The Atheist Book Club discussion

Seen any good films of interest to atheists?

Just finished watching the delightful documentary -
"The God Who Wasn't There" on Netflix streaming.
Featuring interviews with Sam Harris and the late, great Alan Dundes, this would be a good companion piece to your reading of "The God Delusion." Be sure to stick around for the credits, which feature... aaaaa!-
more books recommendations!!!

I just watched that, but I must have missed the book recommendations. I've been trying to find something that covers the information given in the film, but haven't had much luck! Definitely have to check it out again. I love mythology, so it was very interesting to learn about the details specific to saviour or messianic gods.

I did rather enjoy Bill Maher's Religulous. nicely questioning and irreverent.

Paul 'Pezter' wrote: "I did rather enjoy Bill Maher's Religulous. nicely questioning and irreverent."

I agree - Religulous was highly entertaining and very well done. For those who are current on the Dawkins-Dennett-Hitchens-Harris writings, you'll get infinitely more out of it.

Thanks for all the great suggestions! My Netflix queue is growing as fast as my "to-read" list.
Keep 'em coming!

Ah! Ricky Gervais - one of my favorite atheists!

Ah, mine have already been mentioned! My favorite nonfiction atheist film is Religulous and The Invention of Lying is probably the best atheist fiction movie I've seen. Kevin Smith has a movie coming out soon that involves religion, doesn't he?

Yes! It's called "Red State." Here's the trailer:

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/5833828...

Sure looks more like a horror movie than a Kevin Smith comedy. (Then again, much of organized religion IS a horror show!)
The release date now seems to be in October - hopefully before the next Rapture.

I definitely want to see that one on the big screen!

Oh, oh, oh...just remembered another good one-
"Never Been Thawed" - this movie about a group of "frozen food" collectors has something to offend everyone! Possibly the best skewering of Christian rock bands I have ever seen! The group meets in the "No Choice" cafe, proudly serving anti-abortion protesters tired from picketing the clinic across the street. One of the members works for the Intercourse Prevention Hotline, conveniently located in the William Jefferson Clinton Abstinence Center. What are you waiting for? Go see this movie!

Melki wrote: "Oh, oh, oh...just remembered another good one-
"Never Been Thawed" - this movie about a group of "frozen food" collectors has something to offend everyone! Possibly the best skewering of Christ..."

I read more about it and it sounds interesting, to say the least! I'll have to see if I can find it.

Watched an interesting one last night (Netflix, Instant Queue), an Australian claymation film called 'Mary and Max'. It's a fairly dark, quite original movie about an unlikely correspondence between a young Australian girl and an overweight New Yorker. At one point, the New Yorker starts talking very frankly about his atheism, and returns to the subject again later.

Oh - I've had that one in my queue forever. I just bumped it up on the list. Thanks Tom.

Anyone watched "there will be blood"? it is not an atheist film but there are some elements in there, although it you can argue that it portrays an atheist money hungry with no morals and values man.

I do like the ending though.

Let me guess, Christos. He dies and goes to heaven?

No not really. I am not sure if the film would be your cup of tea but I liked it.

I hate to spoil the ending, but there is a very interesting theatrical sketch in the end where a ruthless man abuses and kills a false prophet, that should give you a hint!

Actually it is based on the novel Oil by Upton Sinclair in case you read the book, which reminds me that I haven't...

Melki wrote: "Let me guess, Christos. He dies and goes to heaven?"

I seen a film with Liota and Goldberg like that. Liota lost his wife and he was an atheist trying to pass his views to his daughter who could not deal with the loss. Then Woopi came in the picture, she was the babysitter, house keeper, not sure exactly what her role was. The film was set in times where mixed couples were perceived as taboo. She was a christian, they fell in love, he found religion again.

Excellent film. It touched so many subjects at once, mixed couples, death, pain of loss, hopeless atheism and faith.

Every atheist should watch that, don't you think? To return on your remark. The conclusion in the film was that the little girl's mommy did go to heaven and she found closure.

