30 conservative movies recommended
30部保守主义电影推荐
By James Li
Have you ever watched Forrest Gump, Terminator, or Harry Potter series? Have you ever thought about what messages they are conveying; what kind of values they are promoting?
They have one thing in common: widely viewed as CONSERVATIVE.
你是否看过《阿甘正传》、《终结者》或《哈利波特》系列电影？你是否意识到它们传递了什么样的信息，推崇什么样的价值观？
它们有一个共同点，那就是被广泛认为有保守主义价值观。
Foreigners like us may not realize, that the values of Conservatism is so pervasive and influential in every aspect of the western world, that you cannot understand the western culture, history, economy, politics, law, religion, way of life and way of thinking, without knowing them.
There are no better ways than the entertaining motion pictures to help us learn about the values. Luckily, we have a number of wonderful conservative movies despite the entertainment industry is dominated by leftist ideologies.
我们这样的老外也许意识不到，在西方世界，保守主义的价值观是如此的深入和有影响，以至于你不懂得它，就无法熟悉西方那一套文化、历史、经济、政治、法律、宗教、生活方式以及思维方式。
没有什么比影视能更好的寓教于乐了。幸运的是，有非常多出色的保守主义电影，尽管娱乐产业普遍被左翼的价值观所主导。
The other day I watched the Ant-man movie for a second time, and suddenly realized that it embodies the best possible combination of conservative values within its 2-hour frame.
几天前，我再看了一遍《蚂蚁侠》，意识到这部两小时的片子体现了各种保守主义价值的完美融合。
-- Anti-social engineering. The idea that some elite intelligent people want to redesign the whole society “for the greater good” is dangerous. Therefore, anti-utopian, anti-Soviet, anti-collectivist themed movies can fall into my category.
——反对社会设计。那种少数高智商精英人士试图重新设计“一个更好的社会”的概念，是非常危险的。因此，反乌托邦，反苏，反集体主义题材的影片可以落入我们的分类。
-- Aware of the limits of human rationality and abilities. Advanced technologies can be used to destroy humanity as we know it, if they are held in the hands of people who believe they can play the role of god. By the way, that is why the religious and the conservative are mostly overlapping groups.
——敬畏人类理性和能力的局限性。发达的科技可被用来毁掉我们所知的人性，如果它们掌握在自认为可以扮演上帝的那些人手中。题外话，这也就是为什么虔诚宗教人士和保守派是重合度非常高的两个群体。
-- Common sense of common men. Ordinary people with ordinary beliefs and prejudices are usually the strongest stalwart against some fancy, revolutionary, anti-liberty ideas. As demonstrated by the German film Die Welle (The Wave), the two male protagonists realized the collectivist movement was a cult the moment they found themselves start hurting their loved ones because of it, and subsequently decided to end the movement.
——普通人的常识。普通人和他们的信仰和偏见，是抵抗新潮的、革命性的、反自由的思潮的最有力武器。如德国电影《浪潮》中所展示的，两位男主角意识到浪潮运动是邪教，是因发现自己开始因为浪潮而伤害自己的爱人，于是才决定终结它。
-- Moral courage to confront evil. Does the scene that the ant army charging towards gunfire look familiar to the Normandy Landings? The famous quote “All that is required for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing” was composed by the founder of Conservatism, Edmund Burke. Not a coincidence.
——直面邪恶的道德勇气。蚂蚁大军向炮火冲锋的一幕是否看起来很像诺曼底登陆？那句著名的“邪恶盛行的唯一条件，就是好人的沉默”正是来自保守主义之父埃德蒙·伯克。这不是偶然。
-- The respect for law and order. Whether the plot is set in 19th century American West, or a modern day metropolis, or the imaginary Middle-Earth, or the outer space, the red-neck sheriff spirit of protecting the good and fighting the bad, is everywhere in conservative movies.
