If you worked at a well-stocked, nice video store and I walked in and asked you (the clerk) for a movie that rights all my wrongs, puts my head straight, and perhaps even reaffirm my faith in humanki

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

feel-good movies of the years

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:08 (twenty-two years ago)

"Waterworld"

― Mike Hanle y (mike), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Spiceworld!

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Waynes World
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure

― jel -- (jel), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
Grosse Pointe Blank
The Matrix

― Ally (mlescaut), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:14 (twenty-two years ago)

is grosse point blank actually that good? it's one of those ones i always pause in front of then think, "nah" ... though i don't really know why

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Secretary all the way.

or Waking Life.

― Carey (Carey), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:16 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.etches-johnson.com/images/past.jpg

― slutsky (slutsky), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Groundhog Day

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:18 (twenty-two years ago)

St. Elmo's Fire. If Rob Lowe can call bullshit on Demi Moore for "self-made drama" or whatever he calls it, the world's all right with me.

― Tep (ktepi), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Fritz, there are lots of people vouching for Grosse Pointe Blank on the Grosse Pointe Blank thread! It's a great movie, you should see it.

THE BREAKFAST CLUB!!!!!!!!!!!1

― Ally (mlescaut), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Together.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:21 (twenty-two years ago)

http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/coverv/95/110695.jpg

― adam (adam), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Joe Vs. the Volcano

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Kenan, I kiss you.

― Tep (ktepi), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:23 (twenty-two years ago)

If you worked at a well-stocked, nice video store and I walked in and asked you (the clerk) for a movie that rights all my wrongs, puts my head straight, and perhaps even reaffirm my faith in humankind, what film would you suggest?

that's a very, very tall order. seriously.

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:24 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.doriane-films.com/films/dvd/tobe/affs.jpg

strangely enough

― slutsky (slutsky), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:25 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.ziyue.com/poster/p/PlunkettAndMacleane.jpg

― Ally (mlescaut), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Putney Swope!

― Bryan (Bryan), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Did you actually see that movie, Ally?

― slutsky (slutsky), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, it's great!

― Ally (mlescaut), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Also: Cat Ballou!

― Ally (mlescaut), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:28 (twenty-two years ago)

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Lilo and Stitch. The Iron Giant.

― Tep (ktepi), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:30 (twenty-two years ago)

What About Bob?
The Sandlot
200 Cigarettes
To Kill A Mockingbird

― Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:33 (twenty-two years ago)

box of moonlight

― ron (ron), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:36 (twenty-two years ago)

The Washington Post's Bob Levey recommended Billy Elliot and Kissing Jessica Stein.

― j.lu (j.lu), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Women dabbling in lesbianism, but not becoming lesbians, fills all men with hope and pride.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I just watched Altman's Pret-A-Porter again a DAMN the whole thing great no matter what they say

― Aaron A., Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:42 (twenty-two years ago)

SERIOUS recommendation, not a larf:
_Rabbit Proof Fence_. A touching and profound movie.
Were you looking for a "happy" or "feelgood" movie?
Cause this doesn't fit that bill perfectly.
But despite it's depressing bits, the sum total
meets your criteria nicely.

― Squirrel_Police (Squirrel_Police), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Re. Kenan's lesbians comment: I really don't understand that whole line of humor, which seems to be an ILX mainstay. I find it vaguely offense, honestly.

― amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I meant it ironically.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Cause, you know, that's what Kissing Jessica Stein is about, and the critic is male, so I drew a line. It was a joke. What's offensive?

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:46 (twenty-two years ago)

The two faux-lesbians hanging off your arms when you said it.

― Ally (mlescaut), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:47 (twenty-two years ago)

The Sandlot
Yes! Just for the scene where 'Ham' walks around the pool talking to all the girls and then cannonballs into the pool.

― Bryan (Bryan), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Shall We Dance - although the idea of a US remake which may star J-lo + Richard Gere destroys all that faith again.

― Honda (Honda), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Goonies!
Angus!

