Is there any films that really touched your life in a big way or inspired you?

[LollipopSweetiePie]

I have a few but would like to hear yours first...

Ladder 49 (i think its called) still gives me shivers thinking about it.

I really liked Grand Canyon, in my teens I was obsessed with Pretty in Pink (had it on video), really liked You Can Count on Me, do get temporarily affected by the daytime films on Hallmark (when the dss fall asleep at the same time).

Was also very affected by Traffic, I'm sure there are more but they're not coming to me - oh yeah The Shawshank Redemption.

Braveheart inspires me every time I watch it.
Also The Sound of Music, Its A Wonderful Life, Parenthood, I could go on forever. Lots of films like Schindlers List have had a major effect on me, but I could only watch it once, would be too upset watching it again.

I loved Cry Freedom and it led me to read a lot about South Africa, but I can't say it touched my life in a big way.

American Beauty.
When We Were Kings.

Naked by Mike Leigh, it's amazing and the end of the world speech AND the speech about boredom are amazing!!

Holocaust
Roots (but that was TV)

Made me v. interested in the holocaust and slavery.

In late teens, that bloody dreadful film with Glenn Close and Michael Douglas with the bunny-boiling scene - what was it called?

All I can remember, is that it definitely influenced me to be a doormat in a relationship with some bloke who was messing me about at the time. I didn't behave in my instinctively assertive manner (!) because of the fear of being thought of as a bunny-boiler.

Just remembered "The Sheltering Sky" really affected me as well, Angeliz's comment reminded me of a speech at the end in that which was very profound, about how are identity is so closely linked to memory and how transient life is.

I can't remember what it was called - maybe Field of Dreams? About a man who builds a baseball ground on his farm, and all these players from the past come and play on it. Sounds a bit naff when I put it like that, but the cinematography is truly stunning and it's really atmospheric. Plus some lovely philosophical thoughts in it.

Anyone else recognise it - have I got the name right?

yes miaow

Thank you saadia - I will now sleep tonight...

Au Revoir les Enfants
Hotel Rwanda
Inside I'm Dancing
The Passion

Dahlia yes to shindlers list I couldn't watch it other than the once either

I loved Shaw shank redemption too

Stand by me.. could watch that film over and over again

Spot on, Angeliz! Naked is a work of genius, Mike Leigh's best film and the best British film of the 90s. Unforgiveably not available to date on DVD.

Lorenzo's Oil was haunting...can't hear certain music without feeling how I did when I watched that film.

Er, on the completely unintellectual side... Star Wars? The original one.

Magnolia
Ordinary People ( when I was younger)

expat - definitely Inside I'm Dancing - epic film.

Shadowlands - gets me everytime.

Don Juan de Marco - Marlon Brando and Johnny Depp helped cheer me up when I was alone and destitute in London.

Roots was great but on TV I'd ahev to add the Elizabeth R series with Glenda Jackson and the mighty I, Claudius.

Annie Hall

And for the best laughs The Court Jester with Danny Kaye.

Oh, too too many!

Agree with Magnolia too BFM, but would add Punch Drunk Love too. Paul Thomas Anderson is a real talent.

Contact

Scarface

..

Magnolia is great but Punch Drunk Love made me want to smash things up myself. Hugely irritating film.

Breaking the Waves was the most incredible film I have ever seen. Also loved Magnolia

The Butterfly Effect
The Machinist
I am Sam
Stigmata
Braveheart
As Good As it Gets
The Shining is the scariest film I've ever seen and terrified me for a long time!