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Spiritually Powerful Movies
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Messages: 17 - 24 (297 total)
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gracenwilk
3/25/2001 11:58 AM
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17 out of 297 |
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I'm one of those "head in the clouds" types who majored in religion and minored in philosophy, so its tempting to say that I've managed to spiritualize every movie I've watched since the age of 15.
Well, I had a tough time with The Waterboy, and I don't care how obssessed the guy's mom was with the Debul! I'd respectfully disagree with some comments about Dogma-- it was a D-A-W-G of a movie, and at my current state of nonenlightenment, I refuse to spiritualize bad movie making.
O.K., anyway, here goes in no particular order-- these would be movies that came along at just the right time and actually did something for my spiritual life, as opposed to movies that simply gave me an intellectual buzz.
Rocky (hey, I was 21, broke and wondering if I'd get my last year of college paid for)
Blade Runner-- on the nature of humanity, prejudice and the future of technolatry
Babette's Feast-- "Mercy and Justice are met together" I've never looked at food and celebration the same.
African Queen-- messed up, alcoholic guys can find love and redemption-- that had to be about grace.
Tender Mercies-- wow-- I was still wanting to believe in love and real human goodness.
The Green Mile- I know King is full of artifice, but I loved the Christ figure- sort of busted up the Cracker lock on Jesus as a redneck Sotch-Irish guy.
Shakespeare in Love-- "I don't know, it's a mystery!"
The Gods Must Be Crazy-- God's got a sense of humor
Jacob's Ladder-- demons become our angels when we turn to face them;
Don Juan . . .??-- the one with Marlon Brando and Johnny Depp; People cannot live on brains alone
The Butcher's Wife-- trust your intuition, but be ready for surprise
Sarafina-- humans are unbelievably capable of joy, courage and redemption; even in Soweito.
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sponghead
3/25/2001 3:24 PM
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18 out of 297 |
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I am also a overly analytical, head in the clouds type as well who has a degree in philosophy and takes seminary courses for fun. I too, tend to spiritualize many movies and actually don't get much out of many films if thet don't challenge me spiritually and force me to think along those lines. I also lead a monthly discussion group at a local church where we watch movies with spiritual/religious content and then discuss them. I have recently led discussions on: The Apostle, Contact, Priest, The Rapture, Black Robe, At Play In The Fields of The Lord, The Last Temptation Of Christ, The Devil's Advocate, Monty Python's Life of Brian, Dogma, Matrix, Keeping The Faith and Pleasantville. For Easter this year we are discussing Jesus of Montreal.
I will have to say, without a doubt, the one movie that has had the most impact on me spiritually in The Last Temptation of Christ. Finally a movie that dares to portray Jesus as human with all the smae doubts and fears and temptations that I have. Here is a messiah I can follow and actually hope to emulate.
Other movies that have impacted me spiritually and helped me on my journey:
Monty Python's Life of Brian, for helping me see religion in a different way.
The Last Exit To Brooklyn, a vilont film but one that shows that love and redemption can happen in the midst of such a bleak and violent world.
Wiseblood, the movie version of the classic Flannery O'Conner novel.Another dark movie but one that has some valuable insights.
Matrix, the most important movie for this generation. A movie about a techno-messiah that will hopefully help to make people finally see that most of what they have been force-fed about reality and religion is all lies and artiface.
Contact, for showing that science and religion are not really that far apart and that they are both searching for the same thing-truth.
Pleasantville, for highlighting and clarifying a point that I had been playing around with for a long time-that the core of the Garden of Eden story is the gaining of knowledge. Sex is a part of the equation but not all of it.
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halacyon
3/26/2001 7:52 AM
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19 out of 297 |
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I would also say "contact", because of the ending.
"Himalaya" It was simple but engrossing and so well made. "dancer in the dark" because it was so dark. French movies that i can't remember the name of , because they tell the truth about love, and survival( i think one was Betty Blue) Anything that makes my heart ache or soar, that breaks me out of monotony of thinking, or inspires me to have hope.
