Irrespective whether any greatly admired films mentioned have or don't have any themes in them related to sci-fi or fantasy, what (fiction or nonfiction) films are currently the most inspiring to you (whatever your definition of that is) compared to other ones and please separately say why, for each fave film named.
What 3 films do you consider to currently be the most inspiring to you
- Thread starter GBaxter
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Re: What 3 films do you consider to currently be the most inspiring to
The Fountain - because I love its message of accepting loss as a part of life, and how dangerous it can be to want to hold on at all costs.
The Empire Strikes Back - because it was the first film and bit of culture that completely blew my mind and set me on the path to so much I enjoy today.
I can't think of a third right now. I'll get back to you.
The Fountain - because I love its message of accepting loss as a part of life, and how dangerous it can be to want to hold on at all costs.
The Empire Strikes Back - because it was the first film and bit of culture that completely blew my mind and set me on the path to so much I enjoy today.
I can't think of a third right now. I'll get back to you.
Re: What 3 films do you consider to currently be the most inspiring to
In no particular order
Fight Club
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
American Psycho
In no particular order
Fight Club
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
American Psycho
Re: What 3 films do you consider to currently be the most inspiring to
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
To Kill a Mockingbird
Apollo 13
Never give up, no matter how much the deck seems stacked against you. Never compromise on your beliefs to take the easy way out. It's better to fight the good fight and lose than to fight for the wrong thing or not try at all (the first two films listed best fit these last two sentences).
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
To Kill a Mockingbird
Apollo 13
Never give up, no matter how much the deck seems stacked against you. Never compromise on your beliefs to take the easy way out. It's better to fight the good fight and lose than to fight for the wrong thing or not try at all (the first two films listed best fit these last two sentences).
Re: What 3 films do you consider to currently be the most inspiring to
Thinking about this just now, I've come to realise that the films which have been most inspirational to me are those dealing with artificial intelligence/ artificial people, and how humanity chooses to react to that in the stories.
It's an area of ethics that's always seemed important to me, with these films typically evoking a lot of thoughts and feelings and 'what if' questions. It seems important to me that the nature of life (and mind in particular) is understood, for it's ethical value, because it's a phenomenon that we haven't gotten a grip of at all really.
Thinking about this just now, I've come to realise that the films which have been most inspirational to me are those dealing with artificial intelligence/ artificial people, and how humanity chooses to react to that in the stories.
It's an area of ethics that's always seemed important to me, with these films typically evoking a lot of thoughts and feelings and 'what if' questions. It seems important to me that the nature of life (and mind in particular) is understood, for it's ethical value, because it's a phenomenon that we haven't gotten a grip of at all really.
Re: What 3 films do you consider to currently be the most inspiring to
Can't think of three, but if I could choose one, it would have to be Local Hero.
Can't think of three, but if I could choose one, it would have to be Local Hero.
Re: What 3 films do you consider to currently be the most inspiring to
For me, the most inspirational movies thus far are:
1) Rudy: in this movie, nobody believed this guy could play football in college and he indeed proved them dead wrong! I have always thought that this was a very inspirational movie and had the theme to go for your dreams even if others don't believe you can do it. Only YOU can decide your destiny and noone else can make that decision for you!
2) Lukas: Again, same theme..go for your dreams. Even if you're the smallest, dorkiest, most pathetic individual in the world, go for what you believe in most! Lukas proved that when he showed that he could play for his high school football team, even though he was really small for his age. He proved to the jocks, as well as everyone else, that he could do it! Even though he got hurt, everyone clapped for him in the end and gave him a red and white leather jacket with the name "Lukas" on the back!
3) Can't Buy Me Love: this movie can be inspirational in that it's about a guy who is sort of an outsider to his high school peers and is totally ridiculed every single day until one day, fate decides to take a turn and he ends up sort of "buying" his dream girl for $1,000.00 and dating her for a month. In high school, there is always the cool kids versus the nerdy kids and each was on either side every single time. Anyway, this movie was more so about believing in yourself and being yourself to make friends. If you become something you're not, then you're only fooling yourself just to please others. This movie inspired me to be more like myself and to not let others kick you around anymore!
