10 movies that will change how you see the world
1. The Matrix
Released in 1999, the original Matrix film was a slick combo of high charged action and mind-bending philosophy. Neo, an office worker by day and computer hacker by night, learned that the world around him was not as it seemed. The film made us question our reality, and was a metaphor for the concept of spiritual awakening.
2. Finding Nemo
Pixar Animation’s ongoing success comes from its ability to craft stories that work on several levels. Beyond the cute animation and witty one-liners, Finding Nemo deals with courage, loss and the complexities of single parenthood. Though Marlin is small, the lengths that he goes to in order to save his child are anything but.
3. Fury
Fury is not your typical war film. Photo: Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.
Fury is not a typical war film. Set during the last few weeks of World War II, the film follows a ragtag group of American soldiers as they take on a deadly mission behind enemy lines, outnumbered and outgunned. Fury is more than just a grand spectacle; it’s about humanity and how individuals are affected by the horrors of war.
4. Schindler's List
When you think of films that best portray the events of The Holocaust, Schindler’s List is the first that springs to mind. Set in Poland during World War II, it’s a haunting tale made even more so because it’s based on real people and real events. After watching the film, your perception of The Holocaust will be changed forever.
5. Lucy
Lucy is a divisive film - some love it, others hate it. If you’re willing to give it a shot, it’s a fascinating movie that delves into the idea of what would happen if humans could harness the full power of their brain. It’s purely science fiction, but it does make you wonder what we could achieve if we reached our full potential.
6. Stranger Than Fiction
Is life more important than literature? Photo: Columbia Picture Industries
What would you do if you learned you were not in control of your own destiny? In Stranger Than Fiction, Harold Crick discovers that he is merely a character in a story that is still being written. It’s a witty, often hilarious film that analyses whether life is more important than literature, and what responsibilities writers have to readers.
7. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Would erasing an event from our memory do us harm or good? This is a question Michel Gondry’s film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind seeks to answer. It focuses on a couple that undergo a procedure to have each other erased from their memories, but it’s only through that process that they realise what they had.
8. The Fountain
Though it was a commercial and critical flop when it was released, The Fountain has developed a cult following. In a nutshell, it’s an exploration of how we come to terms with death and the lengths we go to in order to save a loved one. It’s a deeply complicated story, and one from which people can take different meaning.
9. V for Vendetta
Strive for more than Vengeance. Photo: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
This thought provoking film centres on V, an anarchist who is seeking revenge in a totalitarian society. More than just a standard revenge film, it’s a complex story with depth. Through his actions, V achieves more than just revenge or vengeance - he achieves change for the better and brings hope to people who had lost it.
10. Spirited Away
From acclaimed storyteller Hayao Miyazaki, Spirited Away is considered one of the greatest animated films ever made. Not purely for the animation, which is stunning, but for the themes that it touches upon. It works as a coming of age story, a social commentary of modern Japan, and a moral story for both children and adults.
