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Films with Religious or Spiritual Themes or Refs

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Poll Question: Choose any favourites and list your own
Poll Choice Votes Poll Statistics
5 [7.25%]
0 [0.00%]
4 [5.80%]
0 [0.00%]
20 [28.99%]
13 [18.84%]
5 [7.25%]
1 [1.45%]
2 [2.90%]
6 [8.70%]
2 [2.90%]
2 [2.90%]
0 [0.00%]
0 [0.00%]
0 [0.00%]
0 [0.00%]
1 [1.45%]
0 [0.00%]
2 [2.90%]
0 [0.00%]
0 [0.00%]
1 [1.45%]
1 [1.45%]
0 [0.00%]
4 [5.80%]
You can not vote in this poll

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moshkito View Drop Down
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    Posted: December 04 2023 at 08:55
Originally posted by octopus-4 octopus-4 wrote:

Is "The Gospel According to St. Matthew" the Pasolini's one?

Hi,

I wanted to mention this one, but I left it behind, as I could not exactly make out my thoughts about the film. I think there is a side of it that is a blatant attack on the Roman edition of everything, and how the folks on the street really see it and actually interpret it, rather than believe what they are told, which is worse than a childish story and was written way later by folks that were obviously trying to create some kind of ideal that was related to how Summerian religions looked at deity ... NOT HUMAN ... which was a theme that had been visible as well through the Greek stories, that were all b*****dized into concepts that are still a problem today, ridiculous to say the least ... and our schools keep on "teaching" the stuff instead of putting on the proper human thought at work. The Greek "chorus" was the perfect example of a system trying to change the mores of the time and place into some kind of social control and direction. It bothers me, that in theater, this is revered, instead of ridiculed.

A great example is how Medea's story is rewritten to make her look like a witch and a malevolent person ... nothing like hating women and consider them evil! It just gets old!

Sadly, PPP is not exactly clear and is certainly confused on how to portray women in both the Decameron and the Canterbury Tales, many times not making them honest. So, in my book, his idealism was as confusing as his ideas in "Empirismo Eretico" ... which, while an interesting study in the history of the Italian language, in the end, makes it a mess of confusion and ideologies, though it is possibly the best book on that particular history! But the linguistic studies can not make any dent on the religious material any more than it can on the political and social norms! Thus, for me, his "religious" themes are just an idea, and more than likely an intentional attack against the social orders in relation to religion. 

This, lowers the film for my tastes. Sadly enough. A great idea ... kinda lost in its own illusion. Monty Python might have done this a lot better!


Edited by moshkito - December 06 2023 at 08:19
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote octopus-4 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 04 2023 at 07:03
Is "The Gospel According to St. Matthew" the Pasolini's one?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 24 2023 at 06:41
Ennio Morricone - The Mission



Edited by Psychedelic Paul - November 24 2023 at 06:43
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Octopus II Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 24 2023 at 06:40
I voted for The Wicker Man.

A very disturbing film. Unhappy
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BrufordFreak Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 24 2023 at 06:38
Too many great ones here to vote. 

Will: With multiple options included in each vote, perhaps you might have done two or three polls.

Others I'd add to the list (though you've done an amazing job, Will, and mine might be stretching the "religious" or "spiritual" theme):
Host
Sacrifice
Blade Runner
The Matrix
Jacob's Ladder
The Sixth Sense
Bruce Almighty
The Nativity Story
The Passion of Christ
Spirited Away
Lucy
Cloud Atlas
Hereafter
Oh! God!
Mr. Nobody
The Seventh Seal

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote The Dark Elf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 23 2023 at 20:22
Going back through the list once more, I will say both The Mission and The Black Robe are both remarkable movies.  I mentioned Man For All Seasons previously, and I would also third the recommendation for the film version of The Name of the Rose. It's one of those noble efforts that ulitmately cannot succeed because the book is so dense with historical minutiae and allusions that a film could never do it justice. Nevertheless a worthy watch with some splendid acting (Ron Perlman as the monk Salvatore absolutely nails the character in the book).
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hugh Manatee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 23 2023 at 18:53
A little late to this conversation but I'd like to mention Darren Aronofsky.

