A few nights ago I sat down and finally watched Cloud Atlas. It's a challenging movie - about six different storylines interwoven, some from way in the past, some from far in the future, and the cuts between them are short and fast. It's also a long movie, well over two hours. Sometimes it's difficult to know what's even going on. But by the end of it, a strange thing happened - I found myself deeply moved. I mean, genuinely moved ... touched.

I'm not going to recommend the movie to all and sundry. I suspect the effect had a lot to do with my mental state while watching it - tired to the point of exhaustion - and to where I am in life generally - mid-forties, wondering what the hell it all means. Probably, most people won't come away with anything like the feeling I had (and I suspect quite a few will just HATE it). Still, it's nice to know I still have to potential to be profoundly affected by a mere movie.

Has anyone else ever had a similar experience?

Nobody's been deeply affected by a movie. Hmmm ... could it be one of those embarrassing things where you realize "it only actually happens to you"?

I was deeply affected by Saving Private Ryan. The opening combat scenes were more memories than I could handle. I had to walk out for few minutes.

American History X

too many


just for a few

Amistad
roots
city of angels
the call
pursuit of happiness
copycat

Quite a few, for different reasons...

Ikiru (1952)
Little Fugitive (1953)
Harold And Maude (1971)
Picnic At Hanging Rock (1975)
The Spirit Of The Beehive (1973)
White Dog (1982)
When The Wind Blows (1986)
The Plague Dogs(1982)
Threads (1984)
In A Glass Cage (1987)
Titicut Follies (1967)
The Century Plaza (2005)
Week End (1967)
The Exterminating Angel (1962)
Valerie And Her Week of Wonders (1970)

Wow - great replies, guys. I guess we're all affected by different things. Saving Private Ryan was a wonderful movie (love Hanks) but didn't hit me the same way it hit oldhippie1952 - perhaps because, as an Irishman, I don't have a cultural affinity with what those guys actually did when they stormed the beaches.

American History X is another great one. I love Ed Norton, but think Edward Furlong was overrated, even then. Again, it didn't have the deep impact that it did for Ruth34611.

Some nice movies in your list, msharmony: I think Amistad came close for me - there was something searing about the injustice of the situation.

LOL - Torgo70, how can you have such a long list of movies I'm not familiar with? I loved Harold and Maude and it made a deep impression on me (the bit where Harold walks off down the garden and catches fire always stayed with me). I remember When The Wind Blows, I think: animated British movie about an old couple after a nuclear war? I really will have to go Googling for the rest.

Why do you think a movie moves some people and not others?

I think I would like to watch Cloud Atlas. I've seen some trailors. Is it out on DVD yet?

Movies that effected me sorta deep were:

Schindler's list
Saving Private Ryan

Can't think of any more right now.
Torgo70, I've never heard of those either.


Movies I enjoyed recently:

RED (Bruce Willis)

Movies I want to see soon:

RED II (Bruce Willis)

'The Heat.' (Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy)

I will. I just watched the trailer.

A suicidal young man gets a new lease on life when he falls for an 80-year-old woman.

I'm gong to look for Cloud Atlas at the store.

Have seen White Dog (1982)

That was quite interesting.

About a dog trained to kill only Black people, and how a black man tried to retrain him.

Way back when in the 80's I had a huge crush on Kristy McNichol, so I was watching all over her films, which were mainly fluff. But then I watched White Dog, not really knowing what it was about, just that she was in it.

Saddest movie ever for me was armageddon

Requiem for a Dream



Maybe the most goddamned depressing movie ever.

It was too close to combat, nam veteran...

Boyz In Da Hood (1991)- I didn't grow up on the streets. But this movie made me understand what the other side of life looks like. It's a powerful film that, even today, can still be emotionally effective. I'll never fully understand what it is like to grow up with a hard life. But I can watch this movie and see the effects of that kind of life.

The Crow (1994)- I was a fan of Brandon Lee's and was saddened by his death. Watching this film, knowing that his character dies in the movie and comes back to exact revenge on those who did him and his fiancée wrong, I couldn't help but have sorrow for not only the character but for Brandon Lee himself. It's a hypnotic film with a brilliant performance from Lee. I will always wonder what could have been for him.

Debbie Does Dallas was a deep film.

So many movies have impacted me.

I remember sitting in the movie theatre after Schindler's List unable to speak and unable to move .. My friend had recently lost her brother ... We both were emotionally wrecked and just sat there processing what we just saw. Really powerful.

Ever see Scorchers?

No. Is that a deep movie too?

I enjoy a great movie but with my attention span I don't watch many

if somebody says "you got to see that movie then a will be attentive.

unless its Tom Hanks or a handfull of actors portraying a famous

story or person.

Tom Hanks is the man!

I think I'm "infatuated" with survival storys,especially true ones.

so my list is some great ones that I can watch over, I'm sure there's many I would like?

Saving Private ryan...amazing! I'm not a vet!

and Castaway, Hanks can carry a film by himself and that entertainment. guys a " God"

I cryed when he lost Wilson (vollyball)

Alive

I think its called "into the wild???

when he ventures out across the states then ends up in the Ak

Vince V is in it.

that hit home! we were doing the same thing around the same time, he was

just 2 years younger. but I was chasing $ and venture, as he was not, he cut his identification up,


as I cut mine up unbeknownst to me at the time.

but if you go venturing down trails long enough you will lose yourself finding yourself,

you know, finding yourself losing yourself. I'm a social loner!

Shawshank Redemption, I love it, I can watch it over & over