Liked, But Not "Enjoyed"

There are three films that I have seen lately, all of which I liked, but none of which I think I could say that I completely"enjoyed". I was thinking about how that could work, how could I like a film without enjoying it? How could I even think of two out of those three films as now being on my list of favourites?

Well, here are the films: (links go to their IMDb page)

• Into The Wild : Written & Directed by Sean Penn (Stars Emile Hirsch, Vince Vaughn, Kristen Stewart)
• Shutter Island : Based on the novel by Dennis Lehane, Directed by Martin Scorsese (Stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Michelle Williams)
• Remember Me : Written by Will Fetters, Directed by Allen Coulter (Stars Robert Pattinson, Emilie De Ravin, Chris Cooper, Pierce Brosnan)

It might surprise you, if you know me, that it's the first two that are now on my list of favourites (not the Robert Pattinson one lol). But why?

First, why did I not "enjoy" them? None of these films have a stereotypical "enjoyable" hollywood ending, they are all quite shocking and they are all quite hard to watch in places.

What I did like about them all however, was that they have a purpose. They were films, not made just to entertain like so much of what is pumped out of Hollywood seems to be, but with something to say. It's films like these that help me to see why film making can still be called an art form.

Into The Wild is just stunning. The cinematography is amazing, I wish that on the special features there was more time spent talking to and about the guy resposible for it. It's based on a true story, and I think that that's what makes it so compelling and shocking. It's both a beautiful, and disturbing piece of film, and one you will not forget in a hurry.

Shutter Island is also a visual treat, especially the dream sequences, and it's pyschological twists and turns make you take the confusing journey right along with the central character as he questions the things around him, and ultimately, himself. The final line I think will stay with me for a long time, it is extremely poignant.

Remember Me seems to go nowhere in many ways. It seems like there is no real story, and when it finished I initially thought... what was the point? But maybe that was the point, you'll hear in the trailer the main character quoting Ghandi to himself: "Everything you do in life will be insignificant, but it's very important that you do it." So the fact then that almost nothing does seem to happen in the film, seems to reiterate that. It's the characters and their relationships that made the film, and the ending and deeper insights make it stand out.

After seeing Remember Me with a friend, we talked a little bit about how different the Christian life and message is, and how awfully depressing the Ghandi quote seems by comparison. The things we do in this life for Christ, will last for eternity. That seems to me to be both a scary, and wonderful thought.

This year I have quite often been spending my free time reading and watching films. These three films have really stood out to me as having meant something more than just a couple of hours of entertainment and so I do highly recommend them all.

Here is the trailer for Into The Wild, because I really think you should see this film, and if you watch the trailer, hopefully you will think so too: