Los Angeles and other cities around the world are being bombarded by meteors that seem to be slowing down once they hit the earth's atmosphere. The earth is suddenly being invaded by space aliens that have landed off the shore of LA, and who begin killing everybody along the beach. The military is ordered into action. Marine Staff Sergeant Nantz (Aaron Eckhart), who was about to retire, is reassigned to a new platoon. The platoon, flown by chopper to the forward operating base at Santa Monica Airport, is being led by a new 2nd Lt. Martinez (Ramon Rodriguez). They are sent on a mission to rescue some civilians who are trapped at the police station within alien territory. They only have 3 hours to complete their mission and get out before the Air Force bombs that zone. 1 win and 1 nomination
The film is inspired by the real life incident known as the Battle of
Los Angeles, during World War II. On the night of 24-25 February 1942,
unidentified aircraft were allegedly spotted in the airspace above Los
Angeles. Suspecting it to be the Japanese, a blackout of the city was
ordered and over 1,440 rounds of anti-aircraft ammunition was fired.
Upon finding no evidence of the existence of any enemy aircraft, the
incident was declared to be a "false alarm". The event has since been
chalked up to as being a result of "war nerves", likely triggered by a
lost weather balloon and exacerbated by stray flares and shell bursts
from adjoining anti-aircraft batteries.
Ben Campbell is a young, highly intelligent, student at M.I.T. in Boston who strives to succeed. Wanting a scholarship to transfer to Harvard School of Medicine with the desire to become a doctor, Ben learns that he cannot afford the $300,000 for the four to five years of schooling as he comes from a poor, working-class background. But one evening, Ben is introduced by his unorthodox math professor Micky Rosa into a small but secretive club of five. Students Jill, Choi, Kianna, and Fisher, who are being trained by Professor Rosa of the skill of card counting at blackjack. Intrigued by the desire to make money, Ben joins his new friends on secret weekend trips to Las Vegas where, using their skills of code talk and hand signals, they have Ben make hundreds of thousands of dollars in winning blackjack at casino after casino. Ben only wants to make enough money for the tuition to Harvard and then back out.
Directed by Roland Emmerich Written by Robert Rodat
Awards: Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 8 wins & 17 nominations Tagline: What would you do if they destroyed your home, threatened your family. Where would you draw the line? Release Date: 28 June 2000 (USA) Runtime: 165 min | 175 min (Extended Version) Company: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Summary: The movie takes place in South Carolina in 1776. Benjamin Martin, a French-Indian war hero who is haunted by his past, is a patriot who wants no part in a war with Britian. Meanwhile, his two eldest sons, Gabriel and Thomas, can't wait to go out and kill some Redcoats. When South Carolina decides to go to war with Britain, Gabriel immediatly signs up to fight...without his father's permission. But soon, Colonel Tavington, British solder infamous for his brutal tactiks, captures Gabriel and sentences him to be hanged. As Gabriel is taken away, Thomas tries to free him, only to be killed by Tavington, in front of Benjamin. Now, seeking revenge for his son's death, Benjamin leaves behind his 5 other children to bring independence to the 13 colonies...
Sinopsis en español: Al comienzo de la Revolución americana, Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) es un veterano de la Guerra de los Siete Años que vive en Carolina del Sur, viudo y con siete hijos. Gabriel (Heath Ledger), el mayor, ansía unirse al ejército para pelear contra Gran Bretaña por la independencia. Conociendo las consecuencias que trae la guerra, Benjamin intenta que su hijo desista, pero no lo consigue.
Gabriel regresa a su hogar dos años más tarde, herido. Al día siguiente, se produce una escaramuza cerca de la granja de los Martin y Benjamin decide curar a los heridos de ambos bandos. Los soldados británicos - la despiadada caballería de los Green Dragoons- llegan y matan a los heridos americanos, incendian la casa de Martin y arrestan a Gabriel como un espía, tratando de colgarlo. El segundo hijo de Benjamin, Thomas (Smith) es asesinado por el líder de los Green Dragoons, el Coronel William Tavington (Jason Isaacs).
Benjamin y sus dos hijos menores, Nathan (Morgan) y Samuel (Chafin) matan a la mayoría de los soldados en una emboscada y liberan a Gabriel. Los niños se horrorizan al ver por primera vez la ferocidad de la que es capaz su padre. Gabriel se vuelve a unir al ejército contra la voluntad de su padre, comenzando su trabajo como soldado. Benjamin decide enlistarse junto con su hijo, dejando al resto de los niños bajo el cuidado de su tía Charlotte (Joely Richardson), la cuñada de Benjamin.
El Coronel Harry Burwell (Cooper), quien había peleado previamente junto a Benjamin, le pide que organice una milicia creada para mantener a los británicos, liderados por el General Cornwallis (Wilkinson) en el sur hasta que el ejército francés lograse llegar para ayudar. El oficial francés Jean Villeneuve (Karyo), se presenta para ayudar a entrenar a los milicianos.
Los milicianos de Benjamin atacan los suministros de los británicos. Para combatirlos, Cornwallis lleva a Tavington hacia la casa en donde se refugia la familia de Ben e incendia las plantaciones. Sin embargo, la familia escapa, y huye a un lugar seguro con Gabriel. Éste se casa con su amiga de la infancia, Anne (Brenner). Poco después Anne, junto con su familia y toda la gente del pueblo, es quemada viva dentro de una iglesia por Wilkins, un traidor americano, bajo las órdenes de Tavington.
Gabriel, enceguecido por su sed de venganza, se separa de los milicianos con un pequeño grupo a buscar a los responsables de la matanza. Durante la feroz pelea, Tavington mata a Gabriel y huye. Ben se siente devastado y decide dejar de combatir, pero pronto regresa con sus compañeros para vengar a sus dos hijos, y finalmente logra acabar con Tavington. Poco después, Cornwallis se rinde.
Martin y su familia regresan a su hogar y encuentran a los milicianos, quienes están ayudando a reconstuirlo. Occam (Jones) le dice a Ben, "Gabriel dijo que si ganábamos la guerra, podríamos construir un mundo nuevo. Decidimos empezar aquí, con tu hogar".
