Amidst all the chortling over Hollywood’s apparently unending string of anti-Iraq-war flops, there have been a good many commentors asking rhetorically, “Why aren’t there any movies that present U.S. troops in a positive light?”
But, of course, there is such a movie, released this very year.
It non-ironically shows U.S. servicemen and women putting themselves between innocents and vastly destructive forces, and fighting against the latter with grit and conspicuous valor. It openly celebrates their courage and sacrifice, and also portrays their leadership as, for the most part, decent people trying to do the best they can in a crisis with limited resources and information.
You don’t know which movie I’m talking about? Here’s a hint: It’s one of the biggest hits of 2007.
Does the movie’s success owe anything to its portrayal of American soldiers in action? Probably not nearly as much as it does to the freaking cool giant robots… but I’ll bet you that portrayal didn’t hurt the box office any, either.
More than meets the eye, indeed.
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