Most inspiring films

Today’s news includes an item on “It’s a Wonderful Life” topping the American Film Institute’s list of 100 Most Inspiring Films Of All Time.

It’s nice to see that many of these films don’t have religious or spiritual themes (because inspiration doesn’t necessarily need to be religious, though of course it can be). “Rocky” is #4, “E.T.” is #6, “Norma Rae” is #16.

So, what films that didn’t make the cut would you recommend? What films did that you don’t think deserved it? And what might you have moved significantly higher or lower?

I need to think about my responses, so I’ll toss this out for you all and then get back to you :-).

Morgan  /|\

70 comments

I cannot watch It’s A Wonderful Life. (4.00 / 6)

I am taken far too much for granted by too many people in my life.

by loggersbrat on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 11:45:46 PDT

I hate that movie, too! n/t (4.00 / 3)

“When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.” — Hunter S. Thompson

by rune on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 14:54:48 PDT

Could you expound? (4.00 / 2)

by mariva on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 16:37:36 PDT

Saw “In America” the other night (4.00 / 5)

for about the nth time, breaks me up every time but it is very inspiring imo.

by redfish on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 12:09:25 PDT

YES!!! (4.00 / 4)

Maybe it was because my wife was pregnant with our son at the time and I was catching some of her secondhand hormones, but I bawled through that movie.  Oh my God, how I love it.

God rejects worship which has no justice, but not vice-versa.

by Holmesey on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 19:48:44 PDT

When I was 4 to 6 my family (4.00 / 2)

lived in a rundown apartment building in Newark.  This was in the period preceding the riots, which is what motivated my folks to split and head for Florida.

There was a portuguese guy named Pablo in the building who was a pretty wild drunk who all us kids were terrified of.  Really he was a decent man, sometimes late at night he’d knock on our door when he was ripped and my folks would make him coffee.  He got fatally stabbed outside a bar one night.

Given my folks are immigrants I can really relate to the movie.

by redfish on Fri Jun 16th, 2006 at 11:26:26 PDT

It’s a Wonderful Life?? (4.00 / 6)

I can pick a lot more inspiring films. Of course, my attitude toward that particular film is a bit tainted for having it shoved down my throat by my Republican American History stool pigeon teacher.

by reahti on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 12:15:02 PDT

kneejerk reaction? (4.00 / 3)

I have to wonder if some people would overrate films because a conservative/Republican would cringe at the idea of the movies being on that sort of list or underrate films because a conservative/Republican would love them.

by Anthony de Jesus on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 15:07:12 PDT

nah, just tainted by the teacher (4.00 / 2)

You know how some things, no matter how godo they might actually be get tainted by association. I guess it’s that way with this movie for me – I can’t see it without thinking of that teacher (who also made us watch Rush Limbaugh in class – no balance at all provided!).

by reahti on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 18:45:19 PDT

But that movie is so liberal! (4.00 / 5)

You know:

  • the common good
  • the importance of the community
  • true family values (instead of dogma)
  • community banks preferable over large, corporate financial institutions
  • socially responsible capitalism
  • respect for public servants (e.g., “Bert” and “Ernie”)
  • why life is worth living, even when you don’t think it is

How could a conservative Republican coopt all that?

by mariva on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 16:41:14 PDT

Recently (4.00 / 6)

I was inspired by the movie “Millions.” Took my 8 y.o. daughter to it and she later rented for her slumber party. Excellent movie.

And anyone rember “Pay it Forward,” that was all the rage a few years ago but has now become a bit cliche? Suprised it didn’t make “the list.”

by valleycat on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 12:33:17 PDT

I thought “Millions” (4.00 / 5)

was extremely good, too.

by redfish on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 12:41:30 PDT

I know I’m in the minority (4.00 / 7)

but I just don’t like It’s a Wonderful Life – I never have, and I often try to watch it again to see if age has made it more enjoyable.  So far it hasn’t.  Oh well.

There are some great films on that list.  My favorites from that list are The Karate Kid (I’m a child of the 80s, what can I say?), A Beautiful Mind, The Sound of Music (my all-time favorite musical), Casablanca, Glory, Field of Dreams, The Shawshank Redemption, Saving Private Ryan, and Schindler’s List.  I would also add A River Runs Through It, Ghosts of Mississippi, Groundhog Day, Hoosiers, Love Actually, Pleasantville (quite underrated, in my opinion), School of Rock (the power of music, plus Jack Black is hilarious in it!), and School Ties.

