Rank has its privileges

The American Film Institute has released their list of the 100 most inspiring films of all time. AFI distributed a ballot with 300 movies to 1,500 leaders of the creative community, up to five write ins could be submitted. Topping the list, Frank Capra's...IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. A great movie and how can you not like Jimmy Stewart, a great man and a great American. Here's the 100:

1	IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE	1946
2	TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD	1962
3	SCHINDLER'S LIST	1993
4	ROCKY	1976
5	MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON	1939
6	E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL	1982
7	THE GRAPES OF WRATH	1940
8	BREAKING AWAY	1979
9	MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET	1947
10	SAVING PRIVATE RYAN	1998
11	THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES	1946
12	APOLLO 13	1995
13	HOOSIERS	1986
14	THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI	1957
15	THE MIRACLE WORKER	1962
16	NORMA RAE	1979
17	ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST	1975
18	THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK	1959
19	THE RIGHT STUFF	1983
20	PHILADELPHIA	1993
21	IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT	1967
22	THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES	1942
23	THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION	1994
24	NATIONAL VELVET	1944
25	SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS	1941
26	THE WIZARD OF OZ	1939
27	HIGH NOON	1952
28	FIELD OF DREAMS	1989
29	GANDHI	1982
30	LAWRENCE OF ARABIA	1962
31	GLORY	1989
32	CASABLANCA	1942
33	CITY LIGHTS	1931
34	ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN	1976
35	GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER	1967
36	ON THE WATERFRONT	1954
37	FORREST GUMP	1994
38	PINOCCHIO	1940
39	STAR WARS	1977
40	MRS. MINIVER	1942
41	THE SOUND OF MUSIC	1965
42	12 ANGRY MEN	1957
43	GONE WITH THE WIND	1939
44	SPARTACUS	1960
45	ON GOLDEN POND	1981
46	LILIES OF THE FIELD	1963
47	2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY	1968
48	THE AFRICAN QUEEN	1951
49	MEET JOHN DOE	1941
50	SEABISCUIT	2003
51	THE COLOR PURPLE	1985
52	DEAD POET'S SOCIETY	1989
53	SHANE	1953
54	RUDY	1993
55	THE DEFIANT ONES	1958
56	BEN-HUR	1959
57	SERGEANT YORK	1941
58	CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND	1977
59	DANCES WITH WOLVES	1990
60	THE KILLING FIELDS	1984
61	SOUNDER	1972
62	BRAVEHEART	1995
63	RAIN MAN	1988
64	THE BLACK STALLION	1979
65	A RAISIN IN THE SUN	1961
66	SILKWOOD	1983
67	THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL	1951
68	AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN	1982
69	THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS	1957
70	COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER	1980
71	COOL HAND LUKE	1967
72	DARK VICTORY	1939
73	ERIN BROCKOVICH	2000
74	GUNGA DIN	1939
75	THE VERDICT	1982
76	BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ	1962
77	DRIVING MISS DAISY	1989
78	THELMA & LOUISE	1991
79	THE TEN COMMANDMENTS	1956
80	BABE	1995
81	BOYS TOWN	1938
82	FIDDLER ON THE ROOF	1971
83	MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN	1936
84	SERPICO	1973
85	WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT	1993
86	STAND AND DELIVER	1988
87	WORKING GIRL	1988
88	YANKEE DOODLE DANDY	1942
89	HAROLD AND MAUDE	1972
90	HOTEL RWANDA	2004
91	THE PAPER CHASE	1973
92	FAME	1980
93	A BEAUTIFUL MIND	2001
94	CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS	1937
95	PLACES IN THE HEART	1984
96	SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER	1993
97	MADAME CURIE	1943
98	THE KARATE KID	1984
99	RAY	2004
100	CHARIOTS OF FIRE	1981

Part of the judging criteria was...Movies that inspire with characters of vision and conviction who face adversity and often make a personal sacrifice for the greater good. Whether these movies end happily or not, they are ultimately triumphant--both filling audiences with hope and empowering them with the spirit of human potential.

That's why I can't understand some of the films listed.
#6 ET? Not only was the movie crap, ET looked like crap to me too.
#16 NORMA RAE? Sally Fields is annoying. She's really, really annoying.
#17 ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST? I liked it, but inspiring?
#34 ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN? It wouldn't be Hollyweird if we didn't bash Republicans.
#45 ON GOLDEN POND? see #17.
#47 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY? WHAT?
#58 CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND? Hollyweird loves Spielberg.
#59 DANCES WITH WOLVES? I was rooting for the wolves.
#78 THELMA & LOUISE? Now I want to go off a cliff.
#80 BABE? It's Bacon! It's a cartoon!
#89 HAROLD AND MAUDE? That just gives me the heeby jeebies.
#99 RAY? I love Ray Charles' music, but it was a bad movie and Ray was real life scum.

I think FIELD OF DREAMS should have been higher than #28, I also believe it deserved the Oscar for Best Picture over DRIVING MISS DAISY. I still cry thinking, "Dad, do you wanna have a catch?". If you want to talk inspiring, the movie came out in 1989 and people still come to a field near Dyersville, Iowa because that movie touched them. Can that be said about any other movie on this list? I'm not talking playing dress up like STAR WARS either, sorry Pruisner! When Chris and I were there, a few years ago, there was a group all the way from JAPAN!