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TaoJones
3/26/2001 1:47 PM
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20 out of 297 |
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Brother Sun, Sister Moon ... Jesus Christ Superstar ... A Christmas Carol ... Kundun ... Seven Years in Tibet ... Dances With Wolves ... Little Buddha ... Smoke Signals ... The Fisher King ... Inn of the Sixth Happiness ... It's a Wonderful Life ... Ghost ... Being There ... A Passage to India ... Ghandi ... Time Bandits ... Excalibur ... The Mission ... What Dreams May Come ... Dogma ... to name a few.
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TheSpeaker
3/26/2001 4:32 PM
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21 out of 297 |
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Contact - Because it had such a powerful message about faith and the scientific and spiritual journey to findint Truth. Sagan was a master at making us understand science and I think this was his attemp to reach out to the fundamentalists and let them know that science and religion are searching for the same things, only taking different paths. Sagan and his contributions are and will be greatly missed.
Star Wars - A very mystical movie, not centered around spirituality but it did manage to touch me in that aspect.
Dogma - 'It doesn't matter what you have faith in, as long as you have faith.'
American Beauty - It really changed my whole outlook on life.
Gladiator - When Maximus was walking through the Elysium Fields, I just kept thinking, 'I wish Heaven will be like this.' I found the whole story of revenge and redemption to be very spiritual. Plus, it's a wonderful and compelling movie, which also happens to be my favourite.
Honorable Mentions: The Last Temptation of Christ, The Matrix, 2001: A Space Odyssey
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princessoflight
3/26/2001 4:59 PM
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22 out of 297 |
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Hmmmmm, most spiritually uplifting? I would have to say "Texas Chainsaw Masacre" LMAO !!! Just kidding. I never even saw that movie. Heehee
Surprisingly that is a tough question. I never really thought about it. I guess being an action/adventure seeking kinda girl or comedy I don't see many dramas or spiritual movies.
Would you settle for movies I find thought provoking? Meaning they made me stop and think about the world, people and how we relate to each other? or not....
Cruel Intentions was something I related to because I knew people like Katherine, I couldn't stand them. The ending where Sebastian dies because of a lie Katherine told made me ill. But, he got his revenge from the grave didn't he? I did enjoy the original version of this movie "Dangerous Liasions" with Michelle Phiffer, Glen Close and John Malkovich. I guess Cruel Intentions was found to be spiritually uplifting to me because it makes me realize how important it is to simply have a heart and be nice to people. This may seem insignificant to most......but it is important. Though this day and age won't admit it. Because it isn't "fun" or "sexy". ::shrugs:: Look at how people are manipulated daily as some of the characters were in that movie. Teaches you to grow up and be able to recognize when someone is pretending......and being insincere. I'm sure some people will think...that movie is a bad example. But like I said, I found it thought provoking. But I tend to think about things that I have found most people take for granted. Maybe its the naive inner child in me crying out. Who knows.
I do have my cynical side as well. Trust me, you don't want to witness it.
Which reminds me of another movie.....anyone remember "Sybil" with ...oh damn my mind just went blank, what was her name??? the "you like me you really like me" girl LOL come on Gabrielk help me out here.
I know what you're thinking.....I need to switch to decaff! ha ha
POL
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gabrielk
3/26/2001 11:18 PM
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23 out of 297 |
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WOW, that's amazing you mention Cybil, cuz I had never heard of that movie until last wednesday. I was in my MCSE class, and my teacher mentioned it, and I had never heard of it before! They gave me a hard time because I am the "movie buff" in the class. The actress you are thinking of is Sally Field. :) Glad I could help :)
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TrinityAgape
3/27/2001 1:44 AM
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24 out of 297 |
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For me there have been several movies that have had an impact on me spiritually: The Greatest Story Ever Told, The Ten Commandments, It's A Wonderful Life, All Dogs Go To Heaven, The Green Mile, Rocky I and II, Dances With Wolves, Left Behind, Jeremiah Johnson, Babe, Charlotte's Web, Yentl, and the list goes on...it is a work in progress.
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