——对法律和秩序的尊重。不管故事设定在19世纪的美国西部，在当代大都市，在幻想中的中土世界，还是在外太空，红脖治安官除暴安良的精神在保守主义电影中无处不在。
-- Redemption and family values. A problematic father and husband decides to do everything he can to protect his daughter and (usually ex) wife, and then becomes a hero. This may not be the most original plot, but good directors can still manage to excite the audience, promoting values like redemption and family values along the way. You can understand why conservatives in the West are resistant to the redefinition of traditional family, marriage, and gender by the left.
——救赎与家庭价值观。一个问题多多的父亲和丈夫，决心尽自己所能来保护女儿和（经常是前-）妻子，从而成为英雄。这种老掉牙的情节设定在出色的导演手下仍能拍出新意，顺便弘扬自我救赎和家庭为重的价值观。你也就能理解，为什么西方的保守派在抵抗左翼对传统的家庭、婚姻与性别的重新定义。
At the end of the day, it’s all about conserving freedom.Now I am going to introduce and endorse 30 of my favourite, I hope you enjoy them in your holidays.
总而言之，保守主义保守的是自由。现在我要介绍和背书30部我最喜欢的保守主义电影，希望你能在假期里好好享受。
A. Conservative comprehensive 全面展示保守主义
You can almost all the conservative elements as I have listed in them.
你能看到几乎所有上述的保守元素。
1. Ant-man 蚂蚁侠
2. Forrest Gump 阿甘正传
3. Harry Potter 哈利波特
The “dumb” but honest, loyal and courageous Neville Longbottom retrieved the Sword of Gryffindor and killed the snake Nagini, is a brilliant reference to legends of King Arthur pulling out the Excalibur and St George slaying the dragon. The character Neville also resembles Forrest Gump.
傻乎乎，但正直、忠诚、有勇气的内维尔·隆巴顿取出格兰芬多宝剑并干掉大蛇纳吉尼这一段，是非常杰出的运用了两个典故：亚瑟王取出石中剑，以及圣乔治斩杀恶龙。内维尔这一角色神似阿甘。
The movies omitted many paragraphs in the books discussing political philosophy, for example, Lord Voldemort and Grindelwald were not outright evil men, their motto was “for the greater good”, i.e. redesign abetter society by their intelligent brains, which in real world, has been favoured by socialists and Nazis.
电影中忽略了原著里对政治哲学的讨论，例如，伏地魔和格林德沃并非一开始就是恶人，他们的口号“代表最广大人民的根本利益”，即用他们的大脑设计一个新社会，在现实世界里，是社会主义者和纳粹所热衷的。
4. Terminator series 终结者系列
About the sanctity of life, the dangers of technology capable of replacing humans, heroism and responsibility.
关于生命的神圣，科技取代人类的危险，英雄主义，与责任。
B. Anti-social engineering 反对社会设计
Lots of sci-fi movies feature this theme.
不少科幻电影都有这个主题。
5. Superman—Man of Steel 超人—钢铁之躯
Superman was raised in a farm in Kansas, which happens to be the heartland of America, and Kansas happens to be the most conservative state in US (in terms of national elections).
超人是在堪萨斯州一个农场被抚养大的，这里碰巧是美国中部的心脏地带，而堪萨斯碰巧是美国最保守的一洲（按照大选结果来看）。
The antagonist General Zod favours a society where everyone works like a screw in a giant machine; and he sees Superman and his father as re-actionist, hopelessly standing between now and the “inevitable future”. This is a classic narrative of the left, especially the Marxists and Leninists.
大反派左德将军理想的社会，是人人充当“一颗永不生锈的螺丝钉”；并且他将超人父子视为反动的、毫无希望的试图阻止“历史的必然”的角色。这正是左翼，尤其是马列主义者所非常热衷的叙事。
6. The 6th Day 第六日
Another one starred by Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Republican governor of California.
Pro-Life and anti-cloning are two causes of the American conservative movement, the idea that with science, humans can manipulate life like a god is dangerous and unacceptable. On the contrary, humanity with all the flaws and weaknesses are worth conserving.
