Give an example showing how American cinema motivated you to lead a better life

[struggle4progress]

My example: when I was a junior high school kid, I wanted to see "One Million Years BC"

http://www.creaturescape.com.nyud.net:8090/unimonster/harryhausen/1million.jpg

The firm might have had a reputation for its paleontological values

http://pub32.bravenet.com.nyud.net:8090/photocenter/remote/2724789253/8C66164CEC.jpg

It might also have been known for its profound anthropological insights

http://cavemanconclusion.com.nyud.net:8090/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/raquel_welch.jpg

Unfortunately, I never saw it, so I can't actually say the film influenced me. But it could have influenced me in a positive way if I had seen it, because then I'd probably be an archaeologist today

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Planet of the Apes, Star Wars, Gandhi, Robin Hood (many variations), and Sherlock Holmes

[TZ]

2. Funny

Somehow I thought "Silence of the Lambs" was a biiig influence on you...:P

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. That wasn't influence so much as affirmation.

:blush:

[bertha katzenengel]

3. Gandhi and Schindler's List

Before "Gandhi" was made I had barely even heard of the guy.

"Schindler's List" - who can see that and not want to fight evil for the rest of her life?

[struggle4progress]

8. But the moral of Schindler's List seems to be that Schindler could ultimately save

lives only because he started off as a greedy (and otherwise indifferent) collaborator who happily made use of nazi slave labor

And the moral of Gandhi seems to be that, although Gandhi won India's independence because he could inspire thousands of people to let the British beat the living crap of them, in the end a nutcase simply shot him down

So, to recap: greedy nazi collaborator becomes hero, while nonviolent father of his country gets plugged :shrug:

[bertha katzenengel]

14. What you write may be true, but that doesn't stop anyone else from

seeing other things in these films as well.

Gandhi changed the world.

Schindler, whatever his motives, saved lives.

[struggle4progress]

19. I saw both and think they're both great films, BK. But I can't resist an opportunity

for snark. Can't. Just can't. :D

[TZ]

15. Wow. You missed the point of Schindler's List

It was how ONE MAN can ultimately make a huge difference and gain personal redemption as well..I think its a VERY inspirational story.

[struggle4progress]

20. It's an incredible story. The book is good, too.

It matters, of course, that when the chips were down, the fellow actually had a shred of human decency, which seems to be precisely what was lacking in some many other Germans at the time, so I cannot object at all to Schindler being recognized as one of "Righteous Among the Nations"

But part of the moral complexity of the tale lies in the possibility that had Schindler not originally been a greedy Nazi collaborator, he might not have saved lives

The story raises all sorts of important questions about appropriate resistance and the problems posed by judging people

[tigereye]

5. Harold and Maude inspired me to be more of an iconoclast

and to enjoy life....


not to have 18 year old boyfriends when I'm 80, though. At least I don't think so.

[struggle4progress]

6. If I ever become an 80 year old guy, I'll probably still want an 18 year-old girlfriend

from time to time. I suppose that will force me to re-enroll in college

[Drum]

7. The first example, chronologically, was probably "Midnight Express."

:scared: That kept me from getting into any trouble like that. After that, fortunately, there were others like those upthread that taught me more about trying to be a good person, rather than just avoiding terrible missteps.

Good thread idea, struggle4progress. :hi:

[struggle4progress]

9. Ya didna got nobody t'send lawyas, guns, an money?

[SPKrazy]

10. Independence Day

taught me to stay away from Houston

and to stay away from tall buildings in an alien attack

:P

[struggle4progress]

13. Staying away from Houston is probably a good life lesson

[swag]

11. An inspirational quote from Martin Scorsese's "The Last Waltz"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cM7G18WiDc

[struggle4progress]

25. Wow! That reminds me of a very similar quote in a movie about The Band

Just spent ten minutes trying to find the movie by searching

Amazingly enough, it seems the movie I'm remembering had exactly the same title ("The Last Waltz") as the Scorsese film you just referenced!

And how this for a coincidence? The movie I'm thinking of was also directed by Scorsese !!11!111

I haven't had enough patience to locate a clip, though

[CBHagman]

12. You really want to know?

Well, just from the recent past, I'd say Brokeback Mountain brought home to me that we pay for every decision we take, good or bad.

And Silver City reminded me that we always have a choice to act. Yeah, yeah, I know it also says sometimes the doofus gets elected to high office, but still...

[Phillycat]

16. Blood Diamond - I refused to have a diamond engagement ring.

I have a gorgeous pink sapphire and I love it, and every time I look at it, I feel good about my choice of not supporting such a bloody industry.

[struggle4progress]

23. Nice! Diamonds have been bloody a long time -- at least since DeBeers

began to profit from apartheid

[JVS]

17. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas inspired me a lot.

[struggle4progress]

21. If y'wuz like me & m'friends, y'dint need much inspiration

[skygazer]

18. Go Ask Alice inspired me

I was moved to see for myself if anything they said about drugs was true. :P

[struggle4progress]

24. A church in my town showed "LSD: Insight or Insanity" around 1970

After the show, when the adults weren't around, a number of my friends were "Like, cool!" A few years later, when the old "Reefer Madness" made the circuits again, the one night show at the local theatre was filled with a mysterious herb-like smoke: this was in a very conservative venue, but somehow nobody seemed very concerned

[JVS]

22. Looking for Mr. Goodbar

[Manifestor_of_Light]

26. That scared the hell out of me re:One night stands.

True story: I actually met Mr. Goodbar. In bankruptcy court. I kid you not.

In Re: James David Goodbar, Bankrupt

[BlueIris]

27. You'll laugh, but: "Spartan." Inspired me to volunteer more in '04. "There is no 'they'!"

"You're 'they'!"

Of course, basically wanting to make out with the candidate was also an important motivator for me, but every once in a while, when I wanted to slack, I thought about beleaguered Val Kilmer.