WHAT FILMS HAVE IMPACTED YOU THE MOST IN A SPIRITUAL WAY?

Thanks to John Schuurman for suggesting this project.

1999 postings
2000 postings
2001 postings

GINGER'S FAVORITES
Date: Mon, 8 May 2000
From: Ginger aunttee43@aol.com

The most spiritual films for myself would be as follows:
BEN-HUR
The Robe
Chariots of Fire
The Ten Commandments
Places in the Heart

Thanks for the chance to give some of my favorite films. I also believe "The Omega Code" would also be on my list to.
Sincerely Yours, Ginger aunttee43@aol.com

LIKES TITANIC AND JEWEL
Date: Tue, 9 May 2000
From: Gabriel Saraiva

1- The best movie in the spiritual way in my opinion is Titanic. No movie has showed the true love better.
2- the best actor in the spiritual way in my opinion is actually an actress. Jewel. She's God on Earth.

CHRIS' TOP FILMS
Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2000
From: "Chris Hanel"

I had to get the Usual Suspects on my list. Not as much as an uplifting tale, but as a reminder of the deception around us. A recent poll said that while 70% of Americans believed in God, only 20% believed in Satan. One of the main lines from the Usual Suspects is, "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." People, you take the good with the bad. Why all the sinning and the sacrifices and battles and a savior DYING for us if there's nothing to fight against?! ::phew:: okay, there's my lecture.
TOP TEN:
10. Gattaca
9. Dogma (I don't care what the Catholic League says, they didn't see the film before protesting it.)
8. Life of Brian (DITTO)
7. Dead Poets Society
6. City of Angels
5. Shawshank Redemption
4. The Usual Suspects
3. Braveheart
2. The Matrix
1. Okay, i'm going to surprise a lot of people out here with this one..... but my number one spiritual movie has to be L.A. Story, starring and written by Steve Martin. This movie changed my life. Martin plays a man lost in paradise....... "I didn't know I wasn't happy because I was so happy all the time." He struggles to escape an unhappy relationship, a so-so career he's overqualified for, a social circle full of hypocrisy, and to find his one true calling in life by being himself and not being swallowed up by the metropolis surrounding him (aka conformity). A true human conflict if I ever heard one. In the end, he proves the phrase "With faith you can do anything" by telling his true love, about to leave for England, that if he had the power, he would roll in the fog, make the rain pour, reverse the polarity of the earth and make the wind fierce, just so her plane couldn't take off and she wouldn't leave him. What a great ending to an amazingly good film!
Chris Hanel, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

SEAN'S TEN BEST
Subject: films that impacted me spiritually
Date: Sat, 02 Sep 2000
From: Sean

Hi David, I found your website quite by accident (?) and thought that I would send you my list of the 10 most spiritually significant films that I have seen, along with a brief reason why I included them:

Apocalypse Now (1979, Francis Ford Coppola). A great exploration of the darkness of men's hearts (total depravity) set in the context of vietnam war.

Blade Runner (1982, Ridley Scott). Explores the themes of human uniqueness and dignity, the finality of death, and the nature of consciousness.

Chariots of Fire (1981, Hugh Hudson). An inspiring portrayal of a man who dared to live out his Christian convictions in the face of extreme pressure.

Citizen Kane (1941, Orson Welles). Shows the sad life of a rich man with a "god-shaped vacuumm" in his heart that yearned to be filled.

Gates of Heaven (1978, Errol Morris). Superficially, it's a documentary about various pet semeteries, but actually it's much more than that: it is a meditation into the very meaning of existence.

Ikiru (1952, Akira Kurosawa). A well-crafted film about an old, dying man's quest to find the true meaning in life. It's moving and very inspiring.

La Dolce Vita (1960, Federico Fellini). One man's quest to find "the sweet life," perhaps ending in a realization that there is no such thing "under the sun."

Seventh Seal, The (1957, Ingmar Bergman). As a medieval knight and Death play chess, various questions about suffering, God's existence, and search for meaning are explored. Classic Bergman.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968, Stanley Kubrick). An operatic meditation concerning our place in the universe, from the earliest "dawn of man" to "infinity and beyond."

Wild Strawberries (1957, Ingmar Bergman). Another classic Bergman. A great meditation on growing old and a stimulus to live an examined life.

