In the wake of THE SOCIAL NETWORK, and how it changed communication, and life as we know it, we decided to make this weeks list…

TOP TEN LIFE CHANGING FILMS

Now, how do we do this? Everyone has a different idea of a life changing film. It’s a personal choice. Maybe it was the first film that you saw on the big screen, the movie you saw on your first date, a film that shattered you to the core… Either way, it changed the way you think. That is why this week, rather than taking a pole of our writers and calculating them together, we are listing their choices by MOVIE GEEK. Enjoy guys!

JIM BATTS:

10. HEAVY TRAFFIC
09. FANTASIA
08. THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD
07. M
06. THE HORROR OF DRACULA
05. CRUMB
04. THE IRON GIANT
03. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
02. SAFETY LAST
01. STAR WARS EPISODE FOUR : A NEW HOPE

The 1977 release of the original STAR WARS showed that the new film technologies could be used to bring anything from your imagination to life on the big screen.  Part old fashioned serial cliffhanger, part swashbuckler, part western, George Lucas brought them all together in a way not seen before and changed motion pictures forever.

MICHELLE MCCUE:

10.TWILIGHT FILMS
09. SAW
08. SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
07. HARRY POTTER
06. SPIDERMAN
05. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
04. JAWS
03. THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY
02. ALIEN
01. AVATAR

James Cameron’s AVATAR unquestionably reinvented the nature of 3D films like never before. Like or hate the glasses, AVATAR also went on to become the highest grossing films in history. Cameron invited the masses, with his ground-breaking technology, along for his eye dazzling ride, while providing us with an emotional story as well. Just as he did with T2 and THE ABYSS, the showman once again delivered his latest‚ spectacle with all new visual effects to wow us with. Whether you prefer 2D or 3D, AVATAR has forever changed the theatre going experience. Cameron’s phenomenon has assured that movies will never be watched in the same way again.

TRAVIS KEUNE:

10. THE OUTSIDERS
09. REQUIEM FOR A DREAM
08. MEMENTO
07. HEARTS OF DARKNESS: A FILMMAKER’S APOCALYPSE
06. SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
05. THE LAST EMPEROR
04. THE SHINING
03. BURDEN OF DREAMS
02. IKIRU
01. CINEMA PARADISO

What an incredible film from Italian filmmaker Giuseppe Tornatore, telling the story of an aging filmmaker as he recounts his childhood and how he fell in love with the motion picture. The film is gorgeously photographed by Blasco Giurato and scored by the legendary Ennio Morricone. CINEMA PARADISO tells a touching and engaging tale of a young boy that discovers the magic of the movies, is mentored by the projectionist of the local theater and grows into a talented filmmaker. Its an inspiring, beautiful story and one that should resonate with anyone who has a strong passions for watching or making movies. This is the effect it had on me, having seen it for the first time during one of my film history courses in college. I fell in love with CINEMA PARADISO, further enhancing my love of the movies, and encouraging me to pursue filmmaking myself.

TOM STOCKMAN:

10. THE DIRTY DOZEN
09. JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS
08. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD
07. ROAD WARRIOR
06. KING KONG
05. CHUCK AND THE BUCK
04.UNFORGIVEN
03.MIDNIGHT COWBOY
02.TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE
01.TAXI DRIVER

Before I saw TAXI DRIVER in 1976 at age 15, I only watched horror films and comedies. It made me realize there were other types of movies out there and I became completely obsessed with the film. I saw it at theaters at least a dozen times in its initial run and remember riding my bike to see it at the Kirkwood Cinema five nights in row. I had the poster on my wall and would play the soundtrack LP over and over, memorizing the (cleaned-up) dialog. I actually went to High School dressed like Travis Bickle in a green army jacket and while the other kids were drawing Led Zeppelin logos on their notebooks, I was sketching Travis. My parents worried about me and I remember my dad calling me at college freaked out a few years later when he learned that John Hinckley Jr., who had shot President Ronald Reagan, claimed he was inspired by his own obsession with TAXI DRIVER. I assured him that my preoccupation with the film had waned, then mailed off my latest love letter to Jodie Foster.

MELISSA HOWLAND:

10. THE WIZARD OF OZ
09. HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE
08. THE OUTSIDERS
07. REQUIEM FOR A DREAM
06. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET
05. STAR WARS
04. E.T.
03. ANNIE
02. DEAD POETS SOCIETY
01. GANDHI

I was exposed to this film my freshman year of college. Not only was the film beautiful and inspiring, it was also informative. It told of how Gandhi stood up for his beliefs, despite the odds, and showed me that one person can make a difference. Everything you do on this earth makes a footprint. I was shocked that none of my history classes prior to college had ever brought him up. If you have not seen this film, make sure to! Just bring some tissue for the waterworks!