4) got another movie!! And this is the last one! Odd Girl Out: This movie again was about sticking up for yourself when everything around you was chaotic to the point of a breakdown and self destruction. This girl becomes bullied by her so-called friends in high school. Alot of kids can relate to this because at some point in our lives we become the victims to this kind of emotional abuse by our peers. This movie helped me to become more assertive and aggressive when dealing with bullies. If you just let them kick you around, you just become weak, ugly and stupid. However if you stick up for yourself, you get to know who your true friends are. And those friends you can count on one hand!
For me, the most inspirational movies thus far are:
1) Rudy: in this movie, nobody believed this guy could play football in college and he indeed proved them dead wrong! I have always thought that this was a very inspirational movie and had the theme to go for your dreams even if others don't believe you can do it. Only YOU can decide your destiny and noone else can make that decision for you!
2) Lukas: Again, same theme..go for your dreams. Even if you're the smallest, dorkiest, most pathetic individual in the world, go for what you believe in most! Lukas proved that when he showed that he could play for his high school football team, even though he was really small for his age. He proved to the jocks, as well as everyone else, that he could do it! Even though he got hurt, everyone clapped for him in the end and gave him a red and white leather jacket with the name "Lukas" on the back!
3) Can't Buy Me Love: this movie can be inspirational in that it's about a guy who is sort of an outsider to his high school peers and is totally ridiculed every single day until one day, fate decides to take a turn and he ends up sort of "buying" his dream girl for $1,000.00 and dating her for a month. In high school, there is always the cool kids versus the nerdy kids and each was on either side every single time. Anyway, this movie was more so about believing in yourself and being yourself to make friends. If you become something you're not, then you're only fooling yourself just to please others. This movie inspired me to be more like myself and to not let others kick you around anymore!
4) got another movie!! And this is the last one! Odd Girl Out: This movie again was about sticking up for yourself when everything around you was chaotic to the point of a breakdown and self destruction. This girl becomes bullied by her so-called friends in high school. Alot of kids can relate to this because at some point in our lives we become the victims to this kind of emotional abuse by our peers. This movie helped me to become more assertive and aggressive when dealing with bullies. If you just let them kick you around, you just become weak, ugly and stupid. However if you stick up for yourself, you get to know who your true friends are. And those friends you can count on one hand!
Re: What 3 films do you consider to currently be the most inspiring to
Movies inspire me creatively so my CURRENT 3 have no bearing on my favorite movies. Rather, these are what I'm trying to think "like" at the moment and it will most likely change in a week or so.
At the moment my 3 are:
1) Back to the Future (This one doesn't change. It always shapes my thinking. It's the other 2 that change.)
2) Hot Fuzz (A good fish-out-of-water story where the lead ISN'T an idiot. Rare.)
3) Keeping the Faith (A comedy that's not based on an absurd, over the top, Will Ferrell style, silly setup.)
Movies inspire me creatively so my CURRENT 3 have no bearing on my favorite movies. Rather, these are what I'm trying to think "like" at the moment and it will most likely change in a week or so.
At the moment my 3 are:
1) Back to the Future (This one doesn't change. It always shapes my thinking. It's the other 2 that change.)
2) Hot Fuzz (A good fish-out-of-water story where the lead ISN'T an idiot. Rare.)
3) Keeping the Faith (A comedy that's not based on an absurd, over the top, Will Ferrell style, silly setup.)
Re: What 3 films do you consider to currently be the most inspiring to
Run, Fatboy, Run! : A comedy about a guy who is trying to win back his love and prove he can turn his life around by running a marathon. It is a funny movie that has always inspired me, especially the marathon sequence and the stuff just before it. It has become my primary pre-race movie.
Running the Sahara: A documentary about 3 ultra runners who decide that they want to run all the way across the Sahara desert. Very motivational for me since it shows the extreme high's and low's that ultra-runners go through, and it shows them pushing through the tough times towards their goal.
The Pursuit of Happiness: A movie about a man who shoots for his dreams while struggling to keep himself and his son alive.
