Spun-off from DS's Avatar thread. https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-680068.0.html#msg8435735
Title speaks for itself. Here's the intersection of 2 things I love - movies and religion. List some[b] life-changing movies [/b] that have had a strong impact on your life, your belief system, your moral construct, your ethics, your approach to issues, your religion etc etc .

credit to movie-makers who deliver deep thought-provoking messages in their movies, they save us the effort make the lunge ourselves

1: 2001 A space odyssey (on VHS) - the catalyst that sparked a rash of provoking thoughts in my young mind way back
2: Butterfly effect - If you dig chaos theory
3: One flew over the cuckoo's nest - Jack Nicholson gave a stellar performance only the insane will appreciate
4: Full metal jacket - and I almost missed it cos it was a war movie
5: Apocalypse now!! - If you never saw this movie - you never saw it
6: Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind - A thought-provoking romance movie
7: The shining - Nicholson truly has a touch of insanity

They don't make them like they use to, the last movie i thought tried was Inception

lagerwhenindoubt:

Jesoul- where were you when everybody saw Schindler's list - twice the hype Titanic got but far better mileage in thrill/drama
Maybe you want to try my all time zonky movies (ones that put you in the zone).

I was busy studying like the good student I am

1: 2001 A space odyssey (on VHS) - the catalyst that sparked a rash of provoking thoughts in my young mind way back

VHS? kai! Even if I get it, I no get tape player at home anymore. lol.

2: Butterfly effect - If you dig chaos theory

Seen and liked it. Though didn't take away too too much from it. He sacrificed in the end for the girl's happiness/success/abuse - that was nice. Chaos theory - pls break that down a bit for me.

3: One flew over the cuckoo's nest - Jack Nicholson gave a stellar performance only the insane will appreciate

I'll tell you right now, I cannot stand Jack Nicholson. I have to be bribed and tied in front of the tv to watch anything with him in it. That said, The Departed was an incredible movie.

4: Full metal jacket - and I almost missed it cos it was a war movie
5: Apocalypse now!! - If you never saw this movie - you never saw it
6: Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind - A thought-provoking romance movie
7: The shining - Nicholson truly has a touch of insanity

Sorry   haven't seen any of the above. And if I recall proper, Eternal Sunshine got lame reviews, accused of being a pretentious Oscar wannabe. Care to share what touched you about the movie?

They don't make them like they use to, the last movie i thought tried was Inception

Haha NL review: https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-262653.1664.html#msg6585869
Mine: https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-262653.1696.html#msg6589600

@ Lagerwhenindoubt. . . re: inception. . . is it not more a journey into the layers of the mind. . . rather than a spiritually impacting movie. . .?

Butterfly Effect - Change One Thing, Change Everything

A math proposition from a weather man called Lorenz who from his simple weather forecast model revealed a phenomenon known as "sensitive dependence on initial conditions." popularly known as the butterfly effect. you may have come across the phrase "a butterfly flapping its wings in South America can affect the weather in Central Park".  Think of it this way - a small change at one place in a[b] nonlinear system[/b] can result in large differences to a later state. In the movie Evan tried to fix events in past so the future is better for himself and his pals. he discovers that even the tiniest alteration to the past can have gravely unpredictable consequences for the present.

Jack Nicholson - Tell me you appreciated "A Few Good Men"

Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind - lame reviews. i thought it should get plenty thumbs up. out-of-the-box romance movie that leaves a message. Love is all about inevitable imperfections.

I can forgive you for not having seen the others - did you see China Town? or Doctor Zhivago?

Deep Sight:

@ Lagerwhenindoubt. . . re: inception. . . is it not more a journey into the layers of the mind. . . rather than a spiritually impacting movie. . .?

