Memorial Day - Favorite War Movies

In honor of all those who have laid down their lives for this country,
I offer my Top Ten War Movies

War movies are one of my least favorite genres of film; however, as I age, I grow more appreciative of those who've gone before; and particularly, those who sacrificed, so that I could live in freedom.
These films helped me understand that a bit better:

• PLATOON (Vietnam)

I was a child during Vietnam and didn't understand what it was all about....why were there so many different views about it, etc... When I saw Platoon the first time, I was a little shell-shocked. I couldn't talk about it for a few days. It made such an emotional impact on me. I still have trouble with contemplating the depression built into that movie - its palpable. The use of Barber's ADAGIO FOR STRINGS in the middle of this movie changed my life. Musically, I was never the same after I heard that.

• Glory (The Civil War)

My favorite war movie. The story about the first black regiment in the Civil War. The story, music, and Denzel Washington's "tear" is the greatest "war" moment on film.

• Dances With Wolves (The Civil War)
  

What the new Europeans did to the Native Americans when they came over the pond, was deplorable, unnecessary and wrong......I didn't get that until I saw this movie

• John Adams - Miniseries (Revolutionary War, French/English War)
  

A truly great piece of film making. This fortified my appreciation for our Fore Fathers and those who fought The Revolutionary War

• Casualties of War ( Vietnam)
  

This is the true story of a situation that happened in the Vietnam War. Its heartbreaking and powerful. Very gruesome and adult. The music is some of the best ever put on screen;
haunting and poignant. This is Michael J. Fox's best acting ever.

• Lawrence of Arabia (WWI)
  

Okay, I'm breaking the rules.....this is not about Americans, but the story of T.E. Lawrence, the eccentric British officer who united the desert tribes of Arabia against the Turks during World War I. I didn't know anything about this man or this part of World History....it is fascinating. Probably the greatest technical movie on this list....you will not see better camera work anywhere.

• Letters from Iwo Jima / Flags of Our Fathers (WWII)
  

So this is a little against the rules, but I have to place these two Clint Eastwood directed movies together as one. They tell the story of the Battle of Iwo Jima during WWII from two different perspectives. Flags from the American point of view and Letters from Japan's point of view.

• Saving Private Ryan (WWII)
  

A very cool opening. Probably the overall best opening 30 minutes of any war movie. You actually feel like your on the battlefield. Bloody and Gross; but Awesome!

• Three Kings (The Gulf War)
  

Funny and a bit shocking. I didn't know this stuff happened in the Gulf War.......so many things that get hidden in our society and government. God Help Us!

• No End in Sight (Iraq)
  
  

This is a little cheat because its not a movie; but its an enlightening documentary on The War on Iraq. Don't let the Bush bashing keep you from seeing this doc....its not that bad. I honestly thought to myself, "Where have I been the last 5 years?" after I watched this documentary

Movies I wished I could place on the list but the subject matter is not about Americans:

• BRAVEHEART
• SCHINDLER'S LIST
• LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL
• TEA WITH MUSSOLINI

Honorable Mentions:

• Patton
• The Longest Day
• The Patriot
• Gone With The Wind
• Apocalypse Now
• The Deer Hunter
• Tora Tora Tora
  

John Adams... (part 2)

So, I have now completed the extraordinary 7 part HBO miniseries - John Adams. This is part 2 from an earlier blog I wrote about 10 things I didn't know about John Adams...... Here are 10 more things I learned about our Founding Fathers.

• John was an ambassador to England at the same time the Constitution was being written. This was one of the lowest times in Mr. Adams life.

• Jefferson and Adams had a huge falling out of their friendship while bitterly campaigning against each other for President.

• The White House was a decrepit place when the Adams moved in....roof leaks, no walkways from the outside mud.

• Adams kept all of President Washington's Cabinet members for the unity of the states.

• Adams hated Jefferson so much....he skipped Jefferson's Inaugural

• Abigail died peacefully in John's arms a few years before he died

• John Adams got to see his son, John Quincy Adams become the 6th President of the US.

• John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were both asked to attend the 50th Anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence. Both declined for health reasons to attend. Both died on July 4th, 1826.......50 years after they wrote and signed the Declaration of Independence.

• John Adams thought he died before Jefferson...so his last words were, "Jefferson Survives". Little did he know, he outlasted Jefferson by several hours.

• Out of all the Founding Father's of our country, John Adams still has no monument, nor has he been put on any currency, or statue in our capital. John Adams is one of the reasons this country exists......and he's been utterly forgotten, until now

If you missed this wonderful event, HBO has just announced the release of the 3-disk DVD on June 30.
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/John-Adams-DVDs-Announced/9243

John Adams...(part 1)

Okay.... so I've only just seen the first half of the wonderfully insightful HBO mini-series John Adams, but I love it immensely. Here are 10 things I didn't know about one of our Founding Fathers, the remarkable John Adams.

• John Adams, being a man of law and who felt deeply this new country must abide by the law to be a sovereign country, successfully defended 8 British soldiers, whom accidentally killed 5 Bostonians. (This was before Independence)

• It was John Adams who persuaded General George Washington to help Massachusetts's cause and fight the British soldiers, which later propelled Washington to become our first President.

• Adams was separated from his wife, Abigail, for half of their first 14 years of marriage. (Due to their farm being in Massachusetts and he being needed in the Congress)

• Abigail raised 4 children alone, on a Massachusetts farm with no slaves....only a few hired hands aided her.

• John Adams and his son, John Quincy, went to France right after Independence Day to beg for more NAVAL assistance to help fight the British. He, along with Benjamin Franklin, was our first Ambassador. (This was after the 14 years of marriage)

• John Adams sent his son, John Quincy, at the age of 14 to be a secretary for a diplomat in St. Petersburg, Russia. JQA stayed in Russia until he was ready to go to Harvard at 17.

• While John was away, Abigail made her and her children take a vaccination of small pox. They had to put the blood of a pox victim into their own bloodstream; which gave them the pox, but they could control it better and not die.

• John Adams was fired by Congress as the Ambassador of France, and later became the Ambassador of England (thankless job, indeed)....all while the Constitution was being written and enacted.

• Adams got deathly ill in Europe and almost died....Abigail would soon join him in France, leaving her children to someone else.

• John Adams had a crazy bad temper and was solidly stubborn; however, Abigail, knew just how to tame him. He responded very well to her in an age where men thought women of little worth.

After viewing the next half of the mini-series,
I'll see if there are 10 more things
I didn't know about Mr. John Adams and continue this game.
This mini-series was based on the acclaimed biography,
John Adams, by David McCullough