Prog Rock Movies

[Nat Eleison]

Not sure how well this will go down but it's something I find ineteresting and I've actually discussed with friends.  Defining movies according to a musical style.

Question; What is a Prog Rock/Metal movie?

Here's my assertion; whether it is a popular movie or not it can
1.) go against popular convention
2.) have many layers to the storyline
3.) be Epic in it's scope
4.) use metaphores in conjuction with the movie's concept
5.) use an analogy in conjuction with the movie's concept

Obviously, the above is just a starting point.  There's many other points or descriptions that can go with the above.

Also, a movie doesn't have to be just one thing, it can be a combination of different things.  Eg. Pan's Labyrinth is both a Fantasy as well as a Drama and uses metaphores and analogies in it's storyline and concept.  It could be described as a Progressive/Power Metal movie.

What wouldn't be a Progressive Rock/Metal movie?  One that doesn't ascribe to the above description, whether it's a great movie or run of the mill, it's one that doesn't deviate from the norm and doesn't challenge the viewer's intellect any huge way. Eg. Action Jackson or most movies with Steven Seagal, Van Damn etc. (I actually like some of those films and some are actually great Action films but you get the picture).  Action Jackson, I could describe as a bit of old school Thrash and Sleaze Rock Movie; get's the heart pumping, a bit cheesy and over the top, full of adrenaline. 


Also, with other forms of music, other forms of art mix together and influence each other.  E.g. Baroque music had parallels with the art and architecture of its time and they influenced each other etc.  Film has influenced music and vice versa, e.g. I think it's fair to say that Avant Guard film and Art has had an influence on Avant Guard music etc.  Also, I think that the movie "Dead Again" was a huge influence on "Scenes From A Memory", that could also be something discussed here.

[Sketchy]

Interesting question. I'd be half tempted to say "Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas", as that's a Van Der Graaf Generator kind of movie. Dark, frequently changes dynamic, makes little to no sense and is completely brilliant.

Also: Anything to do with Steven Wilson would be a prog rock movie. So. Damn. Proggy.

[Xanthul]

While I think this is dangerously close to the Prog = Quality mindset that I personally don't agree with, I think these movies could fit your description:

- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
- Fight Club (no matter how mainstream and terribly overrated it has become, it's still awesome)
- Dogville
- Pretty much anything by Aronofski

[Nat Eleison]

Interesting question. I'd be half tempted to say "Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas", as that's a Van Der Graaf Generator kind of movie. Dark, frequently changes dynamic, makes little to no sense and is completely brilliant.

Also: Anything to do with Steven Wilson would be a prog rock movie. So. Damn. Proggy.

Yeah, I'd agree with that.  It's been awhile since I've seen that movie but thinking back I think it'd probably leave me with the same feeling as some of Van Der Graaf's music; shocked but fascinated.  "Frequently changes dynamic, makes little to no sense and is completely brilliant" is pretty spot on!

[zxlkho]

- Pretty much anything by Aronofski

Idk, I would picture most Aronofski films as post-rock, particularly Requiem for a Dream.

[Xanthul]

Good point, I never thought of them like that but it really fits.

[Dimitrius]

- Fight Club (no matter how mainstream and terribly overrated it has become, it's still awesome)
- Pretty much anything by Aronofski

Fight Club overrated?! No way!

Except The Wrestler, that's pretty straightforward.

[Nat Eleison]

- Pretty much anything by Aronofski

Idk, I would picture most Aronofski films as post-rock, particularly Requiem for a Dream.

I was in a band that recorded (the singer and guitarist wrote the song) a song partially based on that movie.  It was a 9min epic (originally longer than that before we trimmed it down and recorded it).  Me and the singer used to call it a ProgRock movie, I'm not sure how'd I'd describe it being Post-Rock but I can sort of see that as it's very confrontational and trippy and very much set in the real world (even the delusional fantasies of Sara are more a reaction rather than a metaphore).  I dunno, for me that's a tough one.  I think the part at the end where all three main characters go into fetal position is pretty proggy.  I still think of Black Swan as a ProgMetal film.

