— Christopher McCanless, Into the Wild (2007)The core of man's spirit comes from new experiences.
— Jake Sully, Avatar (2009)All I ever wanted was a single thing worth fighting for.
— Miles, Sideways (2004)Half my life is over, and I have nothing to show for it...I’m a smudge of excrement on a tissue, surging out to sea with a ton of raw sewage.
— Gen. Omar Bradley, Patton (1970)Give George a headline, and he's good for another 30 miles.
— The Last Samurai (2003)Katsumoto: Do you believe a man can change his destiny? Algren: I think a man does what he can, until his destiny is revealed to him.
— Maximus, Gladiator (2000)I've seen much of the rest of the world. It is brutal and cruel and dark, Rome is the light.
— Yuri Orlov, Lord of War (2005)Often the most barbaric atrocities occur when both sides proclaim themselves freedom fighters.
— Gladiator (2000)Quintus: "People should know when they're beaten!" Maximus: "Would you, Quintus? Would I?"
— Miranda, Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)Miranda (to Daniel): I bring home a birthday cake and a few gifts; you bring home the Goddamn San Diego Zoo. And I have to clean up after it!
— Patton, Patton (1970)No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. You win a war by making the other poor bastard die for his country!
— Lars and the Real Girl (2007)Lars: Well, Bianca can help you. She's got nurse's training. Gus: No she doesn't. That's because she's a plastic...thing. Lars: That's amazing. Did you hear that? Bianca said God made her to help people.
— Ron Franz, Into the Wild (2007)When you forgive, you love. And when you love, God's light shines on you.
— Miles, Sideways (2004)If you don't have money at my age, you're not even in the game anymore. You're just a pasture animal waiting for the abattoir.
— Patton, Patton (1970)(looking at remains of a battle) I love it! God help me, I love it so. I love it more than my life.
— Christopher McCandless, Into the Wild (2007)I read somewhere... how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong... but to feel strong.
When writing your suggestion below, please offer some additional information about why you want to see the movie featured. Does it mean something to you personally? Is there a story behind your relationship with the movie? If you provide me with a good backplot, it may influence my movie review.
Your suggestion may be featured in the next poll on the front page.
To celebrate the arrival of "The Warrior Within" in my mailbox (required some detective work to find a decent copy out there), I have posted a manifes...
58.
Sandy Fontwit
Posted on July 27th, 2010 at 11:26 am
I’d like to recommend: “Groundhog Day.” Among other themes, it is a story about a man’s transformation from immaturity to adulthood by having to repeat a single day in his life until he “gets it right.” An easy movie to watch, filled with wonderful comedic moments, but with deep philosophical underpinnings. As a mentor of young men, I’ve used to as a springboard for very interesting conversations.
57.
Robin
Posted on July 3rd, 2010 at 12:32 pm
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, starring Russell Crowe.
In its own way it is as masculine as gladiator. Fighting on the high seas, burning bridges of retreat and facing grief..
56.
Gerardo Ramos
Posted on July 2nd, 2010 at 3:10 am
Although a cartoon movie, it has SO much about man issues:
The Lion King
55.
Antonio Hernández
Posted on June 28th, 2010 at 11:24 pm
Glory, with Mathew Brodderick, Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman. It is about a regiment formed with African American men that fought during the Civil War. It is about courage, pride, brotherhood, duty, fighting not only the other army, but also their own army, and their inner sense of incompleteness caused by the racism and the submission they suffered.
54.
Gerardo Ramos
Posted on June 28th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
-Uncommon Valour
-One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
53.
Gerardo Ramos
Posted on June 24th, 2010 at 11:46 am
A powerful movie about forgiveness:
Five Minutes in Heaven
52.
Gerardo Ramos
Posted on June 23rd, 2010 at 10:49 pm
About Friendship:
Elling
51.
Eivind
Posted on June 23rd, 2010 at 10:26 pm
WOW, Gerardo, that is one amazing list you just granted me. And I have only seen a handful of the movies on there!
You must be quite the movie buff.
Thank you!
50.