Just about all of his films have a religious theme or undertone. my particular favourite being "The Fountain".



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hiram Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 18 2023 at 11:05
Vote for all Monty Pythons, Wicker Man, Wings of Desire, Holy Mountain and the Ninth Gate. 

There's quite a few titles I haven't seen or don't remember very well. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Octopus II Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 18 2023 at 11:00
The final scene of The Wicker Man still haunts me to this day!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote richardh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 18 2023 at 10:29
The Wicker Man (original). I remember being pole axed by the ending as a young teenager when I first watched it. Certainly stuck with me.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote gottenllfq Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 07 2022 at 00:29
Thank you, I'll see some of these films this weekend. Finding good religious movies is difficult, so I'm fortunate to find your post.
Movies are my passion, and I like to see them and then write a review on different sites and forums. It's like a hobby; I watch interesting films and develop my writing skills afterwards. We often see movies in our portland oregon churches, but usually, it's not the kind of cinematography I like. Most of all, I like stories about non-religious people who found God and could put their life together. Such a plot reminds me of my own story, and it's always special to me.




Edited by gottenllfq - November 20 2022 at 01:20
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BaldJean Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 23 2022 at 17:25
how about "Barbarella"? I actually think it would be the perfect movie to pair with "Zardoz"


Edited by BaldJean - July 23 2022 at 17:31


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Grumpyprogfan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 23 2022 at 07:16
Haven't seen most of these, but from what I have seen I choose The Exorcist. 

This is a great film that has not been mentioned. And the ending has a superb twist with a popular musician.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote moshkito Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 23 2022 at 06:56
Hi,

A couple more ...

Barrabas (with Anthony Quinn)
The Devils (Ken Russell's)

All in all, a magnificent list ... but me voting on it is gonna be tough.

Of all these, I think that "Bedazzled" (the original with PC and DM) is probably the one film that I would think is the best, despite folks not appreciating some of the incredible twisted humor, specially the last 15 minutes, which is SO TRUE TODAY. George Spigott kept his promise ... he went out and created a mess!

BTW, I remember when I first saw "Jesus of Montreal" and how stunned I was ... it is an incredible film, although I think that some "Christians" won't like the hippocrisy so wide open in the film!

"Life of Bryan" also deserves some outstanding kudos for some wonderful writing, and not just clever ... 


Edited by moshkito - July 23 2022 at 06:58
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MortSahlFan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 22 2022 at 06:25
"Elmer Gantry" is my favorite.

Notice one of the last scenes. Fate. Accident. Big Bang?

We see a sign that reads, "NO SMOKING", but a guy flickers his cigarette, and because of all the straw/hay, the place catches on fire. Everyone (except Sister Sharon) goes by instinct, and gets the hell out of there, despite Sister Sharon telling them this is the apocalypse/rapture, some message from the heavens. She's the only believer. And that's religion for you. Just like every President has to suddenly pretend he loves the bible.

It's business, and Lancaster's character demonstrates this in every way, but finally "grows up". 

I also love "The Seventh Seal" and the movie, "Sult" with the character named Pontius. I don't know much about religion, but I'm guessing there's a lot of religious symbolism, as there is with many movies.


Edited by MortSahlFan - July 22 2022 at 06:29
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sean Trane Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 22 2022 at 06:19
Stunning, I tell you Evil Smile

let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter
keep our sand-castle virtues
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as well as a thinker,
prefer lifting our pen
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BaldFriede Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 22 2022 at 05:41
Originally posted by Logan Logan wrote:


Umberto Eco is an author I have liked very much (especially Foucault's Pendulum). I should start reading more again (I'm at the point of needing reading glasses, but not used to them so I never use them except for small print).

