Movies that change your world

We were just talking on the wall about the movie "Mommy Dearest" and at least 2 of us either don't use wire hangers or don't like to, possibly because of that movie. I was wondering what  movies have you seen that have made a difference like that in your life.. or greater than that. We had a couple on the wall, Arachnophobia (sp?), Music of the Heart, and Mr. Hollands Opus. Feel free to use those, or any other movie, of any sort, big money film, indy, foreign.. porn.. whatever!

Shall I get us started?
Ernest scared stupid. Seems stupid, but for weeks after watching that movie, I would get all jumpy when I walked around a corner, or looked under my bed, because I thought there would be trolls there and they'd kill me. More embarrasing, I was 12 or 13 when I watched it.

Murder In the First. I was 14 and saw it in the theatre. It was the first movie to make me really angry, the first movie that affected me politically.

By the way, the user comments on IMDB are moronic, even if the reviewer did like the movie. If you can't figure out the plural of "inconsistancy", maybe you should stop typing for a second.

I can think of a lot of movies I really like and would recommend to anyone. I can think of movies I'll watch over and over. I can think of movies that shaped my sense of humor. I can even think of movies that I've cried at. But made a real difference in my life? I dunno about that...

One I just saw in Criminology last semester was American History X.

It was one of those movies when you walked out of class, you just couldn't say anything. :\  Recently it was on the Independent Movie Channel so I taped it. It still amazes me everytime I watch it. Ed Norton is an excellent actor!

ooh! I would strongly reccommend American History X to anyone. That's a good movie, I'm pissed I didn't think of it first! :^p

Being a 29 year old working his ass off everyday, making dirt for pay, and feeling like crap at the end of the day, I must say "The Matrix." In short, we can relate to the hero of the film as he breaks the bonds that drag his humdrum working life down and learnes that no, that's not life, but an elaborate lie. Yes, there is fighting in the film and what not, but it is about breaking the boundaries others have set for you .

The Marva Collins Story

She was a great woman and teacher who felt that any child could learn even though the system wrote them off.

If the people who made The Matrix wanted it to have any meaning or be about anything other than "fighting...and what not," they probably would have hired some real actors, because I can't imagine Keanu Reeves playing any part well enough to make the character someone anyone could identify with.  In my opinion, the movie is about special effects and maybe the soundtrack, not about a plot or a message.

definitely not. in fact, "reloaded" was basically all action and effects. I looked hard but couldn't really find much of a plot to speak of. and Keanu Reeves was even bad in this movie. no emotion. NONE!

Worse than Johnny Mnemonic?

wait...since when was keanu reeves any good at all? in anything?

I remember seeing him in a made for tv movie that he was awsome in.. but than I was about 13 when I saw it, and I was in love with him, so I don't know if I'd feel the same way.

If you think he's a bad actor and should quit, I have one word for you: Dogstar.

Is that an endorsement or a "be careful what you wish for"?

The latter.

If you think he's a bad actor and should quit, I have one word for you: Dogstar

I went to that concert. :)  I have photos too! :)

I need to put those back on my webpage. :)

see, I didnt' think so. Not that I'm giving Ted any points for acting, but there was defintily a good deal of mythology play (if I see it again, I'm making a checklist of what all was alluded to. It was like the Wasteland in that respect). The problem was that it didn't blend the effects and the dialouge at all.
A lot of things it brought up weren't fully resolved, but they were left in a way that looks like they will be in the next one. Yeah, they did go overboard with the effects shots (and the 10hr rave) but the philosophy is still in there.

Yup Anni, There were a few good made for TV movies he was in.

Brotherhood of Justice (yummy Kiefer Sutherland!)

Young Again

Under the Influence

Babes in Toyland was bad...but then we had a bunch of actors trying to be singers like Drew Barrymore

And Dream to Believe which took place in Buffalo was bad, but it was a bad CAnadian movie, so I can't complain there. ;)

If anyone wants any of these, they are part of my Keanu Reeves collection here at my house. =D

are you talking about Bill and Ted?

Considering the movie was filmed in 1986 or around there and then scrapped because the original company went out of business and they had to finish it later on and released in 1989, that could constitute why the movie looks choppy.

