100 Most Inspirational Movies.

[Trazalca]

The American Film Institute is at it again with yet another list
of 100 films about blah-blah-blah.
But for myself, this is a nice list. I like it.

However, to my discredit, there are only so many I have seen.
The ones listed in bold type are the ones I have yet to see.

The rest, I whole heartedly agree should be on the list.
Though I'm sure there are some inspirational films missed that
should be listed.

1. "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946)

2. "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962)

3. "Schindler's List" (1993)

4. "Rocky" (1976)

5. "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939)

6. "E.T. -- The Extra-Terrestrial" (1982)

7. "The Grapes of Wrath" (1940)

8. "Breaking Away" (1979)

9. "Miracle on 34th Street" (1947)

10. "Saving Private Ryan" (1998)

11. "The Best Years of Our Lives" (1946)

12. "Apollo 13" (1995)

13. "Hoosiers" (1986)

14. "The Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957)

15. "The Miracle Worker" (1962)

16. "Norma Rae" (1979)

17. "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1975)

18. "The Diary of Anne Frank" (1959)

19. "The Right Stuff" (1983)

20. "Philadelphia" (1993)

21. "In the Heat of the Night" (1967)

22. "The Pride of the Yankees" (1942)

23. "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994)

24. "National Velvet" (1944)

25. "Sullivan's Travels" (1941)

26. "The Wizard of Oz" (1939)

27. "High Noon" (1952)

28. "Field of Dreams" (1989)

29. "Gandhi" (1982)

30. "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962)

31. "Glory" (1989)

32. "Casablanca" (1942)

33. "City Lights" (1931)

34. "All the President's Men" (1976)

35. "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" (1967)

36. "On the Waterfront" (1954)

37. "Forrest Gump" (1994)

38. "Pinocchio" (1940)

39. "Star Wars" (1977)

40. "Mrs. "Miniver" (1942)

41. "The Sound of Music" (1965)

42. "12 Angry Men" (1957)

43. "Gone With the Wind" (1939)

44. "Spartacus" (1960)

45. "On Golden Pond" (1981)

46. "Lilies of the Field" (1963)

47. "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968)

48. "The African Queen" (1951)

49. "Meet John Doe" (1941)

50. "Seabiscuit" (2003)

51. "The Color Purple" (1985)

52. "Dead Poet's Society" (1989)

53. "Shane" (1953)

54. "Rudy" (1993)

55. "The Defiant Ones" (1958)

56. "Ben-Hur" (1959)

57. "Sergeant York" (1941)

58. "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977)

59. "Dances With Wolves" (1990)

60. "The Killing Fields" (1984)

61. "Sounder" (1972)

62. "Braveheart" (1995)

63. "Rain Man" (1988)

64. "The Black Stallion" (1979)

65. "A Raisin in the Sun" (1961)

66. "Silkwood" (1983)

67. "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951)

68. "An Officer and a Gentleman" (1982)

69. "The Spirit of St. "Louis" (1957)

70. "Coal Miner's Daughter" (1980)

71. "Cool Hand Luke" (1967)

72. "Dark Victory" (1939)

73. "Erin Brockovich" (2000)

74. "Gunga Din" (1939)

75. "The Verdict" (1982)

76. "Birdman of Alcatraz" (1962)

77. "Driving Miss Daisy" (1989)

78. "Thelma & Louise" (1991)

79. "The Ten Commandments" (1956)

80. "Babe" (1995)

81. "Boys Town" (1938)

82. "Fiddler on the Roof" (1971)

83. "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" (1936)

84. "Serpico" (1973)

85. "What's Love Got to Do with It" (1993)

86. "Stand and Deliver" (1988)

87. "Working Girl" (1988)

88. "Yankee Doodle Dandy" (1942)

89. "Harold and Maude" (1972)

90. "Hotel Rwanda" (2004)

91. "The Paper Chase" (1973)

92. "Fame" (1980)

93. "A Beautiful Mind" (2001)

94. "Captains Courageous" (1937)

95. "Places in the Heart" (1984)

96. "Searching for Bobby Fischer" (1993)

97. "Madame Curie" (1943)

98. "The Karate Kid" (1984)

99. "Ray" (2004)

100. "Chariots of Fire" (1981)

[KingVoyeur]

It's interesting to note how many of those films are also very tragic.

[Trazalca]

From AFI:

"Over the years, the movies have given us something to cheer about," stated Jean Picker Firstenberg, AFI's Director and CEO. "The past few years have not been easy in America--from September 11th to the devastation of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers will celebrate the films that inspire us, encourage us to make a difference and send us from the theatre with a greater sense of possibility and hope for the future."

