Cerebral Movies/Movies with great return value?

[John Ruiz]

I read through the Horror Movies thread and found a bunch of flicks that I'd never heard of that I've either liked a lot or am looking forward to seeing. In that vein, I'm hoping to get some suggestions for "mind benders" that I will enjoy and may not have heard of.

I love movies that make me think and have a lot to discover on return viewings. I don't mean something that I just don't get, or that's cryptic just for the sake of being cryptic (I'm looking at you David Lynch - Actually I like a few of his, but I think he tries a little too hard sometimes to "hide" the plot of his films)

I just saw Inception and LOVED it. Some others I've dug are 12 Monkeys, Memento, Donnie Darko, etc.

I'm looking for movies of any genre that get mind moving and have hidden treasures within a reasonably well defined plot. Got any suggestions?

[CrispyDelicious]

Off the top of my head:

Dark City

Audition

Visitor Q

The last two require a strong stomach. Visitor Q especially breaks numerous taboos. And when i say numerous, I mean it.

[John Ruiz]

Originally Posted by CrispyDelicious

Off the top of my head:

Dark City

Audition

Visitor Q

The last two require a strong stomach. Visitor Q especially breaks numerous taboos. And when i say numerous, I mean it.

I've seen the first 2 (and really enjoyed both) and will check out Visitor Q. On the right track!

I thought Dark City was a somewhat better version of The Matrix. Then I found out that the two movies literally shared some of the same sets. Ironic...

Audition was definitely a trip. The first half was like and the second half was all

[Jim Nazium]

Minority Report
Identity
Blade Runner

[blendermassacre]

A Scanner Darkly

[CrispyDelicious]

Yeah I've always preferred Dark City to the Matrix as well, good choice

Visitor Q is another Miike film, so you know it's gonna be good. But do not watch it around anyone with a mind that is easily offended. Incest, sodomy, necrophelia, murder, drug abuse, rape... It leaves no subject untouched.

[John Ruiz]

One thing I'll say about Dark City is that it's best to skip right to Chapter 2 on the DVD. I did that on suggestion when I first watched it, then went back and watched Ch 1 and was sooo glad I skipped it. Chapter 2 is the true opening credits scene and Ch 1 seems to be something the studio forced in. Basically tells the whole story without any need and takes away all the fun stuff you'd otherwise discover in the course of the film.

I've seen all the flicks mentioned so far, outside of VQ, and they are all outstanding! Keep em coming!

[ugly_bassplayer]

Originally Posted by John Ruiz

One thing I'll say about Dark City is that it's best to skip right to Chapter 2 on the DVD. I did that on suggestion when I first watched it, then went back and watched Ch 1 and was sooo glad I skipped it. Chapter 2 is the true opening credits scene and Ch 1 seems to be something the studio forced in. Basically tells the whole story without any need and takes away all the fun stuff you'd otherwise discover in the course of the film.

I've seen all the flicks mentioned so far, outside of VQ, and they are all outstanding! Keep em coming!

Visitor Q is as weird as they come.
To each their own , I thought Dark city was good but nowhere near as Good as the Matrix 1 (not the 2nd & 2rd )

[stratovani]

Contact

[Deluge Of Sound]

Dark City's certainly aged better than The Matrix.

If you dig Gilliam's stuff (even though you posted 12 monkeys, you may not like him overall) check out Brazil.

Nolan's Following is also a classic.

I didn't glean much from the rest of your post, so here's a few I think meet the criteria:
Coppola:
The Conversation
Apocalypse Now!

Fincher:
SE7EN

[Kawai-chang]

"Pi". (don't know how to make the Pi symbol)

"44 inch Chest"

[Kawai-chang]

"Martyrs" is a rough watch as well.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

Dark City's certainly aged better than The Matrix.

If you dig Gilliam's stuff (even though you posted 12 monkeys, you may not like him overall) check out Brazil.

And if you havent seen it, Tideland.

[billiam5billion]

Uzumake, or search "Spiral. It's a trippy japanese horror flick about people turning into giant snails. So weird. Also, anything from the 80's by Cronenberg. Check out Naked Lunch or Videodrome.

[John Ruiz]

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

Dark City's certainly aged better than The Matrix.

If you dig Gilliam's stuff (even though you posted 12 monkeys, you may not like him overall) check out Brazil.

Nolan's Following is also a classic.

I didn't glean much from the rest of your post, so here's a few I think meet the criteria:
Coppola:
The Conversation
Apocalypse Now!

Fincher:
SE7EN

I love Brazil. Classic flick. Same with Following.

I've never seen The Conversation, and I was too young to understand when I saw Apocalypse Now so those two are basically new to me.

Seven is another classic. Absolutely love it.

I also really like Silence of the Lambs, Shutter Island, Vanilla Sky...

I love all kinds of movies, but this in thread I'm trying to find anything that's exciting to watch, intellectually engaging and has something to offer on multiple viewings. Twist endings, plots that beg you to 'try to figure it out' the whole time or make you wonder about real world possibilities you hadn't previously considered, etc.

I'm on a lack of sleep today, so I feel like I'm not being as articulate about what I'm getting at as I'd like to be, but all the suggestions so far have been on the right track.

[Deluge Of Sound]

The Conversation and Apocalypse Now! definitely fit that bill.

Lemme delve into the collection, and then I'll get back to you.

[codeinedreams]

classics off the top of my head in case you haven't seen them already:
a clockwork orange
2001, a space odyssey
doctor strangelove
blood simple (coen brothers)
man bites dog (mockumentary of a french serial killer)
tetsuyo the iron man
fantastic planet
akira (mindf*** anime from 1988)
planet of the apes
a boy and his dog
soylent green
rollerball
logan's run
...and I suggest reading the book naked lunch, better than the movie IMO
...and there's this great amateur porn video I found stuck in a camcorder at a flea market - great dialog, it's this chick's birthday and they're all on meth...

[DigMe]

12 Monkeys and Memento were two that I thought of when I read the thread title.


Add to those Being John Malkovich, Jacobs Ladder, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Adaptation.

bc

[warwick.hoy]

I think Fight Club is getting overlooked. It was a mind ****er first time I saw it. The fight imagery I think takes a back seat to the subversiveness and the ultimate twist in the movie.

MattMania,...Tideland was a great movie that didn't get a great deal of critical acclaim (as with most of Gilliam's work). Of course Fear and Loathing is as cerebral as it is a drug romp.

EDIT: Being John Malkovich and Adaptation are both great movies and 12 Monkey's is in my small collection.

[hover]

Originally Posted by DigMe

12 Monkeys and Memento were two that I thought of when I read the thread title.


Add to those Being John Malkovich, Jacobs Ladder, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Adaptation.

bc

literally every movie I would have suggested.