Movies/Scenes
Representing Alternate Realities or Illusion/Reality Dialectic
- Shrek (2001)
- Being John Malkovich
(1999)
- Craig finds a portal that leads into John Malkovich's brain, where he is able to see/hear/feel what John Malkovich sees/hears/feels.
- The
Matrix
(1999)
- See review at Hollywood Jesus.
- Galaxy Quest
(1999)
- The illusion of the television show becomes Reality for Mathesar and his crew. The illusion of the television show becomes the Reality for the Galaxy Quest crew as they become what they have pretended to be.
- The Galaxy Quest crew is not who they've pretended to be in any way - even to each other as actors.
- At the return home, the fans at the convention think that the entrance and the subsequent destruction of Sarris is just part of the act.
- Stir of Echoes (1999)
- Samantha haunts Tom and Jake until her death is avenged.
- Tom, Jake, and others are able to participate in other realities and communicate with those living in an afterlife, even while others fake that ability.
- The Sixth Sense (1999)
- Entrance to alternate reality through doors and windows. (See review at Hollywood Jesus.)
- The Haunting
(1999)
- See review at Hollywood Jesus.
- The Blair Witch
Project
(1999)
- See review at Hollywood Jesus
- Instinct (1999)
- Dr. Powell helps Dr. Calder to see the illusions we base our lives on and that come between us and God. This movie also contrasts our society's understanding of authority with Jesus' authority as demonstrated in Mark 1. (submitted by Shirley R. Frazier)
- Beloved
(1998)
- Beloved (embodiment of Sethe's past) haunts Sethe and all of her relationships until she makes her peace with them
- Dark City (1998)
- Reality changes daily as "memories" are implanted into people's minds by The Strangers.
- The Truman Show
(1998)
- the "door" which leads to another reality toward end of movie
- Pleasantville (1997)
- The "utopia" of the past isn't what it seems to be.
- Contact
(1997)
- Ellie is called to experience an alternate reality (symbolized by her journey to the other world and by her love with Joss and with her father) which she cannot explain or prove.
- 12 Monkeys
(1995)
- Relationship and Consequence for actions reaches both into past and into future.
- Natural Born Killers
(1994)
- The "psychic landscape" of the characters as well as of our violent culture is often seen in the background.
- Groundhog Day (1993)
- Groundhog Day for either Ephesians 5:16, "making the most of the time" or for 2 Corinthians 6:1, "now is the acceptable time." In the Movie, Bill Murray is a reporter stuck in a town in PA, covering Groundhog day. He finds himself stuck in time, waking up every morning to the same day. At first he is horrified, but then he realizes he can take advantage of what he is already learned from living the through the day previously. Eventually he realizes he has the opportunity to "make the most of the day." (Erwin F. Goedicke)
- Blue Velvet (1986)
- Under the falsely colored everyday world is a different world. Although it is dangerous and "nasty," Jeffrey finds himself more alive in this world.
- The Wall - Pink Floyd (1982)
- The Shining
(1980)
- the "play" between the realities of the present and of the past/'spiritual' world which inhabits the Overlook
- The Wizard of Oz (1939)
- Dorothy is transported to another reality from which she is able to see her own world more clearly.