Regards, Sean

DARREL AND KAREN'S FAVORITES
Subject: The Ten Films which have had the most spiritual impact on me
Date: Tue, 16 May 2000
From: "Darrell & Karen Johnson"

1. Chariots of Fire I am both a runner and a disciple. This film amazed me, inspired me, and enabled me to find my career path. "God made me for a purpose. . . but he also made me fast. And when I run, I feel his pleasure." When did I feel God's pleasure?
2. The Mission De Niro's portrayal of the slave trader's act of penance is the most powerful illustration of repentance and forgiveness I have seen on film. It still moves me to tears and reminds me that God wants my heart as well as my mind.
3. The Matrix Stylistically, I believe this was the first film of the 21st century. It portrays a spiritual world hidden behind the façade we see and interact with every day. It speaks of our choice to remain slaves or to break free, to remain blind or to choose to see, as difficult and painful as that may be. And it presents us with our mission: to help others break free from "the Matrix" and use their eyes for the first time to look upon reality.
4. Jesus of Montreal Since I live in Montreal, this film also had a double significance. The scenes of the temptation of Jesus (in a deluxe restaurant overlooking Montreal's downtown) and the "cleansing of the temple" (in a film studio, with the actor playing Jesus indignant at the scornful attitude of the producers for the value of individual people) are especially powerful. A film well worth seeing!
5. Shadowlands C.S. Lewis is one of my favourite authors, and it was fun just to see how he was played by Anthony Hopkins. (Much better looking than "the real thing", I imagine; the real Lewis looked like a sturdy, red-faced farmer). A film which treated his faith and his struggle with suffering with respect. I just wish they had incorporated more of what Lewis wrote in A Grief Observed.
6. The Power of One One person who is passionate and single-hearted can make a difference -- no matter how old or young they may be. A moving presentation of this truth in the context of apartheid.
7. Braveheart Once again, passion and single-heartedness as the driving force behind a freedom movement. And I was impressed at the humility of the man, who was more John the Baptist than Jesus; he believed that Robert the Bruce was the true man for the moment, and he was ready to follow him and submit to him . . . as soon as he began to lead (which didn`t happen until after he died).
8. E.T. A parable about the Incarnation, the transforming power of friendship and love, the Resurrection and the Ascension. "I'll be right here".
9. Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi Who could ever have imagined that Darth Vader, the prototypical "bad guy", could ever repent? "There's still good in you, father; I can feel it!" And then that moment alone --Luke dragging his defeated father out of harm's way, telling him, "I'll never leave you, father", and Vader's dying words: "You were right. Tell your sister. . . you were right". Another example of complete transformation as the result of faith and love.
10. Raiders of the Lost Ark/ The Last Crusade What I liked best about these two movies was the sense of wonder and awe at the power of God (which was a supporting character in both of these films). Ah, that we could revive these sentiments in our 21st century worship and praise!

SUE'S TOP FILM
Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000
From: Sue Ballew

Not in any particular order:
Stepmom
Steel Magnolias
Little Man Tate
The Sound of Music
Dangerous Minds
The Deep End of the Ocean
Shawshank Redemption
Dead Man Walking
Schindler's List
Braveheart
Dead Poet's Society
Contact
A Man For All Seasons
Delores Clairborne
City Of Angels
Awakenings
Evening Star

My Bulletin Board: All these movies moved me for one reason or another. That is how I know the movie is worth watching. Except for the musical bits in The Sound of Music, they all have a human story to tell and they all say it pretty well. I think less of the action flicks and more of dramas and human elements in movies. Death, life, choices, families and spirituality should be what all movies are about. Afterall, we must experience these things at some point and having seen many stupid and mind-dumbing movies over the years, I should say that we should be more interested in feeling what it is like to be human and having to make hard choices and using our consciences to guide us and not what the defunct majority tell us is good to see. That's my opinion, of course

JEROME'S TOP FILMS
Subject: Top Films
Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2000
From: Jerome

Jerome's Top Ten Spiritual Movies (please do not print my e-mail address) Not necessarily in order of importance...
1. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
2. The Deer Hunter
3. The Elephant Man
4. To Kill A Mockingbird
5. Jesus of Nazareth
6. Brother Sun, Sister Moon
7. The Mission
8. Spitfire Grill
9. The Apostle
10. American History X

STEVE'S TOP FILMS
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2000
From: Steven McEvoy

In no Particular Order
1. Shawshank Redemption
2. Dead Man Walking
3. The Matrix
4. School Ties
5. The Man without a Face
6. Last of the Mohicians
7. Braveheart
8. Ben Hur
9. Batman
10. Power of One

PATRICK O'HIGGINS
Subject: JESUS IN ALL: Even the Outcast and the Anawim
Date: Mon, 15 May 2000
From: "Patrick O'Higgins"

