You know when you're a child and you watch the same damn movie a thousand times and not really paying attention to what the story is actually telling you? Well, that was me (Before the fur and tail). Years later I reached my teens and saw the movies that jabbed a knife in my heart and punched me in the face with actualization. It wasn't the ones I've watched over and over as a child, but the ones I've discovered when I was thirteen and onward. These were the ones that made me research and question everything, and sometimes made me sad. But that's the power of movies: They make you feel something in a certain way, and in this case these are the ones that caused me to rebel and looked at life differently.
M.A.S.H.
It's a war comedy I never knew about after watching a few episodes of the show. It was about having enough brains to slack off and sneaking past authority. It was okay to make fun of patients and leaders, but you still have to show all the sacrifice you've done to save lives during a time when everyone was scared of going off to fight in a foreign country.
Born on the Forth of July.
Going into more details on the side of war, the shocking truth about the Vietnam War showed how much terror America had evoked. And one soldier decided to speak out after concealing much guilt. Ron Kovic spoke not only about his experiences of war, but also the religious and political issues at the time when no one else could come up with rhyme or reason. The movie made me think about the war in Iraq and what Bush was doing at the time and where America might go in the future.
The Outsiders.
It was more compelling than That Was Then, This Is Now which is written by the same author who wrote The Outsiders, and it gave a glimpse of teen angst in the 50s. Being different and tough was the only defense needed when growing up in an artificial culture wasn't fair as compared among middle or upper class people.
Bloody Sunday.
Going outside of the U.S. and into the United Kingdom, the story of how Ireland was fighting for civil rights fascinated me and made me heart-broken by the upper hand the British had who decided to take drastic measures in the 70s. Instead of marching around and getting shoved and arrested, violence erupted and I knew that America wasn't the only country with a small minority fighting for what's right.
The Breakfast Club.
This list wouldn't be complete without this one. It was about class and where you'd belong to in high school, but put all five people from each class in one room for a day and you get some powerful confessions. It was one of those movies that made me concerned about my innocence and guilt and wondering what might happen if I become like my father when I grew up. It was scary, but it was how I'd choose to remember where i'd come from.
Ghost World.
Music and maturity go a long way according to how you wish to see them. It's wisdom and an escape from harsh reality. Forgetting all about making goals and making family and others proud is a great way to let loose and enjoy the things you never thought of before.
High Fidelity.
Just like Ghost World, High Fidelity shares the world of music and how it applies when exploring relationships. It gives an accurate description of the struggles of wondering what the romantic relationship means when the significant other doesn't give a shit about investigating how it ended. I was more of a detective when my first relationship was declining and I tried to compare it to other people in relationships, and I could understand Rob's pain and discussion.
Fight Club.
I've been fights before, but not as brutal as the events depicted in this movie. It went so far as to achieving mayhem and mischief and knowing that you are not who you think you are. Not your bank account, not your job, not your cancer, not your fucking khakis, letting go of everything you try so hard to work for when it never works is the only way to be free. I was blindly going after things I wanted without asking why I NEEDED them and Fight Club made me want to break out the anger and punch something.
Pump Up The Volume.
More music, but this time with added objections against the FCC. It was once again another movie that was straight-forward and honest, and it was covered with a bit of comedy and raw energy. And it was a movie where I found more music that I never heard of before and enjoyed. Plus, it's the only Christian Slater movie I like.
Almost Famous.
It was confusing to know who was cool and who wasn't and how long it would stay with you. I was a shy kid and I didn't care about how I should flirt, how to live, how to do this or that. I was simply me. And Almost Famous showed me how hard it was to be honest and unmerciful. PSH summed it up with his character. Trying to fit in isn't always the answer to gain a ton of friends, but experience is important, even if you have to run away from home or sneak in, or doing something risky.
Mew.
