5 Netflix movies to honor Memorial Day
DAYS GONE BY — Memorial Day offers us a special time to remember those who fought and fight valiantly for our freedoms and for the opportunity to live in such an amazing country.
We would like to take the time to say thank you to all of the military personnel and their families, past and present, this Memorial Day. We are truly in your debt.
We’d like to suggest five movies currently streaming on Netflix to remember those brave men and women.
The 2001 film “Black Hawk Down” retells the story of the 123 soldiers who dropped into Somalia in 1993 to capture two top lieutenants of a warlord.
The movie is brutal, unrelenting and utterly mesmerizing. It gives you an appreciation for our troops and all that they go through for our country. The movie can be hard to watch at times and is meant for adult audiences, but it is a film that pays great tribute to those who risk their lives in our military.
“Black Hawk Down” is led by a stellar cast and features strong pacing and a heart-tugging story that keeps you fixated on the screen throughout the film.
“Black Hawk Down” is at an 84-percent worth-your-time rating on OK.com with a 17+ age rating.
The 1949 classic “Twelve O’Clock High” stars Gregory Peck as Frank Savage, a tough general who takes over a bombing unit suffering low morale and gets them ready to fight.
“Twelve O’Clock High” tells the story of these men who suffered massive and heat-breaking loss and managed to overcome and become heroes in their own right during World War II. “Twelve O’Clock High” may not have the action and excitement of some of its contemporary movies, but it’s a film that holds true reverence for those it honors.
“Twelve O’Clock High” has a 100-percent worth-your-time rating on OK.com with a 10+ age rating.
The 1970 film “Tora! Tora! Tora!” is a unique and interesting movie that tells the story of the Pear Harbor attacks from both the Japanese and American side. The movie can be difficult to watch as the story unfolds and the heartbreak ensues.
Unlike the 2001 film “Pearl Harbor,” “Tora! Tora! Tora! ” focuses on the preparation and the attacks themselves and serves as a reminder of the horror of that day.
“Tora! Tora! Tora!” is rated G.
The 1966 film “The Sand Pebbles” stars Steve McQueen as engineer Jake Holman who was part of the crew of the U.S.S. San Pablo in 1926 China.
Hostility towards the San Pablo reaches a climax when the crew tries to rescue missionaries. The movie isn’t face-paced and in your face like “Black Hawk Down,” but it tells a fascinating and little known story of the men of the U.S.S San Pablo.
“The Sand Pebbles” is at a 100-percent on OK.com with an age rating of 12+.
The 2003 film “Saints and Soldiers” features the story of four American soldiers and one British soldier trying to get back to allied territory during World War II.
Many overlooked the film as they assumed it was a faith-centered film. While the movie has religious overtones, calling it a religious movie would be a mistake. The real message behind the film is highlighting the struggles and fights soldiers went though during World War II as well as the importance of understanding the motives and intentions of others.
The film was shot on a minimal budget and because of that, it focuses on the story and the characters, which creates an emotional attachment that feels almost too real at times. Corbin Allred gives a masterful and understated performance, which is reason enough to watch the film.
“Saints and Soldiers” has a 93-percent worth-your-time rating on OK.com with an age rating of 13+.
