Sunday, April 25, 2010

Conservative Movies

Recently I had someone suggest to me that I run a poll for the best Conservative themed movie. My obvious question, what movies do we consider to be Conservative themed? I often hear people say that the most recent Batman movie was intended to symbolize the Bush administration in the war on terror. To distinguish Conservative films is a difficult venture because Liberalism is so embraced by Hollywood that any filmmaker making a "Conservative" film will be blacklisted by their peers. Many attempts at conveying a Conservative message in film have to be cleverly disguised.

Regardless, what movies do you think qualifies as Conservative, and which of those is the best? My own personal favourite would have to be Starship Troopers. Okay that was a joke, but you could probably count Will Smith's The Pursuit of Happiness as a pro entrepreneurial believe in yourself and make success happen type of movie, as opposed to being supported by the state. Clint Eastwood is probably the most successful film maker who is openly Conservative, so you can probably select any number of his projects.

What movies have you watched and thought that was a great Conservative movie?

23 comments:

  1. Serenity, Equilibrium, Lord of the Rings.

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  2. Gran Torino for sure and actually I felt that The Blind Side was conservative.
    Also, We are Marshall..
    I can think of lots but I'll challenge myself and not take over the thread. ha

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  3. Was the Blind Side a Conservative movie? The main characters were Republicans because it is based on a true story and the real people are Conservatives. I'm not sure if the story itself is Conservative.

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  4. 300, gladiator,layer cake, ravenous.

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  5. Well I saw it as Conservative because we tend to be more generous with "volunteering" and charitable donations etc. I saw that connection when I watched it in relation to the subject. So not to ruin it for those that haven't seen it, that is where I made the connection but I also see your pov as legit too.

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  6. The definition is too vague on defining a political view. Are we talking about the movies made during World War II to help sell bonds, recruitment?

    A law and order movie, Westerns etc.

    I did a post of movies that included cranky old white men.

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  7. Serenity: great libertarian movie. The protagonist, Mal Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) is a war veteran & freelance trader/pirate who just wants to be left alone to make a living, but ends up in a fight to the death against a galactic nanny-state trying to force intrusive government on the citizens "for their own good". I love this movie.

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  8. The Incredibles - Best line "When everyone is special, then no one will be."

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  9. Charlie Wilson's War

    Red Dawn

    The Hunt for Red October

    Toy Story II

    We Were Soldiers

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  10. Maybe we should make this an online meme. What say you?

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  11. The family in "The Blind Side" is strongly Christian, and much of the action takes place in a Christian academy. The only person who is identified by political affiliation is the tutor, who admits she is a Democrat.

    The message of family, caring and values makes the Bind Side a conservative movie.

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  12. Don't laugh but the 1980's remake of "The Blob".

    At one point the scientist/general in a contamination suit says "We are from the government and we are here to help."

    Great film. Campy. -but good for its time. I'd love to see it remade again. Just loved that film as a kid.

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  13. Are most war movies generally considered Conservative? We were soldiers is a great movie, but how is it uniquely Conservative? Yes the right wing is generally more supportive of the troops, but does that make all war movies Conservative? (or at least war movies that portray soldiers in a positive light)

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  14. How about some of the Chronicles of Narnia movies that have been released in the last couple of years.

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  15. Wasn't Charlie Wilson a democrat? I agree with Iceman, war movies cannot generally be considered conservative. Most American wars since the Civil War have been initiated by Democrats, with the exception of Iraq and Afghanistan. Liberals can be just as pro-war in their aims to "spread democracy" and liberal values around the world.

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  16. Are most war movies considered Conservative?

    Unless you're talikng about the "bash the military" genre like "Platoon", I'd have to say yes.

    The Left abhors the thought of violence and advocates doing ANYTHING,in capital letters, to not go to war. The Left advocates negotiation even when the other side has started the attack.

    The Left have two weapons, endless negotiation and sanctions,neither of which will work in the face of a determined enemy.

    Conservatives,contrary to Left propaganda, are NOT war mongers,but realize that there comes a time when there IS no other alternative.

    Four of my Uncles were career military officers,another was an career NCO, and several nephews currently serve in the Armed Forces,so I am familiar the general military personality type.

    Conservatives can appreciate the character of ordinary men who in times of great turmoil can find the inner strength to take up the sword and kill other men in battle. An excellent film example is the Tom Hanks character in "Saving Private Ryan", a school teacher forced by circumstances into combat.

    When I was growing up,in a small Prairie town, almost every able bodied man in town volunteered for military service when WW2 was declared. My Dad and his best friend were the first two to sign up. All served with distinction,two men became pilots and flew with the famous "Dam Buster" squadron. Neither made it home,nor did a great many of them.

    I knew almost every man in town who served in WW2 or WW1, and I can say that 99.9% of them would be considered "conservative",if not Conservative.

    You really had to know and listen to those men to appreciate what character they had,and how deeply the War affected their lives. From my Mother's graduating class of 1937, 26 students, only three survived the War,and one, a W.A.C., spent the rest of her life in a mental institution.

    Our generation, and subsequent generations can't know what it must have been like,to see all your friends you'd grown up with and gone to school with, gone forever.

    But some of us can respect the sacrifices the greatest generation made,and continue that respect for those who serve us in the military today,men and women prepared to lay down their lives for us. Most who do,I've found,are conservative,small "c".

    The Left,though they'd deny it, fear and despise anyone who will make the sacrifices THEY wouldn't, and thus they sneeringly categorize the military as "war mongers" and "terrorists",never appreciating the fact that it was THEIR freedom that was being fought for.

    I'll trade you 115 million Jack Laytons for one Smokey Smith.

    Excuse my lengthy post, but this is a subject near and dear to my heart.

    Don Morris

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  17. BlackHawk Down.

    With Nacho Libre at a close second.

    "I am~I am!"

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  18. Oi!

    How come my picks didn't make the final cut for the poll?!

    I demand a recount! Or re-vote... or re-poll!

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  19. Best candidates?

    The Incredibles
    Gladiator
    300
    We Were Soldiers
    Heartbreak Ridge
    Red Dawn
    Passion of the Christ
    Forrest Gump (debatable)
    The Pursuit of Happyness
    The Dark Knight
    Dirty Harry series
    Chronicles of Narnia series
    Lord of the Rings series
    Rocky series
    Team America: World Police
    Gran Torino
    The Expendables (hasn't come out yet, but whatever)
    Ghostbusters (in a small way)

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