Films that make you go Hmm..

[Phalynx]

I want nominations for films that made you really think, walk away with something in your head that needed some thought or examination or processing.

I don't meant favourite or best or great effects I mean conceptually good.
I think it would be a better discussion if you can limit yourself to 1 or 2...

OK for mine:

The Matrix,
Tt gota lot of credit for technology and action but, at the time it came out, I liked the basic concept underneath it, nothing new the 'how real is reality' stuff but still quite challenging when you sit down and think about it. (the sequels did much to undermine this in my opinion and I suppose now looking back it seems a little cliched but there you go)

Come on you guys must have better choices.

[nitefyre]

A Beautiful Mind -- The story compellingly gets inside your mind, so to speak, as to actually 'believe' somebody with a schizophrenic disorder. There are many other themes within to explore, as well. Then again, I doubt it's for the average Cantrian . Great editing and filmography.

Apocalypse Now -- I was tempted to put Platoon or Full Metal Jacket, or actually any other decent (non John Wayne nor Clint Eastwood wild west) (anti-)war movie here, just to put in reality check where it is you're sending off your GIs to fight before sending them off to another war. A contemporary issue.

Syriana -- Raising the idea of our dependence on foreign oil, or at least putting it at the forefront, and what it is we sacrifice (and a situational irony for me to suggest it today). Another very impactful issue.

[Phalynx]

A Beautiful Mind -- The story compellingly gets inside your mind, so to speak, as to actually 'believe' somebody with a schizophrenic disorder. There are many other themes within to explore, as well. Then again, I doubt it's for the average Cantrian . Great editing and filmography.

I have to agree with that one... although Nash's life was a bit sanitised it was possibly the closest representation of mental illness I have seen on screen - a number of the people I work with (mentally ill) felt a massive afinity with this film - its so rare these things get a sympathetic airing. And then to carry it off with the 6th-sense like twist - a truly great film!

[BarbaricAvatar]

a number of the people I work with (mentally ill) felt a massive afinity with this film

Hmm, maybe i should watch it then

[formerly known as hf]

I've always thought that someone's opinion of The Matrix - in terms of how challenging or 'new' the concepts involved are can say a lot about how much someone has engaged with philosophy.
The Matrix did nothing new in either the fields of writing, philosophy or science fiction. It made major leaps in special effects, and the bringing together of more references to various religions and myths deserves a nod,. but by and large it was nothing 'new' in terms of concepts dealt with.

I rarely find that films are challenging - they need to make money, challening/difficult concepts don't make money (hence the mediocre film versions of P.K.Dick's books we get like Blade Runner and A Scanner Darkly... Even so, Blade Runner has to be one of the finest films ever.)

2001 was just boring, and far too spaced-out to do more than gloss over the concepts the book raises (and the book itself is not much better, although the sequels are)

For me, it has to be Spongebob Squarepants the Movie. No other film has ever touched on the theme of 'manhood' with as much depth and accessibility in one.

[Pie]

For me, it has to be Spongebob Squarepants the Movie. No other film has ever touched on the theme of 'manhood' with as much depth and accessibility in one.

^ my favorite show/movie

[yossarian_lives]

I too thought A Beautiful Mind was pretty good and yes its discussion of mental illness was engaging and informative but I thought that the way it approached the mathematics - viewing it as something almost mystical - it makes one feel that you really do have to be a genius to understand it which is of course total rubbish. But other than that yes it certainly made me a little introspective.

I would also have to recommend A Clockwork Orange. Partly for making Anthony Burgesses fantastic book accessible to anyone who can’t handle reading Nadsat but also for combining this with utterly fantastic, typically Kubrickian, film design. Mainly I came away thinking about free will and the individual but also about the history/nature of language and propaganda.

[Diego]

I am Sam.

[Nosajimiki]

havent seen them since I was little so I don't know if they would still have the same effect on me but, 12 Monkeys and Vanilla Sky. Niether are highly 'philosphical' per/say but you have to stay mentally engaged to at all follow what's going on, but not in the bad script righting way, it like the, we're showing you stuff and it all links together, but you wont understand how it untill the end kind of way

[BarbaricAvatar]

Serenity made me go 'hmm'. I didn't know what the heck was going on until halfway through. It didn't make much sense early on.

[Solutions Maximus]

I liked Equilibrium.

Basically, mankind has sacrificed it's emotions and feelings for peace and structure, but that structured world comes toppling down.

[Pie]

Dangerous Minds - great movie!

[KiNG KiLL]

Fight Club

Donnie Darko

Solaris

[Phalynx]

Mmmm Equilibrium was an entertaining film but really a bit of a cobbling together of Fahrenheit 451 (the base concept), and The Matrix (for the martial arts style combat). Mind due in this world of remakes at least they added something to the mix. I quite like Code 46 for a view of a dystopian future.

I agree with Twelve Monkeys, a great film well made and the first film where I saw Brad Pitt actually act. I really enjoy any form of post-apocalypse type film, they always spark my imagination, even the bad ones!

Another film that really challenged me and stayed with me for years was The Killing Fields.

Spongebob Squarepants.... WTF??????

[N-Aldwitch]

The Wachowski Brothers who wrote the first Matrix actually used a well known philosophical theory (at least, well known in the philosophical world) by .. i forget his name lol. mental blank. *SO AND SO's* theory of the cave or what ever..