5 must-see French and Indian War and Revolutionary War classics

One of the most tired internet clichés is a list of war movies published over Memorial Day Weekend. It feels like it has been done over and over again … because it has. What you usually get in such a top 10 list are eight World War II movies and two irrelevant Sylvester Stallone massacres. That’s why we’re going to do something different.

Over the Memorial Day Weekend, we will highlight war movies and miniseries you should watch from different time periods. Up first are the colonial wars and the Revolution.

French and Indian War

“The Last of the Mohicans”

This 1992 classic is based on the James Fenimore Cooper novel of the same name. It dramatizes the story of how colonial forces and Native Americans worked together and against each other in upstate New York. The film has been received well by audiences and critics.

“Northwest Passage”

This 1940 classic is an early Technicolor production that received rave reviews for its cinematography, which was groundbreaking at the time. It takes place during the French and Indian war and centers on Rogers’ Rangers and their attack on Saint Francis, Quebec.

Revolutionary War

“The Patriot”

While seen by some as a remake of "Braveheart," the movie gives a feel for the southern theater of the Revolutionary War. A lot of movies and documentaries focus on the beginnings of the war, but the southern campaigns are what brought the war to a close. The story is also poignant on Memorial Day because it focuses on a reluctant warrior who loses a family member in the fight and is determined to avenge that death.

“John Adams” (HBO Miniseries)

Based on the David McCullough biography, the John Adams miniseries offers a great look at the home front during the Revolutionary War and the reluctant patriot leadership of John Adams. It is a brilliant portrayal of the sacrifices made by civilians during that conflict, as well as the military.

“Turn: Washington’s Spies” (AMC Miniseries)

This contemporary AMC miniseries is a fascinating look at the Culpepper Ring — an early spy ring George Washington used to spy on the British on Long Island and around New York. It shows the bravery of patriots as told through the story of a patriot son of a Tory. It highlights loss and the toll war takes on families.

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