MOVIES TO WATCH ON THE 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND

The 4th of July is the time to celebrate our freedom and independence. We usually celebrate with spending time at the lake or river or maybe out on some trails enjoying a ride. Food is a given with burgers and hot dogs being the most freedom inducing meal staples. However, if you’re spending the entire week celebrating or just a few days you may need a break from all the fun or if the weather gets too extreme something to do why you wait it out. While you might think of some other movies these are a collection that are fun and something different that don’t just look at freedom, but also have a tinge of summer fun.

INDEPENDENCE DAY – The movie that started the 4th of July blockbusters. Aliens come to Earth to take over and destroy landmarks in the process. One of the best speeches in movie history.

CAPTAIN AMERICA THE FIRST AVENGER – In the Marvel Movie Universe this is the first movie of the Avengers saga. See Cap battle the Red Skull and setup a universe of epic movies.

BORN ON THE 4TH OF JULY – Tom Cruise in one of his first serious rolls. He plays Ron Kovic, a soldier that fights against the war in Vietnam after returning home. A good reminder that not everyone was treated well after coming home.

THE PATRIOT – I like to call this “Braveheart for Americans”. Mel Gibson plays a man in the Revolutionary War who’s fighting the British after they kill his son. He feels this is payment for the atrocities he committed in previous battles.

A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN – I always love watching this movie. It shows a different side of America during World War II. The women of America weren’t just working in the factories or entertaining in the USO, but keeping the American people entertained by playing the most American sport of baseball.

HIDDEN FIGURES – We all know about getting into outer space and then to the moon. We know the pilots and astronauts involved, but who really got them there? This tells the story of the black women involved in NASA that didn’t get the recognition they deserved until decades later.

NATIONAL TREASURE – “I’m going to steal the Declaration of Independence.” Nic Cage in a roll where he’s almost entirely the professor side of Indiana Jones in a treasure hunt that’s as fun as it is educational.

MIDWAY (2019) – The battle in the Pacific during World War II was a major chess match in the sea. This tells the real-life stories of the pilots and sailors that fought bravely against Japan in the air and at sea. It starts at Pearl Harbor and ends with one of the largest sea battles that turned the war in the allies’ favor.

TOP GUN: MAVERICK – You could also watch the original, but why not watch the souped-up version with Tom Cruise back in the pilot’s seat training a new batch of pilots for a daring mission.

THE MEG – What if Jaws was about a million times bigger and a few hundred million times older. While this is an upgraded version of the 70s classic on a larger scale it isn’t nearly as scary or gory. It is pretty campy at times so it’s a bit more fun than Jaws.