I’ve always been inspired by really bad movies like “Plan 9 from Outer Space” because it makes me wonder how something that sh*tty can get made and it also makes me feel hopeful that if someone as bad as Ed Wood can get into Hollywood, then I still have a chance to get in, too.
Other films that inspire me are:
[ul]
[li]“2001: A Space Odyssey”[/li][li]“A Clockwork Orange”[/li][li]“Sin City”[/li][li]“Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow”[/li][li]many others…[/li][/ul]
One film the inspired me was the anime “Voices of a Distant Star”. What I found inspiring was the fact it was 30 minute OVA(Original Video Animation) that was written, produced, and directed by one person, Makaoto Shinkai, on one PowerMacG4. The Animation is a little rought around the edges but its a first class story. I’d recommend it anyone, even those who don’t like anime. Its only $12 at best buy and its in english.
http://www.animeondvd.com/discdata/essential/voicesofadistantstar.php
Yeah that was it, James and the Giant Peach! That one was really fun! It’s one of the last “strange animations” that I can rent here I think.:shrug:
Spider is a really intruiging movie if you want to see it, there’s some really good acting by the lead actor. And it’s weird as hell.
I thought ‘The thin red line’ was an especially beautiful film, inspiring cinematography and the connection between man and nature was really interesting…
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120863/ definately a piece of art in my opinion.
‘Spirited away’ is pretty amazing visually, and films like Labyrinth and Dark Crystal always inspired me.
Requiem for a dream, La Haine and city of god too
I love movies. My top ten consists of about at least a hundred of them… which means I have a hard time picking favourites.
Really inspiring movies?
Try anything by Tim Burton. Even the movies I’m not quite so fond of (O blasphemy!) are stunningly beautiful, filled with rich, intriguing colours and they usually have excellent and stirring music. I’ve never found another director that affects me so much, visually. Even Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings only comes close - though it’s DAMN close. Those would be a second source of inspiration. They’re beautiful beyond beautiful. These were my obvious choices.
Less than obvious choices…
Janghwa, Hongryeon – ‘A Tale of Two Sisters’. This is a horror movie, but it is unlike anything else I’ve ever seen. The colours are stunning. The movie is filled with flowery patterns that show up even in the smallest details. The music is stirring, the mood is eerie, the blood is gorgeous where it seeps through the planks of the floor. The house that the story is set in is gorgeous, the plotline is enchanting and intriguing and strange. The first time I saw this one was a serious wow experience, it’s one of the prettiest movies I know.
Fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain – I so hope I got the spelling right. Anyone who’s seen this movie will know why I mention it. The colour schemes are insanely beautiful. The mood is wonderful, the girl is stunning, the plotline is whimsical and alluring. Much love for this movie.
La Cité des enfants perdus – If you haven’t seen it… please do. Another of those movies that has such riveting designs, awesome plot, wonderful colours and just… arghgghh… I can’t speak well enough about it, honestly, I want to jump up and down in excitement from just talking about it. Wow! Whee!
Dangerous Liaisons – With John Malkovich and Glen Close. It’s a movie about aristocrats in Roccoco France… which in itself would be enough to make me titter. The costume designs are very, very beautiful and the plot is deliciously wicked. I always want to steeple my hands like Mr Burns and go, ‘Excellent’, whenever I see these people plot away at each others’ doom. Sweet.
Requiem for a Dream – I don’t know how something so dark can also be so beautiful. Sigh.
Der Name der Rose – Another of those… well… plot and scheme movies. The setting of a monastery up in the mountains stirs my imagination in itself. Decadent monks and oh man, Sean Connery really manage to make this one of my favourite movies. The fat man in the tub always makes me want to paint - it sounds weird when I say it, but watch the movie and think about it when you get to that scene (you’ll know which I mean), and try to tell me the colour use and the composition and the sheer FORCE of it doesn’t just completely stun you. Yeah. Try.
Same here! I’ll be trying to remember titles for weeks from now. I’m really bad with names though, but I’d hate to kill the suspesne.
Some really good titles here! The ones that I haven’t seen I just saw the trailers for. Big thanks people. I’ve gotta admit I’ve had the two sisters in my hands a couple of times but I had been disappointed by those kung fu fighter movies, so I let it slip. Haha, so much to catch up. I can remember seeing Sleepy Hollow and Nightmare before CHristmas but that’s it I think. Gonna have to look for some, it’s been a while for that matter.
Seeing the movies named I can’t believe I didn’t think to name them before!
I’m more of a lurker but i love this kind of discussion.
Have you people seen the latest Jeunet movie A Very Long Engagement? It’s as visually stunning as his previous works, it’s about a woman’s journey (Audrey Tatou again) to find out the whereabouts of her husband during WWI. I guess it’s his most expensive feature yet.
For inspiration I recommend watching some old classics and animated short films that show that talent it’s worth more than technology:
Metropolis - The granddaddy of Blade Runner, has some of the most influention production design ever crafted, from the female robot that inspired Lucas for C3PO to the towering, multi-leveled skyscrapers that inspired everyone, from Osamu Tesuka to Terry Gilliam, the movie is a timeless Classic. The original had like five hours long but most of it is lost and there are several versions compiled from pieces, some are very crappy. I recommend trying to find the last restoration with almost three hours and a soundtrack that tryes to mimic the original, “Wagnerian” one. The story makes more sense in this one.
Battleship Potemkin - This Russian political drama has some stunning cinematography, some shots from the Odessa riot received a homage from Brian de Palma in The Untouchables. I remember watching it at college for the first time and was mesmerized by the images. Too bad I was the only one that remained until the end of the movie. 
i’ll leave for lunch and return with more
Jan-Mark – http://www.tan-su.jp/home.html take a look at that site. It’s managed to catch a bit of the ‘feel’ of the movie. I think you’ll like it.
Thanks Enayla, checking it right now.
Ooohw that looks good! A while back I rentde memento mori, but I didn’t ahve the chance to watch it. It seems like these oriental movies are striking way more heart than western(read american) movies are today!
btw, wasn’t nightwatch a Swedish movie first? I remember seeing a Swedish movie that was about a magic typewriter, it made what was written come true in real life soon after. Really eerie one.
O my.
How could I forget?
Donnie Darko
I love that movie so much. So beautiful, such excellent music…
I think among the movies that made an impact upon my life which has inspired me in one or the other way are very strange ones. Whilist I do maybe not adapt to some of the styles their stories inspire me the most.
As for movies, I must say a inspiring movie for those who wants to feel like realising a dream, I suggest watching Seven years in tibet, I recommend it beacuse of a good story, but also very well played. It has good emotoins, and has very interesting concepts.
Another movie which is really interesting, and is one of my favorites is Donnie Darko, it has a really weird plot at first, and it is very nice artistically portrayed as a whole in the movie… Also, it can put alot of thoughts in your mind and gives emotoinal reponse which is a important thing in art.
Then theres a movie which is somehow always on my mind… While its not really inspiring me to art, it has probably drastically changed my humour, and some of my thinking. And such traits gives it permission to be here since it brings some kind of impression. and that movies is Blues Brothers. Not only does it have a strong story concept, but also humour and style. Not to forget how well music plays a role in the movie. Where you actually see the music bringing the story forward, which is mostly only seen in musicals otherwise but those rarely brings the story forwars so much.
And then, a scene which i favor which I think is my favorite scene ever. I guess its all beacuse I like rain so much… Its a scene from an old movie called Singing in the rain, and the scene is much the same. Hes out on the street singing and ‘playing’ around in the rain… Wonderful!
Finnaly a movie which I think deserves beeing here beacuse of its kind of thinking. Stanley Kubricks A clockwork orange. It has a really wicked twist in thinking. And you sure have problems to imagine the feelings of poor alex. Who’s really not so poor… Or ?.. I can’t say, it’s so hard to judge him.
I am really fond of Dune / Children of dune it has an excellent mixture of space and drama and action. Well put together. The story which is based upon the books of Frank Herbert plays out wonderfully in this piece of art.
Phew.
Now follows a few Animations which is more like my artictis impression when it comes to the deeper style.