另一部由前共和党加州州长阿诺德·施瓦幸所主演的影片。
反堕胎，反克隆人是美国保守主义运动的两大主题：人类掌握了科技就可以像上帝一样操纵生命，是危险的和不可接受的。相反：人性及其各种各样的缺点是值得保卫的。
C. Common sense of common man 普通人的常识
7. The Lord of the Rings/Hobbit 指环王/霍比特人
The peaceful comfortable life of Shire and elsewhere, threatened by the rise of an Evil Empire determined to dominate the world. Ordinary folk like Frodo and Sam mustered up courage, and went on to a David-and-Goliath mission to fight the Iron Curtain and defend the homeland. I always think of it as the Aussies and Kiwis leaving their sunny beaches to join the two world wars half a globe away in Europe. Gollum corrupted by the power of the ring can be interpreted as “power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely”. They are full of historical references.
宁静舒适的夏尔与其他地方一样，受到了正在崛起的试图统治世界的邪恶帝国的威胁。于是佛罗多和山姆这样的普通人鼓起勇气，开始了一场大卫与歌利亚式的冒险，来保护家园不受铁幕的破坏。我一直认为，这很像澳洲和新西兰人放弃他们的阳光海滩去半个地球外参加两次世界大战的故事。咕噜姆的心智被魔戒所毁，可以被理解为“权力使人腐败，绝对的权力使人绝对的腐败”。这些作品有很多的历史典故。
8. The Patriot 爱国者
A tribute to the common man heroes of the American Revolution. Starred by Australian Mel Gibson.
对美国革命战争中的普通人的歌颂。主演是澳洲演员梅尔·吉布森。
9. Open Range 天地无限
A poetic Kevin Costner work. The last scene that the townsfolk finally rise up and end the rule of the bandits, each having a gun in the hand is very touching.
凯文·科斯特纳诗歌般的作品。最后小镇居民人手一支枪起来反抗匪徒统治的场景非常感人。
D. Moral courage to confront evil 直面邪恶的道德勇气
Most super hero movies have this theme. But the following are my favourite.
大多数超级英雄电影都是这个主题。但下面这些是我最喜欢的。
10. The Last Stand 背水一战
A good old sheriff (Schwarzenegger) uses the good old smalltown wisdom and technology to stop the fleeing of a dangerous criminal; nothing can sway his determination to do his duty.
廉颇老矣的治安官（施瓦幸格），用小镇的智慧和老旧的科技来阻挡危险的罪犯，没有什么能动摇它履行职责的决心。
11. Gladiator 角斗士
Starred by Aussie Russell Crowe. 澳大利亚演员罗素·克洛主演。
E. The respect for law and order对法律和秩序的尊重
12. Gran Torino 老爷车
Unlike a typical Eastwood movie, filled with surprises.
不像一部典型的伊斯特伍德电影，充满了意外。
13. Unforgiven 不可饶恕
An Oscar-winning, masterpiece western.
获奥斯卡奖的经典西部片。
F. Redemption and family values 救赎与家庭价值观
14. Amazing Grace 奇异恩典
The story of Britain’s religiously-driven abolition movement leader William Wilberforce.
关于虔诚的英国废奴运动领袖威廉·威尔伯福斯的故事。
15. The Next Three Days 危情三日
16. Taken series 飓风营救系列
The above two are exciting action movies similar in theme.The Next Three Days is starred by Russell Crowe.
上述两部激动人心的动作影片有着相似的主题。危情三日由罗素·克洛主演。
17. 24 24小时
In the 9 seasons, our hero Jack Bauer experienced all dramatic, exciting, heartbreaking and situations and characters imaginable and unimaginable in a crime drama, political thriller, espionage thriller, action movie, and more. In-depth philosophical discussion is served with breathtaking story telling. The ideology is strongly conservative, with redemption and family values everywhere.
在这部9季的剧中，我们的英雄杰克·鲍尔经历了各种你所想象到的，和想象不到的戏剧性的、激动人心的，和让人心碎的情景与人物。一部犯罪片，政治惊悚片，间谍片，动作片中的这些要素它都具备。意识形态是强烈的保守主义，救赎与家庭价值则处处彰显。
18. The sound of music音乐之声
This classic musical is full of happiness in a big family. Captain von Trapp’s firm rejection to the Nazis is also a highlight.
