What are some emotionally impactful and thought-provoking films?

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In summary, In search of a movie that will have a lasting effect on me, I have found only two movies that fit the bill in the past two years. The first is "The Passion of the Christ" and the second is "Gattaca."
  • #1
rootX
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Please recommend me movies!

I like something
>romantic (I like to call them "love" movies not romantic because I don't like girlish romance)
>melodrama,
>peaceful
>has some kind of sacrifice
>self-less
>leaves a long term effect on you
>natural
(like Gone with the wind, but I never watched it because it was not peaceful and was over romantic)

I have been searching movies from different cultures but they are so hard to find!
:grumpy:

In 2 years, I have found only two movies that left everlasting effect on me !

Thanks! :smile:

(If not above, any strong movie like Schindler's list would be good!)
 
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  • #2


The Passion of the Christ?
 
  • #3


Gattaca. has a lot of what you mentioned.
 
  • #4


So, what were the two movies you enjoyed that fit those criteria? It might help people offer reasonable recommendations if they have examples of what you enjoy.
 
  • #5


Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain?
 
  • #6


Forrest Gump would also fit the list, but it's such a famous good movie that you must've already seen it. How about 50 first dates? :tongue:
 
  • #7


Monique said:
Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain?

seems perfect! :biggrin:

So, what were the two movies you enjoyed that fit those criteria? It might help people offer reasonable recommendations if they have examples of what you enjoy.

The only problem is that they both are Asians (one Taiwanese - "Secret" and one Korean - "Love Phoba" ), so no one knows about them. They make perfect movies for me but recently they have moved to other themes :shy:.


I tried looking at Africans, Europeans but couldn't found that touching stories. I love movies that can make me feel some tears in my eyes (I don't cry).
 
  • #8


Monique said:
Forrest Gump would also fit the list, but it's such a famous good movie that you must've already seen it. How about 50 first dates? :tongue:

Gah, I hated 50 first dates.

I liked the Amelie + Forrest Gump suggestions.

for some newer ones:

Life is Beautiful - Italian, set in Italy & Germany
The Bridge to Terabithia - American, set in America
Pan's Labyrinth ("El laberinto del fauno") - Mexican, set in Spain
 
  • #9


My wife loves "Dirty Dancing" - it has romance, self-sacrifice, etc, including a kind of class-awareness that we don't often see treated in a way that is realistic. It was OK for me the first time, but she can watch it at least once a year.
 
  • #10


K.J.Healey said:
Gah, I hated 50 first dates.
I was joking! :biggrin:
for some newer ones:

Life is Beautiful - Italian, set in Italy & Germany
The Bridge to Terabithia - American, set in America
Pan's Labyrinth ("El laberinto del fauno") - Mexican, set in Spain

El laberinto del fauno is a wonderful movie, a definitely must-watch. The other day I watched Delicatessen, by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (director of Amélie), it doesn't fit the theme but it is a very entertaining (different than mainstream) movie.
 
  • #11


Groundhog Day is another movie with romance (and a hefty bunch of comedy) that I can watch every couple of years or so.
 
  • #12


The Bridges of Madison County, I absolutely LOVED that movie. Very simple and pure, about true love and sacrifice. I bought the DVD after watching the movie on television, something I've never done before or since.
 
  • #13


How about Big Fish?
 
  • #14


rootX said:
The only problem is that they both are Asians (one Taiwanese - "Secret" and one Korean - "Love Phoba" ), so no one knows about them. They make perfect movies for me but recently they have moved to other themes :shy:.

It's not a problem if they're Asian. I've seen Bin-jip (South Korean), it is also a wonderful movie about unreachable love, must see.
 
  • #15


Monique said:
It's not a problem if they're Asian. I've seen Bin-jip (South Korean), it is also a wonderful movie about unreachable love, must see.

Their most movies are about unreachable love :rofl:

Yes, I have seen it! I really loved it! :approve:
It is so simple, silent, and powerful! And, it is not about romantic show-offs (I wonder if it has any romance at all) like 50 dates.
 
  • #16


The Painted Veil >> I like it a lot, i don't think it's romance romance :smile:

have you seen Korean movie, Sad Movie? It might be a "girlish romance" though :rofl:
 
  • #17


rootX said:
Their most movies are about unreachable love :rofl:

Yes, I have seen it! I really loved it! :approve:
It is so simple, silent, and powerful! And, it is not about romantic show-offs (I wonder if it has any romance at all) like 50 dates.

Ah, see, now you already have three movies you loved :smile:

How about Das Leben der Anderen, Goodbye Lenin, or Lola Rennt? (all German) or Tempus Fugit? (Spanish). I don't know, there are just so many good movies.
 
  • #18
  • #19


Lock stock and two smoking barrels, it does not fill all on your list but the love for his son is very touching.
 
