The 4th of July is just around the corner, and for many of you that means barbeques, fireworks, and hopefully a three-day weekend. We often forget what this holiday is really celebrating: the birth of our country and all of the rich history that comes along with it, as young as America may be. But perhaps you’re not feeling that American spirit this year. We don’t blame you. After all, it seems like whenever you turn on the news there is nothing but bad news for America. Does your faith in America need a little boost? Don’t worry! GameZone has just the remedy to help restore that good ol’ American patriotism. GameZone presents to you the top ten movies to renew your faith in the red, white, and blue.
10. Team America
Uh-mer-i-cuh! Our number ten spot on the list belongs to the musical comedy from the minds of South Park’s Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Team America has everything: songs, parodies, an American special forces unit taking out terrorists and Kim Jong-il, explosions, and puppet-on-puppet sex. No matter which side of the political spectrum you fall on, this movie will make you laugh. Whether it’s laughing at MAAAATT DAAAMON and a fat, burger-eating Michael Moore, or watching this team of dim-witted soldiers run around blowing up entire cities to preserve democracy, this movie brings Americans together in a unified roar of laughter.
9. Red Dawn
Most shooters now use the invasion of the United States as a plot element. They can thank the 1984 release of Red Dawn for the modern U.S. takeover scenario. The cast was stacked with Patrick Swayze (Roadhouse), Jennifer Grey (Dirty Dancing), Lea Thompson (Back to the Future), and the “winning” Charlie Sheen (Major League). You have to love how the small town of Calumet, Colorado, under assault by the Soviet Union and Cuba, has high school students resisting the foreign occupancy with guerilla warfare under the moniker “Wolverines” (their high school mascot). It’s inspiring and shows the American inner strength to fight for freedom once again. A plaque devoted to the Wolverines sums it all up: “In the early days of World War III, guerrillas—mostly children—placed the names of their lost upon this rock. They fought here alone and gave up their lives, so that ‘this nation shall not perish from the earth.’”
8. D2: The Mighty Ducks
Team USA—comprised of a group of teenagers from around the country—overcome their differences and fly together as they face Team Iceland in the Junior Goodwill Games in California. D2 is a classic example of Americans’ ability to overcome adversity and band together as they take on the world. The Mighty Ducks might have changed the NHL with the addition of the Anaheim team, but D2 changed the world of hockey with the addition of the famous “Knuckle Puck.”
7. Navy Seals
In the wake of Osama bin Laden’s removal, we couldn’t resist putting Navy Seals on this list. It shows off the badassery that the Navy Seals conduct. Two Charlie Sheen movies on one list? He truly is “bi-winning.” Add in Dennis Haysbert (24), Michael Biehn (Terminator), and Bill Paxton (Aliens), and you have a team that is destined to kick terrorist ass. It shows not only their awesomeness in combat situations, but also the sacrifice they make in their personal lives and how amazing our special forces truly are. A drunken golfcart-driving montage as a way to unwind never hurts, either. Thanks to our troops for their sacrifice, allowing us to celebrate this awesome holiday.
6. Miracle
Another hockey movie makes the list. And to think that we’ve always considered hockey a Canadian sport! Nothing stirs up patriotism like a good American underdog story. Miracle is about one of the biggest upsets in Olympic history. Led by coach Herb Brooks (Kurt Russel), the American hockey team (a bunch of college kids) won the gold medal over the Soviets in the 1980 Olympics. With passion and willpower, the American Olympic hockey team triumphed against all odds.
5. Air Force One
Harrison Ford (one of the greatest American actors ever) plays the President of the United States. Need I say more? Oh, I forgot, he plays a bad-ass president who fights a group of terrorists who hijack his plane. If Arnold Schwarzenegger can be governor, why can’t Harrison Ford be President? During a time when faith in American politics is at a low, only Harrison Ford can restore it with American grit and strength. We might not all agree with the current President’s decisions and stances, but I believe we can all rally around President James Marshall (Ford) in this thriller.
4. Top Gun
Top Gun gives us that taste of American rebel attitude. Tom Cruise plays the role of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, an advanced fighter pilots competing to be best in the class. Let’s be honest: this movie has no plot, unless you consider him taking the “Highway to the Dangerzone” while “Playing with the Boys” a plot.. It’s just an excuse to show some really awesome US Naval planes flying around doing some really awesome stuff … and for Tom Cruise to show off his chiseled body while playing beach volleyball. If you haven’t seen it, I suggest you do. It makes the movie. If that wasn’t enough, the cocky bastard also shows off his vocals while singing “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’.” I don’t think anyone could capture that American cockiness (in a good way) like Tom Cruise does in this movie. Oh, did I mention that it also has a bad-ass theme that will make you want to shred some air guitar?
Watch the famous Top Gun volleyball scene
3. Rocky IV
Rocky Balboa may be the most patriotic American ever, from his American flag boxing shorts to his “go for your dreams” attitude. Any of the movies in this series could be here, but we paid special attention to Rocky IV. This movie is so filled with American spirit that Rocky somehow manages to get Communist Russia to cheer for America. Only Sylvester Stallone could end the Cold War through a painfully cheesy, hard-to-understand monologue after getting his brains beat in by Dolph Lundgren, better known as Ivan Drago—the man who vows, “I must break you,” before savagely killing Apollo. (No, not the shuttle to the moon, but perhaps the second most patriot American ever. Have you seen his entrance into the ring?) He makes “Living in America” awesome! Which it is, of course! This movie is great because unlike Miracle, where only America wins, both Russia and America win at the end of this movie.
If I can change, you can change, everybody can change! Watch this famous speech that could have ended the Cold War
2. The Patriot
This is what this holiday is about! Mel Gibson leading the United States against Britain in the fight for America’s liberty. OK, so maybe Mel Gibson wasn’t actually involved in the Revolutionary War, but he sure does a heck of a job bringing back that old-fashioned patriotic fervor. A family man turned leader of the Colonial Militia after a British officer brutally murders his son, Benjamin Martin (Gibson) will give you chills with his “rise up and defend your country” attitude. And if that doesn’t do it for you, then maybe seeing Heath Ledger will.
1. Independence Day
This movie should be number one on every list. Will Smith, Bill Pullman, and Jeff Goldblum fighting to save mankind from invading aliens. The final fight not only happens on the 4th of July, but also has America leading the world in the counter-attack against the aliens. No movie showcases American determination and creative intelligence quite as nicely as this one. How genius is it to give the aliens a “cold?!” And how could anyone forget the amazing President’s motivational speech given by Bill Pullman? It really captures the American vibe, “We will not go quietly into the night!” This is arguably the best speech ever given in a movie. Ahh, I get chills just thinking of it. America is so awesome in this movie that the 4th of July becomes not only an American Holiday, but also a holiday that unites the entire world.
Watch the President’s speech from Independence Day
Well, that’s all folks. Hope you enjoy GameZone’s collaborative list of Top 10 Movies to Get You in the American Spirit. Check back as we release the Top 5 Games to play on the 4th of July. Have a fun and safe 4th of July! America!!!
