July 4th Movie Rentals that Embrace the American Spirit

Holidays are the best time to curl up with some popcorn and your favorite movie. So rent away good patriot, what is more American than Hollywood films? This 4th of July, enjoy these great films designed to accompany your firework festivities.

An American Tail- This is the classic family cartoon story of Fievel who searches for his family and finds America. This "tail" celebrates the young Russian mouse that gets separated from his family and must survive in a new country. Fievel embraces the American spirit in his new home and demonstrates the passion that made America a desired point of immigration. Easily one of the best animated features around, let alone tales of America.

Ocean's 11- A remake of a Hollywood classic, George Clooney stars as Danny Ocean who gathers his 11 accomplices in a grand casino heist. America's golden boys Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon are the lineup. This film kicked off the reinvented Ocean's franchise that is still running strong. It's fun, fast paced, funny and an all around good film to watch on your holidays off.

Deep Impact- The story of American will for survival and triumph as a comet heads for Earth, all Americans ban together in an attempt to destroy or detour the comet, only to succeed halfway. The United States stands strong and resilient at the end of the film, a tribute to American presence of will. Not all survive, but the American spirit does.

Braveheart- Winning 5 Academy Awards, Braveheart is the tale of William Wallace and Scotland's fight for independence against their English rulers. True, Scotland is not the United States, but we can relate to this story as we fought for our own freedom, which is why this excellently made film resonates so powerful for so many Americans. Love and freedom conquer all.

The Last of the Mohicans- The last of the Mohican tribe fight to protect a British Colonel's daughters in the middle of the bloody and savage French and Indian War. Before the United States existed, the colonists had to live amongst the Native Americans in a dangerous balancing act.

The NeverEnding Story- A cult classic fantasy tale of flying dragon-dogs, rock monsters, ivory towers and a book that literally pulls you in. Anyone growing up the in the 1980's will recall this fun fantasy and reminisce on their July 4th.

The Patriot- A story of one Colonial families fall into the Revolutionary War. Mel Gibson plays the ultimate American father who must straddle the well-being of his family and the well-being of his nation at large. A realistic depiction of the various events and battles of the American Revolution. The birth of a country is front and center.

Independence Day- One of the biggest 4th of July openings in movie history, starring Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum. The aliens are coming, and they're not friendly. Nearly beaten down, several major American cities destroyed, the U.S. punches back and unites as a people with a common goal, survival.

JFK- Oliver Stone's controversial film on a conspiracy theory regarding the John F. Kennedy assassination. This film delves into politics in a new way. Starring Kevin Costner as a New Orleans' DA who brought the only criminal investigation spotlight to the JFK assassination. Kennedy is hands down one of the great American figures, and Stone looks unflinchingly at the day the United States changed.