A wind named Amesia, Very old Anime which is presented in a post-apocalypse world. The world was swept by amnesia… However one individual had his memory left… He continues to search for answers. Visually stunning for the time it was made. Great story, good characters. The kind of art used is really matching the story.
Silver Fang, Yes, oldie and goodie… Story and feeling reallly come together in this movie which portrays the struggle between a ferocious bear which has beacome psycho from a bullet in his brain… And Silver who’s a dog who’s father was killed by the bear. I admit I cried in the end of it when I was small!.
Chobits, ok whilist this is less apparent then most… Chobits is wonderful in social / drama / comedy aspect. Its an Animation from japan where its slightly in the future… Where personal robots called Chobits have been invented… There’s a student moving to tokyo to get into school and he finds a mysterious Chobit in the garbages. Very nice animated, the plot fits in very good. Its also a cry, cry anime… I was close to doing so.
Mai Hime, I wont go over the aspect of what this is about. But it centers around Mai who has the powers of a Hime. She is not the only one. However, this has a good inspiring story with good relationship twists. The artistic thing which inspires me is the Character Development especially, and the feeling presented. It has I think the most interesting and realistic Character Development ever seen.
Ok, somebody will kill me for this… Excel saga, not only changed the way I think. It really made me realise how humour could be something artistic. In this case its weird, mad, totally chaos which I like.
Inu Yasha, Plays out in Feudal japan which has really great visuals in a time with deamons and such. The story is long and very good emotionally. There is also a good sense to the action. Almost as if you could say its one of the animes with the most artistic action.
Phew
Ill stop here but theres more from both categories… ALOT. I have an unlimited supply, since I let myself be inspired from everything, I see or play or feel and just turn it into inspiration. Colors, Character, Design…
A question, would it be approved to make a similar thread about games?.. Thus games can truly be wonderful pieces of art.
Cheers
Here s’more,
The Isle, excellent photography and really harsh realism.
I am Dina, also a harshly realistic film.
Apt Pupil, more “realism”. A really good story about a boy blackmailing a nazi warcriminal. The warcriminal is acted by Mr. Gandalf.
More will pop up no doubt.
I fear i could not mention every movie that i like, it so depends on my mood. How in a certain mood i could watch one over and over again and in another mood i won’t want to know anything about it but only some other ones…
I remember watching Hero and feeling so amazed by the meanings of everything, the colors. How the same story can change so much when you only change little details. It left me inspired for a long time and even just thinking about it got my little brain having some sparks of inspiration.
There’s also Big Fish, LotR (of course), and various others not always so ‘‘inspirationnal’’ but that are just some movies i used to watch when i was around 11-13 years old and that whe i think of them i can only smile and remember the lines of various scenes i loved.
Though i must admit that i am a child at heart… I like Disney movies, the old ones that is. The new ones do not have the same feel to them. And animation movies like Shrek or Finding Nemo that had both a side for children and one for grownups with little hints and there about things kids could not know about. Oi, i remember myself being totally hooked on the little mermaid when i first watched it and watching it in loops again and again. And, then, forgetting about it, watching it again years after and noticing so mcuh more details in everything i just did not get when i was younger.
Okay i guess i am not really in the subject, about the way movies are produced and everything but still, i feel that a favorite movie can just go farther than the way it was made. Just what it means to you might make it special and make you want to catch every single little details.
Ah… Enough rambling… :s
P.S.: Enayla, you did spell the movies with french titles right. 
I add some more very good to me :[b]
Demonlover[/b] - A french movie about the underground side of Internet and the business around, really cool cinematography and great actors
Taxi Driver- Crazy movie, Deniro is just perfect in this one :eek: ( Are you talking to me… ?)
Dark City - A really strange story, environement and special fx are really interesting ! Jennifer Connely (Requiem for a dream)is playing greatly !
Citizen Kane- This movie made the cinema !
In The Mood For Love, 2046 - Love stories by the talented Wong Kar Wai
Akira Kurosawa’s ‘SEVEN SAMURAI’: although b&w, and filmed in the 1950’s, nearly every single shot is a masterpiece in composition and lighting.
