The Grey - A Philosophy of Heroic Suffering
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- Опубликовано: 13 сен 2024
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A video essay exploring how The Grey, although poorly marketed at the time of its release, is an underrated survival film about the importance of finding meaning in desperate situations
Resources:
Viktor Frankl - Man’s Search for Meaning
Featured films;
The Grey
The Revenant
Cast Away
Music;
Whitesand - Circle of Life
Source: / @whitesandcomposer
MusicMike512 - The Grey - Into the Fray/The City Surf Cover
Source: • THE GREY - Into The Fr...
Renowned film critic Roger Ebert gave The Grey 3.5/4 stars and was apparently so impressed by it that he walked out of a next screening; _“It was the first time I've ever walked out of a film because of the previous film. The way I was feeling in my gut, it just wouldn't have been fair to the next film.”_
*What are your favorite underrated films? Let me know below!*
I think The Fountain is an underrated movie. It would be great if you could do a piece on that movie, I love your work!
This movie astounded me with its theme and what was more sad was that people never understood what it stood for. Thank you very.much for making this video.
As for the underrated movie. There is a movie out there: Frequencies: a much ambitious effort of combining philosophy and science fiction.
Awesome video again. 🤓
21 Grams, 20th Century Women, Cashback, Interstellar (pretty much underrated after your video essay), Kingdom Of Heaven (Director's cut), Silence, A Single Man, The Skeleton twins and so and on... :)
‘Runaway Train’ and more recently ‘Shot Caller’.
That was awesome, and as a cancer patient with rare and aggressive cancer undergoing an aggressive chemotherapy it is much needed.
"Once more into the fray,
Into the last good fight I'll ever know,
Live and die this day.
Live and die this day".
Hope your treatment went/is going well.
Godspeed, James.
Kick it’s ass brother
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Hope your still kicking.
"Usually, when a man is about to lose everything, he realizes what mattered to him most. He sees it clearly for the first time." ~Anderson Dawes
@@blackberet747 And why do you believe that we are all going to a better place after death instead of realizing the best place is here and now? You should be afraid of death, only then can you be grateful for the time you have on this planet. However, death is natural and should be embraced when the moment comes.
Easily the most overlooked film of the decade. I was so happy when I saw this in my subscription feed. Hope this inspired people to take a look at this film.
Devon Di Marco i agree. The decade.
It did inspire me. I have to watch this film because I am facing great difficulty to push trough the mundane grind at the moment. I need the why to that can push me to do almost any how, so to speak.
@@randomnumbers84269 I hope you find A why.
Although I got spoiled :(
I watched it when it first came out on DVD. Our roommate had rented it and let us watch it. Love this movie.
"i just had the clearest thought...i'm done"
I loved that part of the movie. Could totally understand where he was coming from. Told my friend who could not comprehend it. One of those moments where you realize some people just haven't been there.
me in college
When I first saw this I thought that character had given up. Now though, I view him differently. He did change and find meaning from the plane crash up until that point where he sat down and accepted his fate. His meaning was found by dropping his false bravado and tough guy act and confronting his weakness and mortality. Once he dropped his ego (with help from Neeson's character and the knife to the throat!), he listened, learned, and helped others in the group. Even his last words express this as "I just had the clearest thought, I'm done." His journey was over and he accepted his fate quite clearly.
@@neildbarker I honestly still find it cowardly. It went against the very message and is the exact opposite of what Liam Neeson learned and strived for.
@@lastword8783 They need not be the same. We create the meaning in our lives. Liam found meaning in fighting against fate. The other guy found meaning in accepting it.
This is such an optimistic message. Even if everything is lost, one’s life can have meaning until the very last second because it’s an opportunity to face a calamitous situation with courage and maybe grace.
Wonderful comment, thank you.
Keep going brother. Give life a fight.
Like Jesus!
The ending to this movie was so emotional. Watching as he places those wallets down and see how he accepts his death will come. Plus that beautiful soundtrack. Amazing.
