AFI put out a list about a week ago of the 100 most inspirational movies. After looking through the list my response is, "hunh?" There are lots of movies on the list that have no place, and some that are blatantly missing.
So what do you think is the strangest inclusion or most glaring exclusion? My pick is The Bridge on the River Kwai, ranked number 14. I'm astounded that people found it inspirational. For me, it was the opposite of inspirational; everything that happened sucked. There was no redemption, there was no growth (except in the negative direction), it was all just madness. Great film, but (to me) it was like the antidote for people who have watched too many inspirational films.
Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :
Hunh?
Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :
I'm not sure you understood Bridge on the River Kwai....
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
I'm surprised that Babe makes the list and that both Serpico and The Paper Chase aren't higher.
Posted by SenojRetep (Member # 8614) on :
TL-
What did you think the movie was about? What did you find inspirational about it? I'm really curious.
Celaeno-
I'm surprised Babe isn't higher. Classic story of an underdog staying true to himself and being rewarded in the end. For me, it's hugely inspirational.
Posted by Jim-Me (Member # 6426) on :
WORKING GIRL???? ahead of Searching for Bobby Fischer?
Shawshank Redemption at #23???? (as opposed to #1 or 2?)
October Sky not on the list anywhere???? The Green Mile, either??
American Beauty is another glaring exception, but at least that pick would have been controversial, so I can understand passing it over... but ... just wow...
Surprised but glad to see Glory on the list, though... a horribly underrated movie (even with all the kudos it *does* receive.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
quote: 47 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY 1968
How is that movie inspirational?
Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
quote:Originally posted by SteveRogers:
quote: 47 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY 1968
How is that movie inspirational?
Inspiration is more then mere emotions. At a time of our budding space program, 2001 helped inspire Americans to reach for the heavens.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Also, absolutely zero movies about Jesus Christ. Not that all movies about the Savior are inspirational, but I think it's intential bias to say that NONE are. Especially when Serpico and the Ten Commandments are on the list.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Which would you choose, kat? Most of them are either extremely controversial or kind of blah.
The Robe was considered very inspirational in its day, but it comes across as pretty unintentionally funny now.
Posted by vonk (Member # 9027) on :
I don't really understand why Star Wars and Close Encounters are on that list, but Rudy should definitely be number one.
Posted by Jim-Me (Member # 6426) on :
Yeah, Close Encoutners is kind of a puzzler... Star Wars, at least, inspired a lot of pretending to be Luke Skywalker in my youth.
I found The Passion to be very moving, dkw... certainly more so than Working Girl. Shoot, Remember the Titans was more inspirational than Working Girl (which is not intended as a dig on Remember the Titans).
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Many people found The Passion to be very moving. Many others (Christians and non) didn't. I can think of lots of movies that I personally found more moving than many on that list, but I'm having a hard time thinking of a movie about Jesus that would get broad consensus as one of the most moving movies of all time.
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
quote:Also, absolutely zero movies about Jesus Christ. Not that all movies about the Savior are inspirational, but I think it's intential bias to say that NONE are.
I would say it's just as biased to assume that the exclusion of a movie about Christ is an intentional slight. Maybe it's just that none of the movies about Christ are good enough to be considered in the top 100. I certainly have never seen one as good as Ten Commandments.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I don't think it was completely intentional. I think the bias has been institutionalized.
They weren't going for broad consensus - Gone With The Wind is on the list.
I don't think it's worth getting upset over, but that's because I don't think much of AFI. This list doesn't do anything to change that.
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
I can't really argue that. The AFI is certainly biased about quite a few things, as far as I can tell.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
It's just a list, people. It's completely meaningless except as something to put in a newspaper. We could make up our own list and it would be just as meaningful.
Maybe the person or couple of people who made up the list didn't like any of the Jesus movies, so they didn't get on.
It's so meaningless.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
I am sure Steven Spielberg is very pleased that 3 of his movies are in the top 10. He seems to make that a goal in alot of his movies.
Posted by SenojRetep (Member # 8614) on :
Teshi, IIRC, the AFI is more than a person or couple of people; it's several thousand industry players. That said, I agree that a list compiled by Hatrack would probably have similar validity.
As for Kat's comment about no movies about Jesus making the top 100, I'd say Ben-Hur, particularly the most inspirational aspect of it, is about Christ. King of Kings, the Robe, and The Passion were on the list of 300 to choose from, but neither made the top 100.
What would your top 10 be, from the list of 300?
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
Yes, but who's to say how many of those people actually got their choice on the list?
'Inspiration' is an objective quality.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
I've actually been trying to think of a movie about Christ that I found inspiring.
The only one I could come up with was "Jesus of Montreal."
Posted by SenojRetep (Member # 8614) on :
Teshi-
Did you mean that 'inspiration' is a subjective quality? As TL evidenced, what one person finds inspirational could deviate dramatically from what someone else views as inspirational.
For the record, the guideline on the ballot was:
"Movies that inspire with characters of vision and conviction who face adversity and often make a personal sacrifice for the greater good. Whether these movies end happily or not, they are ultimately triumphant -- both filling audiences with hope and empowering them with the spirit of human potential."
Here are my top N (those that I saw on the list and said, "Yeah, that's inspirational") with my top 10 denoted by asterisks: Amistad Apollo 13 Awakenings Babe * Ben-Hur * Braveheart * Chariots of Fire Dead Poet's Society Field of Dreams * Gandhi * Glory The Great Escape Hoosiers Hotel Rwanda * A Man for All Seasons The Natural Places in the Heart Rocky * Schindler's List * Shawshank Redemption * Stand and Deliver * To Kill a Mockingbird
BTW, other movies about Christ on the list of potentials: Jesus Christ Superstar, Godspell, The King of Kings (1927 version) and Last Temptation of Christ. Maybe one of those fits you ticket, Tom.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
Awakenings was such a good movie. True story too for any of you that enjoy those kinds of movies. It definately introduced a very interesting medical dilemma (man I always forget how to spell that word.)
