What on EARTH is that flag?

The Civil War by Ken Burns

1. The Civil War by Ken Burns: Ok, I know tough to rank a documentary as #1, but this is really a fascinating film. The commentary of Shelby Foote and George Will, the voices of Sam Waterston and Morgan Freeman give life to history. The insights and stories of the conflict between North and South not in the text books are intriguing. This is a long film (5 DVD’s) and should be watched in phases, though I have watched it at least 4 times.

Black Hawk Down

2. Black Hawk Down: I think it is because it is a film about a military action during my time and that I related to; others may not rate this movie this high. This movie is non-stop walk through the events in Somalia in the 1990’s – the action just does not stop it will drain you to watch. No man left behind – strength of the Rangers. Don’t miss the extras with a Frontline show about the actual events on the disc.

Tour of Duty

3. Tour of Duty: Ok, I am cheating a little, because this is a three year TV series available on DVD. I can’t remember much about the show, so you may ask why is it so high. The answer my father who is a retired CWO3 and toured in Vietnam said this show was authentic down to the “33” beer bottles. Who am I to disagree with my father?

The Patriot

4. The Patriot: Mel Gibson before everyone turned on him for some unfortunate comments, and a young Heath Ledger. This was a good movie and story line of how the revolution impacted the colonies and the methods that changed war.

Saving Private Ryan

5. Saving Private Ryan: Starring Tom Hanks this movie takes a look at World War II and the search for a soldier. This soldier was the last male of his family as his brothers had been killed on the same day in World War II. A tradition to secure the future of the nation and individual families called for the last surviving male to come out of harms way. The reading of a letter written by Abraham Lincoln sent to a family in a similar situation is stirring.

Gettysburg

6. Gettysburg: Again like Black Hawk Down some of the characters inspire you with their bravery and actions in the face of death. I am not a big fan of Martin Sheen as Robert E. Lee, but the movie is good for people interested in history.

Flags of Our Fathers

7. Flags of our Fathers: Directed by Clint Eastwood and starring among others Ryan Phillippe. This is a slow movie and a little hard to get into, not the action of the other movies on the list. It does take an interesting look at the men behind the image of the American Flag flying over Iwo Jima and how that fame impacted their life.

Patton

8. Patton: George C. Scott’s standout role as Patton and look inside the general and into World War II. Though I have not seen the movie in some time, I instantly remember two scenes – the first is when Patton slaps a soldier I a hospital for suffering from bad nerves in the midst of soldiers physically hurt in combat and the other was him on an ancient battle field and thinking he had been there before. The Army may never see a personality like Patton again.

Men of Honor

9. Men of Honor: Cuba Gooding, Jr., Robert De Niro and Charlize Theron in a movie about the first African American driver in the military. The courage of this individual is amazing, probably a story that would be buried in history if not for this movie.

Top Gun

10. Top Gun: Ok maybe stretching it as a military movie, but one of the best movies of all time centered on a Navy pilot should make the list right? Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer and Kelly McGillis (what happened to her) star in this movie. Don’t think I have to explain more everybody has seen this movie!!