That depends on your choice of weed -surreal or spiritual. The parallel realities in different dreams and complexities involved in thinking it up is simply "spiritistic" imagine a 10-second reality in the second dream level equals 3 minutes in the third, and 60 minutes in the fourth is not unlike OBE or Astral travel or Kundilani. The slice of emotional retribution in the whole mix explores our inner-most weaknesses outside our self-imposed protective barriers and dream constructs. In fact, dreaming and waking have been used in various spiritual traditions for thousands of years as a metaphor for ordinary consciousness and enlightenment. For me it was Spiritually Awakening

^
Surprised no one has mentioned the Matrix films. . .and how Neo is obviously an anagram of One; the allusions to Lewis Carroll's works; the names of the characters (e.g. Morpheus is the Greek god of sleep) embedded themes of Gnosticism, Free Masonry, Plato's ideal forms, Death and Resurrection, Man And Superman, the list goes on.

You take the blue pill, the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.
--- Morpheus

There's no escaping reason, no denying purpose, for as we both know,without purpose we would not exist. It is purpose that created us, purpose that connects us, purpose that pulls us, that guides us, that drives us, that binds us, it is purpose that defines us. We are here because of you, Mr. Anderson. We're here to take from you what you tried to take from us. Purpose.
--- Agent Smith in The Matrix Reloaded

I don't know about impacting spiritually, morally etc but the Matrix films certainly gave me food for thought. Most people tend to focus on the fight scenes but the real message of the films is found in the dialogue between the characters, the meaning of their names and in the films imagery. For example has anyone researched on the meaning of "the Merovingian" and what that name hints at.

@aletheia matrix is heavily salted with biblical parallels and curried wit some 9_11 chatter. As u rightly pointed out it is all about purpose it defines who we r. Why we r here and where we r headed u cannot but love d fight scenes. Nuttin beats a good. Beatdown. For me matrix was highly philosophical than spiritual @

lagerwhenindoubt:

Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind - lame reviews. i thought it should get plenty thumbs up. out-of-the-box romance movie that leaves a message. Love is all about inevitable imperfections.

Loved Eternal Sunshine. Very rich especially when you consider where the inspiration is coming from. True Love never dies. Could Okafor's Law be a crude manifestation of this? Even if the memory of the beloved is wiped out of your mind the Love still remains there. It is actually based on a true story. The story of Abelard and Heloise. Abelard was a great intellectual and musician who got employment with a noble man to teach his neice Heloise, one of the greatest beauties in europe at the time. He was given free reign to do as he please, and to discipline her to any extent he felt necessary. In his own words it was like presenting the lamb to the wolf. They soon became lovers. He composed many songs for her that were famous throughout europe. All this was in the medieval ages.
The uncle found out and had him beaten up and had his balls chopped off. Without his balls he considered himself useless and told Heloise to retire to a convent while he himself retired to a monastery and became a monk. Heloise told him that with or without his manhood she still loved him anyway and it didn't matter. But as far as he was concerned what was love if you couldn't koropa. Nothing remained for him in his life but God.
Their letters to each other from convent to monastery are still preserved. She even goes as far as denouncing God and swearing that the only thing that she is doing in the convent is because he ordered her there. But he tells her to pray for forgiveness for what she said that he is worthless to her now.

It's perhaps the most tragic love story ever , Abelard and Heloise were two well-educated people, brought together by their passion, then separated by the act of her uncle's vengeance.

http://classiclit.about.com/cs/articles/a/aa_abelard.htm

Abelard, Peter. “The Letters of Abelard and Heloise” (c.1132 – 1138)

http://bloggingtheclassics./2008/06/05/abelard-peter-the-letters-of-abelard-and-heloise-c1132-1138/

Centuries later Alexander Pope, the poet wrote the most famous poem about their love. It is a poem based on the letters of Heloise to Abelard in which she swears that even if her mind were wiped clean she would never forget him.

How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!

The world forgetting, by the world forgot.

Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!

Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd;

And that is where the title of the film and the theme of it comes from. How happy she would be if she, a nun, one whom the world has forgot, could also forget the world and bask in the eternal sunshine of a spotless mind.

I also like these lines

Far other dreams my erring soul employ,

Far other raptures, of unholy joy:

When at the close of each sad, sorrowing day,

Fancy restores what vengeance snatch'd away,

Then conscience sleeps, and leaving nature free,

All my loose soul unbounded springs to thee.

