Find me some imaginative movies

[bartholen_v1legacy]

I like to write stories as a hobby (sci-fi-inflicted fantasy mostly), but lately I haven't been writing much. It's not exactly writer's block, since I've got plenty of ideas in my head, but I just haven't gotten into the vibe for some time. Until literally only a few minutes ago when I watched Castle in the Sky again. I stopped the movie about 50 minutes in because suddenly inspiration and the desire to write flowed so strognly through me. The same thing happens whenever I watch Studio Ghibli movies.

My request would be this: Can you recommend me movies that show a lot of creativity and imagination and/or don't fall into typical film cliches? I would prefer fantasy and sci-fi for the most part, since those are closest to what I write, but any unusually creative movies will do. Donnie Darko, for example, is set in a typical high school setting, but is one of the strangest and most atmospheric movies I've seen.

Thanks in advance!

captcha: this is sparta. No captcha, I will not watch that piece of shit movie again for quite some time.

 

[Total LOLige]

Fringe can get a little weird, not sure if it's what your after and it's a TV show. It recently got added to Netflix instant, a week after I spent £40 on the 1-4 boxset...fucking netflix. I'd also recommend the Mighty Boosh again a TV show but it's incredibly imaginative, it's a comedy about two zookeepers and their weird world.

I typed 'that was a weird movie' into google and came up with this weird movie list, might be worth a look.
http://366weirdmovies.com/the-weird-movie-list

 

[Squiddles]

Try "Mirror Mask", "Brazil", "City of lost Children", "Dark City" aaaaaand I'm sure there's more I could come up with but tired right now so that's the best I can do. DX

 

[Keoul]

Fight Club and Bladerunner are the only ones I can think of... the rest are anime.

 

[Coppernerves]

Repo! The Genetic Opera

Especially if you're unfamiliar with cyberpunk.

Failing that, how about Time Bandits? Or anything by Terry Gilliam eg. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, or The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Fight Club and Bladerunner are the only ones I can think of... the rest are anime.

And after you watch Blade Runner, watch "Ghost in the Shell".

 

[AgentNein]

You know I'm a huge David Lynch fan, and he tends to make movies like no one else. Not exactly SF, but it's all very surreal. Give Mullholland Drive a shot, and then watch it again. You probably won't really get it the first time. Just don't read interpretations til you give it a few goes yourself. The joy in his movies is many times in your own personal interpretation.

And if that tickles your fancy (it very well might not, Lynch is an acquired taste usually) give Eraserhead a go.

One more thing though, do you have a stomach for horror? Lynche's movies aren't horror in the traditional sense, but many of them are creepy as shit at times.

 

[HardkorSB]

Cypher:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0284978/?ref_=sr_1

Big Trouble in Little China:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090728/?ref_=sr_1

A lot of other movies directed by John Carpenter:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000118/?ref_=tt_ov_dr

Most movies directed by Terry Gilliam:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000416/?ref_=sr_2

Most movies directed by Guillermo Del Toro:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0868219/?ref_=sr_2

Also, this might be an obvious one, but a lot of movies directed by Steven Spielberg:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000229/?ref_=sr_6

 

[Julius Terrell]

A.I. - It's a rare hollywood film
2001: A space Odysee - It doesn't need an introduction
An Angel's egg: This a very unique film by Oshii. I was blown away by it's presentation. You'll have to find it on a torrent site.

Only ones I can think of for now.

 

[MissP]

I always thought "What Dreams May Come" was really trippy and visually interesting.

Also, 9 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472033/) is an interesting animated movie with a slightly darker vibe that's sort of a sci fi and fantasy mix.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

Can't go wrong with Darkman.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darkman

Elfman's music has a distinctive style. That being said, you could probably switch some of the tracks between Batman, Darkman, and The Nightmare Before Christmas without anyone really noticing.

 

[Launcelot111]

Primer is time travel done in an interesting nonlinear way, though even after consulting the wikipedia page, I still have no idea what the fuck happened in this film.

Melancholia is a little pretentious, but the second half is pretty cool.

Moon is awesome.

 

[Lilani]

-snip-

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium always leaves me inspired and wanting to make stuff. It's a colorful film about life and learning how to live and be content with yourself, and has great quirks of fantasy everywhere (the main setting is a magical toy store). Also Coraline, if you've never seen it, and the Secret of Kells. Coraline was a pretty big-name film, but it has a lot of fun with its aesthetics and the animation style itself. Also, the characters are very well defined and fun to watch.

The Secret of Kells was more of an indie-job, and it is a sight to behold. It's hard to explain the story without telling like all of it, but basically it takes place in Ireland during the Nordic invasions (with a bit of folklore and magic thrown in for flavor) and the style is absolutely gorgeous. It looks like a moving medieval tapestry. It takes a lot of license when it comes to perspective, and every frame is just so well-composed and rich and vibrant you just want to print it out and hang it on your wall. A great story in a beautiful world.

 

[sXeth]

A Scanner Darkly. Its certainly atmospheric, and the plot gets into some interesting places (although a few are somewhat predictable). ITs only vaguely near-future sci-fi though, as that goes.

 

[AlbinoAaron]

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
Solaris
The Fall
Pan's Labyrinth
Momento

 

[Fijiman]

Basically anything made by Hayao Miyazaki should do the trick.

 

[GonzoGamer]

Try "Mirror Mask", "Brazil", "City of lost Children", "Dark City" aaaaaand I'm sure there's more I could come up with but tired right now so that's the best I can do. DX

Yea, I was going to recommend Brazil too. I think the OP would be into anything by Terry Gilliam: The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus, Time Bandits, Barron Munchhausen, Fear & Loathing.

Anything by Jean Pierre Jeunet (the guy who made City of Lost Children) would probably be right up bartholen's alley too: Delicatessen, Micmacs, Alien Resurrection.

If you like Donnie Darko, you'll like those.

I would also recommend The Color of Magic (but the books are way better). I'd imagine bartholen has already seen things like Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Fight Club, Being John Malkovitch, and Hellboy. If not, definitely see them.

 

[Squiddles]

Yea, I was going to recommend Brazil too. I think the OP would be into anything by Terry Gilliam: The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus, Time Bandits, Barron Munchhausen, Fear & Loathing.

Anything by Jean Pierre Jeunet (the guy who made City of Lost Children) would probably be right up bartholen's alley too: Delicatessen, Micmacs, Alien Resurrection.

If you like Donnie Darko, you'll like those.

I would also recommend The Color of Magic (but the books are way better). I'd imagine bartholen has already seen things like Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Fight Club, Being John Malkovitch, and Hellboy. If not, definitely see them.

Yeah just anything Terry Gilliam really, his movies are a bit of a head trip. So perfect what your looking for. =3

Speaking of head trips also watch "Eraserhead" and "Naked Lunch" you won't be the same after... XD

 

[GodzillaGuy92]

So as not to repeat movies that others have already brought up (namely Fight Club, despite how much I want to have that movie's babies), I would heartily recommend Rubber - which I'm pretty sure is available on Netflix streaming - not only because I enjoyed it more than perhaps any movie released last year for its dark humor and intriguing story, but because I don't think I've ever seen another movie at all like it. Definitely one to check out if you're interested in smashing up some narrative constraints.