Elysa from gen pink posted a “must see” movies question in the 20 something forum. The question was provoked by a post at Chick Speak. My mouth fell open when I saw the list of movies presented as “must see’s” for the 20 something crowd. I followed the link to the source to see if it was a joke. Nope, it didn’t appear to be a joke. The films listed as the ten “must see” movies for 20 somethings, along with a paragraph describing what life lesson you will learn from the movie, are shortlisted here for your reference. To see the life lessons thought to be learned from these “must see’s” check out the above link.
The shortlist without explanation:
He’s Just Not That Into You
Almost Famous
Devil Wears Prada
My Best Friend’s Wedding or Father of the Bride
Closer
Because I Said So
Elizabeth town
Waitress
Life Or Something Like It
Steel Magnolias (I’m in agreement with this one).
I’m all for watching movies for fun. I am, after all, a horror movie junky aficionado. Horror, a genre where life lessons are limited to macabre and bloody reminders to never run into the forest in high heals, or up the stairs to a room with no alternative exit when an axe wielding psychopath is chasing me, not to eat apples offered by strangers (yes, Snow White was a horror movie), and oh yea, not to go into the light. Nevertheless, it’s a little unnerving to see the aforementioned list presented as “must see”.
Except for Steel Magnolias, there isn’t one “must see”, “life lesson”, movie on the list, though there are a couple of movies worth watching when you have nothing better to do. They are fun, though sometimes abysmally pretentious movies, and that is all. We all need to watch some useless drivel once in awhile, when our brains are cooked from a long day of work. I don’t think I’m totally off base thinking these movies are not in the “life lesson” or “must see” category. How do I say this is a pathetic list, and one that degrades the intelligence of a whole age group, without sounding like a mean, or contemptible person (mean and contemptible person being a synonym for asshole)?
Never mind it really doesn’t matter. I may be off base, but I hope the list is not representative of the majority of 20 something’s lists, however, given I also hope life isn’t a big joke I’m missing out on, I wouldn’t put money on that being the case.
My list is a little different. There are maybe a hundred movies on it, most of them old. Here’s the short list.
Annie Hall:
I learned, about self-love, kindness, selfishness and so much more.
Midnight Express:
I learned not to smuggle illegal substances out of Turkey, but it doesn’t end there. Better than the later made Brokedown Palace I think the film is a must see for everyone.
The Accused: Should be seen by everyone over the age of 18. Based on gang rape of Cheryl Araujo at a bar New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1983, it was one of the first films to deal overtly with rape.
Do The Right Thing: One of those rare culturally significant films, it dealt with race relations in a multicultural community. The controversy surrounding the movie carried it’s own very telling cultural significance.
Pulp Fiction: It’s awesome.
Silence of the Lambs:
I learned not to piss off a psychiatrist.
The Killing Fields: A film about the experiences of three journalists, an American, a Brit, and a Cambodian, during Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia.
The Shawshank Redemption: I learned about integrity and patience.
Children of Men: Who doesn’t want to see a well made film about a future dystopia in which the human race, suffering two decades of infertility, is on the verge of extinction.
What would your top “must see” movie(s) be for people in their twenties?
I… didn’t like Children of Men. I really thought it was too depressing, and nothing is resolved at the end. I thought it was sad….
However, I can’t agree with the “original” 20somethings list. I mean, some of them are good, but NOT “must-sees.” Definitely not.
.-= Angela´s last blog ..Freaking Out =-.
I’m a sucker for depressing movies that end with no answers because sometimes there aren’t any.
For me, it’s an easy list
Clerks (the original)
Full Metal Jacket
Caddyshack
Blazing Saddles
American Psycho
Big Lebowski
.-= Norcross´s last blog ..This Blog is Called Restless Like Me and I’m Currently Bored. =-.
Guys seem to loe the Big Lebowski. Clerks is a definitive must see, not much of a life lesson but still.
Take out Annie Hall and sub with My Life as a Dog. Sometimes, laughter is the best medicine to cure hangovers. If you include Killing Fields, then you’ve gotta put in Acops Now, too. Otherwise, take out and put in… ummm… gotta think about this. Most certainly not Show Girls.
.-= sauerkraut´s last blog ..Sarah Palin the bittertwitterquitter quits today =-.
There are too many movies worth seeing for 20 sometihngs. Can’t name them all I only know that list is far from it.
Why would I give advice to a 20-something? The Blues Brothers.
.-= Doug´s last blog ..Excess =-.
Oh, and the Othello with Lawrence Fishburne.
.-= Doug´s last blog ..Excess =-.
I’m with you on Blues Brothers. Not a lesson but at least worthwhile.
I liked Children of Men. My list would have to have Schindler’s List on there and V for Vendetta too.
.-= Chris´s last blog ..Freedom Fighting Victims =-.
yea, the list could go on and on. V for Vendetta was good.
What no “Fight Club”?
Your list minus Annie Hall, never seen it, probably won’t…. plus….
