In Memory: Unforgettable Movie Soldiers

How do you talk about Memorial Day without talking about the things that everyone expects you to mention?  You don't.  So today when you break out your grill honor and remember fallen soldiers, take a few minutes to remember these movie soldiers too!

Somewhere over the rainbow.

Movie: Top Gun
Soldier: LT Nick "Goose" Bradshaw
Favorite Moment: The perfect camaraderie between Maverick and Goose is shown in the memorable line, "I feel the need, the need for speed!"
Why He's Unforgettable: The obvious choice would be to go with Tom Cruise's Maverick, but everyone's favorite character in the movie ends up being Goose. He's the comic relief, loyal, he's the life of the party, and his unexpected and tragic death makes him the unsung hero of the movie. It's unfortunate that Anthony Edwards has gathered most of his fame from characters who died, but his character Goose lives on as the best friend that everyone wants.

We Were Soldiers in a lot of movies.

Movie: Saving Private Ryan
Soldier: PVT Daniel Jackson
Favorite Moment: The dead on shot straight through the German soldiers eye.
Why He's Unforgettable: This is hands down my favorite "War" movie. The premise alone is one of the all time greatest story lines ever written. Upon realization that a mother has lost all but one of her sons in the war, the military sends out a special task force with one mission, to save Private Ryan. The commitment to to this task makes all of these soldiers amazing, but the one that stands out is PVT Jackson, the sniper. Jackson is portrayed by Barry Pepper, who brings a sense of religious devotion to his role as sniper. Pepper plays a soldier in many other movies, but I think his role as Jackson is on target. 

Redrum.

Movie: A Few Good Men
Soldier: COL Nathan Jessep
Favorite Moment: Col. Jessep loses his cool and screams out the most famous line of the movie, "You can't handle the truth!"
Why He's Unforgettable: This movie is star studded with Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, and Kevin Bacon. But their performances are not nearly as classic as Jack Nicholson's. As if he isn't already terrifying, put him a movie about military conspiracy, give him one of the most memorable speeches in movie history and slap a uniform on him, and you have the recipe for an unforgettable soldier. Col. Jessep isn't the most respectable character, representing the "old regime," his extreme commitment to national security leads him to cover-up a murder and eventually lands him in prison. It's not hard to watch him go down, but it does beg the question of corruption in the military: decidedly a topic we'd like to keep out of real life and on the big screen.

I'm not sure Charlie would approve.

Movie: G.I.Jane
Soldier: LT Jordan O'Neill
Favorite Moment: The shaving of the hair/training montage.
Why She's Unforgettable: Before Demi's rehab stint and her relationship with Ashton, she was groundbreaking. And as hard as it is to believe that just 15 years ago a movie about a woman in the military was groundbreaking, it was. O'Neill is unforgettable for multiple reasons including her refusal to receive special treatment or be held to different standards. Her dedication to her training is serious, and there's a great montage that includes one armed push-ups and shaving her head to prove her commitment as a soldier. I just like her because she goes against the grain, holds her own, and tells an officer to "Suck my dick." That last part is probably directly related to why she won a few Razzies for this role.

Shall we dance?

Movie: An Officer and a Gentleman
Soldier: Officer Candidate/Ensign Zack Mayo
Favorite Moment: Do you really have to ask? Only one of the most romantic moments in movie history.
Why He's Unforgettable: The success of this movie lies in the relationship between Richard Gere and Louis Gossett Jr. We get to watch Gossett ride and harass Mayo to the point of a break down. His vulnerability makes us love him all the more. As if that doesn't seal the deal on him being an unforgettable soldier, Mayo abandons his opportunity to break an obstacle course record to get a teammate over the wall, proving that he has the team's best interest at heart. Added to all of this rich character depth, is the blue collar love story between Gere and Debra Winger is real, romantic, and hopeful. Unforgettable movie, unforgettable soldier.

Who is your favorite movie soldier?