“If I am capable of grasping God objectively, I do not believe; but precisely because I cannot do this I must believe.”–Søren Kierkegaard

by Mahanoy on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 12:40:59 PDT

I think “Love Actually” is (4.00 / 6)

a great movie and have seen it three times but have a hard time convincing my friends to rent it.  

by redfish on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 13:54:35 PDT

I agree. (4.00 / 6)

It’s a guilty pleasure for me — I love that movie. Especially the bit about airports.  ::sniff::

“The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.” ~ Psalm 121:5-6

by Sweet Georgia Peach on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 13:57:25 PDT

Oh God… (4.00 / 5)

At the end, when the Beach Boys start and they move to scenes of reunions at the Airport, I lose it every time.  Mrs. Mahanoy and I always keep the tissues closeby when we watch that movie – it never fails!

“If I am capable of grasping God objectively, I do not believe; but precisely because I cannot do this I must believe.”–Søren Kierkegaard

by Mahanoy on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 14:20:51 PDT

Oh I know! (4.00 / 5)

The little girls running to their father ::sniff:: and the muslim family hugging in the terminal ::sniff:: and then the boyfriend and girlfriend ::bawl::

Better then the cynical dogma take for sure!

“The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.” ~ Psalm 121:5-6

by Sweet Georgia Peach on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 14:37:10 PDT

SNIFF!! (4.00 / 4)

The little Arabic girl hugging her mother really gets me – when she closes her eyes with a bright smile and holds on tight – pure love!!

“If I am capable of grasping God objectively, I do not believe; but precisely because I cannot do this I must believe.”–Søren Kierkegaard

by Mahanoy on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 15:30:41 PDT

Ok, you people (4.00 / 2)

have officially made me tear up! I love that movie so much. People give me a lot of crap about the level of cheese in my favorite movies, but to me (as another child of the 80s Mahanoy!) these things are mythic! They are cheesy because they connect on this deep, gut, embarrassing level. They totally bypass the brain and go straight to the lump in your throat. I think Colbert would approve.

“There is room for things to mean more than they literally mean.” –Neil Gaiman

by appleblossombeck on Fri Jun 16th, 2006 at 17:48:57 PDT

Amen, Sister! (none / 1)

I agree completely.  There is profundity in cheese, too!

“If I am capable of grasping God objectively, I do not believe; but precisely because I cannot do this I must believe.”–Søren Kierkegaard

by Mahanoy on Fri Jun 16th, 2006 at 17:57:02 PDT

BTW, those were real people, not actors. (4.00 / 5)

The filmmakers camped out in the airport for a day or two looking for such spontaneous scenes. When they caught them on film, they approached the travelers for permission to use them in the movie. I don’t think any of them declined.

by mariva on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 17:10:45 PDT

Yup (4.00 / 4)

And that’s what makes it so moving – it’s real emotion – raw and pure.

“If I am capable of grasping God objectively, I do not believe; but precisely because I cannot do this I must believe.”–Søren Kierkegaard

by Mahanoy on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 17:17:32 PDT

Exactly. (4.00 / 4)

by mariva on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 17:32:00 PDT

Schindler’s List (4.00 / 5)

is a movie in a class by itself.

Someday, I will have to sit and watch the movie, as opposed to what I did in the theater when it came out, which was watching how Spielberg directed it.

 * sigh *

I remember Pay It Forward, which I loved. It got terribly panned, but still, it was great.

by LunarEclipse on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 13:14:48 PDT

My experience (4.00 / 2)

of seeing Schindler’s List was one I’ll never forget. I went to the packed Skokie Theater, which was packed with jews, and many survivors still bearing the markings of the camps. The emotion in that theater was palpable and more powerful than I have experienced during any film viewing.
That theater became sacred ground.

by valleycat on Fri Jun 16th, 2006 at 08:09:19 PDT

Define “inspiring”! (4.00 / 8)

I think it’s such an abstract term.  The literal meaning comes down to something like “put spirit/life” into” but we often use it to mean “feel-good,” or to mean “motivating.”

Depending on your definition, I’d have very different picks!

</English teacher vocabulary rant&gt  🙂

For example, I’d never put Schindler’s List into that category– for me, it was too deep, too intense an emotional experience.  Same with Private Ryan, Platoon, and other “big” emotional heay-hitters.

The films I love to share with my students, because they always make the kids see & think & leave behind their posturing for a bit include TKAM, Driving Miss Daisy, Field of Dreams, and Losing Isaiah.

