true story of Vietnam vet Ron Kovic (Tom Cruise, in his first Academy Award-nominated role) serves as a contrast to many other films on this list, as after the Vietnam war he became an advocate for the anti-war movement, and felt betrayed by his country after he returned paralyzed.  Yet, this is the perfect film to see on Independence Day, because it showcases the freedoms that people fought and died for - showing that we all have different viewpoints, and we have the freedom to express them without government intrusion.  Directed by controversial director Oliver Stone (who won an Oscar for this film), "Born" shows the good and the bad, and delivers a powerful message as well.

#3

Saving Private Ryan

Steven Spielberg's iconic film set during the Invasion of Normandy in World War II is best known for its realistic depiction of war, including the unforgettable, unflinching first half hour featuring the Omaha Beach assault.  The movie centers around a team of Army Rangers (including Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Vin Diesel and Giovanni Ribisi) as they invade enemy lines to rescue Private First Class James Ryan (Matt Damon), who is the last-surviving member of four servicemen.  Filled with realistic, graphic depictions of what war is really like, the film also features amazing performances and earned eleven Oscar nominations, winning five, including another Best Director Oscar for the amazing Spielberg.

#2

The Patriot

Directed by Roland Emmerich, "The Patriot" focuses on a family in York County, South Carolina, who finds themselves pulled into the American Revolutionary War after their family is threatened.  Despite its numerous historical inaccuracies, the movie boasts great performances from Mel Gibson, Chris Cooper, Heath Ledger and Jason Isaacs, as well as giving a hauntingly personal portrayal of a grand-scale war, and shows how one person can change the course of a war.

#1

Independence Day

With so many heavy war movies on the list, I figured to end it on a more light-hearted note (if you think aliens coming to take over Earth and blowing up the White House and Empire State Building is more light-hearted) with Roland Emmerich's now-iconic alien epic.  Set on Independence Day, the film shows the American resolve to combat an enemy much greater than themselves, their desire to never give up, and how people from all races, cultures and religions can come together to combat a common foe.  Sure, it's pretty much a stereotypical portrayal of every action movie ever, but you can't deny that, after twenty years, the film still stands the test of time.  "Resurgence," not so much.