Top 5 Best Alternate History Films

Alternate history films can be defined by what-if scenarios, giving rise to how historical events would've played out had 'A' happened instead of 'B.' It can also be defined by a film that's obviously in a historical setting, but takes place without actual historical figures, in fictional civilizations and fictional elements of such. Though they don't have much to do with actual history, they are innovative and intriguing the same, worth at least one blog post.

5. Inglourious Basterds
Another Quintin Tarentino outing, Inglourious Basterds was a movie people either hated or loved. I cast my lot with the latter, as the movie very well done in terms of rich charactization, snappy dialogue, and the best villian I've seen on camera since Daniel Day-Lewis in Gangs of New York. There are several stories going on at once, and I enjoy coming across this element in movies. Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) and his crew of Jewish-American "Basterds" carves German foreheads and scalps Germain hairlines on the warpath against the Nazis. Jewish-French Shosanna Dreyfus plots an elaborate scheme to toast a German audience in a scene reminiscent of the end of Carrie. British Lt. Archie Hicox (Michael Fassbender) seeks a scheme in which a taut session around a drinking table results in a bloody shooutout for the ages. All three scenarios are brought together by means of Bridget Von Hammersmark (Diane Krueger) and the show-stealing Nazi colonel, Hans Landa (Christophe Waltz). The Inglourious Basterds alter history forever when they make Adolf Hitler's face into Swiss cheese.

4. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans -
I'm a huge fan of the Underworld trilogy. Rise of the Lycans, the third in the series (shown in prequel form), is set in the time of swords and double axes, vampire kings with castles and muddy Lycan forest dwellings (bringing to mind the Roman Empire's battles against the barbarian tribes of Germania, Britannia, and Gaul). The cinematography is dark and foreboding, the vampires clad in all assortments of black leather. The vampires, led by Viktor (Bill Nighy) and his daughter, Sonja (Rhona Mitra), use Lycans, or werewolves, as their slaves in a caste system sort of medieval society. One of the vampire-favored Lycan slaves, Lucian (Michael Sheen), has fallen in love with Sonia, which is a huge no-no because of his status and because he's a werewolf, deemed the inferior species. When they are found out, Lucian establishes himself as a leader among the Lycan slaves and leads a long overdue rebellion against their bloodsucking foes. With her love for Lucian, Sonja soon fights for the Lycans and her and Lucian's freedom to love as they choose. The Lycans wield axes and rusty, pointy objects when they fight in human form, their ravenous fangs and claws when pillaging as werewolves. Of course, the vampires nor the Lycans belong to a particular actual medieval civilization, but promote medieval tendencies in terms of dress, weaponry, and overall Dark Ages feel. Great flick, and an even greater trilogy.

3. Red Dawn -
Red Dawn gives us a scary what-if scenario, as Russian and Cuban allied forces infiltrate US borders, and in the particular scenario given to our protagonists (high school kids), paratroop their way to the plains of Calumet, Colorado. The Russians open fire on teacher and student alike at the local high school, and a lucky ragtag crew of teenagers are wisked away to the safety of the mountains by way of the pick-up truck driven by Jed Eckert (a young Patrick Swayze). Loading up on rifles, bows and arrows, non-perishable foods, and sleeping bags at the local surplus store, the teens make it to high ground where Jed, a year out of high school, assumes the position of leader as the oldest of the group. After seeing their fictional town become a concentration camp and the parents killed off via firing squad, the group assumes the name of their high school mascot, the Wolverines, before fighting back with a vengeance. At first, they use their shotguns and bows, but soon incorporate the dress and automatic weapons of their Russian and Cuban enemies. The Wolverines are helped along by Erica and Toni Mason (Lea Thompson and Jennifer Grey), and shot-down Air Force Colonel Andy Tanner (Power Boothe). They defend their town from extinction using guerilla tactics, utilizing the mountain terrain they've known their whole lives. The relationship between brother Jed and Matt (Charlie Sheen) is moving and heartbreaking. I can't remember the explanation the opening of the movie gives, but it basically shows what could have happened had the Soviet-Cuban relationship of the 60's had not been quelled. Made in 1984, it was the first film to earn a PG-13 rating. It scared people to death, and it's on my all-time favorite films list.

2. CSA: The Confederate States of America -
Where to start with this independent film? In a history channel-type sort of documentary, including bigotted fake commercials, CSA takes us from the Civil War all the way to modern times - as if the Confederacy had won the war against the Union. It shows Abe Lincoln banished to Canada, made fun of in fake silent films in the early 20th century in which he attempts to elude capture. Jefferson Davis takes over at the White House, replacing "National Anthem" with "Dixie" as the nation's song.  For the remainder of US history, or CSA history, the confederate flag flies high over buildings and in schools everywhere, planted on the moon and touted in 20th century wars. Slavery goes far beyond the 19th century, as we're shown modern families having their breakfast cooked by African-American women with no education. A fake commercial include ad for a fake sitcom features an uneducated, bumbling black women, working in the home of a Leave it to Beave-type family. The tagline for the show is "She's always in the kitchen...but never seems to know what's cookin.'" It's sickening, but innovation and thoroughly thought out. The writers weren't racist, but merely wanted to show us what a scary world we would have lived in had Grant signed the treaty of surrender instead of Lee at Appomattox Courthouse.

1. Conan the Barbarian -
I first saw this one when I was kid. I liked it then, but like it even more now. No, the Governator isn't exactly known for his amazing acting skills, but he simply got the job done in Conan with his best movie character in my opinion (though he was great in Predator too). With his fictional god Crom watching over his every step, Conan comes from a fictional tribe of Cimmerian barbarians to see both of his parents murdered by Thusla Doom, to become a gladiator of sorts for a fiery red-headed slave owner, and to move his way around Hyboria as a thief with his pal, the Hyrkanian archer Subotai, and his woman, Valeria, a tall, blonde, Nordic-looking warrior. Once Thulsa Doom's serpent emblems start popping up everywhere he goes, Conan is back on a mission to avenge his parents and to regain his father's exquisite sword. Along the way, a Viking-like king named Osric hires the three thieves to track down and rescue his daughter, who has, conveniently for Conan, been kidnapped by Thulsa Doom and his growing serpent-worshipping cult. The end battle is amazing...almost as amazing as the one that takes place in the mountain refuge of Thulsa Doom, seen above. Good sword-wielding, good story, greatly-composed epic score that still mananges to get stuck in my head from time to time. There's a remake in the works, but from what I've seen of it, it will surely pale in comparison to the 1982 original.