Personally, I found the whole LOTR trilogy to be breath-taking, but then, I’ve been in love with the books since 9th grade.

Forrest Gump is wonderfully affirming.  Hoosiers is one of the best sports-underdog movies ever made.  

I’d add one more that will probably make no one else’s list:  The Truman Show.  Maybe it’s because of my background in speech communications/adverising, but I thought that story was rich and layered with so many, many levels.  

Add mine to the voices crying in the wilderness.

by Deborah Brown on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 13:32:28 PDT

On that note… (4.00 / 2)

I thought that the Cable Guy was profound. Silly and over the top and profound. Cait, back me up, how many kids do we know who’ve been raised by televisions? That last line, “The babysitter’s dead” I’m sorry, but that’s brilliant.

“There is room for things to mean more than they literally mean.” –Neil Gaiman

by appleblossombeck on Fri Jun 16th, 2006 at 17:52:49 PDT

E.T… (4.00 / 6)

…sure seems religious to me. A stranger comes from above. He heals with a touch. He has incredible empathy. He has a band of desciples, is persecuted by the government, dies, is resurrected, and ascends into the heavens. Before leaving, he tells his closests follower that he can be found in the boy’s heart.

One lesser known movie I like is “Searching For Bobby Fischer”.

by mrboma on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 13:35:58 PDT

I would also… (4.00 / 6)

… move up “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Dead Poets Society”. I would probably drop “2001” – it was mostly weird and creepy. Its sequel, “2010”, was much more inspiring.

by mrboma on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 13:41:00 PDT

Yeah — weird that ‘E.T.’ was made by a Jew, huh? (4.00 / 4)

😉

by mariva on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 17:33:54 PDT

It’s also weird (4.00 / 4)

that that same Jew did Amistad which has one of the most beautiful presentations of the gospel that I have ever seen. That scene gets me everytime. I’d had to add that one to the list.

“Faith is best expressed in story.” Madeline L’Engle

by Shawnari on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 18:12:19 PDT

Oh man (4.00 / 4)

Amistad was one HELL of a movie

I heard a MAN crying behind me.

It was one of those rare movies (or plays) when, after walking out of the theater I had to pause to reorient myself.. oh.. yes.. this is the real world.. I come from here…

by A Missionarys Kid on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 19:22:44 PDT

Isn’t that a powerful feeling? (4.00 / 3)

I’ve only had that experience a few times – the first was in college when my friends and I saw 12 Monkeys.  We didn’t talk until we were all back in the car and driving to Denny’s.  We just sat in silence, no radio, all smoking Camels and thinking how effed up that movie was.  I’ll never forget it!

“If I am capable of grasping God objectively, I do not believe; but precisely because I cannot do this I must believe.”–Søren Kierkegaard

by Mahanoy on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 20:10:55 PDT

sputter sputter — but (4.00 / 3)

men don’t cry!

Fruit flies like bananas.

by Mike Finley on Fri Jun 16th, 2006 at 05:26:27 PDT

asdf (4.00 / 2)

One of my professor’s made the class watch Amistad in American History. Lots of people cried. That’s the kind of movie that hurts so bad I’m probably ok with just watching it once. More than that is surely masochism.

“There is room for things to mean more than they literally mean.” –Neil Gaiman

by appleblossombeck on Fri Jun 16th, 2006 at 17:54:36 PDT

That’s true. Forgot about that. (4.00 / 2)

I loved that movie.

by mariva on Fri Jun 16th, 2006 at 20:47:46 PDT

Maybe… (4.00 / 3)

…. Spielberg was reaffirming his Judaism by saying that Christ was not the Messiah, but maybe a creepy little alien would be?

Actually, I heard that the parallels were accidental; I guess when an archetypal story is so ingrained, you can incorporate elements in your own stories without realizing it at first, and that’s what the writers said happened. Anyhow, when the writers realized the parallels and told Spielberg, he plugged his ears and said, “I don’t want to know anything about it.”

by mrboma on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 23:30:28 PDT

I couldn’t think of “Wizard of Oz” (4.00 / 6)

… as “inspiring.”

I’m a dope, but I adore Jimmy Stewart in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It’s one of the great rug-chewing performances of all time. But — I’m a dope.

