What movies can teach us about real life. Spoilers..maybe

[Polarbeans]

I'm a big fan of three things, all of which comes together in this thread.

• I love (good) movies.

• I love Quora.

• I love Entrepreneurial Mindset discussions.

Now I noticed a question on Quora asking: "What movie has taught you something about real life? Why?"

And I thought the answer to that question was really relevant to entrepreneurial endeavors.

I would like to put in a disclaimer that I do NOT claim authorship for this post, nor do I seek to gain any currency for this (i.e. likes or rep). If one is to be credited it should be Shravan Varma.

So without further ado, this is what movies has taught us:

The Green Mile : People hurt the ones they love. That's how it is all around the world.

The Fight Club: The things you own end up owning you.

Birdman: Popularity is the slutty little cousin of prestige.

Interstellar: We used to look up at the sky and wonder at our place in the stars, now we just look down and worry about our place in the dirt.

Inception: Let me ask you a question, you, you never really remember the beginning of a dream do you? You always wind up right in the middle of what's going on.

The Lion King: Your past experiences are valuable lessons to you now, learn from them.

The Notebook: You should love and take care of yourself because after all, it’s your own life.

Empire Records: There’s no perfect time for anything, do it now or you’ll regret later.

Forest Gump: Just keep going, you’ll make it one day.

Black hawk Down: The little things you do today could make a great difference in future.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Don’t take missing any opportunities as a bad thing, you never know what life is trying to teach you.

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Now I can't just make a repost from someone else and give contribution. I would also have to contribute myself. Here are at least my contribution to this.

Follow your dream. Don't ever let somebody tell you you can't do something. you got a dream. You got to protect it. People can't do something themselves, they wanna tell you you can't do it. If you want something, go get it. Period.

Innovation and Creativity counts when you have to bootstrap. Don't listen to naysayers or don't be turned off if you do not have the money or expertise to compete at a first glance. Be creative and come up with a way to work around it. Never back down.

Now I want to know your contributions to this, which is your favorite movie and what did you apply from it? Does not have to be entrepreneurial​

 

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[jlwilliams]

"The Usual Suspects" is a sensationalized illustration of the very real truth that people can be far more than they appear and you underestimate them at great risk.

 

[Unknown]

The Notebook proves that even horrible movies can become iconic.

The Matrix - You control your own destiny.

 

[PureA]

American Gangster - Success due to CENTS

 

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[Choate]

Titanic - if a ship is sinking and there's not enough lifeboats to go around, you better be a woman or child

 

[MillionaireMe]

Donald Trump all of his failure and triumph.

 

[DeletedUser394]

Gattaca. My favorite movie of all time (nothing else comes even remotely close), and one you've probably never heard of.

The premise is this: How much are you willing to give up, in order for a chance to accomplish your wildest dreams? Are you willing to risk everything? Even your identity?

The trailer is horrible, but the movie is a work of art.

 

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[Charnell]

Scarface: All you have in this world are your balls and your word, and don't break them for anybody.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

American Gangster - Success due to CENTS

Ha, that was going to be mine!

Followed by the Matrix... which actually might have some truth to it, but that's another thread.

 

[Guest3722A]

Pulp Fiction comes up with me. I see it as being about the different levels/places people are in life and within their ecosystem but shows that the one at the top of the totem pole can be as weak or disadvantaged as the one at the bottom, depending on the situation.


Likewise, it shows how at times the underdog can have more power than one thought to be more powerful. The main thing to me though is it shows the different faces people have with individuals based on their perception of one's status.


At the end, with his .45 caliber 1911 cocked and un-locked in the face of the petty thief who just the moment before thought he was the one in control, the darkest character explains to his unsuspecting victim that all people have the ability to be strong, weak, evil and good, and we all have choice. Then further explains to the thief that he unknowingly crossed paths with someone extremely evil but was lucky because that very day was the day that he chose to be the beginning of his journey to break free from being a bad man.

 

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[Unknown]

Ha, that was going to be mine!