My favourite books by Umberto Eco are "Baudolino" and "La misteriosa fiamma della regina Loana" ("The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana"). The latter is in my opinion an attempt of Eco to describe what will happen inside the brain shortly after death. Extremely fascinating.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BaldFriede Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 22 2022 at 05:31
I would have thrown in "¡Viva la muerte!" ("Long Live Death!") by Fernando Arrabal and "Zardoz" by John Boorman.

"Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes" and "De vierde man" (I prefer to use the original titles of movies) are two of my all time favourite movies; normally my vote would go there. But "La montaña sagrada" needs a vote.

I once saw a triple feature of "La montaña sagrada" (the original title of "The Holy Mountain"), "¡Viva la muerte!" and "Zardoz" on acid at a local cinema. Somehow the acid merged these three movies into one super long and super weird movie.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote geekfreak Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 22 2022 at 03:33
Ben Hur or The Ten Commandments


But wish this movie was on the list.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote moshkito Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 05 2018 at 13:21
Meetings with Remarkable Men 
England 1979


It is not easy to review this film, specially in light that it was co-written by one of the folks that was associated to G. I. Gurdjieff, and the immediate thought is that its content is very close to the story of the man that create the writings that made this film.

I tend to think of this film as much more than just a film, although why, is harder to explain. There is a certain feeling of clarity and understanding within this film, and its dialogue, and specially the visual side of its scenery and eventual ending, which is rather stunning and different. It is not a conventional story, but its illustration is not specific to what we imagine, but at times, what we see and what/how we discern from it.

The story is that of Gurdjieff and the part of his life that is in search for some meaning. That meaning eventually comes to be seen in the film in the form of dance, and how it affects a person is my assumption. To this end, a lot of his work, has bits and pieces that are very useful in the study of acting and even directing, which Peter Brook has taken to an extensive degree and incorporated into what might be considered the experimental theater and film work that he has done over the years. It is no surprise that later, Peter Brook did a film called "THE TIGHTROPE", that is not a story, but essentially an acting exercise which is very similar to a very important part of the story and a visual stunning moment in the film when Gurdjieff has to cross a bridge. The important part of the exercise, is the attention to it and its detail, and thus the "meaning" is created. And that it gets taken even further afar, so you can see the ending part of the film with the dancers, although seeing that, you and I, will probably wonder ... that in itself is the meaning? 

And that would say ... we missed the point and failed the tightrope/bridge?

It is the process that creates the inner peace that makes it possible to move on, and add meaning to one's life, it seems like, something so basic that we do not always consider it, and how important each and every moment really is, that we take for granted. But do we know how to live with that kind of depth and detail? I don't know and the film is not telling you, and I tend to feel that the books themselves by Gurdjieff, do not exactly tell you, because it is such an individual experience all along for all of us. 

The film has very nice moments and details that are probably very close to the life of the man himself, and it also features some other bits that are unusual ... like casting Terence Stamp who has been known to quit acting in order to undertake meditation and a path of the inner side. 

It is a very spiritual film, but it does not hammer anything at you. It just shows some moments in one's life and how things progress and moves along, and in the end, it allows you to make your own call and understanding, which is the hard part that makes the film be a bit of an oddity for you ... you have to figure it out for yourself!

Beautiful film, and probably one of the most spiritual film ever made, but a film that does not push its vision and try to print it on your head. The ending is as much as a far out bit as it is a release, though dance/dancing is not shown in the earlier parts as being that important until the ending sequence. And even then, it is something that we would probably ask ... dance? ... since we are used to something that has an interpretation of our own lives a lot more than something, that has an invisible link that we can not see altogether. 

I suppose that we think that is the case in most of our lives?

Directed by Peter Brook
Written by Peter Brook, G. I. Gurdjieff and Jeanne Salzmann
Music by Thomas de Hartmann adapted by Laurence Rosenthal
Cinematography by Gilbert Taylor
With Dragan Maksimovic as Gurdjieff, Terence Stamp as Prince Lubovedsky, Mikica Dimitrijevic as the young Gurdjieff, Athol Fugard (well known playwright in the English Theater scene!) as Professor Skridlov, Warren Mitchell, Fahro Konjhodzic, David Markham, Natasha Parry
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