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Good films
Mingle
Veteran
Hitting hmv today wondering if there is any good films you can recommend. Any that's gonna give me a change of perspective and get me thinking for the next week. I fancy something like that.
1
Comments
A couple of my favourites are Shadowlands ( based on the life of CS Lewis ) and Kingdom of Heaven ( an epic about the crusades ). Also Good will Hunting.
The tree of life. Donnie Darko. Memento.
If you like Buddhism, I liked "The Cup," which has the advantage of not brow-beating its audience with a 'Buddhist' message. Also, "Page Eight" and "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" (the Swedish one).
'As good as it gets' is probably not something you would normally choose. Worth a watch.
47 Ronin, especially if you dig Keanu.
Sometimes, the most profound change of perspective for someone seeking a change in perspective, is just not seeking that change.
Off the top of my head, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring, Amongst White Clouds, Kontroll, The Seventh Seal, The Holy Mountain, The Mindful Way, and Buddha's Lost Children are a few I enjoy.
I saw a trailer for a movie called Peaceful Warrior, I haven't seen it yet, but it looks good.
One of my favorite movies is, Into the Wild.
Hmmmm... movies to change your perspective? My experience is that these things are most beneficial when you stumble on them on your own, without a pre-disposition to how they might make you feel or respond. But if you just want a good movie to watch, then watch The Big Lebowski. I make no promises to what the watching experience might do for you, except possibly laugh i guess?
"You're out of your element, Donny!"
I really enjoyed Wadjda. It gave a critical insider's perspective into the life of a Saudi girl. Opened my eyes to a culture that I know little to nothing about.
Earthlings is very provocative, and will definitely get you thinking about our relationship to animals.
One of my favourite films of all time is In the Mood for Love. A slow-burner that really makes you rethink the whole "romance" genre. Very lush, moody, seductive.
One of the most compelling films I saw within the last year, was 'The lives of Others'. It's about life in East Germany, prior to the fall of the Wall.... A truly beautiful film....
A second, which recounted how the passion of Love can strike at any age - and why should it not? - was 'Ladies in Lavender' A lovely film quite apart form the fact that it starred two of the most iconic and formidable actresses this and last century have known. They've starred in a few things together and are an awesome team.
The Tibetan Book of the Dead The Great Liberation 1994
Based on the book, The Way of the Peaceful Warrior, by Dan Millman. Excellent book with the bonus of being one of three novels with the same characters - so if you like the first...
Also, Circle of Iron (also released under the title, The Silent Flute). It was written by Bruce Lee as a gift to his fans along with an introduction to Buddhist beliefs. He was supposed to star in it but died before production and the role went to David Carradine.
There is currently a 3 part BBC series on the Buddha:
Just finished watching Peaceful Warrior, and the pace was what I was in the mood for after running around in the heat today, I thought it was good - definitely worth at least one watch - although Nick kinda mumbles so I had to turn it up more.
I understand it's a new series, but they already had "The Life of the Buddha" where they covered pretty much the same thing. And there was all those other BBC docs on religions that covered Buddhism in a very similar way.
I guess one can't complain about the positive press, but from a consumer perspective, we're just getting rehashed facts.
@Invincible_summer --- LOL! After "find out for yourself" everything is pretty much a rehash, isn't it?
@misecmisc1 I saw this movie today "The Tibetan Book of the Dead The Great Liberation 1994",
Nice movie, they give a good description of what happens in between life and death, with this 6 bardos...but it seems to be a bit of a challenge after you die with all these states you have to go trough
so if you are not afraid to die already, you will be, after watching this movie :P
i think i have seen this movie for at least 3 times in full and multiple times heard its starting lines and some portions in between in which some insightful sentences are said. but somehow even though i fear death, the thought about dying does not arise a sense of urgency within me for practice.
I still haven't had your definition of what you think 'a sense of urgency' is....
I thought Waking Life was really good. You can find it on Youtube
https://youtube.com/watch?v=wAT-KZMqBk4
Well, I just saw a really great film, about a true living Bodhisattva!
This wasn't a Buddhist film, though. But I saw the character the biopic profiled in that light. It's about the guy who invented those Segway 2-wheeler mobility machines. Turns out he's invented a lot of other very cool stuff, mostly in the medical realm, and it turns out he's a very cool, sweet guy, dedicated to alleviating suffering in as many people as possible.