(1) "GLADIATOR" : Richard Crowe... Love never dies
(2) 'THE SUM OF US" (Australian) Richard Crowe...unconditional love between father and son
(3) "KING DAVID'....A dance of joy into Jerusalem and the love of David for Jonathan.
(4) "KING OF KINGS"...Mary's acceptance of the Magdalene
(5)"MAURICE"......Love will always find a way
(6) "KEYS OF THE KINGDOM" ....the joys of heaven will probably be not that different from what brings joy on this earth.
(7) "MAKING LOVE"...it matters only that you love.
(8)"BEAUITIFUL THING" ...a single mother's unconditional love of her son.
(9)"SHALL WE DANCE" (Japan) the freedom before God to be you and me
(10) "BILLY BUDD'...we can always see the face of Christ in innocence

GROMETTA'S TOP FILMS
Subject: Films with spiritual messages
Date: Sun, 14 May 2000
From: GROMETTA

1. Thin Red Line
2. Lord of the Flies
3. Death of a Salesman
4. The Matrix
5.Shindler's List
6. Spitfire Grill
7. Grand Canyon
8. THX 1138
9. Solent Green
10. Star Wars
11. Seventh Seal
12. Apocalypse Now
13. Iron Giant
14. Bugs Life
15. Powaqqatsi
16. Koyaanisqatsi
The Thin Red Line, and Shindler's List, Powaqqatsi, Koyaanisqatsi, all have very powerful spiritual messages that connects with the observer when he or she is at the point in life to receive them. All true art does this. Thank you for you website and your efforts. Its ok to publish my email address.
Thanks again and God Bless you.

in no particular order except for as they occur to me (all have meant something)

Magnolia: a beautiful, redemptive film about love, guilt, death, and forgiveness. Also a powerful re-working of Biblical themes and motifs, set in a contemporary world that we can all relate to. An important film to say the least, multiple viewings required.

It's a Wonderful Life: for all the obvious reasons. I have to see this film at least once a year, just to experience the spiritual uplifting it provides each and every time.

The Last Temptation of Christ: Jesus as an every man, scared by his mission, tempted to sin, mortal and immortal at the same time. A searing exploration of the nature of Christ. If he was indeed human, then shouldn't he have experienced the temptation and guilt we have all felt? A moving, intriguing vision by a modern master, Martin Scorsese.

The Ten Commandments: grew up watching this film. Over and over and over and over. There's no way it could have not touched my life as a result.

Hannah and Her Sisters/Crime and Misdemeanors: two different but equally compelling films dealing in some way with God and spirituality. While "Hannah" finds Allen attempting, humorously, to find out the mysteries of religion and faith, "Crimes" deals with the God's silence and the necessity of faith head on.

The Seventh Seal: some see Bergman's masterpiece as an attack on religion or faith, but it always awakens in me a sense of spritituality and reminds me of the eternity of God.

thanks for your time! great site, i'm hooked :)
chad perman.

SCOTT NYP'S TOP FILMS

Scott Nyp My top films are portrayals of the truth of God as revealed in Scripture, amplified through the medium of film.
1. Life Is Beautiful - The love the title character has for his son. He died to save his son's life. What a message of hope! I'm getting teary just thinking about it.
2. Les Miserables - The most beautiful picture of grace in film, is the Priest not only forgiving Valejean for his assault and theft, but also giving him more than he deserved... the candlesticks as well.
3. The Green Mile - Perhaps the best Christ figure that I can remember seeing in film..John Coffey.
4. Field of Dreams - A man's irrational pursuit of the impossible, made possible through supernatural guidance, and providence. A nice example of the Christian life.
5. Hoosiers - A David vs. Goliath for today. Also very touching is the redemption/forgiveness themes involving the Dennis Hopper character and his son.
6. Shawshank Redemption - Reminded me of the importance of hope in suffering.
7. Forrest Gump - Great all around film, however I especially love the scene where Forrest runs back into the jungles of VietNam, with bombs blowing up everywhere to save his friend Bubba. Such is Christ's love for us.
8. The Matrix - Very cool picture about spiritual warfare, and the unseen spiritual bondage that this world is under.
9. Footloose - You may think that this is a dumb pick, but as a teen at the time, I loved how this film identified the religious pharasaism, and hypocrisy in the church. Legalism vs. grace.
10. The Wizard of OZ - There is truly "no place like home." Stay on the path that God has provided for you, and you shall return home.

