This weekend, Stop-Loss -- filmmaker Kimberly Peirce's follow-up to her 1999 directorial debut, Boys Don't Cry -- will be released. Ryan Phillippe stars as a veteran who, shortly after returning home from the war, is called back to Iraq.

What sets this movie apart for those of us living in the Lone Star State is the fact that filming for the movie took place in Austin, San Antonio and Lockhart.

I don't know about the rest of my fellow Texans, but I can't help but feel a surge of pride whenever I see my home represented on the big screen. Here are a few other films that make me want to stand up and sing Deep in the Heart of Texas:

The Sugarland Express -- Despite the presence of the word "express" in the title, the film does not actually deal with Turkish prison sex scenes, Santa Claus or any combination of the two.

Instead, this Steven-Spielberg-directed chase flick from 1974 stars Goldie Hawn as a woman who helps her husband escape from a prison in Sugar Land. As they attempt to outrun the law, she is pursued through Port Arthur, Houston and Navasota, finally ending up in Wheelock, near Bryan.

Besides being Spielberg's first film to be released theatrically, it also marked the beginning of his long-term partnership with composer John Williams. High school marching bands everywhere are thankful.

Reality Bites -- Rent without the music, Reality Bites stars Winona Ryder as a young documentarian who encapsulates Generation X by filming the lives of her friends as they struggle with their problems; be it picking the right ripped-flannel shirt, maintaining the artistic integrity of one's Nirvana rip-off band or dreading the awkward conversations with ex-boyfriends after finding out the results of their STD test.

It all takes place in Houston circa 1994. Ben Stiller, who also stars alongside Ethan Hawke and Janeane Garofalo, made his directorial debut with this film, working from a script written by Austin native Helen Childress.

Rushmore -- This critically acclaimed 1998 Wes Anderson film stars Jason Schwartzman as Max Fischer, a private-school student whose life is consumed with extracurricular activities until he meets and falls in love with a young teacher. Bill Murray also stars as an industrialist who acts as both Max's mentor and rival for the teacher's affections.

Written by Anderson and Owen Wilson, the film gave Murray a career boost and sent him on a new path toward independent cinema.

Anderson filmed the movie at his high school alma mater, Houston's St. John's School. Houston's Lamar High School also was used in the film.

Manos: The Hands of Fate -- Largely considered one of the worst films ever made, Manos was written, directed and produced by Harold P. Warren, a salesman from El Paso. Filmed as the result of a bet, the movie follows a family that attempts to escape a pagan cult. Polygamy and satyrs abound in this unintentionally hilarious film.

With a budget of only $19,000, the 1966 movie wears its amateur background on its sleeve. Due to its horrible production values and a barely comprehensible script, the film has gained wide notoriety, largely due to its inclusion on the show Mystery Science Theater 3000.

• Robert Saucedo didn't forget about We've Never Been Licked. He's just saving Texas A&M's big Hollywood moment for its very own column. E-mail him at Robsaucedo2500@yahoo.com.

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