What would they say today? What would the men of the 54th, the first black Army regiment who fought to the death in the Civil War, say about American blacks today? Would they understand the young? Would they support the leadership of the Jesse Jackson's and Al Sharpton's of the country? Would they endorse a man like Barack Obama?
But why is Glory a conservative movie? Picture yourself in a country (your country) that despises you for whatever reason. They are at war with a country that wants to enslave you and others like you. Your country reluctantly and desperately creates a regiment for people like you (and only you) to fight! Despite being rejected by other troops because you are different, you fight in many terrifying and hideous battles. Why? Because you believe in your heart that despite its shortcomings, YOUR COUNTRY is worth fighting and dieing for.
Anyway you slice it folks, Glory is the Edge Conservative Movie of the Week! Here is a great movie review from IMDb.
Easily the best Civil War movie ever produced, and among the front rank of all war movies. Filled with memorable and moving scenes - the look of sheer defiance on Trip's (Denzel Washington) face as his already scarred back is whipped, the men of the 54th telling their stories around the campfire on the eve of battle, Shaw (Matthew Broderick) turning loose his horse on the beach before Ft. Wagner. History is brought to life more vividly in this film than in any big-budget all-star cast epic I can recall. Most often , those films only succeed in collapsing under their own weight and leaving audiences more turned off about history. Glory brings the issues of the time - slavery, freedom and sacrifice - down to human scale. We can understand why the men of the 54th were willing to take up arms, and how tragic it was that they had to sacrifice their lives in order to be considered men.
Here is the trailer to Glory.
Scary stuff.