[Adami]

The Fountain is totally prog rock.

[Ryzee]

I don't know, I've always thought of something like the LOTR films as the movie version of prog rock, or at least classic prog.  They're really long, there's elves and warriors and castles and what not, the battles that go on forever (I'm thinking Pelennor Fields in ROTK especially) are the movie equivalent of instrumental sections that go on forever, their primary fanbase are males who, let's say, "prefer to stay indoors," etc.  I always thought of independent/arty type movies like Aronofsky films to be the movie equivalent of indie music.  Straightforward action flicks like Die Hard are heavy metal.  Sci-fi action flicks like Aliens are prog/power metal.  Something Borrowed is Katy Perry.  Casino is gangsta rap.  Twilight is Rebecca Black.  Etc, etc.

[Xanthul]

Sci-fi action flicks like Aliens are prog/power metal

Power metal is all about dragons. For me sci-fi is psychedelic rock.

[Nat Eleison]

I don't know, I've always thought of something like the LOTR films as the movie version of prog rock, or at least classic prog. They're really long, there's elves and warriors and castles and what not, the battles that go on forever (I'm thinking Pelennor Fields in ROTK especially) are the movie equivalent of instrumental sections that go on forever, their primary fanbase are males who, let's say, "prefer to stay indoors," etc.   I always thought of independent/arty type movies like Aronofsky films to be the movie equivalent of indie music.  Straightforward action flicks like Die Hard are heavy metal.  Sci-fi action flicks like Aliens are prog/power metal.  Something Borrowed is Katy Perry.  Casino is gangsta rap.  Twilight is Rebecca Black.  Etc, etc.

Yeah, I'd agree that analogy of the LOTR films, though personally I'd probably lean closer to calling them ProgPower because my mind's been warped by all the Power Metal bands (both the good and the bad) that have used Fanstasy imagery and "Wagnerian Rock" elements in their music.  For me, no band plays the Tolkien soundtrack better than Blind Guardian.

[jsem]

Sci-fi action flicks like Aliens are prog/power metal

Power metal is all about dragons. For me sci-fi is psychedelic rock.

This. Sci-fi = Hawkind

[Vajra]

The Fountain is totally prog rock.

Came in here to say this.

The Fountain

/thread

[YtseBitsySpider]

so...Pulp Fiction was proggy.

And I found Colatteral proggy too.

[XJDenton]

The Wall?

[MetalManiac666]

The Wall?

/thread

[Nat Eleison]

The Wall?

Yeah! I actually hadn't thought of that but it's a most obvious choice when you think about it.

[Nat Eleison]

Henry Fool directed by Hal Hartley.

For me it's one of the greatest films I've ever seen.  It's epic in scale and brings to light many social conflicts but at it's base and most importantly, still a very entertaining film.  It's the perfect prog film in that it brings together a lot of different ideas and ties them together so seemlessly.  Some of which include:

- Art verses morality
- People not being what they appear to be
- Friendship
- Art being a catalyst

Some of the more painful social aspects that are:

- Bullying
- Domestic Violence
- People who rely on their politicians to give them meaning in life

There are also subplots which weave through out the film but all lead back to the main purpose of the films storyline.  It's an offbeat epic which is a Drama/Comedy and a social statement.  It's Hal Hartley's greatest film (even though it isn't his favourite work he admits that it's the one that has affected people the most).  There's also a sequal called "Fay Grim" which is pobably even more prog as it goes into even more complex directions but Henry Fool is definitly the one with that packs the most emotional punch above everything else.

In the past I've compared it to the music of Yes, very complex and cerebral but speaks to peoples emotions and is mainstream enough for the general public to enjoy (plus the contapunal score [also written by Hal Harly] reminds me of Chris Squire's bass lines...as a side note, Harly also writes great Indy Rock songs for his films as well]).