这部经典的音乐剧充满了大家庭的欢乐。冯·特拉普舰长对纳粹的坚决拒绝也是亮点之一。
19. Trouble with the Curve 曲线难题
An interesting sports-drama.
很有意思的一部体育剧情片。
G. American Patriotism 美国爱国主义
20. National Treasure 国家宝藏
Adventurous tribute to the founding fathers and principles of the US.
一部向美国国父和建国原则致敬的冒险片。
21. Saving Private Ryan 拯救大兵瑞恩
About duty and respect of life.
关于职责和对生命的尊重。
23. American Sniper 美国狙击手
A real life story directed by Eastwood.
伊斯特伍德指导的真实故事。
22. Sleepy Hollow 沉睡谷
A TV-series of a Revolutionary veteran time-travelling to solve present day problems. Inspired by the ancient American folk story of “a headless horseman”.
一部美剧，关于革命战争时期的老兵穿越回今天的故事。由著名的美国民间传说“无头骑士”的故事所启发。
The following can be loosely classified as conservative.
下列影片可以粗略划分为保守主义。
H. Libertarian自由意志主义
23. Dallas Buyers Club 达拉斯买家俱乐部
A dramatic story discussing government regulations vs free market.
充满戏剧性的故事，探讨了政府管制与自由市场的关系。
24. Atlas Shrugged 阿特拉斯耸耸肩
A sci-fi story written by libertarian philosopher Ann Rand.
由自由意志主义哲学家安·兰德撰写的科幻故事。
I. Anti-Utopian, anti-collectivist, anti-communist 反乌托邦，反集体主义
25. 1984
26. Animal Farm 动物农场
Must-read and must-watch work by George Orwell.
乔治·奥威尔的两部必读经典。
27. The Wave (Die Welle) 浪潮
Thought-provoking German film.
有启发性的德国电影。
28. First Blood series 第一滴血系列
Sylvester Stallone’s action adventure series.
西尔维斯特·史泰龙的动作冒险影片。
29. 007 series 007系列
Older ones were in cold war settings, newer ones are different, but James Bond is always on his way to protect something old and precious against something new and dangerous. Skyfall is apparently nostalgic, while Spectre favours human agents over computer algorithms in intelligence work (and interestingly a bit Eurosceptic).
较老的那些是设定在冷战的背景下，最新的那些则不同了，但詹姆斯·邦德总是在保卫着一些老而珍贵的东西，对抗一些新而危险的东西。《天幕危机》的怀旧气息非常明显，而《幽灵党》则推崇人类探员而反对计算机算法来做情报工作（非常有趣的是，还有一些欧洲怀疑主义色彩）。
J. Anti-PC 反对政治正确
30. Zootopia 疯狂动物城
The most political animation in Disney history. Humorously discussedAmerica’s race and political correctness issues. “A bunny can call another bunny cute, but you can't.” Slightly anti-PC and anti-identity politics.
这是迪斯尼史上政治色彩最浓的电影。幽默的讨论了美国的种族和政治正确议题。“我们兔子可以称另一个兔子可爱，但是你不能。”轻微的反政治正确和反身份政治。
[Rule of thumb: if you want to search conservative movies, the easiest to way is to search names like Arnold Schwarzenegger, ClintEastwood, Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson and Chuck Norris; for producing companies, search 20th Century Fox; for genres, a lot appear inaction, superhero, western and (interestingly) animation, especially by Pixar.]
[简单粗暴的标准：如果你想寻找保守主义的电影，最简单的方式就是搜索施瓦辛格、伊斯特伍德、史泰龙、吉布森和查克·诺里斯等名字；电影制作公司的话，搜20世纪福克斯；类别的话，动作片、超级英雄片、西部片，以及（非常有意思）动画片，尤其是皮克斯的动画片，保守主义倾向的非常多。]