Fruit flies like bananas.

by Mike Finley on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 13:45:55 PDT

My reasons for disliking (4.00 / 3)

It’s A Wonderful Life are ENTIRELY personal to me.  I do not like the reasons why that particular movie makes me cry.  Check my first comment, which covers it pretty thoroughly.

by loggersbrat on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 16:07:47 PDT

Could you please define “rug-chewing”? (4.00 / 3)

That sounds an awful lot like another term in pop culture that isn’t normally used in polite company…

“If I am capable of grasping God objectively, I do not believe; but precisely because I cannot do this I must believe.”–Søren Kierkegaard

by Mahanoy on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 16:39:48 PDT

Maybe I phrased it wrong (4.00 / 2)

and I know what you are getting at …

but with most actors, it could not be more unlikely …

rug-chewing indicates flambuoyant overacting …

think Jack Lemmon in any of his serious roles …

Fruit flies like bananas.

by Mike Finley on Fri Jun 16th, 2006 at 05:25:04 PDT

Thank you (none / 1)

I knew it had nothing to do with that, it’s just that I had never heard that term before – I completely get it now!

“If I am capable of grasping God objectively, I do not believe; but precisely because I cannot do this I must believe.”–Søren Kierkegaard

by Mahanoy on Fri Jun 16th, 2006 at 07:21:27 PDT

I always thought that (4.00 / 6)

Pleasantville was a very inspiring movie.

“The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.” ~ Psalm 121:5-6

by Sweet Georgia Peach on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 13:51:05 PDT

Me too! (4.00 / 5)

It’s underrated, in my opinion.  It’s a powerful testimony to tolerance and equality.  

Plus, I adore Reese Witherspoon!

“If I am capable of grasping God objectively, I do not believe; but precisely because I cannot do this I must believe.”–Søren Kierkegaard

by Mahanoy on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 14:22:17 PDT

I agree. (4.00 / 4)

I just saw it again a week or so ago and it was better than I had remembered it.

Plus there was this awesome “hand held” film shot when they throw the bench through the window that was meant to be reminiscent of the civil rights riots in the South 40 years ago — I’m such a sucker for homages to history.

“The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.” ~ Psalm 121:5-6

by Sweet Georgia Peach on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 14:38:47 PDT

Yes! (4.00 / 4)

And the scene in the soda shop when the kids learn about Catcher in the Rye, Huck Finn, etc. – I love that scene!!

“If I am capable of grasping God objectively, I do not believe; but precisely because I cannot do this I must believe.”–Søren Kierkegaard

by Mahanoy on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 15:29:46 PDT

My three favorite scenes: (4.00 / 4)

  1. The drive on the way to the park, during which the trees were gently raining down pale pink flower petals over the 1950s car, with Etta James’ rendition of “At Last” playing in the background.

  2. The kids in the park — some in color, others still in black and white — sitting in groups with books in hand, discussing the literature that was so fresh and new to them.

  3. The soda shop owner showing Bud the art book, saying, “Look at that color. They are so lucky to be able to see such color.”

by mariva on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 17:28:19 PDT

Definitely one of the greats (4.00 / 3)

I’ve always felt really close to blue–what a weird thing to say, but it’s true. The way he says that, with such gratitude, it breaks me heart everytime because I feel that gratitude myself.

“There is room for things to mean more than they literally mean.” –Neil Gaiman

by appleblossombeck on Fri Jun 16th, 2006 at 17:57:48 PDT

Romero (4.00 / 6)

Raul Julia’s portrayal of the martyred archibishop in El Salvador was one of the films I had to watch in high school.  Maybe it’s my pro-Catholic bias, but I found it more inspirational than Gandhi.

Other films watched for high school classes:
–The Mission
–The Breakfast Club
–El Norte
–King David (starring a ridiculous Richard Gere)

But I didn’t take the class on Revelation which many people took because watching The Empire Strikes Back was on the syllabus.

by Anthony de Jesus on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 15:12:03 PDT

asdf (4.00 / 3)

Romero is such a powerful film – I forgot about that one.  

And The Breakfast Club is another classic – perhaps the classic “80s movie.”

For anyone who loves 80s movies as much as I do, there are two great sites devoted to nothing but:  Fast Rewind and The 80s Server Movies Page.  Enjoy!

“If I am capable of grasping God objectively, I do not believe; but precisely because I cannot do this I must believe.”–Søren Kierkegaard

by Mahanoy on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 15:33:02 PDT

El Norte emby… move up /spans true. Forgot about that.em(4.00 / 2)

My highschool spanish class watched El NoronA Missionarys Kida h
emref=te
. I’ll never forget the scene of them crawling through the sewer pipe, being bitten by rats. Very powerful.

by valleycat on Fri Jun 16th, 2006 at 08:24:26 PDT

Ghibli! (4.00 / 3)

Whisper of the Heart and Howl’s Moving Castle both top my list.

