Top 5 Philisophical Movies You Need to See

Movies are a medium of art, and while some are intended merely to entertain, others are intended to make you think. Here are my top 5 philosophical movies that will really get you thinking. Let me know if you have others or disagree.

5. Memento - Leonard is looking for his wife's murderer, he wants revenge. However, during his wife's attack he suffered head trauma and now can't remember anything for more than a couple minutes. Despite amnesia, he attempts solves the murder through a series of clues he leaves for himself, such as tattoos and photographs. It discusses the nature of memory and reality. If you remember it, if this is how it happened in your memory, does that make it real? This movie is also one of the more unique movies I've seen lately in terms of how it is presented.

4. Being John Malkovich - Craig Schwartz finds a tunnel that transports him into the body of John Malkovich. Brings to mind the idea of the self, of identity, consciousness, and the mind. Not to mention it's quite funny. I'd like to couple this with "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", coming from the same writer, this movie discusses the nature of memory. (Also, see his new movie "Synecdoche, New York" if you really want a mind trip. I've only watched that one once and have yet to unravel the puzzle.)

3. Waking Life - Hard to describe, as it is not a linear story. The main character walks through his dream world as he views and participates in a series of engaging dialogues that involve the nature of reality, the idea of dreams, control, fate, and more. This will really make you think.

2. Seventh Seal - This is old, and in Swedish. Not much action occurs and it reminds one more of a stage play. However, if you want thought, if you want a movie to pound you with ideas, this one is it. The main character, a knight who has just returned from the Crusades, challenges Death to a game of chess. If he wins, he lives. This movie discusses, profoundly, the idea of death, god, and purpose. Directed by Ingmar Bergman, watch any of his movies if you want a film to make you think.

1. The Fountain - I really can't describe this. When I watched it the first time, I shrugged it off as just average. Then I watched it again several weeks later and realized how profound and great this movie really is. I recommend watching it several times, definitely not once. Aside from discussing death, rebirth, love, religion, and life, all of it is rendered absolutely beautifully, with every color and every shape symbolic. Highly recommended. I won't describe it any more. Just go watch it.

Runners-Up:

Clockwork Orange - The only reason I didn't put this in is because it follows the book exactly (except missing a chapter) and thus should go under philosophical books.

Pi: Faith in Chaos - Max Cohen is a mathematician who is searching for a formula to predict the stock market. However, he soon finds out that it can predict much more. The only reason this didn't make the list is because the director and writer, Darren Aronofsky, made #1 on the list. Not to mention that it's his first film and independent. You can tell and at times the acting is a little overdone, however, it serves its purpose well.