The strongest and most effective force in guaranteeing the long-term maintenance of power is not violence in all the forms deployed by the dominant to control the dominated but consent in all the forms in which the dominated acquiesce in their own domination.
Hundreds of thousands of American servicemen and women are deployed across the world in the war on terror. By bringing hope to the oppressed and delivering justice to the violent they are making America more secure.
I think these movies are as much for people of that time as for people who weren't born. For people who weren't born they see how leaders must act under a crisis situation not trying to be re-elected or not trying to check polls that they go from their gut check.