Most influential movies of all time

by **Colossus** on Wed Feb 13, 2008 5:56 pm

luns101 wrote:I remember in high school 2 movies which influenced me were Ordinary People and 12 Angry Men

12 Angry men is one of the best movies I have ever seen, especially the old black and white one with Gregory Peck.

by **reminisco** on Wed Feb 13, 2008 6:07 pm

Insomnia

not the american remake that Chris Nolan directed, i mean the norwegian original, with Stellan Skaarsgard in the lead role.

if you see the film, you'll understand how it influenced thrillers in the late 90s and now in the Oughts.

it's ending was very different from the remake. and since that's the most influential part of the film, i can't discuss it, as the spoilers will be annoying.

just rent the movie. Netflix has it.

by **Sackett58** on Wed Feb 13, 2008 7:07 pm

Colossus wrote:
luns101 wrote:I remember in high school 2 movies which influenced me were Ordinary People and 12 Angry Men

12 Angry men is one of the best movies I have ever seen, especially the old black and white one with Gregory Peck.

Um.... Henry Fonda

by **suggs** on Wed Feb 13, 2008 7:10 pm

Couldn't be arsed to go through the thread.
Have we had Pulp Fiction?

by **Snowpepsi** on Wed Feb 13, 2008 7:11 pm

Jurassic Park 1

by **reminisco** on Wed Feb 13, 2008 7:12 pm

Play Dirty

a small WWII movie with Michael Caine.. really, really good. you have to sit through to the ending though.

it's got an ending that'll just sucker punch you in the gut, you won't see it coming.

by **suggs** on Wed Feb 13, 2008 7:13 pm

Which reminds me...
Fight Club.

by **Colossus** on Wed Feb 13, 2008 7:27 pm

Sackett58 wrote:Um.... Henry Fonda

heh....right....that one.

by **daddy1gringo** on Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:52 pm

Gotta agree with Ambrose about "Citizen Kane". I know we're all supposed to recognize it as one of the great movies of all time, but I think it's an "Emporer's New Clothes" thing. I just found it pretentious and boring. Still I have heard of people talking about "what's your 'rosebud'?" the thing that sort of explains your life. CK contributed that concept.

Gotta go with Star Wars, not only for the special effects but for reviving character-driven science fiction, which was lost after "Silent Running". Movies like "Serenity" couldn't have been made otherwise.

Re: special effects, Morphing was pioneered by a lesser-known Lucas film called "Willow." Fun little movie.

It was one of the "Dirty Harry" movies, I think "Magnum Force" that gave us "Go ahead, make my day."

"The Magnificent Seven" and "High Noon" brought the western out of the shoot-em-up era into character studies. Or brought it back. It was lost after "Stagecoach".

"Rocky" inspired a whole genre of "strive for your personal best" movies.

...and, oh yes, "Star Wars" gave us "May the force be with you."
A trapper's blessing on you all: May the furs be with you.
A heavy-metal guitarist's blessing: may the fuzz be with you.
a lawyer's blessing: may divorce be with you.
a comedian's blessing: may the farce be with you.

by **muy_thaiguy** on Wed Feb 13, 2008 9:00 pm

I would have put Star Wars up there, but only Harrison Ford was able to continue acting in movies afterwards (Indiana Jones for ex.).

by **0ojakeo0** on Wed Feb 13, 2008 9:17 pm

BREAKFAST CLUB!!!!!

by **riggable** on Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:46 pm

The Usual Suspects.

Also, anyone enamored by the 'mysteriousness' of 2001 only has to read the book by Arthur C. Clarke in order for everything to be explained. I read the book before I watched the movie, and I think thats why i wasn't as impressed by the movie as I could have been.

by **reminisco** on Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:49 pm

riggable wrote:Also, anyone enamored by the 'mysteriousness' of 2001 only has to read the book by Arthur C. Clarke in order for everything to be explained. I read the book before I watched the movie, and I think thats why i wasn't as impressed by the movie as I could have been.

yeah, except there were key things over which Kubrick disagreed with Clarke, and favored a different philosophical ending than the one in the book. it was purposefully ambiguous in the film because Kubrick couldn't end the picture the way he wanted to.

something he ensured wouldn't happen again when he worked on 'A Clockwork Orange', 'The Shining' and later on 'Full Metal Jacket'.

by **d.gishman** on Thu Feb 14, 2008 1:04 am

Citizen Kane definitely was the most influential film of all time. Its narration and camera techniques have been standardly used ever since then

by **Skittles!** on Thu Feb 14, 2008 1:07 am

The Shining?

by **Frigidus** on Thu Feb 14, 2008 1:10 am

Skittles! wrote:The Shining?

I liked the made for TV version better, it was more what King actually wanted it to be.

by **muy_thaiguy** on Thu Feb 14, 2008 1:18 am

Friday the 13th movies?

by **Ches Pet Rock** on Sat Feb 16, 2008 9:37 pm

The Seventh Seal and Wild Strawberries (I can't believe nobody's mentioned any of Ingmar Bergman's films yet). They're two of the most famous (as well as the most depressing ) art films in the history of film and they've influenced tons of people. The 400 Blows and Scarface were pretty influential, too.

And on a slightly random note: For Mexican cinema, I'm sure Pan's Labyrinth is going to have a large influence in the future.

reminisco wrote:
riggable wrote:Also, anyone enamored by the 'mysteriousness' of 2001 only has to read the book by Arthur C. Clarke in order for everything to be explained. I read the book before I watched the movie, and I think thats why i wasn't as impressed by the movie as I could have been.

yeah, except there were key things over which Kubrick disagreed with Clarke, and favored a different philosophical ending than the one in the book. it was purposefully ambiguous in the film because Kubrick couldn't end the picture the way he wanted to.

something he ensured wouldn't happen again when he worked on 'A Clockwork Orange', 'The Shining' and later on 'Full Metal Jacket'.

All of those movies you just listed are pretty influential, too. Stanley Kubrick is one of the greatest directors who ever lived. Coincidentally, I'm actually going to watch Dr. Strangelove later on tonight. I haven't actually seen it before but from what I've heard, I'm sure it'll be pretty good.