Gerardo Ramos
Posted on June 23rd, 2010 at 10:24 pm
Father/Son:
The Shower
Friendship:
Diner
American Graffiti
49.
Gerardo Ramos
Posted on June 23rd, 2010 at 10:14 pm
*The following movies relate to the triumph of friendship (and brotherly love) among two or more man over hardships, struggles, age, or race, among MANY other subjects within the film (loyalty, trust, forgivness, joy, etc):
Cinema Paradiso
The Killing Fields
Joyeux Noel
The Defiant Ones
The Odd Couple
Seven Samurai
* Father-Son/ Mother-Son issues (most of this movies could be in the “sad” side of the spectrum of the movie-watching expereince):
When Did You Last See Your Father
The Italian
The Son’s Room
Under The Same Moon
Central Station
*Friendship – Some ending in bad terms among friends, because growing up, ideals, problems, or moving-on in life:
Paradise Now
Of Mice and Man
The Kite Runner
The Motorcycle Diaries
Y Tu Mama Tambien
Shot Through The Heart
The Boy In The Striped Pajamas
*Triumph/Overcoming Obstacles: The folloing movies could be inspiring for some men:
The Big Bad Swim
Breaking Away
Peaceful Warrior
Birdman of Alcatraz
Gandhi
*Others that I do not know exaclty how to catalog:
City Lights
The Bicycle Thief
Backdraft
Hope and Glory
Secondhand Lions
The Big Fan
Breaking Away
I know I am missing some movies in each category, I will write more after I remember more about the movies I have seen.
48.
Eivind
Posted on June 20th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
Thank you, Peter, Karoly and Rick for your suggestions. Some good ones in there. I will make sure to insert a couple of those in the next poll.
I’m happy that you like the site, Rick. Thank you for the good words.
Eivind
47.
Peter Kessels
Posted on June 17th, 2010 at 6:32 am
I watched two great movies this weekend that are just begging to be explored on this site.
The first is Invictus, and is about Nelson Mandela’s presidency. It’s a Clint Eastwood movie filled to the brim with masculinity issues, depicting Mandela as an extremely positive role model. The movie features rugby and the Maori War Dance, and also the poem that the movie is named after plays a prominent role. It’s the poem that helped Mandela throughout his time in prison, so check it out.
The second movie is Saving God, also about a man who takes up a new life after spending a lot of years in prison. He steps into his father’s footsteps and becomes a priest, and a mentor for a boy, who is a small-time criminal at the start of the movie. It shows masculinity in all of it’s facets, extremely well done.
46.
Karoly Molnar
Posted on June 14th, 2010 at 8:30 pm
Hi,
“Open Range” showed me what is masculine toughness, the true opposite of comfort. Knowing in your hearth what is right, standing up for freedom and rights even if that means that you might pay for it with your life. It takes guts to hold your ground when people in fear and comfort don’t believe in you and tell you to run for your life. You respect their choice, accept them, but express the truth: “There’s worst for a man than dying” At the same time the masculine cares for its family, for its friends and respect everybody and everything even its enemy.
A truly inspirational film for me,
Karoly
45.
Rick Belden
Posted on June 13th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
Here are a few suggestions that come to mind:
- Altered States
- The Big Lebowski
- Cutter’s Way
Each of these films could be characterized as a “hero’s journey” of sorts, as well as an exploration of the centrality of relationships in a man’s life, although perhaps not in the way we’re typically used to seeing these themes presented.
I also have to second the recommendation for “The Fisher King” … another very offbeat but effective exploration of the same themes.
Great site! Keep it up!
44.
Eivind
Posted on June 5th, 2010 at 10:51 pm
Thank you for your suggestions, Justin. I will include some of these movies in the next movie selection poll on the front page.
43.
Justin
Posted on June 1st, 2010 at 7:41 pm
Finding Forester
Conversations With God
What Dreams May Come
Patch Adams
42.
John
Posted on May 8th, 2010 at 11:49 am
American Beauty
41.
Eivind F S
Posted on May 6th, 2010 at 10:33 pm
I’m already onto that one, Beenieman. Thanks!