The Dark Crystal
12 Monkeys
Ronin
Willow
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Blade Runner
Dracula (yes, the one with Keanu Reeves in it)
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
The Mission (with Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons)
The Thing
Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban (because of the darker mood and Buckbeak!)
The Name of the Rose
Alien (and Aliens)
Matrix Trilogy
Iron Giant (brilliant animation)
Emperor’s New Groove (one of Disney’s best)
Aaaarrrgggh, there are just too many more to mention (I could rhyme off my entire DVD collection and still only scratch the surface)
I have so many fave movies here’s some of them:
Lord of the rings, the costumes, the storyline is facinates me and fills me with such joy. The films are magic and the books even better. I have a couple of the box sets and being able to see how they made the films is amazing, watching John Howe and Alan Lee creating master pieces is Awe inspiring. I felt jelous not being apart of it
Moulin Rogue is another fave, I love the costumes and the music such a great film
Pirates of the caribbean, again the costumes and the effects are great.
Sleepy Hollow, this is a great film so dark and mysterious. I love the costumes and the overall story line really exciting.
There are soo many more films that I loved watching (can’t think what they are right now) I just think the process is amazing and the character design looks like so much fun.
Secretary - i have absolutely nothing with sadomasochism and im glad there are no explicit scenes. The reason that im putting this up is that it was a very good story told and good acting.
Lola rennt - Everyone has those questions about what if it didnt happen, what if i came a minute later. In this movie you’ll see three different versions of the same story. Quite hilarious.
Other good movies: Amelie, Pulp fiction, Memento, Shawshank redemption, Usual suspects, Equilibrium, Girl with a pearl earring (weak story but beautiful colors),
OHMYGODTHEREISAMOVIE?
breathe
And with Sean Connery. Whee!
I read that book (Il nome della rosa is the original title) a few months ago and it had me completely stunned… probably the most inspiring book I’ve ever read. I had no idea there was a movie, too O_O
Um, movies that inspire me…
Vidocq - the colors! I’ve seen that movie SO many times, and I’ve finally gotten a DVD - it’s worth every coin I spent on it. The plot, the plot twists, the characters, the dark mood… the movie is so beautiful words cannot describe it. And it’s a French movie as well, and that’s one more reason why it’s so good. I recommend it to everyone.
K-PAX - next to Vidocq, it’s my favorite movie of all the time. I just love that movie… I know a lot of people hated it (or just didn’t get the point), but I find it amazing. Kevin Spacey is so brilliant in it.
Those two movies truly inspire me. Movies that get my “beautiful color scheme” award are: The Underworld (I hear there’s a sequel on the way…), Van Helsing and The Ring (I’ve seen only the American version, so… yeah)
And that reminds of another that had a profound influence on me. But I’m surprised no one has metioned these yet.
Schindlers List, well, you’ve probably seen it.
Se7en, because it’s such a bitterly cold movie. I found some of the depiction too grotesque, but hey you can close your eyes if you want to.
And a cool fantasy flick with really cool visual effects for the time and lots of magic, The Dragonslayer.
Ghost in the Shell, watched it over and over because of the realistic animation and really cool designs.
Man this list is never gonna stop growing.:eek:
I’m back with more movies that inspire me, first i posted two silent movies, now I’ll post two pieces i consider unique from two directors whose work i admire: Terry Gilliam and Stanley Kubrick.
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen - With production design by italian master Dante Ferretti, Munchausen is a feast for the senses. Each scene boasts elaborate sets (like the Venus dance) or an imaginative miniature work (the Moon) bringing the Baron’s wacky tales to life with Gilliam’s ambitious vision.
Barry Lyndon - Kubrick is an obsessed guy, for this movie he wanted to shot without artificial lightning because there was no artificial light at the time so we could look at the period exactly like it was back then. Ok, then he helped develop a special set of lens that could capture even candle lit sets and the result is a movie with some impressive looking night scenes and gorgeous daylight imagery. Inspired by romantic painters, Barry Lyndon is a work of art.
That’s it for now.