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What's the film that changed your life?
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1742
7.9
7.9
Nosferatu is an unofficial silver-screen adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic, Dracula. Nosferatu also happens to be the No. 1 best horror film I've seen and all other horror films fail in comparison.
I've seen this film in both the black & white "ugly" version and the restored colour version with beautiful cyan and brown colours and the font style had also been changed. When I first saw it in the "ugly" version, It was enough to scare the living daylights out of anyone and this goes on to show how the 1922 horror is still better than all the movies we're getting today. When I saw it, I tried watching it from the 1922 audience's point of view and to modern eye, It might look cheesy and glitched but way back, when Dr. Caligari was the only decent horror movie around, Nosferatu must've had caused many heart attacks and sleepless nights.
Max Schreck as Nosferatu gave the most best performance of his decade and was miles ahead in terms of great acting. No performance has been this chilling, this horrifying. Only Bela Lugosi matches. After seeing the iconic shadow on the wall sequence, It opened up new levels of ideas for me and my imagination just ran wild after that, coming with new ideas here, new ideas there. It was chaos and is still the only horror movie to do that so.
It also made me crack my hands at very, very amateur filmmaking. The end result was the ill-fated "Mr. Rich". A short video, about 2-minutes, on how greediness can lead to disastrous results. So, you can say why I chose this film. It's so addictive and a legendary German Expressionism movie.
Horror at it's most finest, follows every page in the book and is a landmark classic movie!
Happy Vader's rating:
3260
8
8.6
Ok! Life is Beautiful because makes me realize, in the age of 14, that cinema is not only fun but something deeper than that.
496
7.6
7.8
The Chorus (2004)
It must have been when I was around 12 or 13 that our school took us to the theatres to watch "The Chorus". It was the kind of film I had never seen or remember seeing before. It completely changed my opinion on teachers and school on the general. It taught me how to give my heart and be kind,to help those who are in need,to be passionate and gon't give up on anyone. And of course I realised that there are other films out there besides the American blockbusters at the time who bored me. I actually remember my brother renting films, I watched them for 10 minutes max and then left the room. So, it was an apocalypse watching The Chorus.
575
7.4
7.5
Godzilla (1954)
Well, having watched the Godzilla films from a very early age probably contributed in keeping me from thinking of older films as outdated and irrelevant like so many of my non-Listal peers do. I always feel comfortable with a wiser giant monster film, no different from how I'd feel watching a good, more recent film. Watching the original Universal Dracula and Frankenstein took me a little farther back in that regard as well. Godzilla Vs. Monster Zero (as it was known in the US at the time) and the previously mentioned Universal horror films definitely got me interested in the rest of the Godzilla series and other classical horror movies, respectively.
Also, I got caught up in the hype of the Marvel movies when I was in elementary school which led to my comic book obsession, because I quickly felt like I was missing out on the big picture and have been following the Marvel comic book universe - and now other universes from different publishers - for some time now. It's kind of my mission to read most of the original comics and familiarize myself with their major developments since, as well as following some characters fully (the Spider-Man character and Avengers teams come to mind foremost).
So mostly certain movies have gotten me into other forms of the characters/universes presented in them. That's not a huge life change until you consider that wants often seem more important to someone's existence than needs.
193
7.9
7.9
Deliver Us from Evil (2007)
Zaishe answered on Deliver Us From Evil:
This documentary was an eye opening experience for me in so many ways. You see, I had a very trusting nature with a little exposure of the world around me, I was happy in my own small world and for the first time this made me realize that People are not what they look like,appearances are deceiving and from then on, I am very cautious of the people around me. Its not like I don't trust but now I don't trust blindly. This also made me think about the extent of human psychology! something I never thought of before.also I got familiar with the fact that cinema is not all about gold and glitter (pretty shocking for me) so yes this documentary changed my life.
2037
6.8
6.9
I know it's gonna sound weird but probably My Girl. It's not one of my favorites of all time or anything like that, but it made me think in a way most movies don't when you're that young. I was only about 8 when I saw it for the first time, but I remember crying and thinking it was so sad to see someone die so young. It's one of the first times I thought about death and realized that you don't have to be old to die. That can be really life affecting the first time you think about it.
Then I saw it again about 2 years ago at 25 and realized that it's just as thought provoking, and heart-wrenching, if you really just let yourself be a part of it. Now, for me anyway, it's about letting go of the guilt you feel for things you had no control over, and that's a very important lesson to learn. So I guess you could say it changed the way I looked at life at different times in my life.
