movies that do more than entertain

[gabe]

for what its worth, this is one of the few threads in the commune i make that arent for shits and giggles.

do you guys have any movies that you seriously learned a life lesson from? or maybe just one that changes how you approach things? im not talking about specific lessons like dont do drugs (see requiem for a dream) or dont get involved with some magical bad ass jewelry (lord of the rings) but broader concepts that really make you think.

i understand that these might be different for everyone, but if you do have one please post it. if you have one that you think people wont understand (like if you "the land before time" really taught me how to live more peacefully like a dinosaur would or some bullshit like that) at least explain why. also, if you see someone post something that you think is incredulous then call it out.

just off the top of my head i thought of these 3 movies:
good will hunting
office space
fight club

again, these movies that i enjoy watching because they reinforce how i approach my life and if you think what they present is bullshit then call it out. im looking for movies that can have a similar effect as these but not necessarily pushing the same ideas. any retarded posts will get called out for being retarded, just so you know!

[boost]

Harsh Times.

pretty much reminds me of tons of people I know, they have good in them but just dont function well in society. Also reminds me of the people who are friends with them and get dragged down. A lot of these people are very cool and very interesting, but just have some switch flipped wrong in their head or something.

If you havent seen it, go rent it, not sure how this one slipped through the boxoffice, or maybe it was just me who missed it.




shawshank redemption

sometimes its increadibly faint or obstructed by a twist ahead, but theres always a light at the end of the tunnel.

[givememyleg]

American History X.

On that note, I think I'm going to watch it right now.

[boost]

holy shit haha I was just about to post that, but didnt exactly know what to write about it. Great movie though gmml, good pick

[gabe]

what about donnie darko? i almost listed that but then realized if i had to explain i wouldnt be able to

[Al Golagnic]

Saving Private Ryan

Gave me and and my buddies in that theater an understanding of how shitty war is, and specifically in the conditions of WWII. I won't ever forget us deciding to go see that movie as though it were just another movie and we were gonna have a good night out, then after the movie nobody said a word as we walked to the parking garage or as we drove home from downtown.

[givememyleg]

holy shit haha I was just about to post that, but didnt exactly know what to write about it. Great movie though gmml, good pick

i think that's my favorite movie of all time.

donnie darko is also great, but like gabe i don't think i could explain it. i've seen it like 6 or 7 times and think i kinda know somewhat of what it is trying to say. has anyone ever read the book? (i think it has a different name)

[UG]

I told gabe on AIM that I was going to post a stupid-ass reply to this thread but it seemed really deep and well thought out, so I didn't and I won't.

Saving Private Ryan

Gave me and and my buddies in that theater an understanding of how shitty war is, and specifically in the conditions of WWII. I won't ever forget us deciding to go see that movie as though it were just another movie and we were gonna have a good night out, then after the movie nobody said a word as we walked to the parking garage or as we drove home from downtown.

I'm an American History teacher (high school). I'm not a big movie buff, but I get into anything that has to do with the past because I try to relate what I've seen to my students. I actually show parts of this movie in class and it goes over pretty well. I don't show it as, "Hey, we're going to watch a WWII movie it's neat here you go." We talk about WWII for weeks and then when we get ready to show the movie I go on a rant and actually yell at my kids trying to get them to realize that, "Hey, if times were different this could be YOU!" and what not. The subject of WWII is fun to teach and I think my students enjoy learning about it as well, but on Saving Private Ryan day they leave my class silent probably saying "WTF" in their heads.

[mcatdog]

Raging Bull - the guy was supposed to be one of the most talented boxers ever but he wasted his career and alienated his family by being drunk and violent all the time. Most people don't have the same problem that he did, but I think most of us have bad habits that prevent us from achieving what we're capable of. Scorsese really did an awesome job of showing how pathetic Jake was at the end of his life. I watch this movie sometimes when I feel like I've been sucking at life lately and I need a kick in the ass.

