In a time when most films are made only to make money, display the latest technology regarding special effects and show off beautiful actresses, it's hard to find movies that contain an interesting message behind the high-tech scenario. Fortunately, not everything is lost. These movies are a great option for those looking for action, an interesting plot and an excuse to reflect about deep philosophical issues.
The Matrix Trilogy – Reality vs. Illusion
What is real and what is illusion? This is one of the philosophical questions that The Matrix, directed by the Wachowski brothers, attempts to answer. In the year 2200, the humanity is dominated by machines and humans are kept in artificial cubicles, living in a program of virtual reality – the Matrix, which is a simulator of the human life in the twentieth century.
The main character Neo (Keanu Reeves) is rescued from the program and begins training with Morpheus, the leader of the only city that remains free from the artificial intelligences, in order to become the one who will control the program from inside the matrix itself and destroy those who want to dominate humans. It's interesting to note that from the perspective of the program, humans who can think for themselves are considered virus, so humans correspond to virus and artificial intelligences correspond to the antivirus.
The Matrix raises many philosophical discussions that date back to ancient times and it's possible to see principles of the eastern philosophies in the film, as Buddhist philosophy is based on the concept that a part of life functions like a program which is pre-determined by genetics, physical environment, personality traits, etc.
The ultimate state of enlightenment is to overcome these programs and become free from the determinism of the physical life. When this happens, a disciple reaches the nirvana. A messiah is seen as an avatar, or a person who instructs people about the path to total freedom. Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad, are seen as avatars, and Neo, in the film, represents the chosen one who will guide the rest of the people to liberty or freedom from the program.
James Cameron's Avatar – Reincarnation and Eastern Philosophy
Directed by James Cameron, the movie Avatar hides an important symbolism that is well known in the eastern philosophies. The concept of a human consciousness that merges with an animal like body refers to the eastern anthropogenesis in which the human soul is seen as separate from the body. According to eastern traditions, the consciousness incarnates in a physical body in order to accomplish certain tasks, using it as a tool to learn about love, justice, beauty, forgiveness, etc.
Just like the main character Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) can transfer his consciousness to another body, the soul, according to eastern philosophy, can incarnate in different bodies. The body changes, but the soul — or consciousness — is the same. Once in a different body, the consciousness can collect the result of all the lessons learned during the experience in the physical realm, becoming a better being at every new life in a different body.
In Hindu tradition, avatar is the name given to a person who has reached wisdom through many incarnations and can return one more time to the animal environment (physical realm) in order to guide the people to evolution. This movie is a great option for those that want to philosophize about the nature of the human consciousness and the concept of reincarnation.
Read The Philosophy Behind the Movie Avatar to learn more about the symbolism of this film.
The Truman Show – Is Life a Stage?
What if life is only a simulation? What if God is like a director of a show and friends and families are actors that stage everything according to a script? These are the questions that the movie directed by Peter Weir, The Truman Show, raises.
Truman (Jim Carrey) has always lived inside a TV show that broadcasts his life to millions of people, but he is the only one who doesn't know that. All friends and members of his family are actors, and his entire city is a set. The director and creator of the show, Christof (Ed Harris), manipulates the weather, creates psychological fears and simulates certain situations in order to film Truman's reaction and entertain the audience. Truman, however, believes he lives an ordinary life.
From a philosophical perspective, Truman's life is everyone's life. When Truman manages to escape the set in order to live in the real world, he is leaving "Plato's cave" towards a place which is free from the determinism of a script. Human life is also scripted – everything that a person goes through in life is said to be determined by genetics, environment, and psychological phenomena. But, according to ancient philosophy, these determinant factors are an illusion that can be overcome by wisdom. When a person understands the whole existence as a play which is designed to make people evolve through the traps of life, one is no longer susceptible to them, becoming free from suffering and unhappiness.
Is life an illusion? Perhaps no one will ever know, but these movies can help reflect about what lies beneath the human existence. Read Philosophical Movies – Films to Think for more philosophical films and life will suddenly look much more interesting.
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