Earlier this week, I recommended 10 movies for Democrats to watch. So, to balance things out and hopefully show a lack of bias, I’ve now selected 10 recommendations for Republicans, too. This was actually the more difficult task, because there are so many classic films that display conservative values — and in the 1980s alone, I think there were about a billion films promoting relatively right-wing lifestyles and ideas. Therefore, I’ve limited my picks to the last two decades, except for one underrated gem that left me with quite an impression as a boy.

• The Dark Knight (2008)
  Some said Batman is Bush, others said Cheney, but either way this past summer’s superhero blockbuster resonated with certain conservatives who saw the film as something of an argument about — if not apology for — the actions of the current administration. Similarly, this summer’s Hancock and Iron Man have been read as being particularly relative to Republican politics.
  
• We Were Soldiers (2002)
  At first it was shocking to me that John McCain’s pick for best Vietnam movie is this overly dramatic disappointment from director Randall Wallace, which stars Mel Gibson. Then I realized that it’s one of the few Vietnam movies without a completely negative slant on the conflict. In fact, it portrays an official U.S. victory, making it somewhat optimistic compared to technically better films like Platoon and Apocalypse Now.
• Primary Colors (1998)
  This veiled depiction of Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign is hardly one-sided, and it’s certainly not intended to be a political attack in the way Oliver Stone’s upcoming W. is, but it’s the perhaps the closest thing Republicans have to a parallel to W., Nixon, Dick and other lampoons of GOP presidents.
• Commando (1985)
  Here it is, the one recommendation produced prior to the mid-90s, and with good reason. When I was a kid, this movie made me think guns and other weaponry were the coolest things in the world. I had the Commando action figure, which made G.I. Joe look like a total wimp, and I celebrated such accessories as the Bowie knife and the rocket launcher. While plenty of films from the ’80s feature lots of arms, and many of these movies are about rogue missions of vengeance and/or rescue, for some reason it was this specific movie that resonated most. Between my love for this and Red Dawn, I’m shocked that I didn’t grow up to be a member of either the NRA or the GOP.
• Juno (2007)
  This is an obvious choice due to all the Juno/Juneau jokes that came with the Bristol Palin baby news, but despite its relevancy to current events, the movie was already somewhat embraced by conservatives who saw Juno’s decision not to have an abortion as a slighty pro-life statement.
• Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)
  Another movie that the Palin clan reminds me of is this loose remake and its sequel, as well as the similarly remade giant-family comedy Yours, Mine and Ours. The worlds these films exist in have apparently never heard of abortion or birth control of any kind.
• Independence Day (1996)
  I doubt that in such a worldwide alien attack that the U.S. will have the best method of response, but anyway, this nationalistic sci-fi movie is a perfect fantasy for Republicans who think counter-offensive measures are as easy as destroying all known elements of an enemy’s connecting cell structure and then calling it certain victory. I always wonder how long it takes after the credits roll for another organization of ships, all with better operating systems, to arrive and successfully destory us all.
• The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
  I understand the intention of co-writer/director Roland Emmerich (who also made Independence Day) was to portray the possible effects of global warming, but the resulting plot is so ridiculously exaggerated that to me it hurt the cause more than helped it. For Republicans who don’t believe in global warming or think it’s not as drastic as some make it out to be, this is appreciable as just another fantastic disaster movie with stunning effects and a mindless story. If you’d rather see a disaster movie that’s the gospel truth — literally — check out Left Behind: The Movie instead.
• Mr. Deeds (2002)
  The Democrat list features Frank Capra’s original, so I thought it fair to give Republicans the crappy remake. Aside from meaning it as allegory for how far Republican ideals have fallen, I also intend the selection as recognition of Adam Sandler’s political influence (see Eric Kohn’s argument on the matter). I don’t want to spoil the ending, which comes off as Capra by way of Reagan (who of course was a fan), but I will say its rather unfortunate how Deeds spends his money in this version.
• Death of a President (2006)
  Maybe you don’t like the idea of seeing your leader assassinated, but just think how the Bush haters feel when they see the consequences of his death. This is your movie, Republicans, because regardless of the reveal at the end, the faux documentary can still be used to support arguments in favor of the PATRIOT act and other such post-9/11 conservative agendas.