The document summarizes the author's opinions on several films they have watched that deal with themes of morality. Some of the films discussed include The Great British Train Robbery, Britain's Biggest Heists: Millennium Dome Diamond Heist, Election, Gone Baby Gone, Shawshank Redemption, Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Paths of Glory, Full Metal Jacket, American Beauty, The Reader, and Sophie's Choice. For many of the films set during World War 1 or 2, the author believes they are not truly about morality since people at that time had to follow the government's orders or risk death. The document also reflects on themes in the individual films like family values,

1. Films watched so far

2. The Great British Train Robbery
• Most visual and helpful guide as to what
happened
• Contrasts with book of Ronald Bigg’s account

3. Britain’s biggest Heists Millennium
Dome Diamond Heist
• Follows Jon Shatford and his recollection of
the events
• Shows cctv
• Chronological order – easier to understand

4. Election
• Good characterization and presenting a moral
dilemma
• Moral compass – see his change from being a
good person and his reasoning why – he can
pinpoint who/why his life changed

5. Gone Baby Gone
• Strong family values – but not really
• corruption in police and authority
• Who deserves the child? Not necessarily
about whose child it actually is

6. Shawshank Redemption
• Morals – but he didn’t commit the crime?
• He swindled the prison guard out of money –
he had to go to prison to be a criminal

7. Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
• Personally, I think that any film that refers to World
War 1 or 2 isn’t moral based, because it was either do
what the government at the time said to do, or be
killed – there wasn’t really a choice that people could
make, as we are seeing with Nazi war criminals – not
saying that it justifies any of the actions taken by Nazi’s
or Hitler.
• I like that this focuses on the child’s aspect of war – he
doesn’t understand why people are different and is
naïve and innocent about the whole situation – thinks
that the Jews are on a farm

8. Paths of Glory
• Personally, I think that any film that refers to
World War 1 or 2 isn’t moral based, because it
was either do what the government at the time
said to do, or be killed – there wasn’t really a
choice that people could make, as we are seeing
with Nazi war criminals – not saying that it
justifies any of the actions taken by Nazi’s or
Hitler.
• Forging of documents – lots of lying just to get
approval of those in charge

9. Full Metal Jacket
• Morals – Joker looks after everyone?
• Personally, I think that any film that refers to
World War 1 or 2 isn’t moral based, because it
was either do what the government at the
time said to do, or be killed – there wasn’t
really a choice that people could make, as we
are seeing with Nazi war criminals – not saying
that it justifies any of the actions taken by
Nazi’s or Hitler.

10. American Beauty
• Morals – father against homosexuality – kills
someone because of it
• Lester nearly sleeps with someone his
daughters age who is a virgin
• Lester changes towards the end of the film,
and is still killed
• His wife has an affair

11. The Reader
• Personally, I think that any film that refers to World War 1
or 2 isn’t moral based, because it was either do what the
government at the time said to do, or be killed – there
wasn’t really a choice that people could make, as we are
seeing with Nazi war criminals – not saying that it justifies
any of the actions taken by Nazi’s or Hitler.
• Relationship with boy is immoral – supposedly justified in
the film as she has a mind of a child – can’t read
• She takes on all responsibility for the other defendants as
she doesn’t want to risk embarrassment because she can’t
read – not moral just stupid really.
• Best moral action of the film – gives money away to camp
survivor for a charity

12. Sophie’s Choice
• Personally, I think that any film that refers to
World War 1 or 2 isn’t moral based, because it
was either do what the government at the time
said to do, or be killed – there wasn’t really a
choice that people could make, as we are seeing
with Nazi war criminals – not saying that it
justifies any of the actions taken by Nazi’s or
Hitler.
• Should these two self destructing characters be
together?
• This film is about a love story – I think?

13. Obedience
• Experiment about following orders and
showing what percentage and how far people
will go in terms of hurting others, while under
authority – relates back to how I feel about
WW1/2 films and Hitler/Nazis