The obligatory Dhamma themed movie thread

[danieLion]

Hi Jason,
I like those kind of movies.

Your description reminded me of another movie I loved called Blindness with Julieanne Moore. It was based on a Pulitzer or Nobel prize winning novel by the same name.

D

[Modus.Ponens]

A bit of off topic, but I think the Nobel winning novel was another one by the same writer, José Saramago. The name in english is "Baltasar and Blimunda". I searched wikipedia and the Nobel Prize page, but they don't confirm what I'm saying.

He and Egas Moniz are the only Nobel prize winners of my country.

[danieLion]

A bit of off topic, but I think the Nobel winning novel was another one by the same writer, José Saramago. The name in english is "Baltasar and Blimunda". I searched wikipedia and the Nobel Prize page, but they don't confirm what I'm saying.

He and Egas Moniz are the only Nobel prize winners of my country.

You're right. According to Wikipedia, Saramago won the Pulitzer for The Guardian. Didn't know he was an anarcho-communist though.
D

[Kim O'Hara]

I watched true Grit with Jeff Bridges, and The King's Speech with Colin Firth and Geoffrey rush.
The former is very faithful to the original with John Wayne, save for the last scene.

the latter - The king's Speech - is to my mind, matchless, and what true, british film-making is all about.
Quality without the shmalz.

If my good American friends will forgive me, there is - or certainly has been, up to the recent past - a tendency to try to go for the happy, righteous ending....
for example, I have heard - from those who have seen the original films in Swedish, and the more recent English version - that 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' is very tailored to American audiences in its presentation.
But having seen neither, I cannot vouch for this.
However, as this specific film was discussed on a Buddhist forum, I cannot imagine they were being dishonest in their appraisal and verdict.....

Hi, folks,
I also liked The King's Speech very much.
I saw the original Dragon Tattoo movies months ago after reading the books. They matched up very well in mood and content, and I don't think the US versions will be as faithful in either way. That said, they are a long way from 'Buddhist' - violence growing from hatred, etc - and I don't think they will help anyone towards equanimity, let alone nibbana.
Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris was much more relaxed, of course, and I enjoyed it though I found it a bit simple-minded and sugary.
The ABC, our national TV service, screened Terry Pratchett's Going Postal on the two Saturday evenings before Christmas and it was excellent - even better than the book.
Speaking of filmed fantasy books, I saw Gaiman's Neverwhere, a book turned into a TV series and now out on DVD, during the year. It's fairly gruesome, but unreservedly recommended.


Kim

[Buckwheat]

Walking meditation.... HAHAHAHAHAHA.... and the sequel:

Thanks, bhante.

[rowboat]

As far as actually addressing Buddhist issues I think that
Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East?: A Zen Fable http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097195/ is truly excellent. Not so easy to watch as Samsara, or Spring ...since there's little action, no sex, no attempt at being entertaining, but it's well worth the effort.

Yes, this is an excellent film. Unfortunately just after leaving the theatre, at the Pacific Cinematheque in Vancouver, in the mid-90s, just as I turned the corner from the theatre, a young man named Damien Costello (or Damian Costello) landed almost at my feet directly in front of me, from a height of twenty stories or more.



This documentary called Blue Collar and Buddha sounds very interesting but I haven't been able to find it yet. It looks at the experiences of a group of Laotian refugees trying to re-settle in the American rust belt. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472513/

[Dhammakid]

Yes, this is an excellent film. Unfortunately just after leaving the theatre, at the Pacific Cinematheque in Vancouver, in the mid-90s, just as I turned the corner from the theatre, a young man named Damien Costello (or Damian Costello) landed almost at my feet directly in front of me, from a height of twenty stories or more.

Oh my, how unfortunate. What a crazy and challenging experience.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

Walking meditation.... HAHAHAHAHAHA.... and the sequel:

Thanks, bhante.

Metta,
Retro.

[chownah]

So far this year I have only watched one movie...it was Quinn's clay animation "The Adventures of Clayman Pt1". Mr. Quinn was careful in not letting the epic scope of the subject turn his work into a quagmire of complexly related but unneccessary detail....and in keeping with his minimal treatment he did not use sensational special effects nor spectacular cinematics which would have only detract from the tight focus on the essential quality of his work. The pace is appropriately even throughout and Mr. Quinn is masterfuf in his ability to not let the excitement of the plot development seduce him into a dash to the finish which would have only diminished the final statement which is very clearly "there is more to come". Kudos to Mr. Quinn and with such success on first attempt I'm sure that we are all sitting on the edge of our seat in anticipation of Pt2!!!

The uncut version of this work can be found here:
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=11007

Mr. Quinn can be contacted at Dhamma Wheel for permission to download for personal use only and for submitting proposals for showing at commercial houses.

chownah

[tiltbillings]

I saw Gaiman's Neverwhere, a book turned into a TV series and now out on DVD, during the year.

Actually, I do believe it was the other way around. And it is very good both as a video and as a book.

[Quinn]

So far this year I have only watched one movie...it was Quinn's clay animation "The Adventures of Clayman Pt1". Mr. Quinn was careful in not letting the epic scope of the subject turn his work into a quagmire of complexly related but unneccessary detail....and in keeping with his minimal treatment he did not use sensational special effects nor spectacular cinematics which would have only detract from the tight focus on the essential quality of his work. The pace is appropriately even throughout and Mr. Quinn is masterfuf in his ability to not let the excitement of the plot development seduce him into a dash to the finish which would have only diminished the final statement which is very clearly "there is more to come". Kudos to Mr. Quinn and with such success on first attempt I'm sure that we are all sitting on the edge of our seat in anticipation of Pt2!!!