And I never heard of it until last semester. :o  It did change my thinking about some things and made you see things from a different angle. Ed Norton should've won the oscar for his portrayal in the film!

Another film that made me think (about being raised catholic) was Dogma.

I keep watching it to listen to the dialogue more closely because they hit the nail right on the head about the catholic religion. "You don't celebrate your religion...you mourn it."

That's another movie I got my mom to watch just for the dialogue alone. :)

Since she's been retired, I'm exposing her to some good movies. :)

I agree there:

Mr Holland's Opus

Mommie Dearest (came out when I was 10 and was called Christina Crawford in school. We also have a running joke in our house about wire hangers)

Music of the Heart (I love teacher movies)

To Sir, With Love

A Patch of Blue (Sidney Poitier rocks my world!)

The Marva Collins Story (but I mentioned that already)

Arachnophobia (I hate spiders - this movie makes it worse)

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (watch out for little creatures hiding in your house that turn off the lights when you're in the shower)

Trilogy of Terror (don't buy something that says "if this chain breaks, then watch out for the consequences) ;)

Poltergeist (my old house had one but not destructive. It didnt' help when I worked for a land searching company to find out my old house was built down the street from an indian burial ground - one of the head searchers showed me the area and what was there before the houses were built. But then the stuff that went on in my house were things that my late grandfather would do - joke stuff *g*)

Hmmm...any others...

I learned to swing from watching the Princess Bride (that scene where she jumps out of the boat and swims away from Viccini). not the biggest turning point in my life, but odd to remember.

Her swimming taught you to dance? Or you just have swing on the brain? *grin*

No, I'm still talking about the new Matrix.
I just like calling Keanu Reeves "Ted" ;-)

LOL!!!

Well that's the way to refer to him D00D! :)

"Bill! Those are historical babes!"

:D

Sadly, I cannot think of one movie that has changed my life. Movies have taught me things, sometimes things I would rather not know. I think I have been changed by documentaries more than movies. But normally I pick movies for escapist value. I still haven't seen all of Schindler's List for example, nor have I seen Apocalypse Now. I did see Clockwork Orange back when I was young and naive and found it disturbing. I did like Dogma, for the twists on why the fallen Angels were as they were. And the total irreverence of the movie. And for the casting of Alanis as God.

The best movie experience for me is when the acting and the effects and the cinematography (sp) combine perfectly and let me forget that I am watching a movie. This is not a life altering thing but it's great when it happens. Man on the Moon almost worked for me, at least I kept forgetting that Jim Carey wasn't really Andy K. The story concept and the metaphors in Truman Show caught me and most of the time I forgot Carey was acting. The French Lieutenant's Woman fascinated me at the time I saw it though I don't seem to remember much about it. Many others....To Sir With Love because I was about 12 and by the end of the movie I was totally smitten with Lulu, The Trouble with Angels, ditto for Hayley Mills.

So to sum up, basicly I have nothing to say on topic. Thank-you. Or sorry. Whatever

I love "The Trouble with Angels!" :)

I just had to say that - it didn't change my life, but it's one of my favorite movies. :)

bill and ted changed my life.  It made me want to learn guitar and have a thing for floppy haired boys in lumberjack shirts for waaay too long.  In fact I still have it now, guess I'm stuck in the 90s!   Yes I also have a thing for surfers due to point break, boy has that got me in some trouble, yhey used body boarders in it anyway, big wednesday is a n infinately better surfer film bu there's no keanu...

Ack!  Fruvous content!

couldn't resist sorry.  It is the truth though I haven't left the early nineties for the past 8 years and I really need to do so in a hurry.  1994.  I think I just liked being a teenager too much!

Yep I mean couldn't resist sorry.  And i put the message in the worng place too! I'm new at this!   I am still very much stuck in the past when my mum thought computers were evil and would not allow me one.  Now she is holding an account for my computer fund so I don't blow it on festival tickets.  And an honest film that changed my life was now and then which is awful cos the film sucks.  I just became a tomboy afetr cos i always wanted to be Christina Ricci.

Me too! Though I have to say the sequel "Where Angels Go- Trouble Follows" was a bit of a disappointment. No Hayley Mills! Even that was still sort of cute tho.

hehe. I meant to write swim, but I write 'swing' so much more often it seems my fingers made an executive decision. hehe. I learned to swim!