Ooo - your false prophet thing reminded me of "WISE
BLOOD" - a great movie based on a Flannery O'Connor short story. A young Southerner decides to found his own church - "The Church of Truth Without Christ."
It's rather strange, and a VERY black comedy.
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/...
I haven't read OIL either. Still wondering why Sinclair's THE JUNGLE hasn't been turned into a film. It could be the "feel-good-hit-of-the-summer!" What are you waiting for Pixar?

Christos, had to Google it, but the movie you're talking about is "Corrina, Corrina." I've never seen it, but I bought it for my mother. She was a Christian, so I assume she enjoyed it.

Melki wrote: "Christos, had to Google it, but the movie you're talking about is "Corrina, Corrina." I've never seen it, but I bought it for my mother. She was a Christian, so I assume she enjoyed it."

It is a good present for a christian.

Btw I am going to see that Wise Blood film later tonight.

Let me know what you think of it. It's a bit more cynical than "Corrina, Corrina."

Watched "Mary and Max" today on Netflix Streaming. That was wonderful! Truly one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Thank you so much for suggesting it, Tom.

Uh, aren't we missing something? What about the all time greats from Monty Python, Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life?

I really liked God on Trial (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/g...) and Dogma (http://www.dogma-movie.com/main.html) too.

Luis wrote: "Uh, aren't we missing something? What about the all time greats from Monty Python, Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life?

I really liked God on Trial (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/g......"

He is not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy.

"God on Trial" does not seem to be available through Netflix, but may be purchased at Amazon.
Thank you, Luis.
I didn't mention "Life of Brian" (one of my favorite movies) and "Meaning of Life" because I'm sure most of us have those two films memorized by now.
Has anyone else seen "Four Lions?" Still free on Netflix.
Keep those ideas coming and remember - always look on the bright side of life!

Melki wrote: Has anyone else seen "Four Lions?

Yesss! You are right, I had not thought about it as a religion-related movie, but it certainly is. It is actually one of the best movies that I have seen in recent years. A movie about five islamic fundamentalists preparing a bombing to kill hundreds of people, they are the real deal and it is not just still a comedy, but you actually end liking some of the characters? Best and more realistic criticism of terrorism ever: it is not just wrong, but it is mainly extremely stupid.

Waking Life by Richard Linklater is a great and very different flick.

Here's a site about it:

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/wakingl...

Jimmy wrote: "Waking Life by Richard Linklater is a great and very different flick.

Here's a site about it:

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/wakingl..."

Hmm. I've given this film a high rating on Flixster but I remember next to nothing about it. I'll have to see about watching it again.

I love "Waking Life" so much I actually BOUGHT it!

The thing about Waking Life is that it is ultimately a bunch of philosophical vignettes. So you could watch it in bits and pieces and mull over each one.

To jump in here late... one I see that hasnt been mentioned is "Defending Your Life" with Albert Brooks and Meryl Streep.

Funny, touching and although it has to do with the 'afterlife' its certainly is not the one most religious people envision. LOL!

Looks like Atheism vs Christian nutjob is coming front and center in a new hollywood thriller - The Ledge. Youtube trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZFX7C...

Interesting...this is the first I've heard of this movie. I liked the words that pop-up near the end saying "Is this the Brokeback Mountain moment for atheists?"

Here's a rundown on some movies of interest :

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles...

@Melki, interesting article. Now I kind of want to watch that Kirk Cameron "Fireproof" movie which I've never heard of... that reminds me of a rerun of "Family Guy" that I happened to catch, where Kirk Cameron converts Meg. I have to say that Brian (the antheist dog on that show) is one of my favorite tv characters.

Also, Dr. House is an atheist, on "House."

If I may add a flick to the movie list, I'll throw in "Ordinary People" in which Timothy Hutton plays a teenage atheist.

Well, now I have got to see that "Family Guy"! I like Brian too. I love it that the voice of reason on the show is a dog.
Don't remember much about "Ordinary People". I'll have to watch again.