The uncut version of this work can be found here:
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=11007

Mr. Quinn can be contacted at Dhamma Wheel for permission to download for personal use only and for submitting proposals for showing at commercial houses.

chownah

Thank you very much, chownah!
and yes there will be pt:2 coming soon!

[Ben]

Thank you Chownah, you have made Quinn's day!

Kim:
I haven't seen the King's Speech but I watched a documentary on the George VI's speech impediment and his speech therapist. It was excellent.
I also watched the first part of Pratchett's "Going Postal" - didn't get around to watching Part 2 due to social function on Christmas Eve. I haven't checked but I think Part 2 got recorded and is in the black box under the TV.

The stand out viewing experience was when I watched "District 9" with my son at home. It would have to rate as one of the worst science fiction movies of all time. I persevered until his computer overheated (4/5 of the way through) which I think was probably a self-protection mechanism by the computer because the movie was so baaaad! My 16-year-old son loved it and we had a good time sitting, watching it and talking about it.

Apart from that I have been enjoying some reruns of trashy US programs on late night TV and the second series of "Lie to Me" is good.
kind regards,

Ben

[Kim O'Hara]

I saw Gaiman's Neverwhere, a book turned into a TV series and now out on DVD, during the year.

Actually, I do believe it was the other way around. And it is very good both as a video and as a book.

Your first statement could well be right and I agree totally with your second.
You can get Coraline in three forms - book, graphic novel and movie and they are all good too.

If you haven't seen his Mirrormask you should probably seek it out because I think you will enjoy it.


Kim

[Kim O'Hara]

hello, are there any good buddhist movies besides the hollywood buddhist movies like seven years in tibet. ive seen spring summer fall winter spring or whatever it is i forgot what its like. any recommedations? that are theravadan? metta, befriend

Google to the rescue:
http://www.amazon.com/Buddhist-Movies-on-DVD/lm/R12V5JBCEG8ZSV
I have seen, and recommend, 4 and 6 on the list.

http://paramita.typepad.com/dharma_forest/2006/01/the_best_buddhi.html
Groundhog Day?

http://www.imdb.com/list/Y0OyMPZ7Rvs/
A longer list than the first one, with quite a lot of overlap and a fw movies I wouldn't have included.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/12952-movies-about-buddhism/
A discussion like this one, with a lot more movies, mostly not Hollywood.

http://www.buddhistfilmfoundation.org/festival-media/enlightenment-guaranteed/
And this one looks good too.

Have fun!


Kim

[Ytrog]

Google to the rescue:
http://www.amazon.com/Buddhist-Movies-o ... 5JBCEG8ZSV
I have seen, and recommend, 4 and 6 on the list.

I remember those. Almost forgot about them. Thank you

http://paramita.typepad.com/dharma_forest/2006/01/the_best_buddhi.html
Groundhog Day?

Maybe they see it as symbolizing samsara: You repeat it over and over again until you get it right (attain Nibbana).

[chownah]

Mr. Quinn (aka Blu5monkey) has released his latest work titled "The Adventures of Mr Clay Pt:2" and frankly I can honestly say that for me all expectations have been exceeded. The emerging artist has shown considerable deepening in the use of characters and emotional content.....but beware......this is not the frolick in the meadow which you might have expected to result from Pt:1....no indeed. I don't want to spoil the show but I do advice Little Bow Peep that she may have a very long wait.
chownah

[gavesako]

INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST FILM FESTIVAL 2012 BANGKOK TRAILER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l3H_U3H ... re=g-all-u

Quite a few interesting movies presented there.

[Skeptic]

Some nice documentaries available online:

DHAMMA DANA - THERAVADA MONASTIC TRADITION IN MYANMAR

Filmed entirely in Myanmar, Dhamma Dana delves deep into the Golden Land's monastic tradition and reveals how the Burmese Buddhists find inner freedom. The film presents the Dhamma with a serene rhythm; documenting a powerfully peaceful ancient tradition that few experience first hand.

http://vimeo.com/13815026

THE TEMPLE OF THE TIGERS

Award winning Animal Planet documentary.

http://vimeo.com/2331034

WALK WITH THE MASTER - THE STORY OF THE SITES OF THE BUDDHA

MGPL has produced a 48 minutes documentary, Walk With The Master - the story of the sites of the Buddha. Our approach to the program is to detail each site associated with the life of the Buddha. We will be recalling incidents and stories associated with the site. This will help bring the site to life.

http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/80 ... The-Buddha

[Ytrog]

I saw this movie anouncement/trailer on a site I frequent: http://vimeo.com/46273869

From the summary:

Expanding on the themes they developed in BARAKA (1992) and CHRONOS (1985), SAMSARA explores the wonders of our world from the mundane to the miraculous, looking into the unfathomable reaches of man’s spirituality and the human experience. Neither a traditional documentary nor a travelogue, SAMSARA takes the form of a nonverbal, guided meditation. Through powerful images, the film illuminates the links between humanity and the rest of nature, showing how our life cycle mirrors the rhythm of the planet.

I think it will be a beautiful movie.

[daverupa]

It would be interesting to compare with Koyaanisqatsi.