Good and Evil in Film - Blurring the Distinctions

Posted by Secret Agent Gal on April 15, 2008 at 4:27pm in About Movies

The theme of good vs. evil has always fascinated me, and probably exists in every film ever made.

Where does good end and evil begin? Who gets to determine what is good and evil? What are your favorite "good" and "evil" films? Here is a list Good and Evil to get you started.

Some are tired of the good/evil paradigm, and want to go beyond. Here is a list of Spiritual Films you might like. Please feel free to suggest more!

Tags: evil, good, spiritual, spirituality

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer on April 17, 2008 at 6:01pm: Greedy-; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by MyOhMy75 on April 17, 2008 at 3:27pm: There is a film I just saw last night, Night Watch, that directly deals with good and evil. It's a very fun film with good and evil at a truce, with specific rules they have to follow and punishment if a law is broken by either side.

Even in films that are in your face, good and evil, there really isn't any absolutes in what really is good and what really is evil. For the most part, there is a middle ground because everyone's morals and social attitudes are different. What may seem bad to you, may not be bad to me and vice versa. Coming from a Christian religious standpoint, there are individual interpretations to what is a sin and what is not (see a debate on homosexuality and Christianity for example).

It's a great topic, and one that I think is a basis for every great film.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by RJP on April 17, 2008 at 3:31pm: This is a three part Russian film series. The second installment, Day Watch, is also out on DVD. I read somewhere the third part, Twilight Watch, is being filmed in English and will be out sometime this year in theaters.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Whatchawatchin on April 17, 2008 at 5:07pm: Oh man, are they making it in the states? That has been a good series (not as good as the books, but what ever is) and I'd hate to see it get "Grudged".; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by RJP on April 17, 2008 at 6:32pm: I really don't know where they're filming - I know Fox Studios is now involved. It has the same director and cast - chances are they all know English anyway.

The movie also by the working title "Night Watch 3" and "Dusk Watch". And it probably won't be released until 2009.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by jessie on April 17, 2008 at 8:11pm: I watched the movie "Gone, Baby, Gone" Which was taken from a Dennis Lehane book and yes, they screwed it up, Dennis Lehane is a fabulous crime writer, contributes to The Wire and wrote Mystic River. If I were him I would be embarrassed that Ben Afflick screwed up so bad. But that's beside the point. It has some interesting points about good and evil people, and what is good. Hopefully I don't ruin it for anyone, but it has one person (the "good" one) kidnapping a small child from a mother they think can't provide the little girl w/ the proper care. The mother is(the "bad" one) a drinker and drug user. The little girl is then provided w/ new parents who give her a comfy home and safe place to grow up w/ loving parents and all. The main character has to decide if he wants to take the girl out of the safer home and give her back to her drunk mother. Even though it was a horrible movie I did put some thought into what I would do if faced w/ a similar situation.

"What may seem bad to you, may not be bad to me and vice versa."; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Judi on April 18, 2008 at 7:19am: I also thought "Gone Baby Gone" did a good job of blurring the line between the "good guys" and the "bad guys." I didn't read the book, and so didn't have that to compare to, so I didn't think it was a horrible movie. I thought you could really see that almost everyone struggled hard to get to the stand they took, no matter which side it was on. I would recommend this movie to anyone interested "good" vs. "bad."; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Secret Agent Gal on April 18, 2008 at 3:14pm: I wanted Gone Baby Gone to end differently, for sure!! I love how they showed Casey Affleck's choice, and the price he had to pay for making it.

And when child custody is involved, watch out! That's why this film is so highly charged.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by jessie on April 18, 2008 at 9:54pm: O.K. maybe it was Ben Afflick's brothers acting I didn't like.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by trowerboy on April 17, 2008 at 5:01pm: I watched a couple last night that would fall under the "good vs evil" banner...Kinky Killers and Backwoods...I think most here wouldn't be interested in Kinky Killers but the Backwoods is definitely worth watching if you want to see one man change his view of right and wrong...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by leela42 on April 18, 2008 at 10:32am: Great topic -- a favorite theme of mine also. I'll add a few titles to the mix.

These three powerhouse films definitely defy the dichotomy and obliterate tidy distinctions. The first two are among my top-rated films of the past year:

The Proposition

The Memory of a Killer

To Live and Die in LA

An artful study in contrasts:

Witness

On the spiritual side, two films by Lars von Trier that explore the theme of sacrifice and redemption:

Breaking the Waves

Dancer in the Dark

Speaking of salvation and contrast, particularly in comparison to each other:

The Last Temptation of Christ

The Passion of the Christ; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Microwaved on April 18, 2008 at 10:45am: The Proposition is an awesome movie. Written by a personal hero Nick Cave.; ▶ Reply to This