Life Changing Movies

This is a very difficult question to answer. Nonetheless, I have come up with the best answer to this thread question. The answer is "Schindler's Wish List". For those of you haven't seen it, it is a dramatic account of the horrific events that took place during WWII (World War 2). This movie left no one untouched. On an emotional level, this movie may very well be the greatest work of art ever written. I saw it twice, once with my wife and then again with my daughter, and both times I cried at the end when Schindler brakes down. A must see.

Karate Kid - was very young then. But after seeing it I knew I want to take Karate lessons .. not a good movie *not at all, but it changed my life ...

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Movie Reviews

The movie Pay It Forward was this type of movie to me. It was just a very inspirational film.

I'd have to say The Shawshank Redemption. If Andy Dufresne can stay positive in that situation, I can find the positive in my most crappy day.

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If God had wanted me otherwise, He would have created me otherwise.

Johann von Goethe

Requiem for a Dream

American History X

Seven

DOGMA

The Passion of the Christ

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"A laugh can be a very powerful thing. Why, sometimes in life, it's the only weapon we have."

Suspect's Reviews

My life changing movie would be the Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants. My friends and I vowed after we all saw the movie that if we are ever apart that we would do something similar. The bond that the girls got from the pants is what really hit home for me. I will never take my friendships lightly any longer.

Fight Club... That movie changed my perspective on life... And for the better I think.

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"Directing ain't about drawing a neat little picture and showing it to the cameraman. I didn't want to go to film school. I didn't know what the point was. The fact is, you don't know what directing is until the sun is setting and you've got to get five shots and you're only going to get two." - David Fincher

I know alot of people felt alot differently about commercialism and materialism after watching Fight Club, but it seems like there's almost a cult following for Tyler Durden (not saying you fit into that category, FilmPirate). What you have to remember is, while his character does open our eyes to the fact that we're all just consumers nursing on commercialism while true enlightenment flees from right under our noses, he preaches some pretty radical stuff too. Maybe it goes without saying, but after reading Stranger Than Fiction, Chuck Palahniuk was bombed with letters from people asking where to find Fight Club, and - as crazy as it sounds - asking for homework assignments.

I think the point is, find a healthy medium between being a part of society - whatever that might be - and being yourself. The narrator and Tyler exist at completely opposite ends of a wide sociopsychological spectrum. Somewhere between the two is where you want to be. Go without buying new clothes for awhile: wear what you have now. Give up McDonald's, and cook your own food. Even quit your job if it's something you really don't want to be doing, and get yourself on track to do what you love. But don't urinate in someone's coffee. Don't reverse traffic tack bars. Don't hold up a convenient store with an empty revolver and try to change someone's life.

I love Fight Club, and I love the book. It gets you thinking about some new age philosophical concepts, and it may even start swinging you in a postive life direction. But as attractive as the ideas are, the world Tyler sees is not going to come from us starting fight clubs and making soap and blowing up buildings.

I understand what you mean... But that's not what I meant. I don't think we should start fight clubs or blow stuff up... And although the movie makes great points about the ridiculous lifestyles of modern day America, I did not have that in mind. It's just a fictional movie based on a fight the writer of the book had once.

I've never been one to care about material posessions... I do cook my own meals. I love my job (I'm a filmmaker actually). All I'm saying is that Fight Club is a great example of how you shouldn't always take guff from people in your life.

Now granted this movie did not actually change my life. I'm just saying it's a great film and it made great points about how people should think twice about what they really need in life...

Yeah, I know. I should have been more clear. I just wanted to make the post in response to all those people who DO take the surface stuff seriously, instead of looking through to the meaning underneath.

It's based on more than that. At some point or another, Palahniuk did many of these jobs, and knew people who actually did some of these terrible, disgusting things. He took the real stuff, put it all together, and wrote about what he thought it all meant.

Yeah, that's part of it. But it's also about not letting yourself get constrained by whatever rules society tells you and me and everyone to live by. It's just that freeing yourself means confronting everything the world has ever told you, and fight club symbolizes the fear that you DON'T have of confrontation. Once you realize that you are nothing, and have nothing to lose, you're free.

Agreed.

