What movie (or movies) have you seen that you think everyone should watch at least once in their lifetime? This doesn't have to be your favorite movie, but could be one that you think carries a good message, is especially artistic/creative/funny/classic, etc. (It's also not limited to movies from western culture or movies in English). And please don't just post a string of movies you've seen and liked...really think about which of your favorite movies are best, and post only those that you think are worth other people's time to watch.
The one that's coming to my mind right now is The Color Purple. I love movies where the oppressed find their voices. It makes me happy. That movie is one of the few that, despite being sad enough to make me cry, is still good enough to make me watch it several times.
I'll post more movies as they come to me, but for now, what are yours?
------------------------- Dum spiro spero
Posts: 3489 | Location: United States | Registered: 03-17-02
Here is my list: (I could not pick just one; Hope it is not too long)
1. Shawshank Redemption 2. The Color Purple 3. Green Mile 4. Forrest Gump 5. And The Band Played On 6. Fried Green Tomatos 7. Steel Magnolias 8. Mr. Holland's Opus 9. Wag the Dog
I could go on and on...but I won't!
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"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." -Scott Adams
There were two very different movies that came immediately to mind for me.
First, The Mission with Robert DeNiro. It is painful to watch in its scope and cinematography. It gives insight into the conquest of the "New World" and the ecclesiatic politics involved. At the same time, there is a personal and spiritual dimension.
Second, The Princess Bride is my all time favorite movie because it just makes me laugh. The fun is joyous fun- not crude or sarcastic. The word play is wonderful. My oldest daughter (12) saw it for the first time a couple of weeks ago. It was a rite of passage.
-k
That which doesn't grow dies.
Posts: 42 | Location: SC, USA | Registered: 04-18-06
Great topic, Katelyn! I'm sure I'll add more, but right now I'd like to bring everyone's attention to Once Were Warriors.
I saw this movie in a film class I took, and this is probably one of the only movies that affects me every time I watch it. In fact, just thinking about some scenes, still gives me goosebumps (as I'm getting right now)! The acting is so brilliant and moving that I honestly don't know why more people have not seen it (possibly because it's not a US movie, it was made in New Zealand, I believe). Not to give much away, but the film is emotionally troubling, so brace yourself for it. There are a couple scenes which are very hard to watch, because you just want to jump in the screen and help those involved. (PT me if you want a better description, but I won't spoil anything on here.) However, by the end, if you feel anything, whether it's longing or frustration or wiping tears away, then you were affected and it was worth it. I remember when I saw the father (Jake) in another movie, I couldn't help but think how much I despised him in this one. Phenomenal acting in every sense of the word, I really think this is one everybody should see. If you do check it out, please let me know what you thought of it!
Posts: 914 | Location: New Jersey | Registered: 12-07-00
The Wizard of Oz (1939) Gone With the Wind (1939) It's A Wonderful Life (1946) Singin' in the Rain (1952) To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) The Godfather (1972) E.T. (1982) Titanic (1997) My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Serenity of mind, good-heartedness, purity of nature, self-control—this is called mental austerity. ~Gitopanishad.
Posts: 4232 | Location: Land of Lincoln, USA | Registered: 01-29-03
Guys, these all seem like great and wonderful movies! Buuuut, I think Katelyn wanted a liiiiitle more detail about why they are your favorites! Personally, I'd love to hear a little background as to why you all would feel a certain movie should be viewed, because chances are I'll actually go out and rent it! So don't be shy, write a novel if ya have to, but I came here for some explanations and I expect to get 'em, darn it!!
Posts: 914 | Location: New Jersey | Registered: 12-07-00
I think I'm going to come back to this topic often, there must be so many 'must-see' movies.
The first that comes to mind is the 1957 'Paths of Glory'. It stars Kirk Douglas and was directed by Stanley Kubrick.
It's set in the first world war in France. Based on a true story, it tells of how three soldiers were put on trial for cowardice. They had, with the rest of their troop, been unable to win an impossible position. They had been picked at random to face a court martial. Kirk Douglas was assigned to defend them.
The war is more between arrogant French officers than against the Germans. The victims are the innocent soldiers under their command.
The movie that I think people shouldn't see is Fried Green Tomatoes.
During the course of the movie a woman committed first degree murder of a man who had phsycially abused her. The body of the man was butchered and cooked and served to other people. The writers and director of this movie managed to manipulate the viewerss into thinking that the woman had been justified in killing the man. The viewers were manipulated into thinking it was funny that the body should be butchered and cooked and served to people.
The extent of the physical abuse was slapping a woman. Overall, I thought the movie was entertaining but it sent some unusual messages in my opinion.
1) That all southern women are physically abused by men.
2) First degree murder was justified for something less than self defense.
3) It is Ok to butcher and cook a human body. ----------------------------------
Choosing a single movie that should be heralded as "the epitome" of a movie that someone should see is a difficult task.
Tora Tora Tora would probably be a finalist. Why? Because it is historically acurate and was written based on research done by both the Japanese and the Americans. Whey you analyize the movie it is historically accurate without a biased agenda by the movie makers. In essence, The U.S. Navy was guilty of gross neglegence and failed to adhere to numerous warnings about incoming Japanese airplanes. Pearl Harbon should have been an American victory but it was an embarassing failure for the U.S. Navy. (FUBAR)
The movie hinted that Roosavelt and top members of the Department of State knew that the Japanese would attack Pearl Harbon. It was a gambit to get America involved in WWII. The President had not calculated on such neglegence by the U.S. Navy. The general public was lead to believe that Pearl Harbor was unexpected massacre and that the Japanese were ruthless and blood thirsty people.