TheOwnpwn123 He didnt accept death. He fought it. Because he found his worth in living.
@@onyxphantom6762 He went from wanting to kill himself, to wanting to go down fighting. When it was easy, suicide felt like the natural thing to do in his circumstance. When he had to fight to stay alive, he realised the value of his life and tragically didn't want to give it up.
@@Nickster316 Survival instinct. He doesn't want to be killed by wolves that's just a gruesome death. He kinda found a new reason to survive it was to help the others. Out of the whole group he best qualified as 'Alpha' leader of the pack. His goal was to make sure the others survived. In the end of the movie he accepts his fate... His fate is to face the Alpha wolf in a battle to the death. If he survives the other wolves will possibly leave him alone.
@@Nickster316 This movie was tragic from the beginning. It was about hopelessness. About the beginning of the end. It was obvious that these men will never escape those wolves. Even Liam Neeson`s character couldn`t escape his fate, he only chose to die hard. The movie is a message that we can not win against our rulers (The Illuminati), we have to accept the dark fate they plan on us..
@@Young_Dab There's a post credits scene where you see the alpha is dying. But you can't tell if Ottway survived
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” Thank you LSOO, and thank you Mr. Frankl (RIP)
Once more into the fray
To fight the last good fight I will ever know
Live and die on this day
Live and die on this day
-This has always stuck out to me from this film and have never forgotten it to this day from seeing it in theatres
Same here :)
..."do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning,
They do not go gentle into that good night..."
Good night :)
I have this tattooed on my forearm
TJR should have gone with forehead if you are serious about it
Ebomb 113 yup 👍🏻
I loved this movie when i first watched it. I loved the raw honestly that Liam Neeson brought to the performance. I once briefly met him on the red carpet for Prince Caspian and recall seeing him with his wife. Then some time later she was tragically taken from him in an accident. I cant help but feel the loss of his wife was heavily driving his performance in that movie and how he was feeling at the time. It truly brought me to tears while watching it. I'm sure this man went through the same emotions as the character he was playing in real life. Great video as always; thank you.
David Edwards wow didnt know that. That may explain the phenomenal acting of his in this one.
For me, this movie was brutal the first time i saw it. Really devastated me and left me with a pain in my chest for days.
I could only recover by watching it again.
David Edwards in the movie I believe in the scene where he wrote the suicide letter, I believe that the producers told him to write the letter, so Liam put his heart and soul into that letter and you can just feel his grief
Yeah, I never realized until now how much of a personal story this seems to have been for Liam.
He actually used his wife's death to channel his feelings in the movie, he stated this in an interview.
yeah he did a brilliant job in this film
I lost my mum two days ago and I truly believe after 2 days of suffering to the point of questioning why I'm here, I now know what I must do. My purpose is clear and I will go once more into the fray.
Thank you so much for this video. It's given my entire day so much more meaning.
Sorry for ur loss man...hope this will help brings u strengh....
I'm wondering how you are doing?
I'm also wondering how you're doing. What was it that you realized you must do, and did you do it?
Hope all is well 🤝
For those asking, I'm doing really well. I have a lovely partner and baby daughter who hears all about her nanny angel all the time.
My purpose is clear and I live each day for my beautiful little family, and one day I look forward to seeing my mum again and telling her all about my family adventures.
Thank you fro the kind comments :)
What I only realized over time is this movie has a happy ending but in a very weird way. It so brilliant that the film ends where it does because he has found his will to live again. It doesn't matter what happens next to him. He achieved something very few people have.
I remember the very last scene where Liam Neeson looks at the camera. That's it. That's all he does is look and in that one look you can see and feel so much. I can't even describe it, one of the best moments captured on film I've ever seen. Ultimate despair into fierce, meaningful determination
There was an end-credit scene that shows what happened.