Followed by the Matrix... which actually might have some truth to it, but that's another thread.

A lot of truth. The movie can be related to so many things in life.

 

[Serks]

For me it's the whole concept of Rocky and what Sly did to bring Rocky to life.- we all have a Rocky within us.

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!”

“Nobody owes nobody nothing. You owe yourself.”

“Going in one more round when you don’t think you can – that’s what makes all the difference in your life.”

“Cause if you’re willing to go through all the battling you got to go through to get where you want to get, who’s got the right to stop you? I mean maybe some of you guys got something you never finished, something you really want to do, something you never said to someone, something…and you’re told no, even after you paid your dues? Who’s got the right to tell you that, who? Nobody! It’s your right to listen to your gut, it ain’t nobody’s right to say no after you earned the right to be where you want to be and do what you want to do!”

 

[andrias]

have you watch Pirates of Silicon Valley? It's a movie about bill gates and steve job.

 

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[RogueInnovation]

James Bond - If you are going to risk your life, do it in style

 

[Cembo]

Gattaca. My favorite movie of all time (nothing else comes even remotely close), and one you've probably never heard of.

The premise is this: How much are you willing to give up, in order for a chance to accomplish your wildest dreams? Are you willing to risk everything? Even your identity?

The trailer is horrible, but the movie is a work of art.

I remember that movie from this site: http://agoodmovietowatch.com/gattaca-1997/

Maybe its really worth watching

 

[Esquire]

"I dont want to belong to any club ... that would have me as a member."

- Groucho Marx

 

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[DeletedUser394]

I remember that movie from this site: http://agoodmovietowatch.com/gattaca-1997/

Maybe its really worth watching

When I say it's the greatest movie I have ever seen in my entire life, I mean it quite literally.

The plot, the character development, the acting, the emotion, the message, the soundtrack. It's simply a work of art in its purest form.

Way ahead of it's time.. even if you compare it by today's standard of films.

Just don't watch the trailer, it fking sucks.

 

[kph200]

Taxi Driver(1976)
It is one of the best film ever made. Robert De Niro acting is awesome.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Gattaca.

I think I tried watching this when it first came out and couldn't finish it. But nonetheless, I'm going to give it another try and here's why...

Many times you'll watch a movie when it releases and say "Meh, that sucks."

Then 15 years go by and you watch it again and then say "OMG, that was so good."

I encourage everyone here, especially us older folks, to try watching a movie you once judged as BAD. You might find yourself liking it as an older adult because you have matured, you suddenly can see the message that the movie was trying to convey.

My GF absolutely hated Benjamin Button on her first view YEARS ago. I forced her to watch it because I knew who she was back then vs now was a totally different person. She was absolutely shocked how much she enjoyed it second time around.

I find this happening to me as well where something I hated years ago is now loved... our perspectives change as do we. And so do the messages we can see from the movies.

 

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[Rawr]

Ha, that was going to be mine!

Followed by the Matrix... which actually might have some truth to it, but that's another thread.

Yeah, my buddy causally mentioned this to me over drinks last weekend. Took me a little while to get it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulation_hypothesis

 

[RogueInnovation]

Empire Strikes Back - No matter how insignificant you think you are (from a distant and far away place) you have the same darkness in you as anyone else. Facing that can either destroy you like a little sissy, or, you can rise to the challenge and do what is right anyway.

 

[daivey]

Gattaca. My favorite movie of all time (nothing else comes even remotely close), and one you've probably never heard of.


The premise is this: How much are you willing to give up, in order for a chance to accomplish your wildest dreams? Are you willing to risk everything? Even your identity?

The trailer is horrible, but the movie is a work of art.

Amazing. I agree and I'm surprised someone else on these forums has seen it heard of it. Probably Ethan Hawke and Jude Laws best performance ever.

 

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[DeletedUser394]

Amazing. I agree and I'm surprised someone else on these forums has seen it heard of it. Probably Ethan Hawke and Jude Laws best performance ever.

So many powerful lines in that movie.