6241
8.2
8.8
Inception (2010)
Watching Inception, how perfect could a movie get. Great directing, acting, and the music also. It changed my life and now since that film, I have gotten a huge interest in acting and directing. I wish I could find acting jobs but its hard. Its a film that touches me because everything falls into place so well.
2112
8.3
8.5
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
hmmm this is a good question. I'm going to have to go for Grave Of The Fireflies. The reasons are this...
I had NO idea what I was getting myself into when I watched this movie. I knew it was animated, so I didn't think it would be so serious. Normally I do not cry during films, and if I do it's like a tear or two but nothing more. After watching this film I literally bawled for 15 minutes after it was over. The amount of depressing emotion tied to this film film is SO overwhelming. It made me look at just how horrible things were back then for the Japanese. I now hardly waste food, because of this film. It also made me active in giving food I don't use away to charities for places where starvation is high.
I don't think a movie has hit me so hard as this one did.
10
6.4
6.2
For me, it's was Heidi's Song. It was the very first movie, that I saw in a theater, it wasn't all that great of a movie, and I don't remember much about it, other than Sammy Davis, Jr., did the voice of one of the characters in the film, and that was about it.
7527
7.8
8.5
Back to the Future (1985)
After much thought and consideration, I'm going to have to go with Back to the Future. Before that movie came along, my musical tastes were based off of whatever I heard that was catchy and unavoidable. But when I saw Marty McFly play "Johnny B. Goode" I fell in love with that song (and loved his guitar solo at the end) and had to find out more about it. And that led me to my regular habit of digging to find good music, as well as improving my taste in music all around. And that's how it changed my life.
Happy Vader's rating:
1214
8.4
8.1
The 400 Blows (1959)
Les quatre-cents coups, because when I saw it I realized one can be different from other people, and it's not a thing to hide.
4679
7.4
8.1
My life changing movie has to be Jaws. I saw it the first time when i was about 8 or 9 years old. When u see that kind of shocking horror at young age it really burns in your memory for a lifetime. Whenever im watching something scary i remember Jaws. Just recently i was at the movies and i saw a trailer for Paranormal Activity 3 and i was so scared that i had to put my hands in front of my eyes. It wasnt a nice feeling for 26 year old guy.
6387
8.7
9.2
The Godfather (1972)
As in life-changing regarding to movies, first was The Godfather. It introduced me to the classics, to the wonderful movies that lied before a certain line and it showed me a cast of characters that would forever change my appreciation for great acting.
Then there was City Lights. The silent comedy, the black and white jewels of old, the iconic little tramp, and the genius of Charles Chaplin. Yes I can say this movie changed my life for opening new horizons like The Godfather did.
But if there was a movie that kinda changed me or at least made me have a different look at humanity and life, it was Into The Wild. So inspiring. Not for the insane journey into the wild, but for the exceptional journey of self-discovery and masterfully directed piece of cinema that made it so real.
Wreckme666 also on The Godfather:
That, my friend, is definitely one of the best list I've seen on Listal, idea is just brilliant,
Here's my choice: The Godfather
I have felt just once ’first sight love’ in my life, so far. That moment happened to me when I saw The Godfather very first time. Then I realized that cinema isn’t just entertainment – it’s an art. I remember that I expect very much from movie, which was ranked so high in every single movie website. But one thing was sure, I couldn’t expect nothing like that one piece of cinematic art. After little bit more than three hours (commercial breaks) when I started to watch film, I was just watching the screen without any mind about what I just saw. After the first time I saw it, I didn’t understand the story 100% completely, but I knew that I had found a new love into my life – films.
After The Godfather I’ve seen hundreds of classics and great films but any of them couldn’t beat that one perfect work that isn’t the greatest movie of all time with no reason. Every single part of this movie is perfect or as nearly as possible. The first viewing experience was something that showed me that pictures includes something deeper than things that ‘popcorn films’ shows us.
Severin Severin also on The Godfather:
The Godfather
it's the film that made me appreciate cinema and to watch more aesthetically rewarding flicks. still my fave film of all time!
Happy Vader's rating:
1620
6.5
6.8
Brother Bear (2003)
Brother bear have changed my life, because the happiness and the love thats between the to "brothers" just makes me happy and makes me feel like i dont need anything else but love from the people that i love. It gives me life joy, and the feeling to not give up, that theres really is things to live for. Like your family. And the songs are great! It makes me think about a lot of things. I always sees it, when im unhappy and sad, it just makes all the trouble to go away :D
1502
6.5
6.7
Some of my were; "James and the Giant Peach" that was the first movie I ever saw on the big screen in 1996 when I was four that would pave the way for me watching many animated films in claymation, traditional, computer imaged and anime I will always love animated movies because you are never too old for a great animated movie.
