This is a half a bagel of a blog. But The Guardian is a movie i fell in love with as a kid and is one that i will always return to when i want to get hit hard. With this weekend being the 20th year since the 9/11 attacks, it feels even more timely to recognize a film that recognizes those who choose to put others ahead of themselves.

The Guardian is set around a veteran Coast Guard Swimmer Kevin Costner, known as Senior Chief Randall, and a young phenom Ashton Kutcher, Jake Fisch. One of the highlights of this film is the inclusion of real US Coast Guard Servicemen and Servicewomen in the cast as opposed to solely actors, which truly adds to some of the intense training scenes we see.

The climax and ending of this film are extraordinary, and it feels truly emotional from the beginning to the end. It’s a 7.3 and I recommend it, but it is emotional and touching. A great watch but not at all times.