Last night I caught the final 37 films of the American Film Institute’s latest Top 100 list: the 100 most inspiring films of all time. For some reason I can’t ignore AFI broadcasts when they’re on, whether it be one of these silly list shows or a lifetime achievement roast. Regardless, here are the top ten films on the list:
1. IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
2. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
3. SCHINDLER’S LIST
4. ROCKY
5. MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON
6. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL
7. THE GRAPES OF WRATH
8. BREAKING AWAY
9. MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET
10. SAVING PRIVATE RYAN
Trying to judge or debate such a list is silly–it’s extremely personal. For me, I’d put The Right Stuff (#19) well above Apollo 13 (#12). Ghandi deserves to be higher than 29th, as do Chariots of Fire or Hotel Rwanda. And heck, Say Anything isn’t even on the list. I’m joking about that last one. Mostly.
You, on the other hand, might feel that Marked for Death (he’s Marked for Death while Under Siege, but he’s Hard to Kill On Deadly Ground) deserves a spot in the top 20.
DarrenBarefoot.com 
As much as I like sports movies, Rocky wasn’t all that inspirational to me. I think the list is a little silly, seems it’s a list created for the sake of making a list. My fave inspiring movies: October Sky (not on the list) and Good Will Hunting (MIA).
“To Sir, With Love” isn’t there.
“The Karate Kid” is.
Go figger.