The Revolution: Where's the movies?

[bruce_pullen]

Where's the American Revolution movies? There's a few. The Patriot (2000), 1776 (1972), and some old black and white films. But there's not too many really? Why so few?

Note: John Adams: The Miniseries doesn't count. I'm talking movies here.

[P@t_Mtl]

That is a very good question and when you think on how important a event it was not just for Americans but the world, it's surprising there are very few movies on that subject. Public appeal maybe? Or maybe there is this feeling that everyone know's or think they know George Washington, there is no point making a movie about him?

I would love to see a good movie made on that subject, not like The Patriot who for me is nothing more then Braveyanks.

[bruce_pullen]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

That is a very good question and when you think on how important a event it was not just for Americans but the world, it's surprising there are very few movies on that subject. Public appeal maybe? Or maybe there is this feeling that everyone know's or think they know George Washington, there is no point making a movie about him?

I would love to see a good movie made on that subject, not like The Patriot who for me is nothing more then Braveyanks.

Braveyanks! I like that.

I know, very interesting question, isn't it?

[ScarredLungs]

Very good Question. I am not sure. I can not remember the BOx Office, but i think the Patriot did well. I love that movie. From a $$$ perspective, if done right, they could be very good movies. I would like to see some more of this time period. There are many different stories/battles that could be told.

[bruce_pullen]

Originally Posted by cvm

Very good Question. I am not sure. I can not remember the BOx Office, but i think the Patriot did well. I love that movie. From a $$$ perspective, if done right, they could be very good movies. I would like to see some more of this time period. There are many different stories/battles that could be told.

I know. That's why it's a mystery really?

I don't get it.

[mikejet]

Generation wise there's no one alive that can relate to the Revolutionary War. WWII films were big during the Baby Boomer years and Mash was popular right after Korea. Vietnam movies were big in the 80's right after the kids who grew up watching it on TV were old enough for R rated flicks. Same for the Middle Eastern conflict movies since the start of those begane in the early 90's.

There are people who can relate to those and people who knew people who participated in those wars.

Sure people might know that somewhere down their faily tree someone may have been in the Revolutionary War but there's no direct link for them to relate to the timeframe or circumstances.

[Another_Dude]

Someone get Forrest Gump on the line, we need a 1777 version of Saving Private Ryan.

[bruce_pullen]

Originally Posted by mikejet

Generation wise there's no one alive that can relate to the Revolutionary War. WWII films were big during the Baby Boomer years and Mash was popular right after Korea. Vietnam movies were big in the 80's right after the kids who grew up watching it on TV were old enough for R rated flicks. Same for the Middle Eastern conflict movies since the start of those begane in the early 90's.

There are people who can relate to those and people who knew people who participated in those wars.

Sure people might know that somewhere down their faily tree someone may have been in the Revolutionary War but there's no direct link for them to relate to the timeframe or circumstances.

Do you find that sad or fitting, Mikejet?

[ScarredLungs]

Originally Posted by bruce_pullen

I know. That's why it's a mystery really?

I don't get it.

I have the Patriot on Blu and it is amazing! I think the Patriot is an underrated movie. I think it might be viewed as "Out Of Date" The weapons and tactics are old and out dated. They did not perosnally effect anyone who is living today, compared with the WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Korean etc. I think that people like to see war movies which they can connect with.

[uziel5000]

Maybe the scope of the film SEEMS too big. I mean, if LOTR was thought of as a huge undertaking, how big would covering the revolution be?

You could focus on a certain element like Washington for example but even then there's Washington the British subject(pre-revolution) Washington the General, Washington the President and even his life after that. Would you cover his revolution days only? Maybe some people would think it a diservice to the man. On another note in this particular subject I would prefer to see the life of Ben Franklin because he is my favorite founding father (I'm not from the U.S. though)

Also, looking at when it happened, 200+ years is not that long ago Historicaly speaking (compared to the roman empire for example) so there is a pretty accurate record of what happened. While that could be seen as an advantage, others would be afraid of doing a movie and being called out for adding or substracting to what really happened (JFK comes to mind).

The Revolution, like the Civil War(where are those as well) seems like a subject fit for TV where it can handled in episodes. While certainly not impossible by any means, it would take a true visionary to pull off correctly. I would love to see a film of such an interesting period. But it would probably be about a particular subject or point in time during the Revolution.

[bruce_pullen]

Originally Posted by cvm

I have the Patriot on Blu and it is amazing! I think the Patriot is an underrated movie. I think it might be viewed as "Out Of Date" The weapons and tactics are old and out dated. They did not perosnally effect anyone who is living today, compared with the WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Korean etc. I think that people like to see war movies which they can connect with.

Don't personally effect them? 'They' live in country founded on those principles. They live them everyday. That's a strange disconnect.

