Three Great Pictures on Fighting with Oneself

In the best tradition of screenplay and storytelling, there must be at least three types of conflict: an external battle with a physically effective enemy, an external fight with a loved person, and an internal conflict with the self. Ultimately, our own self is the only enemy we can always count on. I find these movies to be portraying this conflict the best:

1. Solyaris

One of the best science-fiction ever made, the action of this masterpiece takes place in the human mind. Here, all the illusions are possible. All dreams are achievable. All you have to do is to give up reality. Then, there are no more “external enemies” to confront. There is only an eternity in front of oneself.

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2. Platoon

It’s hard to do a lousy war movie (although I’ve seen it done). But it’s even more challenging to do a great one. Oliver Stone, one of Hollywood’s most outstanding political film directors, shines at presenting the Vietnam tragedy for the American soldiers. A history’s mistake used as ambiance for a story of becoming is the environment to leave space for great actors to do their parts: Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Forest Whitaker, Johnny Depp, John C. McGinley, and Willem Dafoe. An impressive tale.

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3. 127 hours

Based on a real story, this film pictures the will to live. A young explorer in the Grand Canyon gets his hand stuck under a rock. For 5 days, he tries to free himself from the place he is stuck in. His struggle is a situation you will find easy to remember.

Marcus Victor Grant

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