Run, Fatboy, Run! : A comedy about a guy who is trying to win back his love and prove he can turn his life around by running a marathon. It is a funny movie that has always inspired me, especially the marathon sequence and the stuff just before it. It has become my primary pre-race movie.
Running the Sahara: A documentary about 3 ultra runners who decide that they want to run all the way across the Sahara desert. Very motivational for me since it shows the extreme high's and low's that ultra-runners go through, and it shows them pushing through the tough times towards their goal.
The Pursuit of Happiness: A movie about a man who shoots for his dreams while struggling to keep himself and his son alive.
Re: What 3 films do you consider to currently be the most inspiring to
Cinema Paradiso- I think it has a quiet, sweet--or bittersweet--take on life. We all have things we love, and sometimes lose, and it is what makes us who we are. We have to cherish what we have, or had, and move on. It's a beautiful picture about how the love of film, friends and a woman made a man who he ultimately became.
The Constant Gardner--a story about love, sacrifice and truly serving the greater good, even if it costs you everything. It's a film about bravery, in all its forms.
Rudy--Probably the best film ever made about the "try, try again" lesson. The simple act of perseverance brings many great rewards, although they are not always the rewards we expect.
Cinema Paradiso- I think it has a quiet, sweet--or bittersweet--take on life. We all have things we love, and sometimes lose, and it is what makes us who we are. We have to cherish what we have, or had, and move on. It's a beautiful picture about how the love of film, friends and a woman made a man who he ultimately became.
The Constant Gardner--a story about love, sacrifice and truly serving the greater good, even if it costs you everything. It's a film about bravery, in all its forms.
Rudy--Probably the best film ever made about the "try, try again" lesson. The simple act of perseverance brings many great rewards, although they are not always the rewards we expect.
A
Amaris
Guest
Re: What 3 films do you consider to currently be the most inspiring to
In no particular order:
It's A Wonderful Life: This movie, time and time again, teaches me the value of my own life, that even when I think myself a worthless creature, my life has touched on so many other lives. It led me to believe that our lives are like unique threads, and that we weave these threads in other people's lives, creating a masterpiece. I love this movie.
The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951): This movie teaches me that things are not always as they seem, that even in the midst of fear and paranoia, good things can still take place, and that the enemy is not always the one who is merely different. It also taught me at a young age that we are responsible for our own actions, whether they be great or terrible. I also resonated with Klaatu quite strongly. I love this movie, too.
The NeverEnding Story: Love this movie (love the book even more). I saw this movie as a small child, and it inspired me to let my imagination explore unhindered, the realm of possibilities that existed beyond what we could see with our eyes.
In no particular order:
It's A Wonderful Life: This movie, time and time again, teaches me the value of my own life, that even when I think myself a worthless creature, my life has touched on so many other lives. It led me to believe that our lives are like unique threads, and that we weave these threads in other people's lives, creating a masterpiece. I love this movie.
The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951): This movie teaches me that things are not always as they seem, that even in the midst of fear and paranoia, good things can still take place, and that the enemy is not always the one who is merely different. It also taught me at a young age that we are responsible for our own actions, whether they be great or terrible. I also resonated with Klaatu quite strongly. I love this movie, too.
The NeverEnding Story: Love this movie (love the book even more). I saw this movie as a small child, and it inspired me to let my imagination explore unhindered, the realm of possibilities that existed beyond what we could see with our eyes.
Re: What 3 films do you consider to currently be the most inspiring to
2001: A Space Odyssey -- we are little more than insignificant pond scum clinging to the outer surface of a rock in the midst of infinite space.
Solaris (either version) -- even if we do contact other intelligent life, there's no guarantee that we'll be able to find common ground on which to communicate meaningfully. Would we survive the encounter with our sanity intact?
Being There -- are we all really just versions of Chance the gardener with added hubris and affectations? Are we less or more than we tell ourselves we are?
2001: A Space Odyssey -- we are little more than insignificant pond scum clinging to the outer surface of a rock in the midst of infinite space.