Melki reminded me of 'Idiocracy' - while not explicitly atheist it's a very damning and incredible funny take on the kind of world we get from corporate-sponsored ignorance culture

Idiocracy
(2006) R

To test its top-secret Human Hibernation Project, the Pentagon picks the most average Americans it can find -- an Army private (Luke Wilson) and a prostitute (Maya Rudolph) -- and sends them to the year 2505 after a series of freak events. But when they arrive, they find a civilization so dumbed-down that they're the smartest people around. Mike Judge and Etan Cohen ("Beavis and Butthead") reteamed for this futuristic farce.

Genre: Comedies, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Cult Comedies, Late Night Comedies, Political Comedies, Satires, Cult Sci-Fi & Fantasy
This movie is: Goofy, Raunchy, Witty

Good movie - available through Netflix.

Has anyone else seen Black Death?

Commercial thriller/horror centered around the time of the first outbreak of bubonic plague in England. A young monk is tasked with learning the truth about reports of people being brought back to life, a mission that pulls him toward a village ruler who has made a dark pact with evil forces. ( trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj3Jw1... )

I could be wrong but it definitely seemed to me to be quite critical of the church and religion, possibly non-skeptical thinking in general.

Also, I thought it was just a good movie in general ;)

Wow! How'd I miss Black Death? Sean Bean and swords? Sounds great - and is also free right now from Netflix streaming.

I've seen Black Death recently, and it was quite good ineed, and definitely relevant. I definitely enjoyed watching it.

Another fiction movie that I think is good (in general) is The Mist (trailer). Marcia Gay Harden did a GREAT job at portraing the zealot, Mrs. Carmody. I'm not going to say anything else about it, for I don't want to spoil it for those of you who haven't seen it yet.

try "The Invention of Lying"

Shanna wrote: "try "The Invention of Lying""

Oh yeah! I second that.

Speaking of Ricky Gervais...not a movie, but has everyone seen this clip from "Extras" where he pretends to be a Cahtolic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzLLjt...

Rita wrote: "Another fiction movie that I think is good (in general) is The Mist (trailer). Marcia Gay Harden did a GREAT job at portraing the zealot, Mrs. Carmody. I'm not going to say anything else about it, for I don't want to spoil it for those of you who haven't seen it yet. "

I love that movie! I really enjoyed that a sci-fi/horror flick could have such a powerful message on the side.

another interesting movie to check out is Agora, about the destruction of the library in Alexandria. Rachel Weisz plays Hypatia, a teacher of philosophy and mathematics, who tries to protect the library from Christians. of course, much of it is fictionalized but overall i thought it was worth seeing. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1186830/

another movie that i heard about, but have not yet seen, is The Ledge, (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1535970/)
written and directed by Matthew Chapman, who is a descendent of Charles Darwin. it's not mentioned in the short synopsis on IMDB, but i heard an interview where he talks about this being a movie about the moral dilemma of an atheist.

Nice documentary on Netflix instant streaming called Selling God. Also heard about a new film out called The Ledge. Haven' seen that one yet though.

Posting to 2nd the recommendation for Red State. Its currently playing On Demand.

but I also wanted to jump in and recommend Paul with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyJo6E...

Kristen Wiig plays Ruth who reveals herself to be a fundamentalist Christian when she shows Graeme (Pegg) and Clive (Frost) her t-shirt that says “Evolve this!” featuring Jesus Christ shooting Charles Darwin in the head. When she asks Graeme and Clive if they believe in the glory of God, the pair stand their ground and say they’re men of science. Ruth gets angry and starts spouting out Creationist BS, which gets Paul, who’s hiding, to rail against Ruth’s small minded views.

Ruth Buggs: The world is 4000 years old and can only be the product of intelligent design.
Paul: [offscreen in the bathroom] That's horseshit!

The two get into an argument which ends abruptly when Paul reveals himself to debunk Ruth’s ridiculous views. But when she refuses to believe Paul’s an alien, and starts to pray fervently to dispel the “demon” Paul, Paul touches Ruth’s forehead, sharing his enlightened, secular view of the universe. Ruth “sees the light” so to speak, and immediately realizes that she’s been incredibly small-minded and that her life has been sheltered and repressive. And much silliness and fun ensue. :)

- Stevie

Ooo - I actually just got 'Paul' today from Netflix. I'll look for this scene. I'm a big fan of silliness and fun.