(kinda reminds me of wet dreams)

Come, Abelard! for what hast thou to dread?

The torch of Venus burns not for the dead.

Nature stands check'd; Religion disapproves;

Ev'n thou art cold — yet Eloisa loves.


Read the full poem here:
http://www.monadnock.net/poems/eloisa.html

Inception reminds me of the parable of the sower. the planting of seeds that are the logon. The inception of ideas. Also the mind can be invaded and other ideas/impulses planted. like the enemy who plants the tares.

Schindler's List : Doing that which is right without any expectation of a reward be it spiritual or otherwise

Bruce Almighty: If you truly possess the power of the Almighty, what would you do with it?

The Color Purple: I only have to think of this movie when the phrase ' hope that tarries , ' comes to mind

Schindler's List

Humanity is the most important aspect of our humanity. I agree with the Lady above. Doing what is right for your fellow human without expecting anything in return.


LOVING THY NEIGHBOUR REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND, RELIGION, RACE, SEXUALITY AND WHATEVER.


The Irony is; Schindler was not even religious, yet he saved religious people at his own detriment.

very inspirational movie

Ah finally some disposable time away from the Lab . . .

lagerwhenindoubt:

Butterfly Effect - Change One Thing, Change Everything

A math proposition from a weather man called Lorenz who from his simple weather forecast model revealed a phenomenon known as "sensitive dependence on initial conditions." popularly known as the butterfly effect. you may have come across the phrase "a butterfly flapping its wings in South America can affect the weather in Central Park".  Think of it this way - a small change at one place in a[b] nonlinear system[/b] can result in large differences to a later state. In the movie Evan tried to fix events in past so the future is better for himself and his pals. he discovers that even the tiniest alteration to the past can have gravely unpredictable consequences for the present.

   This is very on point. I recall a while back Oprah had this show where they talked about singular moments in our lives as children that have gone on to define and shape us as adults. People gave so many examples, some of them seemingly small and insignificant but then had a huge impact on their lives.   
 

Jack Nicholson - Tell me you appreciated "A Few Good Men"

Oh yeah, that's a classic!

I can forgive you for not having seen the others - did you see China Town? or Doctor Zhivago?

  sorry, that's a negative on all counts.

Pastor AIO:

Loved Eternal Sunshine. Very rich especially when you consider where the inspiration is coming from. True Love never dies. Could Okafor's Law be a crude manifestation of this? Even if the memory of the beloved is wiped out of your mind the Love still remains there. It is actually based on a true story. The story of Abelard and Heloise. Abelard was a great intellectual and musician who got employment with a noble man to teach his neice Heloise, one of the greatest beauties in europe at the time. He was given free reign to do as he please, and to discipline her to any extent he felt necessary. In his own words it was like presenting the lamb to the wolf. They soon became lovers. He composed many songs for her that were famous throughout europe. All this was in the medieval ages.
The uncle found out and had him beaten up and had his balls chopped off. Without his balls he considered himself useless and told Heloise to retire to a convent while he himself retired to a monastery and became a monk. Heloise told him that with or without his manhood she still loved him anyway and it didn't matter. But as far as he was concerned what was love if you couldn't koropa. Nothing remained for him in his life but God.
Their letters to each other from convent to monastery are still preserved. She even goes as far as denouncing God and swearing that the only thing that she is doing in the convent is because he ordered her there. But he tells her to pray for forgiveness for what she said that he is worthless to her now.
http://classiclit.about.com/cs/articles/a/aa_abelard.htm
http://bloggingtheclassics./2008/06/05/abelard-peter-the-letters-of-abelard-and-heloise-c1132-1138/

Centuries later Alexander Pope, the poet wrote the most famous poem about their love. It is a poem based on the letters of Heloise to Abelard in which she swears that even if her mind were wiped clean she would never forget him.
And that is where the title of the film and the theme of it comes from. How happy she would be if she, a nun, one whom the world has forgot, could also forget the world and bask in the eternal sunshine of a spotless mind.