Roots is also another finalist. It helps the public to understand the history of slavary in the United States.
To Kill a Mockingbird would also be another finalist.
(If the pen is mightier than the sword then what could be sharper than the word?)
[This message was edited by Phantom_Delta on 05-26-06 at 07:37 AM.]
[This message was edited by Phantom_Delta on 05-26-06 at 07:40 AM.]
Posts: 3142 | Location: The Volunteer State | Registered: 06-25-03
12 Angry Men: top notch suspense and acting; it probes the rationales one might use to condemn someone to death, some of them not what you might expect. The final scene is spectacular.
The Seven Samurai: an excellent Japanese epic about the lengths a small village will go to to protect its rice crop, its subsistence, from bandits.
Postremo nemo aegrotus quidquam somniat tam infandum, quod non aliquis dicat philosophus. --Varro, Fragmenta
Jwpublius, those are two movies I would have chosen too.
In due course we'll do a crit. on: Casablanca Gandhi Singin' in the Rain Ben Hur, Judgement at Nuremberg Inherit the Wind The Searchers High Noon and All the President's Men.
Like everyone else I think there are too many must see's to name.
I have to ditto on the Princess Bride! It is my all time fav.
Recently I stumbled on a movie on the IFC (independent film channel) and it was very cool.
It is called HAPPY ACCIDENTS. It stars Marissa Tomei and Vincent D'Onofrio. It is a very thought provoking movie based on a comedy/sci-fi/Romance type genre. Here is the description I pulled off the web:
Ruby Weaver has man trouble: she tries to fix them, so she's stuck herself with a string of losers. Her current lover, Sam Deed, seems different: he's sweet, tender, just in from Dubuque. But, as Ruby tells her therapist about Sam, in flashbacks we see someone not quite of this world. In fact, Sam informs Ruby that he's from the future, 2470 to be exact, traveling back in time to avoid prosecution for his sister's death, and to find Ruby, whose photo he saw back home. Ruby's sure he's delusional, but most of the time she wants to keep him - and maybe fix him. Although he seems sane, maybe Sam hasn't told her the real story: what's he up to, and who is Chrystie Delancey?
Some day, after we have mastered the wind, the tides, and gravity, we shall harness God for the energies of love. Then for the second time in the history of the world, we will have discovered fire. (Teilhard de Chardin)
Good Morning Vietnam with Robin Williams. Not only a pretty good movie, its based on the true story of Adrian Cronauer (could be spelled wrong). Very good movie, but I won't go into the plot.
Never Ending Story - Part I Sound of Music Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Gopi Gayne Bagha Bayne (Bengali children's movie) - You should watch even if you don't know Bengali, because I myself don't know the language and yet enjoyed the movie so much. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon What Dreams May Come Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory (old version), 1970 Star Wars Trilogy Goonies Babe The Black Stallion, 1979 <--- very moving. Willow The Lion King, 1994 Remember the Titans - 2000 Yentl, 1983 A Tree Grows in Brooklyn , 1945 The Lord of the Rings - Trilogy Turner & Hooch Bornfree Dead poet's Society The Goal
This is where they fought the battle of Gettysburg. Fifty thousand men died right here on this field, fighting the same fight that we are still fighting among ourselves today. This green field right here, painted red, bubblin' with the blood of young boys. Smoke and hot lead pouring right through their bodies. Listen to their souls, men. I killed my brother with malice in my heart. Hatred destroyed my family. You listen, and you take a lesson from the dead. If we don't come together right now on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed, just like they were. I don't care if you like each other or not, but you will respect each other. And maybe... I don't know, maybe we'll learn to play this game like men. -- Coach Boone (played by Denzel Washington), in Remember The Titans, 2000
*~Come play with my children feel the peace and Scatter some joy.~* ~*Blowing out someone else's candle doesn't make your's burn any brighter.*~ We can't all be stars, but we can all twinkle.
Posts: 6207 | Location: India | Registered: 07-03-01
quote:Originally posted by Phantom_Delta: The movie that I think people shouldn't see is Fried Green Tomatoes.
During the course of the movie a woman committed first degree murder of a man who had phsycially abused her. The body of the man was butchered and cooked and served to other people. The writers and director of this movie managed to manipulate the viewerss into thinking that the woman had been justified in killing the man. The viewers were manipulated into thinking it was funny that the body should be butchered and cooked and served to people.
The extent of the physical abuse was slapping a woman. Overall, I thought the movie was entertaining but it sent some unusual messages in my opinion.
1) That all southern women are physically abused by men.
2) First degree murder was justified for something less than self defense.
3) It is Ok to butcher and cook a human body. ----------------------------------
I think you didn't quite catch the plot accurately.
The older black woman killed the abuser, not in cold blood, but to protect her employer who was being attacked. (She thunked him on the head with a cast iron skillet.)
While we would hope that the woman would be acquitted of manslaughter charges now- the purpose wasn't to kill, just to stop the abuse- the era in which the movie is set was not one where people of color were treated equally under the law. KKK were alive and thriving at that time.
That which doesn't grow dies.
Posts: 42 | Location: SC, USA | Registered: 04-18-06
In Fried Green Tomatoes, he didn't just slap his wife. He also pushed her down the stairs while she was pregnant. When he was killed, he was trying to kidnap her child. And that really wasn't the point of the movie anyway. It was a great bonding movie. It was a story of friendship.
“We accept the love we think we deserve”---Perks Of Being A Wallflower
That was a real bonding moive. It makes me laugh just thinkin' about it 