Solaris (either version) -- even if we do contact other intelligent life, there's no guarantee that we'll be able to find common ground on which to communicate meaningfully. Would we survive the encounter with our sanity intact?
Being There -- are we all really just versions of Chance the gardener with added hubris and affectations? Are we less or more than we tell ourselves we are?
Re: What 3 films do you consider to currently be the most inspiring to
The Wrestler - when I first watched this I left the screening misreble. It's given me the incentive never to end up like the Ram, in any path of my life. Which is so easily done in my career and lifestyle.
Fight Club - It's shaped my way of fighting and image, as well as been a basis for my work persona over the past few years.
Pursuit of Happyness - dubbed by a few people as the most depressing film they've seen, but for me it mirrors how important my daughter is to me, and how I'll never give up on whats good for her.
The Wrestler - when I first watched this I left the screening misreble. It's given me the incentive never to end up like the Ram, in any path of my life. Which is so easily done in my career and lifestyle.
Fight Club - It's shaped my way of fighting and image, as well as been a basis for my work persona over the past few years.
Pursuit of Happyness - dubbed by a few people as the most depressing film they've seen, but for me it mirrors how important my daughter is to me, and how I'll never give up on whats good for her.
Re: What 3 films do you consider to currently be the most inspiring to
The English Patient: that romance and beauty can be found in the most unlikely situations.
Dances with Wolves: the wonder of nature and living in harmony with it.
Out of Africa: female strength, fearlessness, and sense of adventure.
The English Patient: that romance and beauty can be found in the most unlikely situations.
Dances with Wolves: the wonder of nature and living in harmony with it.
Out of Africa: female strength, fearlessness, and sense of adventure.
Re: What 3 films do you consider to currently be the most inspiring to
The Rookie: This was a true story about a former minor league pitcher now a 30 something father of three kids, science teacher, and high school baseball coach. On a dare from his team he tries out for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and end up making the major league roster.
Field of Dreams: This inspires me to be a better father to my kids, and appreciate my own dad that much more.
The Hunt For Red October: This one inspires me for 3 reasons:
1. Don't always accept things as they appear.
2. An 'everyman' can do extrordinary things if he believes strongly enough
3. The average Ruskie doesn't take a dump without a plan.
The Rookie: This was a true story about a former minor league pitcher now a 30 something father of three kids, science teacher, and high school baseball coach. On a dare from his team he tries out for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and end up making the major league roster.
Field of Dreams: This inspires me to be a better father to my kids, and appreciate my own dad that much more.
The Hunt For Red October: This one inspires me for 3 reasons:
1. Don't always accept things as they appear.
2. An 'everyman' can do extrordinary things if he believes strongly enough
3. The average Ruskie doesn't take a dump without a plan.
Re: What 3 films do you consider to currently be the most inspiring to
Shawshank Redemption was pretty inspiring when I first saw it. It kind of lost it's punch on repeated viewings however.
Shawshank Redemption was pretty inspiring when I first saw it. It kind of lost it's punch on repeated viewings however.
Re: What 3 films do you consider to currently be the most inspiring to
Howard the Duck
Mars Needs Women
Showgirls
They inspire me to try to make something worse! LOL!
Howard the Duck
Mars Needs Women
Showgirls
They inspire me to try to make something worse! LOL!
Re: What 3 films do you consider to currently be the most inspiring to
Kore-eda Hirokazu's Still Walking - to remind me not to let my childhood or my parents determine who or what I am now, and also to forgive and forget and enjoy what is now and what can be built on forgiveness.
Wong Kar-Wai's In the Mood for Love - to remind me not to pass by the chances of happiness.
The Godfather trilogy - to remind me not to get caught in what "destiny" has planned for me, and to keep my friends close and my enemies closer.
Kore-eda Hirokazu's Still Walking - to remind me not to let my childhood or my parents determine who or what I am now, and also to forgive and forget and enjoy what is now and what can be built on forgiveness.
Wong Kar-Wai's In the Mood for Love - to remind me not to pass by the chances of happiness.
The Godfather trilogy - to remind me not to get caught in what "destiny" has planned for me, and to keep my friends close and my enemies closer.
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