Hopefully I will get to do it soon. The problem with many of these requests is that it takes me too long to get them done. But with the new and shorter reviews, I may get some better circulation.
Thanks to you too, John. It is an obvious choice given the subject is it not? It’s a good excuse for me to take down the trilogy set I have on my shelf which I haven’t started looking at yet.
But next in line is an old request – The Last Temptation of Christ.
E
40.
Beenieman
Posted on May 5th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
The Hurt Locker
Just saw this one and liked it, whereas its very much about getting uncentered vs. being centered:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0887912/
39.
John
Posted on April 21st, 2010 at 1:35 am
God father.
38.
Eivind
Posted on April 16th, 2010 at 11:01 am
Thanks for your enthusiastic comment, Mitchell. It always warms my heart when somebody tells me what I do here means something to them. I still haven’t been able to crack the code of getting this out to the masses, so every message I get like this means a lot, since I as of this moment get relatively few.
I think both the movies you suggest are great. I’ve seen them and loved them both. I feel drawn to do Rocky first for some reason. It’s a classic by any standard and it certainly deserves a treatment here. I will take down your suggestions and insert them into the voting system I will soon have up and running for which movie will be featured next.
I’d love to hear how you found out about the site. Please feel free to leave a comment about why you loved Gran Torino so much in the discussion on its webpage.
Thanks for connecting!
Eivind
37.
Mitchell
Posted on April 14th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
This website was just recommended to me and it strikes all sorts of chords
with me at the moment.
I’de like to recommend Good Will Hunting. Robin Williams has already been given
a pretty good run on this website but I simply can’t go past this movie as an
insight into the mentoring relationship. The mathematics professor pushes Will to
pursue his immense talent in maths while overlooking Will’s obvious personal struggles.
The professor only causes himself and Will pain and frustration by not giving Will time and space to find his own way. These projections onto Will to live out his teacher’s dreams only cause Will confusion and further raise his defenses. On the other hand, a middle aged psychologist (Williams) is slowly able to break through to Will by offering him some respect and finding out about the real Will. This isn’t your regular textbook shrink, and he doesn’t let Will get away with hiding behind his emotional barriers and sharpe tonge. Williams listens, but he also hits hard. The scene on the park bench (‘i ask you about love you’ll probably quote me a sonnet, but do you know at what it’s like to be totally vulnerable with a woman..’), along with this movie is exhibit A for me when it comes to true inspiration and mentoring.
Just like to add that I’m so glad Gran Torino has been recognised here. It affected me more than any other movie I have seen since I can remember.
Also, what about Rocky and/or the Rocky series? Such an innocence in it but something incredibly raw. I don’t think I’ve ever been so moved by films as when I first watched the series.
Thanks!
Mitchell.
36.
Eivind
Posted on February 14th, 2010 at 1:09 am
Yes, I do take guest reviews, provided they are up to the standard I think my readers deserve. Check your inbox, Roger – it would be fun to feature your work.
Eivind
35.
bj0rnborg
Posted on February 13th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
“I love you man” is a bromance that I really would love to see analyzed like this. Do you take guest-reviews? I could consider making one if so.
Cheers
34.
Michiel
Posted on February 3rd, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Yeah, choke is a great documentary, would be great to see that on on your site!
33.
Eivind
Posted on February 3rd, 2010 at 8:51 am
Dion – I actually have that movie on my shelf and yet I haven’t even thought about featuring it. Thanks for the tip.
Merlin – Wow, that sounds like a kick ass movie to feature here. Did you know I train Jujitsu myself? The Japanese tradition. I’ve really needed that. So I look forward to watching this for very personal reasons as well.
Mike – You’re not the first one to suggest it, so I believe I must pick it up soon.
Now, I only need the time to feature them all.
Thanks again!
Eivind
32.
Mike
Posted on February 3rd, 2010 at 7:43 am
13th Warrior!
31.
Merlin
Posted on February 3rd, 2010 at 5:44 am
Choke
This documentary follows Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Master Rickson Gracie as he trains and enters the World Vale Tudo (freestyle fighting) competition. It is less focused on fighting than on his psychological and physical training, and is a look inside the life of a man that lives in deep integrity, strong family tradition, and yet trains using yoga, meditation, pranayama, and of course Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He is a beast. What an example of sensitivity combined with utter ferociousness.