I think he begins to smile, knowing that he will likely see his beloved wife, previously passed. His smile then turns to a predatory, aggressive scowl as he accepts the challenge of the fight. The last good fight he'll ever know. Once more into the fray.
Just to add to your viewpoint - the last look Liam Neeson gives.....it changes a face with hopelessness and despair to a face with courage and determination. But most importantly for me....that look captured the animal within him (us too) which when cornered from all angles (physically, emotionally, spiritually) will come out....all guns blazing...without giving a thought to the result or repercussions. That look, the scene and the hauntingly beautiful background score proved that life will burst out in the most unimaginable situations too.
@@ajitsuttatti that's really good
Whenever life feels like too much I always find my way back to this video. It always helps and gives me some kind of warmth when I'm cold
Liked this movie since I first saw it. People just expected Taken. Liam neeson is a great actor.
I dont want to generalize a people but i think it was far to bleak for American audiences, This film in my eye's is a master piece, it seems as though it is a real experience its not a sad ending for the sake of being sad or have happy moments to bring levity. The "happy" moments in this film seem like real human reaction to very bleak moments rather than a suspension of danger and narrative to let the audience exhale.
It optimizes the poem by Dylan Thomas "Do not go gentle into that good night"
This was worth an Oscar nomination at the least. It's really a great film which takes a deep philosophical view of life. So incredibly underrated and underappreciated.
It makes a mockery of the award season, they give them to bland, forgettable spectacles, not to deep masterpieces like this
I was about 17 when i watched grey in 2011 when i didn't generally liked "films" of our era,then i watched grey,i was startled at the end i remember stuck in my chair thinking what a masterpiece this movie is...it started a fire in my life and after that i was more into films than ever...
As a fellow movie lover id like to pass down some of my favorites.
I have 2 universal greats of all time and i watch them ritualistically when it is time, after months of not thinking about it so i can watch them again with fresh eyes or on special occasions.
The 1st is Memoirs of a Geisha, this movie came in late and stole the 1st place from my 2nd movie, only because the entire movie is a work of art, and the music really makes each and every scene. There isnt much that i can say about it other than it has my 1st place for a reason.
2nd is Dead Poets Society, when i first watched it, it stole my soul and took me on a ride that i experience every time i watch it. Its a beautiful movie that ive been finding that a lot of people have actually seen, but not many talk about for whatever reason, but i could understand since it is about topics that define our society today or society in general, beyond time.
I understand the disdain for our modern films, luckily though, there are films like this that pass through and touch people in very personal ways or portrays something very important. I too dislike basically all modern cinema, but that doesn't mean i don't like film, im glad this movie helped you see that there are still masterpieces at work today, just not as many of them reach the main public eye.
@@tinkerbelle6936 i think meet joe black would encompass the 3 movies here, not that your choices are wrong cos its subjective
I think I was around the same age. Watched in on Netflix randomly. Was left speechless
Once more into the fray...
into the last good fight I'll ever know.
Live and die on this day...
Live and die on this day...
I saw this movie right before my last (3rd) deployment
and I would recite this to myself in my head and it gave me peace.
This is the most beautiful movie I've ever seen in my life. The music. The shots. The character development and character revelations. The assumptions you make about each character initially vs. the truth as it's revealed about them, step by step, from one moment to another. The good these hardened men have in their hearts. The women and children and parents they love with all their hearts. The desperate efforts they go to in order to reunite with those loved ones, only to be ultimately forced to accept the brutal reality of their demise, but the ability to make peace with it to some degree while in the jaws of death. The surprise ending, when we learn that Liam Neeson's wife didn't leave him, but instead died of cancer. That twist gripped me with the strike of that beautiful piano key and I broke down and actually wept for a solid hour after the credits ended. I had gotten married about a year before I saw this film, and the idea of losing my sweet love in such a way, to desperately call out to God for comfort in vain, the new friendships he forged in the fire of his suffering, and at the last moment, to recall that beautiful poem, to remember his father, and appreciate and feel gratitude for the beauty of life in the face of certain death....I really can't recommend it enough. I really can't say enough about it. It was, in a way, for me...scripture--the very voice of God. It was a masterpiece if there ever was one.