The next one would have to be when I saw "Pulp Fiction" when I was 15 it blew my mind and made me see movie making in a whole new light. Also, I gained a huge amount of respect for the film making by QT. There are other amazing films but I will go into those later. Thank you very much :)
7838
8.3
9
The Dark Knight (2008)
The Dark Knight
It was the movie that made me get really into watching movies, and seeing as I saw The Dark Knight before I saw Batman Begins, it was also the movie that redemeed Batman again for me after the bad ones from the 90's. I love Batman. I remember leaving the theater thinking nothing but "Wow. Wow. Wow". I was speechless.
Happy Vader's rating:
9310
8.3
8.8
Fight Club (1999)
My favorite has to be Fight Club. It was the first movie that I really, really, REALLY loved and it made the biggest impression on me. The watching experience was mind blowing, which doesn't happen too ofter for me. Something about the movie just clicked for me and I like to think that it changed the way I look at things. Not to mention that it's well made and it's just genius. It's the biggest reason why I watch movies, and I always want to find movies that make me feel the way Fight Club did. Fight Club was an instant classic in my mind and the first viewing experience is something I will never forget.
Happy Vader's rating:
3273
8.1
8.3
Oldboy (2003)
Oldboy. It is the best film of all time in my opinion.
Because it's so shocking, violent, but also beautiful.
Great Directing, Acting, Music, Visual, Dialogues...
I think no one could make a film like this again. BEST FILM EVER.
"Laugh, and the world laughs with you. Weep and you weep alone."
544
7.9
8
Vivre Sa Vie (1962)
I've once stumbled upon a band Nouvelle Vague on Last.fm several years ago.
(They make covers of popular New Wave (post-punk) songs like "Love Will Tear Us Apart", "The Killing Moon", etc in lounge. A couple examples www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeaO0ZidQgc , www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH3x1PSYcm8 I still love some of their songs.)
I googled then and accidentally found out about a french movement under the same title. I think it was Vivre Sa Vie that I've seen first. After that i got more and more interested in art films. Today I'm not that much fascinated by Godard films of 60s. Bergman's Persona was that film which somehow was able to find a deeper connection with me.
614
7.8
7.9
THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, 1939, Michael Curtiz.
I grew up in th 80s and movies were mostly about hairsprays, early special effects and Beverly Hills Cop. When I saw Errol Flynn gatecrashed into Prince John's party with a royal deer over his shoulders laughing out loud and blinking at Olivia De Havilland, that was the moment I fell in love with classic movies. The greatest thing about this is---there are treasure chests of old movies to discover.
5067
7.9
8.5
The Prestige
I think this is a perfect film.I may say that this is the film really interesting and awesome.The mood of the film there are very tense and brutal good scenes in movie.What increase the interest.This film was my first big love.Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale are fascinating.This reason, how I started expressing an interest in the films.So I may say that this film changed my life.
Happy Vader's rating:
5283
8
8.5
For me it was The Departed. That movie made me change the way about seeing crappy comedies and made me a sophisticated movie-goer. It also made me explore great acting skills of Mark Wahlberg, Matt Damon, Leo and Jack Nicholson. That movie changed my life for sure.
Happy Vader's rating:
3366
8.2
8.5
For me, it was Casablanca. Before watching that movie I never knew what could be accomplished with black and white film, or how such an anti-hero as Rick Blaine could be so compelling a character, or how, in the end, good guys don't always win. It was staggering in its use of light and remarkable in the depth of its dialogue.
Happy Vader's rating:
6553
7.2
7.8
When I was a kid movies never really interested me. I think it was mainly becuase I never really watched a lot of movies that weren't Disney cartoons. But when I was ten my mom bought me E.T. and it changed my life. I loved it! I laughed, I cried, it was amazing. After, I immidiately went out and found all the Steven Spielgberg films I could find, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jurassic Park and, my now all time favorite movie: "Back to the Future" (I know he didn't direct it, but it said Spielberg on the DVD, and that's the only reason I watched it). E.T. is the movie that turned me into the cinephile I am today, and it will always be "right here".
6259
8.2
8.3
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
"A Clockwork Orange" for me too!!
Has been and always will be my all-time favourite film, and it clearly shows that film IS art.
78
5.8
5.7
The Land That Time Forgot (1974)
It's amazing how a film can change our perception of the world around us; history - and how it is written; people - both known and unmet; the human condition and just what we are capable of - physically, mentally and emotionally; the concepts of fate and possibilities...There are numerous films that have changed my own perception and understanding; in these ways and more.
