family + cultural relevance

Post-family reunion in Colorado, I'm here chillin with my grandma in Pensacola, Florida. We've been doing the usual family bonding things, you know, drinking natty lite and watching 'culturally relevant' films of yonder year. Recap--

Last night: Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) [side note: the year my father was born] 

Starring James Cagney (dancing! for the first time on film!) as George M. 'George Michael' Cohan, composer of SUCH GREAT PATRIOTIC HITS as 'yankee doodle dandy,' 'you're a grand old flag,' and 'over there.' Phew! but seriously folks, let's have a chat about patriotism THEN and NOW and how it's portrayed in POPULAR CINEMA, k? 

Tonight: The Jazz Singer (1980)

Starring NEIL DIAMOND. Not to be confused with the jazz singer of 1927- which, last i checked, couldn't be produced en masse on dvd because of the controversial cover image, of Al Jolson in black-face. In the 1980 version, neil diamond plays young married new york cantor gone-LA to be a star/ fall in love with a shiksa.

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What's your take on new/old Jazz Singer? on remakes in general? on 'classic films'? on patriotism? if you could redesign the american flag, what would it look like? if you were neil diamond, would you abandon 5 generations of cantors to pursue your dream of living in la and marrying a shiksa? discuss.