“To make life easier and to be happy ended up being two different things.” – Arjuna’s Father, Earth Girl Arjuna.

by Egarwaen on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 16:29:27 PDT

Hey, Egarwaen! (4.00 / 2)

Haven’t seen you around for awhile – good to see you!

“If I am capable of grasping God objectively, I do not believe; but precisely because I cannot do this I must believe.”–Søren Kierkegaard

by Mahanoy on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 16:38:50 PDT

Spirited Away (4.00 / 3)

by mariva on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 17:28:59 PDT

Seven Years in Tibet (4.00 / 4)

  • Groundhog Day, a Buddhist parable.
  • Not One Less, an independent Chinese film about the importance (and the struggle) of education in rural areas.
  • Dead Man, one theme of which involved the intersection of Native American spirituality and the great romantic poets of the 19th century.
  • Hideous Kinky, about what it really means to “annihilate the ego.”
  • Born on the Fourth of July, about a war veteran becoming an anti-war hero.
  • Pleasantville, which made me realize what a privilege it is just to be able to see color.
  • Buena Vista Social Club, which unfolded like a vivid rose.

There are many others I can’t think of at the moment. Great films are like great literature: experiencing them puts you in a different world and has the power to change you.

by mariva on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 17:22:15 PDT

The Shawshank Redemption (4.00 / 3)

Even though it gets played about a million times a year on TNT/TBS.

Also:

The Right Stuff
Contact
Field of Dreams (still cry to that one)
The Shining [ed. note, originally a Quicktime movie at http://www.ps260.com/molly/SHINING FINAL.mov, I think this YouTube link is the same one.]

by Betty Black on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 17:22:50 PDT

Contact! (4.00 / 3)

Read the book once, saw the movie twice in a row.

by mariva on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 17:29:41 PDT

In a way, I prefer _Cosmos_ (4.00 / 3)

But Contact used to be my favorite “High” movie.  I suppose it still might be, if that were an issue still 😛

Spice World, btw, is my favorite drunk movie.

by Betty Black on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 17:35:42 PDT

There were (4.00 / 3)

several movies on the list that I don’t see as inspirational at all.  
Gone With The Wind
Close Encounters

I like The Day the Earth Stood still, but I would not call in inspirational
The same for 2001.

Hoosiers and Coal Miner’s Daughter would be high on my list.

“All them gods are just about the same” John Prine

by jakethesnake on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 19:14:53 PDT

revisiting the list (4.00 / 3)

um, Pinnochio before Dead Poet’s Society – I think not. Lots of movies I would drop off the list…Braveheart is just not of the same caliber as Chariots of Fire. There are also a lot on the list I haven’t seen.

I’m trying to think of what I would add – I’m terrible about remembering. You know, there was this great cartoon film about dragons I remember vividly from when I was a child – Flight of the Dragons, I think – a lot about courage and honor.

I also found the movie Contact to be inspiring – in terms of the questions it poses about faith.

And, an all time favorite is a foreign film I stumbled across b/c it had a u2-related title: Faraway, So Close – great story – kinda like City of Angels without the Meg Ryan sap to it (and that movie made me BAWL!!!).

I’m sure there some more goodies that I’m forgetting, but those are my additions for now.

by reahti on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 18:56:05 PDT

My Favourites: (4.00 / 3)

Beaches – A good cry, and a great film about the importance of friends.

What Dreams May Come – If you haven’t seen this one, it’s impossible to discribe…and if you have, ::sniff!::

Mindwalk – One of the best movies ever made.  Most great movies make you think.  Mindwalk can change the way you think.  Truly impressive!

Still working on stuff…
Blessed Be

Taliesin Athor Govannon
HP, Coven of Caer Arianrhod
Taliesin’s Witchcraft Page

by Taliesin on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 19:28:58 PDT

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (4.00 / 5)

Just so wonderfully wacky, weird, and touching, a great affirmation that we are all of our experiences, not just the happy ones.

God rejects worship which has no justice, but not vice-versa.

by Holmesey on Thu Jun 15th, 2006 at 19:51:36 PDT

Lilies of the Field (4.00 / 2)

is on there, but I’d move it up to a top position.

Others for me are:

Trading Places – awesome light comedy, and also the bond between Billy Ray and Louis at the end is great… as well as the fact that the main characters gain depth and confidence over the course of the film. Louis has to lose everything to gain in strength.