[Belledame]

I thought "This Boy's Life" should have been on it, as well as, "Now, Voyager." And, um, at least "The Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Return of the King." What is more inspirational than Frodo and Sam crawling up the slope of Mt. Doom?

(And I wouldn't have argued with "Aliens" either...)

[kah]

I think Amistad should be on there. I can't believe you've never seen Thelma and Louise!! Lilies of the Field is a beautiful movie- love that Sidney Poitier.

[Jakester]

T&L is awesome. Kahlan likes it for shirtless Brad Pitt.

I think Debbie Does Dallas should be on the list.

[fastcar]

Karate Kid 98, but Chariots of Fire 100?
Methinks there is something backwards here.


The Natural and The Elephant Man are missing from it as well. I could have chucked 2001 for one of those. How did that inspire us? I would never trust a computer again.

I would have even made a case for Gladiator.

Also, I think Alive should have been on the list. If for no other reason than because it just proves that Rugby Players taste of chicken.

[kah]

Thelma and Louise was inspirational because Thelma chose to die free with her best friend over going back to her controlling fuckwad of a husband. Louise chose death over a prison sentence for defending her best friend from a crime that would not have been prosecuted, like hers wasn't in Texas. If rapists actually had to serve a sentence that fit the crime, maybe more women would report it. Instead, they serve 2-5 years, and to even get that, the victim has to relive the horror on the stand, while defense lawyers make them feel like sluts for being raped. Then, in a couple of years, the rapist is back in the victim's neighborhood. Many victims keep silent, thinking the pain they are going through will end in time, and that if they press charges, it will only get worse. The system makes women feel like they are responsible for being raped, and Thelma and Louise shows two women who are faced with the consequences of choosing to fight back rather than calling the cops.

[Jakester]

They were forgettable movies...and yet you bring them up. GENIUS!

[Trazalca]

I disagree with at least 3 of those titles you listed that you say should not
be on the 100 list.

On Golden Pond very much deserves to be on that list as it
inspires us to look at the twilight of our years, and that we
have a choice on whether we go out with style, grace, a whimper
or a bang.

The Black Stallion very much deserves to be on that list as it
inspires us to hope against odds that say otherwise. The odds a kid
faces trying to maintain a friendship with a horse while living in an adult world. The odds a kid faces while dreaming of winning a horse race
in a world of adults that would sooner chew him up and spit him out
than give him a second's notice. For a kid, such odds are daunting.
But the hope that drives in him alongside his love for this horse
cannot help but inspire. Yes. It VERY much deserves to be on THIS list.

Forrest Gump inspires us to live life to the fullest, inspite of who we are,
how we are, and why we are. And in a cruel world that offers such a contrast
to Gump's life, to see anyone rising above IS INSPIRING.

Nuff said.

[Cncrman]

Probably an age thing. Eldie is one of the younger ones of us here. I can see the disconnect.

I find some of those older movies non-inspiring and have no desire to watch them. So I can see where he is coming from.

[DarkJedi]

I agree that it's probably a disconnect thing with the era of the said poster being the reason behind said movies.

Part of the aspect of being the top 100 of all time should be movies which can surpass all time periods and be something that can be cherished by all ages.

However, that's a hard point to sell now days cause of the vast differences of the entertainment industry today compared to yesteryear.

Back when I was just a teen, I remember me and my friend trying to get his little sister to watch Clerks because she really really loved "those two crazy guys" (Jay and Silent Bob) from the other film she saw(Mall rats). She didn't like the movie at all, complaining throughout that it was grainy and it was Black & White ! See where the disconnect is? She liked Mallrats cause for some reason in todays age, she could relate to it better then she could a simple black and white film.

When I first saw Eldarion's list of movies to exclude, I did a double take myself, Trazal. Mainly because Forest Gump is something which I feel deserves to be on the list because of it's message of the human innocence and survival in a world which has had so many uplifts this last century. It was a great message for the audience and deserves on the list.

I didn't say anything because of the disconnect thing. Some movies we cherish, younger generations may question....just as some of the movies some of our "parents" cherish, we question.

[sickness]

Gary Sinise freakin' RULED in Forrest Gump.

[neglet]

Dude, Gary Sinise freakin' rules everything--even silly CSI: New York, he's the only reason I keep watching it.

And I agree with Eldarion that Forrest Gump was a stupid movie. I didn't even get a message from it, only the gimmick--Hey! We can insert Tom Hanks into any kind of movie footage! Aren't we clever! The story itself was forgettable--if you want an inspirational flick starring the innocent fool, I'd much prefer "Being There" with Peter Sellers.

[TrekSucksHard]

The Godfather should be on that list- its a great inspirational movie too!

[Natalie]

Interesting how many Capra movies made the list.

[Nostromo]

"We Were Soldiers" deserves to be on the list. A fine story about leadership.
N