― Carey (Carey), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I cried like you wouldn't be-LEEEV at Shall We Dance.

― g--ff c-nn-n (gcannon), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 20:56 (twenty-two years ago)

City of God! Feels like holiday. IN HELL AAHAHAHAHA

― Frühlingsmute (Wintermute), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 21:28 (twenty-two years ago)

My answer to this is the same as it's always been. Yi-Yi (trans. title: A One and a Two) by Edward Yang.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 22:09 (twenty-two years ago)

happiness

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 22:11 (twenty-two years ago)

the princess bride!

― Maria (Maria), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 23:11 (twenty-two years ago)

female trouble

― ducklingmonster, Tuesday, 20 May 2003 23:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I was going to say the Princess Bride, oh well, I'll say it anyway, The Princess Bride!

― Matt (Matt), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 23:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Adventures in Babysitting
You Can't Take it With You
any good Marx Bros movie

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 20 May 2003 23:31 (twenty-two years ago)

The Straight Story

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 00:06 (twenty-two years ago)

The Shawshank Redemption
Next Stop Wonderland

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 00:24 (twenty-two years ago)

"Weapons of the Spirit" (documentary about a village in southeast France whose Protestant inhabitants sheltered thousands of Jews during WWII).

― Wired Flounder (Wired Flounder), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 01:45 (twenty-two years ago)

you can't miss with Raising Arizona, Waiting for Guffman, or anything with Christina Ricci.

― dan (dan), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 02:37 (twenty-two years ago)

yes, Ice Storm and Opposite of Sex restore my faith in humanity. No question.

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 02:54 (twenty-two years ago)

My god, this many posts and no one's yet voted for Amelie???

Whats the MATTER WITH YOU PEOPLE!?

― Trayce (trayce), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 03:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Amelie belongs on the "nightmares" version of this thread

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 03:23 (twenty-two years ago)

word

― slutsky (slutsky), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 03:30 (twenty-two years ago)

You think? Seriously?

Am I in some parallel universe? I've had people tell me my votes on both these threads are back the front. WTF?

― Trayce (trayce), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 03:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, I hated that movie.

― slutsky (slutsky), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 03:46 (twenty-two years ago)

same here. i think at that point any lingering affection i had for twee things was obliterated

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 03:52 (twenty-two years ago)

It bothers me that most of us posted oh-so-clever
anti-answers. Don't get me wrong, I'm guilty of the same
attitude. But it's such a boring, automatic response.

― skwil plise (Squirrel_Police), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 03:55 (twenty-two years ago)

eh, i think it was split between serious and goof answers---just like any other thread

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 03:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I think more people answered seriously than not.

― slutsky (slutsky), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 04:01 (twenty-two years ago)

big props popshots for next stop wonderland

― ron (ron), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 05:19 (twenty-two years ago)

My answer to everything filmic: Trois Couleurs: Rouge

― Leee (Leee), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 05:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Harold And Maude or The Big Lebowski or Elling or The Princess Bride or Together.

― Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 07:38 (twenty-two years ago)

it's wonderful life - of course.

― angela (angela), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 08:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I always get asked this. I generally recommend Tetsuo; The Iron Man.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 08:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Honest answer - The Right Stuff (1983), all-star cast in beautifully shot, well paced, affirmational and humane story of fulfilment and achievement.

Comedy answer – Robocop (1987), dystopic twentieth century Christ metaphor tragi-comedy, the sparkling dialogue ("Are you a college boy or something? I bet you think you’re pretty smart huh? Think you can outsmart a bullet?"), rapier wit ("well give the man a hand") and philosophical musings ("it’s you Murphy…") are outstripped only by the fine characterisations – Weller, delivering a career best performance, is outstanding as Murphy, the tortured ‘prodigal son’ ("you are gonna be one bad motherfucker"), who is violently ‘crucified’ then miraculously resurrected by the new God of Technology, his body and spirit set against the advancements and system prerogatives that have replaced the 10 Commandments in degenerate society, Kurtwood Smith is compelling as the Angel of Death, his thanatonic urges seducing the Apostle-like figures of his cronies who join the murderous Boddicker in his quest to purge Murphy but are themselves ultimately absolved; Paul McCrane as the lost soul Emil is literally ‘washed’ clean of his sins, while Leland Palmer appearing as a Samson-like Leon Nash is dragged by Murphy from a nightclub, in a particularly resonant scene, by his hair.