But changed my life?
When I saw The Land That Time Forgot in theaters with my father at the age of 8, it instilled in me a fascination for fantasy and I saw the world through different eyes from that point on. I suppose it set my imagination free. It is one of my most treasured memories of time spent with my father, just he and I.
Years later, Highlander changed my view of life and mortality vs. immortality. After watching it in '86, my thoughts turned to this and have lingered and revisited often since...the stark truth that we are all, ultimately, alone and that, though we may be fortunate enough to find someone to share part of our journey through life, nothing lasts forever and we are...eventually, ultimately, left alone.
2526
8.7
9
12 Angry Men (1957)
There were several movies that influenced me throughout my life. Aladdin was the first film I saw in theaters and the original Star Wars trilogy was a huge part of growing up. However, I'd have to say 12 Angry Men helped me truly develop a love for film. I was in 9th grade Civics class and our teacher took two days to show us the film. I was blown away by the movie. I couldn't understand how a movie could be so simple, yet so captivating. A classmate of mine and I decided to start watching films on the AFI 100 Greatest Film list and then expanded to other films outside of those on that list. I started to appreciate the art of film making and was introduced to some of my all-time favorite films such as La Dolce Vita and Casablanca. Today, when I watch a film, I always think sometimes simple is better. Without that civics class and Sidney Lumet's film, I would never have developed a passion for the art of cinema.
2243
8
8
Annie Hall (1977)
I have a lot of films that changed my life but I am going to select just 2. The films that really changed my life.
I was changing channels looking for something to see when...I saw this liitle white guy talking to the camera. It immediately cought my attention. Needless to say, that film was Annie Hall. It completely changed my life. Not only it showed me real comedy but it introduced me to the future love of my life Woody Allen. it sounds weird but Woody Allen is the love of my life, my everything. Shortly, he's my idol. I will be forever grateful to the TV channel TV 1000. Oo, and Diane Keaton.
The second movie that changed my life is a classic. The great "The Philadelphia Story". True classic. It changed my life for 2 reasons: 1.I finally discovered the classic rom-com
2.It introduced to me to the greatest actors of all time: Katharine Hepburn and James Stewart, now my favorite actors of all time (and Cary Grant of course). The greatest actors indeed. Not to say the director George Cukor. One of my favorite movies of all time and a truly classic.
198
7.4
7.2
Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
Gentlemen's Agreement. I grew up in an overwhelmingly-Italian/Catholic neighborhood that bordered a largely-Jewish neighborhood and a mixed Catholic/Jewish one. Other than what the Nazis did to Jews, I never knew there was that much antisemitism in the United States and how ingrained it was in our society.
4412
8.1
8.3
Kubrick's sci-fi masterpiece really introduced me to classic cinema and just cinema in general. I remember the first time I watched it. I was absolutely blown away at the visuals, the music, the story, and about how profound it was. I remember it feeling like Kubrick took the space epic from Star Wars and the depth and profundity of Blade Runner and created an absolutely perfect masterpiece. It has been my favorite movie ever since and always will be.
Thenoah's justification for those who arched their eye-brows! -
You commented and told me about the fact that 2001 came out first. I knew that, but I saw the others first, and then I saw 2001. I wasn't really thinking straight, so if that's okay it would be great if you could add this as sort of an extra note. Thanks :)
Happy Vader's rating:
You all must have heard of
The Film That Changed My Life: 30 Directors On Their Epiphanies In The Dark compilation by Robert K. Elder!
I'm making one of my own and It's gonna be more than 30!
Happy Vader: Nosferatu
Propelas: Life is Beautiful
Deathwish: The Chorus
Pumpkinate: Godzilla
Tersanay: My Girl
RJ4: Inception
TeamDaiGurren: Grave of the Fireflies
Jamie: Heidi's Song
The Giraffe: Back to the Future
Giuvax: Le Quatre-Cents Coups, 400 Blows
Rocconeverdies: Jaws
Veed: The Godfather & City Lights:
SwornShadow: James and the Giant Peach & Pulp Fiction
BML93: The Dark Knight
Drugs: Fight Club
Redmist: Oldboy
Wreckme666: The Godfather
Noctem: My Life to Live
GeoJones100: Adventures of Robin Hood
Shia: The Prestige
Severin Severin: The Godfather
KingKritic: A Clockwork Orange
Fortunato: The Land That Time Forgot / Highlander
Moon River: Annie Hall / Philadelphia Story
TrekMedic: Gentlemen's Agreement
Thenoah: 2001 A Space Odyssey
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