Deadline Hollywood Daily is reporting that Universal has won the rights to the life story of decorated NAVY Seal Marcus Luttrell. Last June Mr. Luttrell had published Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10. The book had garnered praise from military blogs and conservative critics. Published by Little, Brown & Company, the book has quickly risen to the top spot on the New York Times best-seller list. An earlier report on Deadline had news of a bidding frenzy between studios to secure the rights to the "patriotic property".

Luttrell began his military career as part of the elite SEAL unit in 2002. In June 2005, he and four other members of his unit were dispatched to Afghanistan to execute a Taliban leader. The unit was ambushed by Taliban soldiers and after an intense firefight, Luttrell was the only member of the team left alive. He was taken in by a small village who later crossed the Taliban by refusing to hand the soldier over, starting a battle that almost wiped out the village and was awarded the *purple heart for bravery by President Bush.

According to Deadline Hollywood, the title was purchased with Peter Berg in mind to direct. Berg has just finished filming the political thriller The Kingdom for Universal. But if the studio wants to wait for him, it could take awhile. Berg is filming the superhero drama Hancock with Will Smith and Charlize Theron. As soon as that film wraps, he is set to direct The Mission, which is a remake of the 1999 Johnny To flick Cheung fo. So if Universal is half as eager to put the project into production as they were to secure the rights, I hope they have a Plan B.

*Correction: Marcus Luttrell was awarded the Navy Cross for combat heroism.

Today is my best friend's birthday. I've always been jealous of him because July 3rd is, hands down, the coolest birthday ever. First off, when you're young there's no school that day, the day after or the day after that. Heck, it's summer -- you don't have school for two months. When you're older, working some dead end job and hating your life, July 3rd is superb because of the federal (no work for me!) holiday that follows on the fourth.

Not only that, but early July is always such a fun time here in the United States. Time to go to the beach, throw a backyard barbecue and smuggle in illegal fireworks from Pennsylvania because I can't buy them anywhere near me. Ya know, it's time to be an American --  time to throw on some SPF 75, wave a flag and complain about what President Bush isn't doing. For a movie buff, it's time to escape the heat and sit down with one of your favorite patriotic films.

Depending on the kind of mood you're in, there's plenty of films to choose from -- most of which involve us Americans kicking someone's ass. Can't make up your mind? Well, here's a few flicks to help steer you toward a decision:

• Americans kicking Alien ass: Independence Day
• Americans kicking German ass: Saving Private Ryan, Battle of the Bulge
• Americans kicking Japanese ass: Pearl Harbor, In Harm's Way, Sands of Iwo Jima
• Americans kicking Vietnamese ass: Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July
• Americans kicking English ass: The Patriot
• Americans kicking American ass:  Glory

So, I ask you: What's your favorite patriotic (go America!) film?