He invented a machine that can purify the most foul water into drinking water, anywhere in the world, and he's gradually distributing it around the world (shipping to villages all over the developing world = a logistical nightmare, not to mention teaching the villagers to wash their hands and use clean receptacles for the water, etc.), which is no mean feat.
He also invented personal kidney dialysis machines, so that people don't have to go to the hospital frequently to get their dialysis, they can do it at home. He has virtually no social life, because he's so busy inventing, and working on ways to get his products to the people that need them. Of course, he's made many millions when med device manufacturers have bought his patents, and he spends those millions on R & D for new machines, new inventions, solving the next problem that comes to his attention. His mother keeps telling him to get a life, so he says, "OK, mom, which of my projects should I abandon, so I'll have time for a life? The water purification box? No? The kidney dialysis machine (Phase II--better and cheaper)? No?" And he goes down his list of projects. Each time, his mother gives up. Until the next time.
EXTREMELY cool movie; it's called "Slingshot". Playing in independent film houses, as far as I can tell.
Just a few items in no sensible order that come to the mind of this particular movie snob:
Red Beard
Stories we tell
When Marnie was There
Mother (Korean)
3-Iron
Gods must be crazy
Monk with a camera
Happy People (documentary)
Spring Summer Fall Winter and Spring
Genghis Blues
Watched Birdman last night - interesting...
just finished watching Next with Nick Cage, I liked it!
Just finished watching Predestination...strangely satisfying mystery.
I saw Interstellar today, I regret missing it in theaters, it was a really entertaining film, but also really confusing.
What about humans?
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/humans
3 Idiots is a pretty good movie to watch if you're down in the dumps and have 3 hours to kill. Just watched it the other night with some friends.
Whoah - 3 hours?!
I watched The Island and Surrogates a few times in the past week and Life of Pi, which was beyond belief in more ways than one - Life of Pi has been sort of a once-in-a-lifetime sort of exotic mystery and it drew me right in. Some won't get past the unbelievability of it, I guess.
I saw "The Seven Samurai" again recently, a good film.
'Liar liar' of Jim Carrey.
Yes, I could watch the 'roast' scene all day...so good.
Mr. Holland's Opus
Crash (2004)
Powder
The Boys Are Back
American Sniper
Samsara
Once upon a time in Tibet
Up In the Air
so good - wonderful movie
"Act Normal" is an interesting documentary, filmed over a long span of time.
Here's its short synopsis: "Filmed for over ten years, a monk visits the modern world by disrobing, marrying, divorcing and becoming a monk again."
This documentary was uploaded on Vimeo by its director and you can watch it here: https://vimeo.com/27590176
@silver, I have seen up in the air when I gone through my recovery from past relationship trouble. It was sad seeing at that time. It is a good movie though.
Also, for those of us who love Owls, it is worth to check out guardians of Ga'Hoole
and the song. Be careful though, metal beak might give you daymare. 
Mr. Holland's Opus - it was awesome but a bit slow in one or two spots.
Baraka and Samsara (by the same director, there is more than one Samsara)
Truman Show
'That Sugar Film' is about an experimental change of diet. Getting calories from 'healthy foods'.
Interesting to find the effects on mentation ...
My name is Lobster and I am a sugar junkie
Aha that's so sweet
One of the best and sadest film I have ever seen, Grave of the fireflies, a film showing how cruel the world can be, two kids trying to survive alone in the middle of a warzone..
What kind of films do you generally watch or particularly enjoy? Any favourite genres?
I have seen both Baraka and Samsara - both are a treasure to watch, absolute brilliance of photography and displayed theme of content. Hats off to the makers of these films.
I just finished watching Pitch Perfect, and it was a lotta fun.
sorry, don't have any strictly religious films to offer
I've had a bit stuck in my craw about Life of Pi for years now, sorry to unburden it now. I thoroughly enjoyed the first %99 of the movie but
the argument Pi makes at the end about why he believes in God
put a really bad taste in my mouth because of its, imo, ridiculousness.
I'll add my up vote to Samsara and Baraka as well.
Though far from spiritual, The Matrix, has some not so subtle Buddhist themes in it.
Oh. I don't even recall the argument, because the visual stuff was so potent - that's what blew me away. I've always been very visual (you know what I mean) but since my intro to Buddhism, it's even more powerfully meaningful when I see stuff like this.