I also like these lines

Far other dreams my erring soul employ,

Far other raptures, of unholy joy:

When at the close of each sad, sorrowing day,

Fancy restores what vengeance snatch'd away,

Then conscience sleeps, and leaving nature free,

All my loose soul unbounded springs to thee.

(kinda reminds me of wet dreams)

Come, Abelard! for what hast thou to dread?

The torch of Venus burns not for the dead.

Nature stands check'd; Religion disapproves;

Ev'n thou art cold — yet Eloisa loves.


Read the full poem here:
http://www.monadnock.net/poems/eloisa.html

Nice one Pastor. Looks like I've slept on a great movie, though I must confess, I am hardly moved by 'love stories' in movies. I find almost all of them pretentious and unrealistic.

aletheia:

^
Surprised no one has mentioned the Matrix films. . .and how Neo is obviously an anagram of One; the allusions to Lewis Carroll's works; the names of the characters (e.g. Morpheus is the Greek god of sleep) embedded themes of Gnosticism, Free Masonry, Plato's ideal forms, Death and Resurrection, Man And Superman, the list goes on.

I don't know about impacting spiritually, morally etc but the Matrix films certainly gave me food for thought. Most people tend to focus on the fight scenes but the real message of the films is found in the dialogue between the characters, the meaning of their names and in the films imagery. For example has anyone researched on the meaning of "the Merovingian" and what that name hints at.

lagerwhenindoubt:

@aletheia matrix is heavily salted with biblical parallels and curried wit some 9_11 chatter. As u rightly pointed out it is all about purpose it defines who we r. Why we r here and where we r headed u cannot but love d fight scenes. Nuttin beats a good. Beatdown. For me matrix was highly philosophical than spiritual @

Also on point. I've come across a few expositions on the Matrix movies. There is no question about how drenched the movie is symbolism, from the characters to the dialouge and I could not agree more with Lager, to me it wasn't so much spiritual, but rather philosophical. Plenty of 'food for thought' as you put it Aletheia.

But they rubbished pts 2-3 . . . Reloaded and Revolutions were a considerable step down I think from part 1.

JeSoul:

Nice one Pastor. Looks like I've slept on a great movie, though I must confess, I am hardly moved by 'love stories' in movies. I find almost all of them pretentious and unrealistic.

Oh yeah, I forgot. It's all about the Pishauns. (I bet you never knew I was reading those threads)

Schindler's list seems to be a favorite, I will watch when I get the chance.

Let me self put my own. This'll be long so get your popcorn or epa or if not, skip on out .

---

The #1 movie that had a profound impact on me, is probably one you've not heard of. "The Box" starring James Mardsen & Cameron Diaz. It actually flopped at the box office and got mixed reviews. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Box_(2009_film)

James Mardsen played Cyclops in X-men & the trailers were cool - this is why I went to see the movie at the theatre. lol. And I was completely suprised as it wasn't the kind of movie I expected at all. It was complicated, weird, unsettling, strange, creepy, scary, confusing, captivating, riveting, crazy, freaky, fascinating, emotional . . . infact I don't think I've ever walked away from a movie feeling as strange, creeped out and confused but yet as touched and moved as I was. And I cannot even say that I 'liked' the movie, lol. Confused? yes I was too. This was in 2009 and I find myself frequently pondering over the moral and ethics of the story.

 I can't help but give away spoilers so sorry in advance . . . Mardsen & Cameron are honest, average, everyday people just like us. They love each other deeply (but not in your useless, fake, typical, unrealistic hollywood adaptation of 'love' type of way). Cameron is a teacher, Mardsen an engineer. They have a son and they're going through some tough times, emotionally & financially. A stranger, well dressed and spoken and professional (but with a terribly disfigured face) shows up on their doorstep with a box with a red button on top and makes them an offer:

 Push the button - and 2 things will happen ¹ you will get 1 million dollars ² Somebody somewhere in the world will die.