MAURA'S FAVORITE FILMS

My top films are as follows:
1. All That Jazz: I'm still trying to figure out if Jessica Lange was God or just the Angel of Death. Anyway, this movie came out in 1979, a month after my Mom died and I bawled like a baby. Still do! Great music and dance.
2. Wings of Desire: MUCH better than the sappy Hollywood remake. Depressing but beautiful film.
3. Far Away, So Close: The sequel to Wings of Desire. Excellent movie although I felt so bad for Cassiel. He just wasn't cut out to be human.
4. The Last Temptation of Christ: I never understood why people got so upset over this movie! I loved it because Jesus was portrayed as a REAL person with fears and doubts just like us.
5. Dogma: I know I'll probably get some hate mail for this choice but I thought it was funny ( a little TOO crude at times...) and seeing God portrayed as both a man AND a woman was even better.
6. The Bishop's Wife: Cary Grant as an angel! He was marvelous as was David Niven and Loretta Young.
7. A Christmas Carol (1984) w/ George C. Scott. In my humble opinion, one of the best versions of this oft repeated tale. 8. The Fifth Element: Although I cringed everytime someone in the film referred to Leeloo as the saviour of the world, I did like this film for it's visual style, music, story and humor.
9. The Matrix: Another great sci-fi movie but Keanu Reeves as the Saviour? I hardly think so. Keanu Reeves can't act his way out of a paper bag.
10. Godspell: I saw this originally on t.v. in the early 70's when I was four or five and loved it, even though at that time I didn't really understand it. I've got to get the re-release on video. I'm sure there's more I like but it's late and my brain is tired. God bless you! maura@rcia.com

10-Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey -Originally titled Bill & Ted Go To Hell
9-Hudson Hawk -Capichino, Bruce Willis, and the Pope. What more could you want in a movie?
8-The Scarlet and the Black -The true story of a priest who knew what was up durring WW2. 7-Commandments-Seth never loses his faith... He just gets real ticked off. 6-The Mission- Wow.
5-Fifth Element -Special effects, action ,comedy and theology. What a combo.
4-Jurasic Park -Good morality flick w/ questions of God and deification of science
3-Independence Day -Am I the only one who catches the lost faith refound motif?
2-Last Temptation of Christ -Jesus was human after all.
1-Contact -Science might not have all the answers?

This list fluxuates daily; however 1-4 is pretty set. Some other movies I really like are : Leap of Faith,The Apostle, Gattica, Mercury Rising, Dear God, and Devil's Advocate. There are plenty more as well.

PASTOR'S FAVORITES
Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2000
From: Jennifer Williams

Lion King - themes of baptism, Mufasa's voice telling us to "remember who we are - you are my son ( or daughter) and you are more then you have become..." - something God must say very often.
Dead Poets Society - Carpe Diem "Make your lives extraordinary"
The Iron Giant is also great with spiritual themes =-the power of good and evil is in all of us - what will we do with it.
Steel Magnolias - in the end Easter always comes, new life begins - "That's the way Shelby would have wanted it "
Forrest Gump - love the Lord with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength and love your neighbor as yourself - Forrest was the epitmoe of this scripture in action - he loved everyone unconditionally, and unwavering.
And as silly as it is - it's on video - but...
Pooh's Grand Adventure - Christopher Robin has to leave his friend pooh but reminds him that he is never alone - it reminds me of what Christ tried to tell his disciples during the last supper
- Just a few of the many, many that are out there that I love. Thanks for your great site
- Jennifer Stiles Williams pastor MUMC

Here are my top films... I just finished watching the film, POWDER, by Victor Salva. It was a rental, and it's a good thing I did not see this film in a movie theater ... I would have been asked to leave! I cried my heart out the entire movie. I have never done that in my life. The film touched something deep within, and I know I will never look at life in the same way again. As a lifelong student of metaphysics and someone who is consciously awakening, this film touched me deeply. I found this website by doing a search for Victor Salva. I wanted to thank him for creating such a masterpiece. I see very few films these days, as I find most of them violent, negative and non-value-adding. Victor Salva has given us a glimpse into the future of our own soul's evolution. This is where we will all be one day. This is where mankind is headed, if we don't destroy ourselves first. No film has had such a profound impact on me as Powder. Thanks to all who made it possible. Lynn G.

Here are my top films... As I look over your list I find many films listed that I feeltouched my life. I would like to add a couple films which are produced by Prophecy Partners.
Apocalypse: Eye of the Storm and
Apocalypse 2: Revelation.
These 2 movies both look at the end times prophecies found in the book of Revelation. The first movie deals with the world events leading up to and including the rapture of the church and then look at how the One World government takes over and tries to explain away the rapture as a good thing for the world. We get the idea from this movie that Christians left on earth will be considered the bad guys and the world is out to eradicate itself of them. The second movie picks up the story and projects itself a little further into the future where it looks at the Day of Wonder when antichrist will make himself known and cause people to take the mark of the beast. It was interesting how they took the prophecies in the book of Revelation and showed how realistic they were in the light of modern technology. The first movie, although a bit slower to get started, had more impact on people as it got more into the salvation experience. The second movie was much better in that the acting and cinemaphotography were of higher quality. My personal favorite is the first movie because it shows people struggling with the facts around them and how they decide to accept or deny the facts found in the Bible. The salvation scenes were extremely moving! RevRik@aol.com