Life is Beautiful - this is my favorite movie. I think it's important to not sit around and whine about how horrible things are, but to try to keep a positive attitude. This movie that point by taking the most extreme example of suffering (a Nazi death camp) and the dad still tries to comfort his son by pretending that it's all a game.

And guys, American History X is a great movie, but did it really teach you guys anything that you didn't already know? I'd like to think that I was already not a bigoted Neo-Nazi piece of shit and didn't need that movie to teach me that racism is bad. Great story, great acting, but it didn't change my view of anything. Explain please, I saw it a long time ago so I'm probably missing something more subtle about it.

Donnie Darko is a horrible movie IMO but I don't really want to argue about it, there's so many more interesting movies to talk about!

[lolzzz_321]

Life is Beautiful - this is my favorite movie. I think it's important to not sit around and whine about how horrible things are, but to try to keep a positive attitude. This movie that point by taking the most extreme example of suffering (a Nazi death camp) and the dad still tries to comfort his son by pretending that it's all a game.!

[lolzzz_321]

Uh, what life lesson is taught in Donnie Darko?

[pgil]

don't get hit by falling aircraft parts.... or was it DO get hit, I'm not really sure.

[Galapogos]

And guys, American History X is a great movie, but did it really teach you guys anything that you didn't already know? I'd like to think that I was already not a bigoted Neo-Nazi piece of shit and didn't need that movie to teach me that racism is bad. Great story, great acting, but it didn't change my view of anything. Explain please, I saw it a long time ago so I'm probably missing something more subtle about it.

That's the storyline of the movie. But what it's saying is how hate is a wasted emotion. Instead of doing something to his life better, the guy copes with his father's death by focussing the blame on the race of the individual responsible for killing his father. It shows how keeping this hate and allowing it to grow does nothing to improve the quality of his life and how it actually ends up negatively affecting the lives of those he cares about.

[TylerK]

American History Sex really made me think

oh and Shaving Ryan's Privates

[gabe]

Uh, what life lesson is taught in Donnie Darko?

i dont know, thats why i only half mentioned it

i agree with mcatdog. although AHX was a good movie, i wouldn't put it on the list because it didn't have the effect on me that it had on alot of people, not because im still racist but because i was never too hateful to begin with. i can see where some people would include it so thats why its a good addition to the thread

[boost]

And guys, American History X is a great movie, but did it really teach you guys anything that you didn't already know? I'd like to think that I was already not a bigoted Neo-Nazi piece of shit and didn't need that movie to teach me that racism is bad. Great story, great acting, but it didn't change my view of anything. Explain please, I saw it a long time ago so I'm probably missing something more subtle about it.

thats really all you can take from taht movie? How about "its never too late for change" Or "it might be tough but sometimes you need to step back take account of everything and in some cases cut all ties to a person or a group." Or "your sworn enemy can in fact be your most profound teacher" These are all concepts that have nothing to do with racism and are strong themes of the movie.


Id like to throw 25th hour out there, Im gonna play a session so I wont write about it now. Only seen it once but theres a lot of shit in there. Prob should just say all spike lee movies.

[mrhappy333]

The BOONDOCK SAINTS.

This movie really makes me want to do shit like these guys do. Especially when you hear some fucked up shit in the news .. I wish it was mor prevalent(spelling)
good luck to the vigalante.

[mcatdog]

thats really all you can take from taht movie? How about "its never too late for change" Or "it might be tough but sometimes you need to step back take account of everything and in some cases cut all ties to a person or a group." Or "your sworn enemy can in fact be your most profound teacher" These are all concepts that have nothing to do with racism and are strong themes of the movie.

Fair enough, I don't really have any "sworn enemies" but I can buy the rest of the stuff you said. Like I said it's been years since I've seen the movie.

Fried Green Tomatoes is another movie that belongs on this list for me even though it's kind of a chick movie.

[boost]

haha I remember watching that a lllllong time ago when I was young. My mom had rented it, I thought it was pretty bad ass in the end when they serve his ribs and whatnot.