They ask all kinds of questions, he tells them "it'll be someone you don't know" but he gives them no other info and the offer expires in 24hrs. They discuss at night in bed next to each other "how can we do this?" "but we need the money" "what if its a man on death row?" "what if its a baby?" "someone we don't "know" . . . what does it mean to really know somebody?" . . . they sit across the table from each other with the box in the middle, torn, deliberating . . . and then Cameron with one quick impulsive moment pushes it.

  Na so wahala start.

The scene switches and simultaneously police are called to respond to an incident where a man has killed his wife and left their daughter locked up in the bathroom. This man eventually turns out to be Mardsen's co-worker - his wife was the one who died after they pushed the button. But wait - he shot his own wife in the heart, what does their pushing of a button on a box with no wires or electronics have to do with another man's deliberate actions miles away?

The movie goes on to so many twists and turns - some of them downright weird, some I didn't even understand. They get the money and attempts to return it are refused by the mysterious disfigured man. Further along their son is kidnapped, and the man who shot his wife earlier forcefully abducts Mardsen . . . turns out he & his wife also received a box with the same offer - his wife also pushed the button. He reveals that he had to choose btw his wife and daughter . . . but he's cut off as they are hit by a truck. Mardsen wakes in a warehouse under heavy guard . . . he's confused . . . he sees another co-worker from Nasa where he works who says to him in a scared voice "the decision you make will have grave ramifications for all humanity, choose wisely" . . .

Long story short . . . it turns out the whole thing is an experiment by a higher power to test humanity - to see if we are worth it, to be spared and left alive. Mardsen & Cameron were part of this experimental machine, they had the choice to keep another human being alive - but chose otherwise.  Mardsen ends up back at home with his wife & the disfigured man. The man acknowledges they were good people, but had made a terrible decision. Mardsen is given a terrible choice: their son is upstairs locked in the bathroom (just like the girl in the begining), he is now deaf and blind . They can ¹ keep the million dollars and try to live knowing their son will live in a terrible prison not being able to see or hear or ² Mardsen can kill his wife (she pushed the button) and their son's sight/hearing will be restored.

  The scene flashes to another couple sitting with a box between them, deciding whether or not to push it . . .

It flashes back to Mardsen & Cameron . . .  Cameron says she cannot live life with her son like that, she'd rather die to save him. She begs Mardsen to kill her. He presses the gun against her chest, kisses her and fires . . .

  The scene flashes back to the other couple - they pushed the button. And the movie ends, implying the cycle continued. I forget exactly, but the cycle had been going on for decades, all around the world, people had been choosing over and over to push the button.

---

I cannot even begin to speak on how many layers of free will and choice and morals and ethics this movie touched. How much does one really care about someone, somewhere that you have never met or will never meet? Are we all inextricably linked? How much are we all truly connected that we don't even realize? Who really did the killing? the person who pushed the button or the person who pulled the trigger? or are they really one and the same person? Did they really have a choice? Do we really have choice? If we do, do we stop to think often how our choices & actions have ripple effects on even people we do not know? Are human beings worth saving? We're so selfish and greedy, we prove it over and over again, why should a higher power even bother? In the movie it was the women who pushed the buttons - a hint at Eve first eating the apple in the garden I think. Cameron (though she was a 'good' person) was held responsible and judged for her actions. This is how someone put it:

I might be wrong about this, but I think it's all a religious allegory about free will in a world with an all-knowing god. If god knows what choice you're going to make, did you have a choice in the first place? It's ultimately a modern telling of the garden of eden. The couple is Adam and Eve, the burned man is the snake, the button (and money) is the tree of knowledge, and their child represents their innocence (and whether they lose it in the end).

   This is the question that haunted me as I left the theatre and still haunts me today - would I have acted any different from Mardsen & Cameron?

Pastor AIO:

Oh yeah, I forgot. It's all about the Pishauns. (I bet you never knew I was reading those threads)

    you slick guy you Lol . . . pishaun pishaun is not that bad now at least they have high entertainment value