Dead Poet's Society

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"Hey, you know what paradise is? It's a lie. A fantasy re-created by people and places as we'd like them to be. But you know what truth is? It's that little baby you're holding, and it's that man you fought with this morning, the same one you're going to make love with tonight. That's truth. That's love." -Charlene
"Few do conspiracy and paranoia like Chris Carter - and even Oliver Stone never created as fascinating a couple as Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Fox Mulder (David Duchovny). Relive the moment they met - and the start of their journey to the dark side of the American psyche. All aboard for Roswell, Langley, Dealy Plaza and the Grassy Knoll."- David Zurawik

Good looks. You sure like to argue the points huh Sleezy?

Regardless... Great movie.

Not neccessarily life changing but made me think more about life.

Frailty - things aren't always as they seem

Gladiator - be proud of who you are

Rudy - the little guy does something

Life as a house - just interesting

Not arguing so much as sharing thoughts and information. You'll have to forgive me: I read the book recently, and I've been rolling the story over in my head since - making new connections, applying outside thoughts, etc. Apologies if it sounded like I was drilling you.

Welcome to the boards.

Yep. Admittedly, I hadn't seen it until about two years ago. A friend said, you have to see this movie. So I did, and I immediately started to take Tyler Durden's words to heart. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the character seemed to represent that part of you that wants to be free. Freudians would call it the id: something that will do whatever it needs to do - reason be damned - to be completely free and nourished. In other words, a valuable and necessary part of you that can run amuck if not kept in check. I guess I wanted to share these thoughts on the boards, and this thread gave me a reason to do so.

I know. I was kidding. I know you weren't drilling me.

I do enjoy discussing films though. It's why I joined this site. And likewise. You started discussing Fight Club, and since I wanted to talk about it, I discussed it as well. Hell my signature quote is from the director. I just love the movie.

Wow, excellent quote.


Anyway, my contribution to the thread:

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - Really, you could mention any Charlie Kaufman-penned film here, but Eternal Sunsine really gets you thinking with your heart. Sometimes, you don't think about relationships this way.

For me, this movie isn't about forgetting. It's about remembering, and knowing. The end always keeps me coming back and asking myself questions. What would it be like to know how the relationship will be before you're in it? If you know there will be problems, fights, periods of insecurity, tension and depression - would you still go through it? Is it worth it? Would knowing the hurdles are coming make it easier to get over them?

And then it hits me. We should already know the hurdles are coming. We should know that there will be problems and fights and regrets. And we shouldn't let that keep us from being with someone. It's not about avoiding, or grieving, or forgetting. It's about knowing, and making it work, and being happy. Nothing that's worth doing or having is easy.

Heres my List and Reasons in Order

1. American Beauty:

This movie really made me think about how life should be lived and what type of thinking is the right type of thinking. To me its about alot more than a man with a mid life crisis, its about a man finding the exact correct way to live life.

2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

The part that got me in this movie is Jim Carreys last line "ok". This movie showed me that love, with all its complexities and problems, is completley worth going through. It showed me that relationships should just unfold as they will because love is always worth it. I also adored the way this movie was shot.

3. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

These movies (Especially The Return of The King) show love in all its purity. Friendship in all its purity. Courage in all its Purity. And most of all, Good and peace in all its purity. I cant watch The Return of the King without gathering tears in my eyes. These movies showed me simply that "Theres some good in this world Mr. Frodo, and its worth fighting for"

4. Edward Scissor Hands

This movie Changed my life not nescessarilly for good or for bad. This movie showed me how innocent people and things are the best things in the world. But it also brought the realization to me that innocent things and beautiful things are best left alone and untouched.

5. Forrest Gump

Best.Movie.Ever. enough said.

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" I see in your eyes, the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, whe we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. May and hour of wolves and shattered shields before the age of men comes crashing down, but it is not this day! This day we Fight! For all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you stand men of the west!!"
-Aragorn: The Lord of the Rings the Return of the King

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Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.
Buddha

I can't remember the exact title, but I thought the Life of David Gale or something like that was incredible. Really made me think and was very intense. I'd put that up there.

One movie that really made me think alot when i first saw it was The Classic Too Kill A Mockingbird. Just how people perceive other people in that movie and how at the end Boo Radley(the weird one) is the one who saves Jem & Scout.