― Alex K (Alex K), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 09:11 (twenty-two years ago)

It's A Wonderful Life surely owns this thread

― Nathan W (Nathan Webb), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 13:21 (twenty-two years ago)

IAWL is so... obvious.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Now there's a movie.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 13:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Alex K, I agree with you re: The Right Stuff, but I think Robocop is a great movie too! In all seriousness!

― slutsky (slutsky), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 13:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Also Kenan IAWL might be obvious but it does fit the thread description to a T. (As does Mr. Smith)

― slutsky (slutsky), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 13:32 (twenty-two years ago)

"Pret-A-Porter" is irredeemably awful.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 13:40 (twenty-two years ago)

slutsky, Robocop is one of my favourite movies of all time (why else do you think I can quote it at will?), but it's hardly a life-affirmer.

― Alex K (Alex K), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 13:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I would give you a gigantic spleef and a copy of Slacker.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 13:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I think It's a Wonderful Life is pretty bleak in a lot of ways that even the (yes yes it still works for me every time, I'm a sop and I admit it) happy ending can't totally erase.

I vote for Beetlejuice, Bringing Up Baby, A Hard Day's Night, and Rio Bravo.

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 14:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd give you a copy of Beautiful People that had the very last scene erased.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 15:07 (twenty-two years ago)

"Belle Epoque"

"About a Boy"

― Mark C (Mark C), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 15:20 (twenty-two years ago)

FiteClub (okay, I know it's really Fight Club).

― toraneko (toraneko), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 16:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Together / Tilsammans

Show Me Love / Fucking Amal

Secrets & Lies

It's A Wonderful Life

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Big Lebowski

From Dusk Til Dawn

― DV (dirtyvicar), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Show Me Love is a great choice.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 17:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Top Hat

also

Tonari no Totoro, also known as My Neighbor Totoro.

― janni (janni), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 18:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I've thought of another one! The Disney cartoon of Hercules! it's such a romp.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 19:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Show Me Love is a great choice.

it's what makes Lilja 4-Ever so entertaining as a contrary choice.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 19:03 (twenty-two years ago)

ooh, and how could i forget Tampopo? i think it's v. difficult to stay sad after watching that. :)

― janni (janni), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 19:04 (twenty-two years ago)

see thread re: Putney Swope.

― j fail (cenotaph), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 19:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Beau Travail! If that scene at the end doesn't right all wrongs I don't know what does.
What about Topsy-Turvy? seems like all the directors I'd put on the other list also belong here.

― daria g, Wednesday, 21 May 2003 20:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Man Bites Dog

― Bryan (Bryan), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 20:15 (twenty-two years ago)

This visitor clearly needs to visit CapAert.com. They recommend Mary Poppins, which has an astonishing CAP score of 100!

Note that this is based on the clever, scientific scoring system of WISDOM, which judges a film by the number of references to:
Sex
Drugs
Orrible stuff
and three other criteria.

― Judge Mentalist (Judge Mentalist), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 20:28 (twenty-two years ago)

stand by me
sandlot
the red balloon

― kephm, Wednesday, 21 May 2003 22:59 (twenty-two years ago)

The Exorcist

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Wednesday, 21 May 2003 23:07 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't care what you think, I'm voting for Amelie. Also Local Hero, Before Sunrise, The Iron Giant, and His Girl Friday

― Chris Barrus (Chris Barrus), Wednesday, 21 May 2003 23:08 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.suntimes.com/ebert/greatmovies/wingsdesire.html

― Forwarding Burden, Thursday, 22 May 2003 10:17 (twenty-two years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.