What films do you think are important?

Question

Let me define my terms. I am not a fan of Tom Hanks but i thought that Saving Private Ryan was an important movie due to the opening 20 minutes regarding how the reality of war was shown. So taste aside, what films were either deep, effective, changed your view, moved you or just need to be seen.

For me in no particular order....


Planet of the Apes (original)
Schindler's List
Apocalypse Now
Saving Private Ryan
Devil's Advocate
Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf
Platoon
Mississippi Burning

Additional Details

okay - Devil's Advocate...... actor's studio time. Test case 101. How to act & how to ham.

Reeves deilvers ham.... Pacino delivers soliloquy . . . as they should be......

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RGR4SFOimlk&feature=related

If you really "cared" you would know this.....

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Good question, and there are some good answers. Movies that come to mind in my opinion:
It's A Wonderful Life (favourite film, about the measure of a good life),
Hotel Rwanda (about some of the worst and best of human nature),
The Shawshank Redemption (a moving movie and freedom, hope and friendship),
Dead Poet's Society (sieze the day, live a good life while you can, stand up for what you believe in),
Rudy (never give up),
To Kill A Mockingbird (one of the best films I have seen),
Mr Smith Goes To Washington (always relevant how important freedom and love of country is, not just this week, James Stewart),
Pay It Forward (moving film, right to the end)
Scent of a Woman (integrity, and great acting)
Kokoda, Blood Oath and Gallipoli (Australian war films)
The Bucket List (was a good film I saw recently)
Little Miss Sunshine (a very good film)
Rear Window (another classic)
Old Yeller (gets to me too)
Citizen Kane (an important Classic)
Lord of the Rings movies (courage, friendship, great characters and effects)
Danny Deckchair (might seem dopey, but I really liked this film)
La Bamba (gets me every time, how important Richie was to his family)
The Power of One and Empire of the Sun (did the books justice I think)
Sound of Music, Oklahoma etc (musicals are important too for lifting the spirit)
Spider and Rose (road movie about life and respect for the elderly) and
Waking Ned Devine (I thought this was a good film too, with a good ending).
Good luck, hope you find some good new movies to watch from your question.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

thanks

Answer 2

Another Teen Movie
Austin Powers 2

Answer 3

can't believe you don't think 'An Inconvienient Truth' is an important movie

Answer 4

The Pianist is a fantastic film showing the events leading up to the concentration camps.

For best effect, watch The Pianist and then Schindler's List.

Answer 5

Snatch and Lock stock, cos it remind me that im British

Answer 6

What dreams may come
August Rush

Answer 7

Generation Kill
Jarhead
Black Hawk Down
We Were Soldiers
Saving Private Ryan
The Thin Red Line
Platoon
The Deer Hunter

They show the reality of military life and combat and also because they don't portray it in the typical Hollywood fashion.

Answer 8

Schindler's List
Apocalypse Now
Unforgiven
Saving Private Ryan
Citizen Kane
Reservoir Dogs
Goodfellas
Ben-Hur
Lawrence of Arabia
Valkyrie
Platoon
Harsh Times
Titanic
Flag of our Fathers
The Good Shepherd
Jarhead
We Were Soldiers
Killer of Sheep
Casablanca
The Sweet Hereafter
American History X
United 93
The Maltese Falcon

Answer 9

You're saying you were moved by "The Devil's Advocate" ? What was the indisputable moment of the film that changed your life, I'm just curious. Was it when Keanu Reeves does his off beat southern surfer boy accent and says to Al Pacino, "I can't do it. Because I know she's lying!"

Stop whining.

Answer 10

The Longest Day-WW2 saga with a great cast, starring John Wayne. Very historically accurate with subtitles showing the real soldier being portrayed. If you know nothing of the Normandy Invasion, this will bring you up to speed in two hours.

A Bridge Too Far-If nothing else, see it for the super all-star cast. We'll never see this done again. Like the film above, another factually-correct WW2 flick.

The Sting-Not only a great tale with Redford/Newman, but this demonstrates the relevance of a play, in movie form.

Goodfellas-My personal all-time favorite depicting a true mafia story. Since it's Scorcese, great Rolling Stones songs are here right on time.

Normal Life-Again based on a true story with gritty performances by two underrated stars-Ashley Judd and Luke Perry (trust me on these two).

A Time to Kill-Grisham's work is too good to be missed, even in film form. Probably his best and both a human and edgy story.

Patriot Games-For all those ninja, hooah, secret-squirrel wannabees, the live sattelite footage is more real than we'd like to think-a chilling scene for the ages.

Hoosiers-The most motivating flick in the land while also checking the sports-movie block. Another based-on-reality show.

Office Space-The first time I saw it I thought it mildly amusing. I'm laughing aloud the 25th time viewing this cult classic. At some point, someone cool will use a line from this movie and you'll be there to get it.

There you go, watch all these and you've run the whole gambit of emotions, good stuff.

Source(s):

Viewed/enjoyed them all.

Answer 11

I agree with Schindler's list, and some that are not on your list

The pianist
Hotel Rwanda
Oldboy
Silence of the lambs
The killing Fields
Bug
Sleepers
Quills
The miracle worker
Prince of egypt

Answer 12

Most probably the War films. They give us an insight on live during those times and are usually well made. Ones like:

Saving Private Ryan
Platoon
We Were Soldiers
Full Metal Jacket
Schindler's List
The Pianist

And i like the act they aren't too over acted.

Answer 13

De Ja Vu
Batman begins
The Dark Knight
Madagascar
National Treasure
Lion King
Pirates of the Carribean