Children of Men and History of Violence in the top 5? Wha- huh?

I guess I expect an element of surprise to be part of the jaw-dropness, but Children didn't have that because the viewer already knew the girl was pregnant. History's moment had surprise, I guess--no one ever expects stair sex-- but was just a tawdry sex scene that was kind of forgettable.

I worked all weekend to meet a contest deadline, so I didn't have a chance to peruse GITS as I normally would. So before I start to work on my job – the one that pays me, I try to take a quick look this morning and find you posted some incredible links that I will have to devote at least an hour of the day to follow.

I really wanted lunch.

Bastard! :)

I was looking forward to American Beauty being on there with the ending on Kevin Spacey's death...or more so how he died and who killed him. Oh well :) I got a lot of classic movie watching to do it seems.

re: CJ

I think the jaw-dropping aspect of Children Of Men's ending wasn't the fact that she had the baby, but what the power of the child was -- the cries of a baby literally stopped a war.

The soldiers ceased fire. The resisting forces ceased fire. They paved a safe way for this first newborn in however long it had been to leave the building. The wonder and awe in those people’s faces (no matter what side of the fight they were on) as the child passed by them was enough to show you they’d lost the plot in the meaning of humanity.

And yet, despite the power this child had, there was still someone obsessed with greed and anger to start the fight again. Man’s faults continue to exist despite the miracle in this woman’s arms.

That scene still chills me, just thinking about it, how the smallest sound could stop men trained to kill dead in their tracks.

@ Erin
Thanks for replying. It's a very good scene for all the reasons you mentioned, and it definitely belongs on the list somewhere, but I guess I was more surprised that it was apparently in the top 5. I don't feel as if has reached any type of iconic status. Coupled with the fact that History of Violence was right there with it kind of made me question the list, somewhat.