Comments on: What Films Provoke Profound Questions?

By: Kristi

Kristi — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:55:32 +0000

@FincherFanatic: I will have to add Se7en to my next list. That was a disturbing, thought provoking film. Fight Club as well, especially when he is talking about our dependence on stuff.

By: FincherFanatic

FincherFanatic — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:10:58 +0000

Thanks for this great post, it immediately made me want to watch VENDETTA again. I do believe that stories and movies alike can point us to some incredible truths, questions and moral dilemmas, and I found that the movies I enjoy the most often have this quality of being thought provoking or somewhat "philosophical". There's this great sequence in SE7EN in the middle of the third act, where the killer talks about why he committed his crimes. And the amazing twist of emotion and logic is that you tend to agree with him. There were some great movies mentioned by all of you, and I will surely check out those, I haven't already seen. If I may add and recommend: Magnolia, Fight Club, The Matrix and Memento offer some greatly valuable reflections. And as strange as it may sound I stand in great awe of The Incredibles. Not only because it is a cinematic masterpiece. But because of this very by-the-way scene, where IncrediMom tells her son: "Everyone is special" -- "Which is another way of saying 'no one is'."

By: Kristi

Kristi — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:39:19 +0000

Thank you to everyone who has responded. Once I have some time to indulge in more movies, I will be checking out some of your suggestions.

By: laura

laura — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:54:40 +0000

Good post re: American History X. For me, the Shawshank Redemption, Out of Africa (hey, it was the 80s), My Brilliant Career (great book, too), The Departed.

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 22:48:30 +0000

I dugg, stumbled and even del.icio.us’d your article. I thought it had a good lead in and some excellent examples yet left enough room open for user involvement/comments. I thought it was interesting how you picked what I would consider, some of the less obvious thought provoking movies as well.

Maybe you should follow it up with the most thought provoking TV shows?

-Tim

By: TheHIV

TheHIV — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:02:06 +0000

Oh and if you want to see a profound and thought provoking movie watch The Sea Inside. I swear you wont regret it.

By: TheHIV

TheHIV — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:58:36 +0000

I disagree with V for Vendetta I dont find it to be a particularly profound movie, (though it was fun to watch), I would go with 1984 or something like that, maybe Brazil, but I D K.

By: Karl Staib - Your Career Happiness

Karl Staib - Your Career Happiness — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 21:05:47 +0000

I found your site through Blogcatolog. I dugg and Stumbled.

The Dark Knight was a thought provoking movie. I think that’s when movie is at its best. It brings you to a new level of awareness.

Great list and I added V for Vendetta to my Netflix list.

By: Kw

Kw — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:01:19 +0000

A japanese film called “Afterlife” is one of the thought-provoking and profound films I’ve ever seen.

Roger Ebert did a fantastic review of the film when it was first released, which was how I first heard of it.
I’m not sure if it was ever released to DVD, it was released to VHS. The concept being that after you die, you go to this form of purgatory and look back over your life, choosing the one moment from your life which you will spend your afterlife in. So you must pick the one moment when you were most happy, content, proud.

By: jen

jen — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:13:06 +0000

Also here via Problogger. The Brave One premise reminds me of the TV show Dexter. Dexter is a serial killer who kills serial killers. I haven’t seen the Brave One so I’m going on your short description here.

The Island made me think that’s for sure. Must watch it again.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was very thought provoking for me.