[tommyd7878]

Do the right thing!

[boost]

the recent string of b movies staring wesley snipes.

lesson: pay youre mother fucking taxes, and learn the importance of money management skills.

[kmind]

Life as a House
Dead Poet's Society

[wufwugy]

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

Orangutans are the most dangerous animal known to man.

[Ash256]

Vanishing Point (The original).

It feels like the whole thing is just one big metaphor, but that can't quite be right. Beautiful film.

[Isop]

What Dreams May Come - Be at peace with the things that you have lost - working to get them back will only make the situation worse. However, if something is really worth it, having the love and support of others can make anything possible. Also, dogs go to people heaven. Or people go to dog heaven. I'm not religious, but when my dog passed last year all I could remember was the (paraphrased) line "He's going where all of us go, and that can't be bad, can it?" It was powerful enough for me that I explained it to my kids that way.

Some Kind of Wonderful - We spend huge amounts of energy trying to get what we think we want, when what we really want is what we already have.

[sauce123]

donnie darko is so good

Bambi.

[IowaSkinsFan]

The Green Mile (lol not my favorite but throwing in some that haven't been mentioned, most of my fav's have been mentioned)

Cider House Rules

[boost]

Vanishing Point (The original).

It feels like the whole thing is just one big metaphor, but that can't quite be right. Beautiful film.

Im pretty into cars and yet I havent seen this, Ill have to rent it.


oh and I dont think anyones said forest gump. I gotta go read though so someone call bullshit on me, then someone explain some of the lessons, thx.

[flomo]

Vanishing Point (The original).

It feels like the whole thing is just one big metaphor, but that can't quite be right. Beautiful film.

Im pretty into cars and yet I havent seen this, Ill have to rent it.


oh and I dont think anyones said forest gump. I gotta go read though so someone call bullshit on me, then someone explain some of the lessons, thx.

lesson 1 - don't give up no matter how retarded you are

well i think that covers it

great movie

[PapalRage]

Two awesome movies that haven't been listed:

Memento - Teaches perseverance against adversity. (though i guess for the sake of revenge aint so hot)

Green Street Hooligans - Teaches the importance of courage in the face of opposition and being a general all around badass.

i agree with a bunch of others listed and Donnie Darko has the best theme song for a movie, ever.

[Galapogos]

Vanishing Point (The original).

It feels like the whole thing is just one big metaphor, but that can't quite be right. Beautiful film.

Im pretty into cars and yet I havent seen this, Ill have to rent it.


oh and I dont think anyones said forest gump. I gotta go read though so someone call bullshit on me, then someone explain some of the lessons, thx.

lesson 1 - don't give up no matter how retarded you are

lmfao!

[gabe]

Two awesome movies that haven't been listed:

Memento - Teaches perseverance against adversity. (though i guess for the sake of revenge aint so hot)

Green Street Hooligans - Teaches the importance of courage in the face of opposition and being a general all around badass.

i agree with a bunch of others listed and Donnie Darko has the best theme song for a movie, ever.

memento...........yea i can kinda see that but the revenge thing definitely takes away from it

green street hooligans, good call!

[Unibomber14]

The Pursuit of Happiness.

Wow. It didn't change my life incredibly, but it was able to seriously hammer home some ideals about perseverance, and believing in oneself. It also speaks to me about taking chances and following dreams. Overall, just a great movie.

[CRUSHER]

Cool thread.
In no particular order:
Willy Wonka (original) - don't be greedy, give back the gobstopper. and burp, charlie, burp.
All the President's Men - politicians are corrupt. follow the money.
JFK - politicians are really corrupt. don't trust em.
Fahrenheit 911 - omg, look how corrupt government really is. follow the money again.
Sicko - is it me or is anyone else getting sick of how corrupt polititians are.

I swear I'm not paranoid but I'm seeing a commong denominator here and I wouldn't have recognized it if it weren't for Gabe.