30.
Dion Blair
Posted on February 1st, 2010 at 5:32 am
A River Runs Through It. Great film about becoming a man. A great representation of the turn of the century male.
29.
Eivind
Posted on November 14th, 2009 at 12:43 am
Thanks, Durwin, that’s a real good suggestion. I can promise you that it will be featured here in early 2010.
Jonathan: I deleted two of your posts as they listed movies that have not yet been released. I won’t accept nonsense here. The Last Airbender is however an excellent TV-show, but I don’t do TV shows I’m afraid.
28.
Durwin Foster
Posted on November 13th, 2009 at 12:55 am
Gran Torino:
Clint Eastwood’s portrayal of a “manly man” out of step with his children’s pomo culture, but seemingly in-step with the needs of his immigrant neighbours was compelling.
In Spiral Dynamics terms, he offers “blue” where it is really needed, in the gang infested ‘hood, while at the same time softening up enough to receive redemption for the killings he did during the Korean war.
27.
jonathan
Posted on November 8th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
avatar the last airbender
26.
Eivind
Posted on November 7th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
I have considered The Dark Knight already, Robert. For much the same reasons you state. I'm sorry your messages keep getting trapped in my spam filter (I just found it there). I'm going to look into it.
Eivind
25.
Bj0rnborg
Posted on November 3rd, 2009 at 7:43 pm
It definately was.
Here are two more suggestions:
The dark knight (Who is the rolemodel, Two Face, the hero that gets corrupted, can you only be a hero for a short while before becoming a villain as he states during the movie? batman, The true hero and whos biggest heroic act is to accept the blame that is not his, to ensure peace and stabillity. The hero becomes a villain, once more. Joker, the true villain that also does some good (one could say heroic) deeds.
To me this sums up the issues with modern masculinity. I would love to read your thoughts on this movie.
And ofcourse, Brokeback mountain.
24.
Eivind
Posted on October 26th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Just wanted you all to know Dead Poets Society has now been published.
Thank you Roger for the suggestion. I hope it has been worth the wait.
Eivind
23.
antonio
Posted on October 13th, 2009 at 10:03 am
I forgot beerfest and eurotrip, sorry.
22.
antonio
Posted on October 13th, 2009 at 10:01 am
You arent a man unless youve watched PAYBACK with Mel Gibson!!!!!!!!!… just kidding.
Also THE PASSION OF CHRIST shows how a man can have great leadership skills and take lots
of pain for his people, the Jews. Also THE MATRIX just the first one(the rest are GAY…no offense to gay guys). ALso the BACK TO THE FUTURE is also highly recommended. Stellar action movies like THE PATRIOT or KING ARTHUR as well. DEFINITELY PATRIOT or COLD MOUNTAIN
even though COLD MOUNTAIN is sad in the end.
21.
Arthur
Posted on September 30th, 2009 at 1:01 am
I have little doubt that you guys will approve of this.
The 25 Manliest Films of All Time
http://www.arthurshall.com/x_2007_manly_films.shtml
And yes the above is my site.
20.
Eivind
Posted on September 22nd, 2009 at 9:14 am
Keep’em coming. I’m listening. I will definitely do Eyes Wide Shut soon.
Eivind
19.
Kaare Saatvedt
Posted on September 10th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Stanley Kubrick: Eyes Wide Shut
Kubricks kanskje beste og mest undervurderte film.
18.
Andrew
Posted on August 18th, 2009 at 11:41 am
How about ‘The Fountain’ by Darren Aronofsky?
17.
Eivind
Posted on August 6th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Phra Khru Bah was one inspiring dude! The “powerful ideas from the movie” concept will be featured on all movie reviews from now on.
Dead Poets Society coming up
E
16.
Michiel
Posted on August 2nd, 2009 at 10:56 pm
I’m really happy you saw it and put it on your site Eivind
Really liked the story too, specially the strong ideas you sum up that grasp the core of this documentary.
Thank you.
