Films that left you with a sense of wonder and awe

[katiesparkles]

For the 25th anniversary of "Back to the Future" they did some screenings of the restored version, and I went with one of my friends. .

I happened to be in Los Angeles AND in Hollywood that very day when they showed Back to the Future 1,2 and 3 at Grauman's Egyptian Theater. The mom from the movies was there! I forgot the actresses' name. It was absolutely awesome seeing the movie on big screen and everyone cheering!

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

It's a Wonderful Life. Maybe old and corny and lacking in technical special effects, but a story that touches the heart and soul.

 

[AmateisGal]

Another one - The Bishop's Wife. I watched it for the first time over this past Christmas and it put me in such a wonderful, good mood that I felt like I was floating on air the rest of the night.

 

[WH1]

Legend of 1900. just enjoyed it and still do each time I see it.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Another picture I've only seen once and will never forget is "The Big Parade." There have been more elaborate war movies, there have been more gruesome war movies, there have been more "realistic" war movies, but there has never been a war movie with more emotional intensity.

In thinking about this thread, I realized that of all the movies I've seen in my life the ones that have had the most lasting emotional impact have been silents. Not that I haven't seen plenty of intense, memorable talkies, but I think silent pictures operate on an entirely different emotional plane. Everything nonessential is stripped away, and there's nothing left *but* the emotions.

 

[MisterCairo]

In 1979 I was 12 years old, and my parents took us to see The Black Stallion. If you are familiar with the film, you'll know about the first half hour or so, virtually no dialogue. Just..... stunning.....

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078872/?licb=0.040644989581778646

 

[scottyrocks]

It's a Wonderful Life. Maybe old and corny and lacking in technical special effects, but a story that touches the heart and soul.

Yes, that and It Happened One Night both left their marks on me as memorable films that I can watch repeatedly.

 

[Edward]

Pans Labyrinth and The Prestige for sure... and the first time I ever watched Stand by Me, think I was around 10 or 11 (so way too young, but my parents never paid attention to what was on the TV... haha).

Oh, and Lords of Dog Town. Awesome movie, but such a bummer at the same time.

I love Stand By Me. I was about fifteen when I first saw it, but it impacts me on a whole other level now as an adult looking back on being a kid as opposed to a kid watching other kids.

 

[kokopelli]

How bout you.. A wonderful film.. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0887745/

Darjeeling Limited was good.. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0838221/

Mumbai Diaries.. Good as well.. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1433810/

 

[Doctor Strange]

Jason and the Argonauts on the big screen when I was 9. 2001: A Space Odyssey during its original release, at the massive Cinerama theater in NYC (when I was 13.) Raiders of the Lost Ark on opening day at the Loew's Astor Plaza (specifically because, unlike now, there had been ZERO spoilers and the whole thing was an amazing surprise).

Lots of others (Lawrence of Arabia, Bonnie & Clyde, The Godfather, Star Wars, Apocalypse Now, etc.), but these really stand out off hand.

 

[katiesparkles]

I love Stand By Me. I was about fifteen when I first saw it, but it impacts me on a whole other level now as an adult looking back on being a kid as opposed to a kid watching other kids.

Agreed!

 

[juggles]

The last movie I saw that really knocked me out was Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

 

[Flicka]

Pans Labyrinth and The Prestige for sure... and the first time I ever watched Stand by Me, think I was around 10 or 11 (so way too young, but my parents never paid attention to what was on the TV... haha).

Oh, I loved that too! Made a huge impact on me (although I was a mature 13).

The world lost a great actor in River Phoenix.

 

[Edward]

The last movie I saw that really knocked me out was Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Saw that in the cinema during the initial phase of a very messy break-up, which was....interesting. I really like it now. I love the unhappy ending.

 

[O2BSwank]

Another vote for Pan's Labyrinth. Luckily I speak Spanish and could appreciate the original dialouge.

 

[W-D Forties]

The Wicker Man. I first saw it on late night telly when I was 12 or 13 and it blew my mind. I never went back to Sunday school after that.

 

[Miss Golightly]

37°2 Le Matin (Betty Blue) - At the time this movie was perhaps more celebrated for its nudity and sex scenes however the first time I saw this I left the cinema kind of oblivious to the former and instead blown away by the incredibly sad love story, haunting soundtrack, gorgeous cinematography and the performances of the two leading actors Jean Hughes Anglade and Beatrice Dalle (she was outstanding in particular). It remains one of my favourite movies of all time.

 

[Chasseur]

For re-creating the world of the 18th century, Dangerous Liaisons , Amadeus, and Barry Lyndon when I was nuts about that time left with a deep sense of awe.

Some of the great technicolar musicals of the 1950s, in particular Singin' in the Rain and Gigi.

Many of Hitchcock's film: The Lady Vanishes, Notorious, Rear Window,
etc.
Many of the Merchant and Ivory productions, in paricular: A Rooms with a View, the Remains of the Day, and The Golden Bowl.

Most of David Lean's films in particular Lawrence of Arabia.

Great atmospheric film noirs: Gaslight, Touchez pas au grisbi, Asphault Jungle,

 

[Edward]

The Wicker Man. I first saw it on late night telly when I was 12 or 13 and it blew my mind. I never went back to Sunday school after that.

Ha.... yeah, that one gave me the willies too. So did the remake, if for altogether very different reasons.

 

[ButteMT61]

Agreed!

I feel the same with Super 8 and E.T. Watched them both with my granddaughter this weekend.