A lesson in life that I have learned, which relates to the Frankl quote at 5:40 , is that life is about change but change is not linear or continuous. It ebbs and flows, spirals, starts and stops. Being faced with an unyielding difficulty is not a problem but an opportunity to bring one’s good, strong qualities to the fore and exercise one’s capacities in a dynamic way. Doing so leads to greater self-knowledge and possibly self-transcendent experiences. Experiences and achievements that can transform one’s nature. Through this personal progress a person changes, thus changing the world. ~ Thanks for another terrific video essay!
Very eloquently put, cheers.
I really needed to hear this, thank you!!
John, amazing words. TU 🙏🏻
Yeah that's why people tend to commit suicide. Some self qualities they must've had
Life is chaos. Catch the opportunities and grow. Throw yourself into life with courage and faith. Accept defeat and through it learn to achieve victory.
It's quite an experience going into a film expecting "Taken with wolfs" and instead finding a somber examination on life, death, and finding purpose in the face of insurmountable odds.
Another great, underappreciated Liam Neeson film in my opinion is A Walk Among the Tombstones. Like The Grey, I think it was easy to mistake it for another of Neeson's action flicks, but this time around it was actually an incredibly dark detective thriller more in the vein of something like 8mm. While I wouldn't say it's as good as The Grey, it is still well worth watching with great supporting performances from Dan Stevens and David Harbour, before his breakout role in Stranger Things.
Another impeccable video, sir. The idea of finding personal meaning against the apparent meaninglessness of the universe is an idea that's always resonated with me, and is probably why I continually revisit films like The Grey years after their release. Stanley Kubrick expressed a similar sentiment in a 1968 interview, which I feel perfectly encapsulates these ideas:
"The most terrifying fact about the universe is not that it is hostile but that it is indifferent; but if we can come to terms with this indifference and accept the challenges of life within the boundaries of death - however mutable man may be able to make them - our existence as a species can have genuine meaning and fulfillment. However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light."
Pure, beautiful, courage, distilled through the rocky terrain and icy water, to give further strengthened purpose and fresh start reached
The ending scene is one of the most beatifull scenes i've ever seen, everytime i just only rewatch the scene i'm quite for like 2-3 minutes
Your videos seem to always come out during times of inner reflection for me and they resonate with me so much.
I'm really happy I found your channel, your videos never disappoint.
I look forward to seeing your channel grow.
Thanks! Me too :)
This reminds me so much of my mother who passed away from Cancer. She never complained once, she never said what happened her to was bad or she was unlucky. she stayed strong for us and fought right until the end. This video helped me to see her triumph in this desperate situation.
A standing ovation, continuing to be a master of orientation.
Sir check out the film called “the life of David Gale” you should do a video on this movie I know you would love!
While the dad seeing his daughter before the wolves take him was rough. It always tears my heart out when the guy drowns...
It was just so unbelievably unfair for him to die like that after making it so far...
In that moment, I *was* Ottway...
It all felt so hopeless and I just remember thinking "WHY?!"
Beautiful video. Poetic, meaningful... cool stuff
I've never seen this film before, but this video makes me really want to check it out. Loved this video man, your channel needs at least 100X as many subscribers.
Thanks Daniel! And you should definitely check out The Grey if you get the chance!
1 year. Hope you have seen it by now.
Did you?
OTOH this is one of my favorite films, and this video helped me further understand why.
Hey man, it’s been 3 years. Have you watched it yet??
Four years ago I had nothing but this video, watching it again and remembering how much I clung to every single word and thought; I'd never believe I'd fight for so long and end up even winning some battles. I can't put into words how thankful I am for your work
I am going through the roughest time in my life, and was reminded of this movie. Just rewatched two weeks ago. Then a friend of mine recommended me Viktor Frankl. I started reading him 3 days ago. I was astounded how this movie complemented the book.
