Symbols and Motifs in films...

[Jody Barsch*]

I was thinking that maybe we could generate a list of films that employ symbols and/or motifs in their story telling ...

Examples:

Pulp Fiction -- [spoiler]The bandaid on Marcelus' neck and the brief case -- one theory being that this is where his soul was cut out from him, and where it is stored[/spoiler]
The Sixth Sense -- [spoiler]the color red puntuating moments of stress and adversity, signifying things in the living world being impacted by a spirit[/spoiler]
Miller's Crossing -- [spoiler]symbolic of Tom's quandary, leads a life of its own, blowing off in the wind, then magically reappearing on the stair...[/spoiler]
There are tons more, and I'm not even sure that these were the best examples to give; what others can you guys think of?

[starbug]

Interesting topic... hmmm. the only one that occurs right now is

Fight Club: [spoiler]the destruction of the physical surroundings(buildings) parallels the main character's mental health - he moves into a hovel of a house, and right at the end all those buildings falling down [/spoiler] But to me, Fight Club was all about mental illness, and I know some people don't agree.

[emmie]

well, one of my favorite films EVER is The Graduate, and mostly because of all the symbolism. it's basically a coming of age story about the main character Ben. and in the first half of the film, there is a ton of water symbolism. ex. him sitting in front of a fish tank, and many scenes of him in the pool, as if he is submerged and suffocating in his life.

[Guest]

O.K here is one,like this hasn't been debated before.The terminator, and T2: Judgement day completely filled with biblical references

-John Connor=J.C= Jesus Christ, the Mesiah
- Sarah Connor( in the Old Testament Sarah was suppose be the mother of a great nation, that was to become God's chosen nation)
-the notion that certain thing are predestined to happen, hence the notion of The Judgement Day, apocalipse etc..
- John Connor's almost immaculate conception(Kyle Reese, a virgin from the future impregnates Sarah, in T2 at a certain point John Connors birth data are shown on a computer screene: AGE TEN
MOTHER:SARAH CONNOR
FATHER: UNKNOW

[Nostradamus]

The Sixth Sense -- [spoiler]the color red puntuating moments of stress and adversity, signifying things in the living world being impacted by a spirit[/spoiler]

I haven't seen The Village, but the director's first three films shared some themes:[spoiler]All were set in or around Philedelphia. All involved the supernatural. Water was a weakness of the hero in Unbreakable and the aliens in Signs.[/spoiler]