[mikejet]

Originally Posted by bruce_pullen

Do you find that sad or fitting Mikejet?

Neither, it's just the way it is I guess. Glory worked because it was about more than just the Civil War. The Patriot worked because of the Father Son battle that is relevant to other wars fought. If they made another Revolutionary War movie with a universal theme then it would probably work but a straight historical pic would probably not.

[bruce_pullen]

Originally Posted by mikejet

Neither, it's just the way it is I guess. Glory worked because it was about more than just the Civil War. The Patriot worked because of the Father Son battle that is relevant to other wars fought. If they made another Revolutionary War movie with a universal theme then it would probably work but a straight historical pic would probably not.

Washington at Trenton: wouldn't make a movie? Really??

Bunker Hill couldn't be a movie? I just don't know...

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by uziel5000

Maybe the scope of the film SEEMS too big. I mean, if LOTR was thought of as a huge undertaking, how big would covering the revolution be?

You could focus on a certain element like Washington for example but even then there's Washington the British subject(pre-revolution) Washington the General, Washington the President and even his life after that. Would you cover his revolution days only? Maybe some people would think it a diservice to the man. On another note in this particular subject I would prefer to see the life of Ben Franklin because he is my favorite founding father (I'm not from the U.S. though)

Also, looking at when it happened, 200+ years is not that long ago Historicaly speaking (compared to the roman empire for example) so there is a pretty accurate record of what happened. While that could be seen as an advantage, others would be afraid of doing a movie and being called out for adding or substracting to what really happened (JFK comes to mind).

The Revolution, like the Civil War(where are those as well) seems like a subject fit for TV where it can handled in episodes. While certainly not impossible by any means, it would take a true visionary to pull off correctly. I would love to see a film of such an interesting period. But it would probably be about a particular subject or point in time during the Revolution.

Band of Brothers circa 1776

[ScarredLungs]

Originally Posted by bruce_pullen

Don't personally effect them? 'They' live in country founded on those principles. They live them everyday. That's a strange disconnect.

I may not have been clear. It does effect them 100%. The revolutionary war effected the entire world! People today don't seem to care or think much about it. We can all name ancestors or friends/family who fought in WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Korean, the Gulf War, or the current war. How many people can we name who fought in the Revolutionary War? We have more personal everday ties to the "Current Conflicts of the last 100years". Even in school, we talked about the revolutionary war, but it seems like more time was spent on the civil war and WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Korean and the Gulf. The revolutionary war happened and that is it (as far as many people are concerned)

Out of all the wars in American History, i believe people are least educated on this War.

[uziel5000]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Band of Brothers circa 1776

If its as good as Band of Brothers sign me up for the Blu-Ray immediatley!

[SquidPuppet]

Sorry, not hijacking intentionally...

Revolutionary War Movies = some
WWI Movies = plenty
WWII Movies = plenty
Civil War Movies = plenty
Cold War movies = plenty
Viet Nam movies = plenty
Middle East conflict movies = plenty

Korean War movies = ?

I have always been puzzled

[bruce_pullen]

Originally Posted by cvm

I may not have been clear. It does effect them 100%. The revolutionary war effected the entire world! People today don't seem to care or think much about it. We can all name ancestors or friends/family who fought in WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Korean, the Gulf War, or the current war. How many people can we name who fought in the Revolutionary War? We have more personal everday ties to the "Current Conflicts of the last 100years". Even in school, we talked about the revolutionary war, but it seems like more time was spent on the civil war and WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Korean and the Gulf. The revolutionary war happened and that is it (as far as many people are concerned)

Out of all the wars in American History, i believe people are least educated on this War.

I would agree. That's a film (or films) seems necessary.
But it's not a priority. So, there you go.

[mikejet]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Sorry, not hijacking intentionally...

Revolutionary War Movies = some
WWI Movies = plenty
WWII Movies = plenty
Civil War Movies = plenty
Cold War movies = plenty
Viet Nam movies = plenty
Middle East conflict movies = plenty

Korean War movies = ?

I have always been puzzled

MASH is the only one that comes to mind. Think of it this way, how much of a US History book is dedicated to each of those wars then compare those ratios to the number of films produced about each. They should match up pretty well.

[zicmubleu]

Originally Posted by cvm

Out of all the wars in American History, i believe people are least educated on this War.

I think the Spanish American War of 1898 would take that prize.

Maybe the problem is that it wasn't captured historically that well, the significance grew over time, not during the time it occurred. If you have watched National Treasure you can see bits and pieces of that period, they use it to add color to the movie; but I would be hard pressed to remember a history lesson covering something really catchy for the American Revolution. I also think there may have been some movie on John Paul Jones, but it is hard to think of any flashy characters from that time period. Most movie/film attempts would feel like a PBS documentary.