Now I just saw this video explicitly making the connection between them. Such a great coincidence for me.
Wow that is a great coincidence! Sorry to hear you're going through a rough time, I wish you all the best!
May you find 'great' meaning. Remember the words of Robert Frost, 'The only way out is through'. I find great power on this. I oftentimes change it to 'the only way through is out'. Helped me find a smile through great suffering.
TU 🙏🏻
i actually remembered this movie too. im also having hard time right now but its about work and im really thinking of quiting this hell now. i hope ill get another job immediately
You will never know for sure if it IS really the roughest time in your life yet...
I’m sorry to hear that my friend. Leave it to god and god will make you happy and all your dreams come true. If you want someone to talk to I’m here my friend. I pray you’re forever happy and all your dreams come true.
A beautiful movie and wonderfully gracious analysis. Please, keep spreading inspiration with your analyses.
Kent VanderVelden i
You find strength through suffering I'm only 31 but I know this
😉😗😙😚😙😗
That scene where he says “I’m done” is so deep. That one hit me hard.
this is the video that hooked me onto your channel, it's more moving than i care to express.
This was beautiful. I remember this book. My mother passed it to me when my brother died suddenly. I've re-read it 6 or more times. Likewise the grey touched me. What a good marriage of 2 things that mean so much to me. A struggle with depression and loss. Thank you.
@Argumentative Piece of shit Man's Search for Meaning
responsibility = meaning. Thanks bucko
I sense this comment is laced with JBP
That's the thing with getting children for example, it gives you meaning
Manu Pre
Till they leave..so that's not a sulution, more is needed.
¿ Finbarr At that point your usually to old too care about that shit
thanks peterson
The Grey become my second favorite movie after Interstellar. As person who has major depressive disorder i cried every time i watch this movie. Ottway's story is similar with me. I lost my love, both my parents. I have nothing left in this fvcking world. Overall, life is so pointless and meaningless.
I'm mad late to this comment but I find it incredible that my personal 1st and 2nd favorite movies are Interstellar and The Grey. Like minds!
Mine is also "Interstellar" and
"Lady in the Water", most of M Night Shyamalan's movies tbh.
I am sorry Brother to hear that, hang in there, you have still much to live for, you need to embark on that self discovery journey self love journey again, and there are plenty of good people out here :)
The more we isolate ourselves the more cruel or smaller our world becomes
If it is to any consolation, I have been alone all my life, i have not known love or been able to love, but i'm starting to believe again that maybe I too am loveable & can find a good person to share that love with.
I am happy you experienced love and a family to whom you can miss and still have a belonging to, because it means they are still with you :)
So you still have a lot my friend
And these movies helps us find ourselves back again, make sense and accompany us in these heavy feelings, they make us feel lighter and seen and heard afterwards.
Find your gusto to fight again and get out with a bang just like Ottway did at the end, he did not give up the fight✊
@@alejandronava4807 wow that is really unbelievable , what are the odds!?
Push on
You miss the point of the film my brother. There is ALWAYS SOMETHING to live for. God bless.
I am not a fan of the deceptive marketing, but at the sometime without it would not have gotten my 16 yr old self to see the movie in the first place. Which turned out to be one of the best and inspiring movies I have ever seen.
I randomly saw this movie one night....and i randomly saw this video on the feeds...i don't regreat a second for watching both of them! Very meaningful and inspirational content for a man's everyday life. When death smiles at you,you smile back.
One of the greatest endings I’ve ever seen in a movie, an incredibly rare instance of a movie that adds an entire layer of to the story with a single shot, a layer that left me absolutely horrified and encouraged at the same time
I am absolutely blown away by your channel. Hope you are proud
One of the best films I have watched. But most importantly, a film that kept me sane in a difficult period of my life.
