What are the best films about religion? n/t

[Plantaganet]

[ZombieHorde]

1. Do you mean documentaries, or movies with strong religious themes?

Jesus Camp is a fun documentary.

Brother Sun, Sister Moon is a fun religious movie.

[Mnemosyne]

3. Jesus Camp scared the bejeezus out of me.

Very interesting film though.

[Plantaganet]

15. Anything, really. Whatever comes to mind...

[rug]

2. The Burmese Harp.

[rrneck]

4. Dogma comes to mind.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120655/

[hrmjustin]

5. Into the Great Silence is interesting.

[rug]

6. +1

Especially the dialogue.

[hrmjustin]

7. LMFAO.

I think there is a scene when they do talk and it is actually interesting to listen to their topic of conversation.

[rug]

8. They cut out the best parts.

At a remote monastery deep in the woods, the monks followed a rigid vow of silence. This vow could only be broken once a year on Christmas, by one monk, and the monk could speak only one sentence.

One Christmas, Brother Thomas had his turn to speak and said, "I love the delightful mashed potatoes we have every year with the Christmas roast!" Then he sat down. Silence ensued for 365 days.

The next Christmas, Brother Michael got his turn, and said, "I think the mashed potatoes are lumpy and I truly despise them!" Once again, silence ensued for 365 days.

The following Christmas, Brother Paul rose and said, "I am fed up with this constant bickering!"

[hrmjustin]

9. LOL.

[dimbear]

10. Life of Brian. n/t

[ReasonableToo]

11. and The Invention of Lying

[dimbear]

12. You just put that on my to do list.

[Warren Stupidity]

16. indeed.

[trotsky]

18. Yep, top of the list.

SHOE FOLLOWER: He has given us... His shoe!

ARTHUR: The shoe is the sign. Let us follow His example.

SPIKE: What?

ARTHUR: Let us, like Him, hold up one shoe and let the other be upon our foot, for this is His sign, that all who follow Him shall do likewise.

EDDIE: Yes.

SHOE FOLLOWER: No, no, no. The shoe is...

YOUTH: No.

SHOE FOLLOWER: ...a sign that we must gather shoes together in abundance.

GIRL: Cast off...

SPIKE: Aye. What?

GIRL: ...the shoes! Follow the Gourd!

SHOE FOLLOWER: No! Let us gather shoes together!

FRANK: Yes.

SHOE FOLLOWER: Let me!

ELSIE: Oh, get off!

YOUTH: No, no! It is a sign that, like Him, we must think not of the things of the body, but of the face and head!

SHOE FOLLOWER: Give me your shoe!

YOUTH: Get off!

GIRL: Follow the Gourd! The Holy Gourd of Jerusalem!

FOLLOWER: The Gourd!

HARRY: Hold up the sandal, as He has commanded us!

ARTHUR: It is a shoe! It is a shoe!

HARRY: It's a sandal!

ARTHUR: No, it isn't!

GIRL: Cast it away!

ARTHUR: Put it on!

YOUTH: And clear off!

[dimbear]

23. She turned me into a newt............I got better.

Actually from the other wonderful Python movie, "The Holy Grail."

[pokerfan]

38. +1000

Spectator I: I think it was "Blessed are the cheesemakers".
Mrs. Gregory: Aha, what's so special about the cheesemakers?
Gregory: Well, obviously it's not meant to be taken literally; it refers to any manufacturers of dairy products.

[Graybeard]

13. Becket (1964)

Most people like this film for the tour de force performance by Peter O'Toole as Henry II. But for me the most impressive acting job is provided by Richard Burton as Thomas Becket.

His conversion at the end is so convincing it has brought me to tears. Becket stands firm that his first allegiance must be to God over his allegiance to the throne.
.

[struggle4progress]

14. I thought The Mission brought up some nice religious problems. Then again,

I thought Bladerunner and The Time Bandits did, too, so mebbe you want to take my advice with a big shake of salt. If you're looking for something a bit more traditional, there's always Lilies of the Field

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091530/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083658/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081633/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057251/

[rrneck]

41. Yes, The Mission was exceptional. nt

[edhopper]

17. The Life of Pi

It is open to various interpretations about religion. I saw it as Pi telling a more compelling story about what happened than what did in reality, as he told the Japanese Insurance investigators. The fanciful story made him feeling better.
A true allegory for religion.
On top of that it is a beautiful, adventure movie as well.

