John of Woking, I’m very glad I’ve visited your thread, I’m 16 and very conservatively catholic. I wish to be a filmmaker when I grow older, shed some light in holloywood hopefully, but it’s still a dream and yet to make it reality.
Perhaps the greatest Catholic film of all time, and one of my top five ‘A Man For All Seasons’. It’s about Saint Thomas More, and you’ll remember paul scholfield’s thomas more next time you’re in a debate, because in this he is the master of debating, he’s always arguing with heretics and those out to get him, and just when you think they got him cornered, he makes the greatest of comebacks. A must see.
Another film I really liked was The Mission, winner of the Palm D’or for 1986, starring Jeremy Irons and Robert Deniro, along with liam neeson, and by the same writer of ‘a man for all seasons’!
Jeremy Iron’s character is just inspiring as thomas more was portayed, and he’ll live long in your memory when your feeling down, he’s a missionary priest in the jungles of South America, and he converts all these tribes and Robert Deniro’s character, who is a criminal, but then gets his life changed for the better by this priest and becomes a priest himself, from what I could tell.
However some people didn’t like how the church was portrayed, because they got in the way of all his missionary work, I know where they’re coming from, but Jeremy Iron’s character represents the true intentions of the church and is very Christ-like.
Another problem might be the tribal nudity.
They’re the best catholic films in my view, now for another beautiful movie, and my favorite of all time! LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL!
Co-written, directed and starring Roberto Begnini, this film was best foreign film at the oscars plus the best actor oscar for Roberto! His character’s joy will put joy in your life and when times are bad in your life you’ll remeber this guy and feel happy.
Becuase this film is about this guy who’s a jew (relax, catholic friendly) and he arrives in this town in italy and all this comedic stuff happens I won’t tell you, but it’s set during WW2. He is a very happy person does everything he can to make others feel great, even in the worst of times- even when he and his family are captured by the nazis and put in a concentration camp!
The film is extremely powerful as well funny, and it doesn’t poke fun at the holocost, it examines it’s horror. I get shivers just writing about the movie, it’s a masterpiece.
Another great film is Napolean Dynamite, it’s a comedy about this nerd, and it’s much better you think, it’s one of the greatest of all time, it has elememnts of perfection, believe me, plus it’s recent.
Plus there’s always Ben Hur, the sound of music, casablanca, mrs miniver, singing in the rain.
Another one though, and one of my favorites, is dancer in the dark, winner of the Palm D’or for 2000, it’s about this refugee in America who does all she can for her son. It’s devestatingly powerful, and it’s written and directed by Lars Von Trier, one of the directors Pace i believe said was very trustworthy along with David Lynch and Fellini.
David Lynch’s elephant man is awesome, it’s his most moral film, however I doubt I’d trust him with my soul. Mullholland Drive contained lesbianism, and thats a film by him, although critically it’s really good, most of his other works are morally corrupt, including Wild at Heart. I loved Blue Velvet however, but that was still immoral.
Fellini, as if I’d trust him, His most acclaimed movie La Dolce Vita was a film that the Vatican tried to ban, and one which in my view presents Fatima negatively. All his films have a sense of rebelion toward the church, and that annoys me.
Lars Von Trier, very talented man but half his works are very immoral. The idiots perhaps being the worst, a lot of unnecessary nudity and sex in that. However I really liked Dogville, and that I believe is moral like Dancer in the Dark.
MEP I think recommended Spirited Away. It’s one of my favorite movies in a critical sense, however spiritually it’s got quite a bit wrong with it. It’s very new age and delves into the ‘spiritual’, hence it’s title, it has the message that there are spirits everywhere, even in non-living things, so be careful with that one, still very enjoyable if able to discern.
MEP was correct in metioning the incredibles though, it’s the bomb, everyone will love it and strengthens the family and is perhaps the greatest animated film both critcally and spiritually.
Another of my favorites is Grave of the Fireflies, another anime film but it’s a realistic film, not where all these stupid pointless action ocuurs. Its set in Japan when it was being bombed, and it’s the tale of a brother and his younger sister who do all they can to get food. It’s mesmorizingly powerful.
If you want more advice anytime send me an email at
pattythebro@hotmail.com
God Bless You