One of my fav scenes involving those two, was when Jude Law looks at Ethan Hawke and says. "I got the better end of the deal. I only lent you my body - you lent me your dream."

The whole movie is nothing but epic quotes!!!

SAVE NOTHING FOR THE SWIM BACK!!!!


haha, okay I'm done.

Too fired up now, back to the grind!

 

[Mattie]

Soul surfer was one of my favorites. You can overcome any tragedy or obstacle in your life and still come on top.

Homeless to Harvard

Again obstacles and your back story don't stop you from achieving your goals.

Junction Boys

How bad do you want it? Are you willing to go to the end zone? How mentally tough are you to endure the hardship and pain to get there? How many sacrifice are your willing to make?

Fire Proof Your Marriage – Never leave your partner behind
8 Mile Road- Eminem’s Life Story
In Time
Leaving Las Vegas
The Secret
The Opus
Walk The Line- Jonny Cash
Courage- Honor Begins At Home
Facing The Giants
The notebook
In The Wild

These are all my favorites and each one giving insight!

 

[Polarbeans]

The Gambler.

You're born as a man with the nerves of a soldier, the apprehension of an angel​

​

Jim Bennett: I've been up two and a half million.

Frank: What you got on you?

Jim Bennett: Nothing.

Frank: What you put away?

Jim Bennett: Nothing.

Frank: You get up two and a half million dollars, any a**hole in the world knows what to do: you get a house with a 25 year roof, an indestructible Jap-economy shitbox, you put the rest into the system at three to five percent to pay your taxes and that's your base, get me? That's your fortress of F*cking solitude. That puts you, for the rest of your life, at a level of F*ck you. Somebody wants you to do something, F*ck you. Boss pisses you off, F*ck you! Own your house. Have a couple bucks in the bank. Don't drink. That's all I have to say to anybody on any social level. Did your grandfather take risks?

Jim Bennett: Yes.

Frank: I guarantee he did it from a position of F*ck you. A wise man's life is based around F*ck you. The United States of America is based on F*ck you. You have a navy? Greatest army in the history of mankind? F*ck you! Blow me. We'll F*ck it up ourselves.


--------------------

Basically what we all want under that veil of "I need to help others." The real reason we all struggle is to gain F*ck You money and build our fortress of solitude.

But then between that "I need to help" and "F*ck you all" our mind opens up and purifies. We see a clear vision that helping others has very little to do with money. Money is just a byproduct, and the more we help the less important money becomes.

Helping others becomes the new F*ck You. Because when you help others, without monetary purpose, they become grateful to you. You will have something that stands above money. Some call it power, some call it influence and some call it virtue. Whatever it is. Don't get blinded by it. Watch a good movie too, once in a while

 

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[jazb]

Goodfellas: For us to live any other way was nuts. Uh, to us, those goody-good people who worked shitty jobs for bum paychecks and took the subway to work every day, and worried about their bills, were dead. I mean they were suckers. They had no balls. If we wanted something we just took it. If anyone complained twice they got hit so bad, believe me, they never complained again

Now I know these guys were criminals, but there is a lot of truth in that statement (not the end though lol)

 

[Mattie]

Helping others becomes the new F*ck You. Because when you help others, without monetary purpose, they become grateful to you. You will have something that stands above money. Some call it power, some call it influence and some call it virtue. Whatever it is. Don't get blinded by it. Watch a good movie too, once in a while

Hmm...I just wasted minutes of my life watching this movie. I don't know if I'd call that helping someone out. I would say the guy was just smart at playing everyone against one another to get his freedom. And I suppose the FY on all counts. After your post, thought it would be much better then it actually was. lol But that's my fault for watching it. lol

 

[Rawr]

Watch The Edge

It is my favorite movie and a great lesson on persistence and overcoming difficulties one step a time.

 

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[Mattie]

So what's a good movie that actually gets the business/entrepreneur mindset. The one character that really gets the point.

 

[MadStacks]

A Bronx Tale

Zorro

Limitless