[factsarenotfair]

29. That's a fantastic movie that you really should see in a theater.

n/t

[Loudly]

30. In 3D!

[factsarenotfair]

33. Yes!!!

[edhopper]

37. I did

and in 3D.

[rug]

19. A Man for All Seasons is another good one but it is as much about conscience as it is religion.

And law.

[el_bryanto]

20. It's hard to do a good film about religion

Particularly a big budget film; Hollywood doesn't want to offend anybody. And they want their movies to be as generic as possible, so that as many people as possible can enjoy them (or at least pay for them). Movies that actually do religious themes well are generally done on a metaphorical level.

There's also a question of whether you want a film about spirituality and religiously inspired ethics or a film about church and organized religion.

One I can recommend is Powaqqatsi which is a stunning work - but it's more out there.

Bryant

[rug]

22. I never heard of this trilogy. Thanks for the link.

[kentauros]

24. I still haven't seen Naqoyqatsi.

But did get to see both Koyaanisqatsi and Powaqqatsi in the theaters (have the DVDs, too

Powaqqatsi is amazing, and was more powerful the second time I saw it, after only seeing it once in the theaters. Viewing it at home more than fifteen years after the first time, I discovered I had matured enough for it to bring me to tears in places.

In the same light for powerful films like that, I would also recommend Baraka

[cbayer]

21. Ricky Gervais' new Netflix series "Derek" has some interesting religious sub-themes.

It's not getting a lot of press and the reviews were spotty, but I really loved it and thought the way he dealt with religion was really great.

Recommended.

[kentauros]

25. Here are a few, including surrealist films :)

El Topo

I haven't seen it in ages and for years it was only available in the art-theater circuit; no DVDs. I don't know if it was ever released, so it may be difficult to find it, other than maybe youtube.

El Topo (The Mole) is a 1970 American-Mexican western film written and directed by and starring Alejandro Jodorowsky. Characterized by its bizarre characters and occurrences, use of maimed and dwarf performers, and heavy doses of Christian symbolism and Eastern philosophy, the film is about the eponymous character – a violent, black-clad gunfighter – and his quest for enlightenment.

I'm not sure if this would be a religious film but religion is part of the plot: The Exterminating Angel

Wings of Desire is a great film about a couple of angels in Berlin. It was really an homage to Wim Wenders' home town, Berlin, but has since been viewed as a wonderful story of transformation, sacrifice, and love. Of course, Hollywood had to remake it into the forgettable film, City of Angels. Go for the German version instead. It's a work of art!

[factsarenotfair]

26. Brother Sun, Sister Moon is a beautiful movie.

It's about Saint Francis of Assisi.

[deutsey]

27. Dead Man Walking n/t

[factsarenotfair]

28. Elmer Gantry.

[LiberalArkie]

31. Dogma

[tridim]

32. "Saved!" is my fave. It's excellent.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332375/

[factsarenotfair]

35. Caesar's Messiah

https://www.youtube.com/user/caesarsmessiah

[johnnypneumatic]

36. Inherit the Wind

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inherit_the_Wind_%281960_film%29

[LostOne4Ever]

40. +1000

I enjoyed both the original and the 1999 remake.

[kwassa]

39. Groundhog Day

One man's spiritual journey and trials.

also, hilarious, and Bill Murray at his very best.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

42. The Keeper:The Legend of Omar Khayyam (2005)

Technically not about religion, but touches on it.

Omar Khayyam is a genius astronomer and poet in Persia who works for the Sultan Malikshah. His modern-day descendants are also followed, filmed in Houston. The ancient scenes were filmed in Uzbekistan.

Omar's childhood friend Hassan becomes a religious fanatic. He starts the Hashashin. He urges Omar to join his fanatic Islamic revolution.

Omar answers, "And WHO....HAS....ULTIMATE...RELIGIOUS...AUTHORITY?"

"The Keeper" refers to the family keeper of stories. My favorite movie.

Made by a guy who left Iran in 1979 and went to Houston, became a lawyer and then a filmmaker. When it premiered in Houston I met some of the young men who were in the movie.

More info:
www.greatomar.com

Just a wonderful movie.