Bridget Jones’s Diary – another odd choice, but the “I like you just as you are” sentiment is inspiring to me.

Romero – (as someone mentioned upstream) his evolving commitment to human dignity and his willingness to lay his life down for it.

Field of Dreams makes me cry too.

by Erin on Fri Jun 16th, 2006 at 07:35:22 PDT

One most people haven’t seen (4.00 / 2)

“My Life As A Dog” about a little kid whose mother is ill and dies.

Weird movie but I saw it three or four times.

by redfish on Fri Jun 16th, 2006 at 08:02:05 PDT

Koyaanisqatsi (Life Out of Balance) (4.00 / 2)

a remarkable film with no plot/dialog – just amazing images and sound track (Philip Glass).  First in a trilogy.  At one point, in the midst of clips of individuals on city streets, there is one of an older, possible homeless, man that will stick with you for a long, long time.  Directed by Godfrey Reggio.

Anyone else find “Working Girl” to be of importance in their lifes?  Carly Simon’s music wrenches the heart, then lifts the spirit – it is an awesome work of great talent.  And the movie itself ain’t too bad :o)  (Oops, just went to check out the list, and found it there – was surprised!)

“The Rapture” (Dir: Michael Tolkin) raised some interesting moral questions.

The rap towards the end of “Bulworth” (Warren Beatty) is fantastic – hits so many nails on the head about politicians, politics, and hypopcrisy.

And I always cry at the end of “The Trouble with Angels” (Dir: Ida Lupino, stars: Rosalind Russell and Hayley Mills).  Encouraging to see the match of spirited energy with energetic spirit.

Where’s “Old Yeller” and “The Yearling”?

Thanks for all the movies listed below – interesting to see what inspires us.

by Unknown Quantity on Fri Jun 16th, 2006 at 10:32:12 PDT

And, of course, (4.00 / 2)

Zuckerbaby (may be spelled wrong – it’s German, I think)  For any of us who have had issues with weight, work, parents, love…  One woman’s struggle to follow her heart – it’s a great movie! (star: Marianne Sägebrecht)

by Unknown Quantity on Fri Jun 16th, 2006 at 11:38:31 PDT

“Breaking Away” (4.00 / 2)

… was  a surprise choice in that group of 100. A story of cutters vs collegiates in Bloomington, IN. No one saw it when it came out, but it stands up well over the years.

Btw I’m surprised how many really downer movies ar making our list of 100 most inspiring.

Some odd movies I found inspiring:

  • “Never Cry Wolf”
  • “Quest for Fire”
  • “Grand Canyon”
  • “Magnolia”
  • “Lone Star”
  • “Manhattan”
  • “Passion of the Christ”

Fruit flies like bananas.

by Mike Finley on Fri Jun 16th, 2006 at 12:04:48 PDT

Only just opened this diary. (none / 1)

There is only one on that list which I think would fit as inspiration for me and that’s the last one, Chariots of Fire. I agree with Deb upthread about definition. I would never find any “war” movie inspiring, and anything historical is always a problem because no matter how moved I am, I pick out all the inacuracies.

I’ve been watching movies for fifty odd years so this is kind of hard, but despite what I just said, Zulu ranks up there with Chariots, (both of which are full of holes) and Educating Rita was truly inspiring because when I first saw it I had just started at university as a mature student. I think I’d add The Gods Must be Crazy as well.

And yes, I know none of them are American movies, which probably says something about what doesn’t  inspire me. So sue me.

by Aunt Arctic on Fri Jun 16th, 2006 at 19:11:00 PDT

What?!?! No “The Mission”? (4.00 / 2)

Not anywhere on the list?  A list which has Babe on it?  I am distraught.  I also just came from the Random 10 and didn’t know any of the songs.  I can, however, recognize Nelly Furtado’s ubiquitous “Promiscuous,” a random tidbit I’m not very happy is part of my conscious existence right now.

Please, let’s all join in for Paul’s (the cute Beatle) 64th birthday on Sunday. You know which.

“The feeling remains that God is on the journey, too.”
Saint Teresa of Avila

by Gazing off Southward on Sat Jun 17th, 2006 at 00:01:04 PDT

Guess which song I came down the aisle to? (4.00 / 2)

Speaking of 64th…guess which song?

“There is room for things to mean more than they literally mean.” –Neil Gaiman

by appleblossombeck on Sat Jun 17th, 2006 at 02:49:59 PDT

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