Posted by vonk (Member # 9027) on :
I was just going to say that I found the musical Godspell very inspirational, though I've never seen a movie version.
I often wander around singing "Oh Go-od I'm dy-ing!"
Patch Adams was also very inspirational for me, I'm suprised it isn't on the list
Posted by Kristen (Member # 9200) on :
It seems like a lot of people at AFI confused the qualities of emotionally significant or moving with the notion of inspiration. However, ultimately it seems too personal to be an official list--I disagree with a lot of the additions on the list, but a lot of others don't. I personally am not inspired by biopics if I can't related to the individual on some real level, but I know a lot of people are.
But I do agree with It's a Wonderful Life being #1.
Posted by Pelegius (Member # 7868) on :
The Best of Youth, which, as you may have noticed, is an obsesion of mine, is very insperational (the last line is: "Everything that exists is truely beautiful," and you believe it too, even though the film contains things such as riots, suicides, corruption and organized crime.)
Posted by Pelegius (Member # 7868) on :
P.S.: I think Casablanca and Lawrence deserved higher placement; the Dead Poet's society certainly did and Chariots of Fire would usualy be ranked closer to 1 than 100, although it would not top my list.
P.S.: Am I the only human being alive who found Ben-Hur to be, at best, dated, and, at worst, a mockery of both history and religion?
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
I would have said Jesus of Montral too. But the whole nudity, swearing, and subtitles thing probably would throw it off the list for a lot of people.
Godspell the play, when well done, is very inspiring, IMO. The movie is kind of . . . meh. (Although it does have the song "Beautiful City," which is not in the play.
Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
Have any of the Jesus movies inspired anyone that wasn't alreayd inspired by Jesus?
Posted by Pelegius (Member # 7868) on :
Perhaps. Although it is not a direct parallel, I can imagine one being inspired by Brother Sun and Sister Moon who had not yet be devoted to St Francis.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
quote:Originally posted by Stephan: Have any of the Jesus movies inspired anyone that wasn't alreayd inspired by Jesus?
I have atheist friends who saw The Passion and they came out of it with a new found respect for Christ.
Posted by MyrddinFyre (Member # 2576) on :
C'mon, The Ladybugs!
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I know an agnostic that was inspired by The Last Temptation of Christ.
Come on, Gone With The Wind is on the list. I love Gone With The Wind, but I'm not proud that it inspired me at age nine to act like a self-centered diva. What was it supposed to inspire - a longing for plantation days?
Posted by Silent E (Member # 8840) on :
I think I have a different definition of inspirational than many people. Although I loved both E.T. and Field of Dreams, I don't think the latter was particularly inspirational, and I'm sure the former wasn't. It doesn't inspire me to do anything except watch it again.\
Some films that should have been much higher on the list: Sergeant York Dead Poet's Society Twelve Angry Men Stand and Deliver (perhaps #1? Or at least top five) The Karate Kid
Posted by aretee (Member # 1743) on :
The Big Lebowski? I mean, come on! I was inspired to be a bum and bowl for the rest of my life.
Posted by vonk (Member # 9027) on :
American Psycho inspired me to not be an greedy 80's executive that goes crazy. Definitely should be on the list.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
No Magnificent Seven (or Seven Samurai)? And Shane at 53? That's just wrong.
Oh, and no Zulu? Posted by Soara (Member # 6729) on :
I don't think One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was inspiring so much as totally creepifying.
Posted by Solo Wing Pixy (Member # 9489) on :
October Sky should be on there IMO. Maybe it was excluded because it was a book before it was a movie.
Posted by Vadon (Member # 4561) on :
No Cast Away? Come on, if a movie can make you feel sorry for a volleyball, than it must have inspiration in it somewhere.
Nah, I'm just joking on that one. It wouldn't surprise me if it were on the list, but it doesn't surprise me that it isn't.
What does surprise me is that Life is Beautiful isn't on there anywhere. I don't know if I'd put it too high, but still, I feel it should merit a place on the list.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
quote:Originally posted by Soara: I don't think One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was inspiring so much as totally creepifying.
I found it very inspiring.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I love Cool Hand Luke. But it does not belong on that list.
Posted by Krankykat (Member # 2410) on :
# 78 THELMA & LOUISE ??? A bang-bang shoot ‘em up road flick where the men are perverts, rapists, crooks & thieves and ends with the "heroines" committing suicide by driving off a cliff (in a cheesy montage). An marginally OK late night TV action flick, but inspirational?
Posted by Krankykat (Member # 2410) on :
ketchupqueen:
# 71 COOL HAND LUKE is a great film and one of my all time favorites. I agree it does not belong on the list. But maybe for a convict it might be close to the top along with The Birdman of Alcatraz & Escape from Alcatraz.
Krank
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
quote:Originally posted by Vadon: What does surprise me is that Life is Beautiful isn't on there anywhere. I don't know if I'd put it too high, but still, I feel it should merit a place on the list.
Yeah, that's what I was thinking, but then it said to qualify it must be an "English language film with significant creative and/or production elements from the United States."
Posted by James Tiberius Kirk (Member # 2832) on :
No The Iron Giant? It's inspired me to believe that traditional animation may not die.
--j_k
Posted by Palliard (Member # 8109) on :
One would think that inspirational movies would INSPIRE you to DO things.
These are more like CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL movies, they just make you feel better about yourself with no doing of stuff necessary.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
I would have said Jesus of Montral too. But the whole nudity, swearing, and subtitles thing probably would throw it off the list for a lot of people.![[Eek!]](eek.gif)