American History X
The Rocky Horror Picture show
Dead Poet’s Society
Big Lebowski
There are a lot of movies 20′s should see, none of on are on the original list you posted, is right.
No Fight Club for me G.
“Must see’s” for people in their 20′s is a strong title for that list. I like your list, but never saw Annie Hall. I could list many, but movies are rarely must see’s. There are must reads but….
Caddyshack …..of course.
Montey Python and The Quest for the Holy Grail, Apocalypse Now. Many already mentioned by other people above.
Anything that makes you laugh till you pee your pants or cry until you can’t breath.
.-= jacob´s last blog ..Lightening =-.
“Anything that makes you laugh till you pee your pants or cry until you can’t breath.”
Perfect.
I write about black dresses and even I thought that was a big miss in the must see category. Movies I can enjoy are different from movies that mean something. There aren’t many learn something movies.
Shrek is a better life lesson movie than most of those, Shrek is on my list, American Beauty, and Terms of Endearment.
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape too.
.-= kait´s last blog ..The Uniform Project =-.
I am on the fence about Gilbert Grape, though not about Johnny Depp.
Annie Hall made me (mentally) jump up in recognition. Diane Keaton even dressed like me. Or I here but then you didn’t know what every celebrity dressed like
Rocky Horror–your own version and it could be completely different–because every gen should have a movie they can dance to, dress up, and recite every lyric
Casablanca as it crosses generational appeal and you can stay up real late with your father reciting every line
it’s strange I have seen so many movies and loved many of them yet the single movie that really pops into my mind is Annie Hall. I liked a number on your list especially Pulp Fiction as it changed many things about movies. Steel Magnolias I though manipulative
I agree with Jacob about laughing until you pee or…..great line :)
.-= pia´s last blog ..Bless you(r) heart, Miss Pia, you look divine…. =-.
Two for Annie Hall then. ;)
I like the movies which teach love does not conquer all and war is bad. After that there are probably more life lessons to be learned from horror movies.
You’re probably right Joe.
It’s not like you to do a lame top ten post but this was pretty good.
I protest top anything lists so I won’t tell you that Rocky Horror has to be on the list, along with Dr. Strangelove.
.-= johnm´s last blog ..It’s not 1984. =-.
That list of chick flicks is very pathetic.
Most all of those from the gen pink list are very dulled Hollywood mainstream crap.
I used to be more of a horror fan until most recent movies have all become too simplified. Here I am showing my age, but I don’t care. I missed older movies when there was more story.
Good list of yours though. Your list is one I could easily swallow & appreciate.
My top 5, shall I?
2001: A Space Odyssey
The Matrix
No Country For Old men
RoboCop (part 1 only)
American Beauty
Not surprisingly all of these carry an identical theme.
Life, death, and beyond.
.-= Bennet´s last blog ..Sounds, Memories =-.
The list isn’t from gen pink she she eluded to the original list. But yeah it is. Though the Matrix is kind of questionable. Seeing Space Odyssey as it must have been viewed all those years ago is hard, though I think everyone should see it. I remember my father trying to explain to me how it felt to see that movie at the time, it doesn’t hold the same feeling in this day and age, though it doesn’t lose as much as one would think – due to Kubrick. My father went on and on about that damn Monolith…
RoboCop?
I enjoy action movies. I’m male, big surprise.
The Matrix, based after Hindu religion, , how can it not be appreciated. It was more original than most movies.
As for RoboCop again, action. Action doesn’t always mean explosions. Sometimes I enjoy the sequencing. It was also an over the top parody of the 80s greed.
The Monolith in 2001 was the plot device that drives the story. Some have theorized that Kubrick (after many failed attempts) used what symbolized the actual CinemaScope screen size so that when the film goes black, there’s the Monolith. Kubrick enjoyed symbolic jokes.
.-= Bennet´s last blog ..Sounds, Memories =-.
I really enjoyed the life lessons on the original post. Though I suppose it’s too late for me to learn any of those.
If I were posting in the thirtysomething-but-still-occasionally-act-seventeen forum on Guy Talk, I would recommend Dumb & Dumber.
I may never be able to forgive you that admission.
Now Dumb and Dumber was funny.
I like your list a lot better.
I don’t believe in lists, but Fellini’s LA DOLCE VITA is good for 20-somethings.
Absolutely, everyone should see that film.
Just discovered your blog (via blogcatalog). Nodding my head vigorously – your list is far closer to any I might have compiled than the original list.
While it’s great to switch off and enjoy a brainless movie from time to time (“The Core” springs to mind), “great” movies are a different proposition entirely.
Excellent post!
.-= Jonathan´s last blog ..The Music of the Blogosphere =-.
chick flicks – yes
lessons – no
Pulp Fiction yes, because some movies are just good. I like your list, but do guys really see Annie Hall?
Citizen Kane and The Godfather’s, all of them, make my list. Garden State is worthy, everyone should see Field of Dreams, and Fight Club.
.-= jake´s last blog ..Electronic Waste =-.