  • #20


Have you seen Fried Green Tomatoes?
 
  • #21


The Shawshank Redemption.
 
  • #22


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/" (fairy tale with attitude - on my top 25 list)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211915/" (modern fairy tale - French)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118799/" (this will make you cry - Italian)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0129167/" (animated - will give you a frog in your throat)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087197/" (does a mind have to be flesh to be in love?)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085334/" (if you've ever been ten years old...)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103129/" (loving means letting go - even when you're a ghost)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096794/" (same as above)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361411/" (Bollywood version of Pride & Prejudice and better than Hollywood Bollywood)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265343/" (also better than Bollywood)
 
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  • #23


I suggest :

1. A Very Long Engagement
2. In the Mood for Love
3. 2046
 
  • #24


I forgot to mention Devdas :smile:
 
  • #25


You say you want to find films from other cultures but they're hard to find. Here are a few directors you might be interested in:

Micheal Haneke - Funny games, Hidden etc
Kurusawa - Sanjuro, Yojimbo, Seven samurai
Clozout - Wages of Fear, Les Diaboliques
Kielowski - three colours trilogy
Jean Pierre Melville - 60's french crime noir: Les Doulos, Bob le Flambeur
Henri Verneuil - Mélodie en sous-sol (The big grab), none of his other films
Goddard - breathless
Tarkovski - Stalker, Mirror (I don't like Solaris, bit tacky)
Bergmann - Anything around the time of Persona
John Huston - 40/50s american noir: Asphalt Jungle, Maltesse Falcon
Nuri Bilge Ceylan - Climates
Truffaut - 400 blows
Chris Marker - Sunless
Hiroshi Teshigahara - woman of the dunes (1964)

The list is endless. The films which made an imprint on me particularly were Persona, Stalker, Funny games, Sanjuro, Les Doulos; all of them really.
 
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  • #26


rootX said:
I like something
>romantic (I like to call them "love" movies not romantic because I don't like girlish romance)
>melodrama,
>peaceful
>has some kind of sacrifice
>self-less
>leaves a long term effect on you
>natural
(like Gone with the wind, but I never watched it because it was not peaceful and was over romantic)

I have been searching movies from different cultures but they are so hard to find!
:grumpy:

In 2 years, I have found only two movies that left everlasting effect on me !

Thanks! :smile:

(If not above, any strong movie like Schindler's list would be good!)

Other cultures? Try some Bollywood movies. I recommend Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Kal Ho Naa Ho.

Let me know if you like these kinds of movies and I'll recommend more.
 
  • #27


wolram said:
Lock stock and two smoking barrels, it does not fill all on your list but the love for his son is very touching.

:rofl: If you say so.

On a serious note, try A Room With a View.
 
  • #28


Thanks everyone. I think now I have movies for next 4 months! :biggrin:

Here's my list. If you have similar interests, you would like them for sure(there isn't much variety):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Phobia"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_iron"
http://elephantentertainment.wordpress.com/2008/01/11/taiwanese-movie-secret-2007/"

(too much work ... :zzz:)
Last Present, Hearty Paws, Diary of June, April Snow, Millionaire's First Love, Sunflower Lady, 100 Days with Mr. Arrogant, A Bittersweet Life, Bystanders, Oh Happy Days, Oh! My God, Temptation of Wolves, Mr. Socrates, Virgin Snow, Daisy, Two Faces of My Girlfriend, A Love, Old Boy, Sympathy for Lady Vengance, Mr.Vengeance

3-Iron, I wish I had a wife, Going by the book, Sad Movie, Spirited Away, Il Mare, Princess Mononoke

My future movie list I made before making this thread (planed for next 4 months)
Frivolous Wife,Life Track ,Like Father Like Son, Humming, ...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #29


You forgot sympathy for Mr.Vengeance

You need the whole vengeance trilogy.
 
  • #30


leftyguitarjo said:
You forgot sympathy for Mr.Vengeance

You need the whole vengeance trilogy.

Thanks I have edited my list. I watched it (that deaf-mute kidnapping ending up killing the girl ... ) but forgot to add it to my movies list :(
 
  • #31


rootX said:
Thanks I have edited my list. I watched it (that deaf-mute kidnapping ending up killing the girl ... ) but forgot to add it to my movies list :(

ok cool.

BTW oldboy is by far the greatest movie in existence:wink:
 
  • #32


leftyguitarjo said:
ok cool.

BTW oldboy is by far the greatest movie in existence:wink:

It is ugly, disgusting, and challenging to watch!

It beat the sh*t out of me and I loved it! :biggrin:
 
  • #33


rootX said:
It is ugly, disgusting, and challenging to watch!

It beat the sh*t out of me and I loved it! :biggrin:


The hammer scene... amazing.
 
  • #34


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0783233/"
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #35


The Royal Tenenbaums
 

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