15.
Eivind
Posted on August 2nd, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Buddha’s Lost Children has arrived Michiel. Tell me what you think
Eivind
14.
Michiel
Posted on July 24th, 2009 at 10:42 am
That’s great Eivind, I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.
Michiel
13.
Eivind
Posted on July 24th, 2009 at 9:30 am
Michiel,
The Last Samurai has just arrived.
And you’re on for Buddha’s Lost Children! Looks amazing and I have heard of it before.
Eivind
12.
Eivind
Posted on July 24th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Hey Alberto,
I’ve looked up Light years Away and it looks interesting, but cannot find it for a decent price. Do you know where I can get a copy?
Eivind
11.
Michiel
Posted on July 16th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
“The last temtation of Christ” I think is the only movie I haven/t seen in this list so I’m looking forward to that. Great website, I’m involved in working with men and boys and try to use and integral method so ít’s great to see other people combine it as well.
I have a few more suggstions I liked:
“buddha’s lost children”, a documentary about a thai buddhist monk, ex-thaiboxing champion, that takes care of orphans, as a mentor and trainer. I specially like the “hard love” he demonstrates.
“the fisher king”, a modern version of the methaphoric story of Parcival. Bout pain, fear and responsibility, with Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges
“the brothers mcMullen”, about 3 Irish brothers and how they deal with relationships.
“the last samurai”, about what is worth fighting for.
Ok, I will stop now…..
Thanx for the great site and keep it up!
Michiel
10.
Eivind
Posted on July 6th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
It looks like the Last temptation of Christ is a winner! Not seen it, would like to, and will feature it later this year.
Thanks for the great suggestions, keep’em coming!
9.
Kjell
Posted on July 5th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
I have two recommendations this time:
- Ford Fairlane: It’s tons of fun and it’d be cool to see him in light of your analysis.
- I totally support the idea of Last temptation of Christ. One of the best movies ever!
8.
Alberto
Posted on June 29th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
I want to recomend “Light Years Away” of Alain Tanner. Is a film about the search of two men from different generations and with sort of a master-disciple relationship.
Salud
7.
Eivind
Posted on June 27th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Thanks, Roger! I have decided to feature Dead Poets’ Society some time in the future. I think it is a very good choice.
Thanks Patrick for these great suggestions. I agree with Rob Roy, although I have my eyes set on Braveheart before that. Last temptation of Christ is a very exciting idea.
Has Andrew Cohen produced a feature film?
6.
Patrick
Posted on June 25th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Rob Roy.
Good movie about integrity, loyalty, being true to to what is most demanded.
Trainspotting
Begby has something that is very very deeply buried inside my green self.
The last temptation of Christ
Beautiful movie. He’s on a path and will face everything up till total submission/surrender.
Anything from (spiritual teacher) Andrew Cohen you can get your hands on.
5.
Bj0rnborg
Posted on June 19th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Hi Elvind
I absolutely love your work.
I would like to recomend “Dead poets society”. I believe this is can be a good movie about initiation, mentorship, the road from boyhood to adult, while at the same time beeing a great movie.
Love and respect
Roger
4.
Eivind
Posted on June 17th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Guys, I would love to do TV shows as well, but I haven’t the resources for that right now. The hours I have to spend to gain enough understanding of a show to offer any worthwhile observations are too long (I threw away my TV many years ago and don’t watch TV shows anymore). For the time being, it will just be movies, but that may change in the future.
Also, there will come a time when everyone can set up their own subpage and do as many reviews as they’d like themselves. So why not start planning your own Band of Brothers feature right now?
Thanks for the feedback!
Eivind
3.
john dupuy
Posted on June 17th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Totally concur with Daniel’s recommendation of Band of Brothers.
2.
john dupuy
Posted on June 17th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Mongol: whether it is an accurate portrayal of Genghis Khan, I don’t know, but as a as a illustration of the journey of a boy to manhood I think it works wonderfully.
1.
Daniel R Smith
Posted on June 10th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Band Of Brothers
From Review:
Band of brothers is an awesome show. It is very acurate and captures the character grow and bonding perfectly.