This movie was a masterclass but only if you truly understand the meaning of life 🙏🏻
Well done! Well done! I too was disappointed because of the false expectations created by the trailer. It was only recently that I began rethinking the meaning of the film. You've done a fine job of hitting the nail on the head. Thank you! Wonder work! And and a wonderful channel!
Words can’t describe how this movie Made me feel. Even as a very young teen this movie gave me goosebumps bumps that I will never forget.
The Grey really impressed me for taking the survival-in-the-wilderness genre so formidably back to the basics. Thank you for your equally impressive review. 🐺
Just saw it recently aswell, this film needs to be popularized.
I always watch this video when I feel I've lost all hope or that I've been dealt a bad hand in life.
I’ve liked this movie and thought about it for years. Listening to people like Jordan Peterson and jocko willink got me close but I could never tie together why I loved this move. You just did that for me. I will take this with me forever, thank you..
In dark times I always find my way back to this video some how. I don’t know why but I’m thankful it’s here.
this is the single most underrated movie of all time. i don't care about some of those movies people call gems. this is character development at its absolute finest. frank and liam deliver life time performances take consideration that liam lost his wife ... horrifically.
So true, great comment, thank you
The camera focused on Neesons eyes at the end was brilliant, you can't fully see his expression nor dies he speak any words. I think he begins to smile, knowing that he will likely see his beloved wife, previously passed. His smile then turns to a predatory, aggressive scowl as he accepts the challenge of the fight. The last good fight he'll ever know. Once more into the fray.
Thank you for this video. I loved this movie so much because it resonated with me. Having delt with depression and a suicide attempt I know first hand how tough the struggle is when finding meaning and a reason to keep living. It was easy for me to take a lesson from this movie. It becomes easier to find little meanings when your well practiced at looking for them.
Everyone thought it would just be another action-packed Liam Neeson but I'm very happy it was much more than that.
You know, I find it amazing how you have the ability to transform every analysis you make into a life-changing philosofical reflexion. You had me on the verge of tears by the end of this one, reminding me of the emotions I felt watching this movie. Thank you for the content!
I wept at the end of this movie. An absolute monumental movie.
Amazing breakdown. Not only the film but also the struggles we are all confronted with. I am impressed that you could watch the film and reflect on the stories meaning to the point where these isolated moments of beauty could be found and articulated. You honestly gave a different life to the frame. Thank you. This has helped me develop a tone and underlying inner struggle for a script I am working on. Keep it up!
This movie was far more than I expected. I was greatly impressed with the depth of it. The scene when Frank Grillo accepted his fate with perfect clarity...to see him bare his soul and accept it...this was one of the most powerful moments I have ever seen in film. Truly a great movie
It's reality when I say this, I got this meaning in God. But I don't ever expect God to do anything for me, because He gives me spiritual things. Strength. I learned from monastic christians (Orthodox Christianity) That the son of god died on a cross, why should I expect any less? God did not send down his angels to save him, why would he do that for me? You learn to die every single day, and live every single day. My day is not won through my success, but from my failure. That I will struggle and suffer through every single day. That my eye will always twitch at a strange time. That I will deal with the abuse from others, and the past with grace and forgiveness. That I will feel love and conviction for what I believe in, and that in my death for this, I succeed. That in my daily struggle and suffering, I grow stronger.
Yes, that is exactly the message I take from Christ on the cross too. People pray or expect God to give them pleasurable things. But God gives strength to go through pain, unfair judgment, refusal, attacks, suffering. With courage, love and compassion without trying to revenge in attack. Thanks for your comment.
I suffered horrible things, I found myself in this situation but with a different thing. An illness and difficulty that couldn’t be changed. I had a situation where I was at the end and everyone I loved was against me. I had failed out of college and was very intelligent. I had nothing. But this has changed. And now, I have my meaning. And begin to bear anything.
The other thing to remember is that once you are saved, if God was done with us we would be instantly in heaven, we are not because we have a mission, to live this life for Christ. And as the Bible tells us, we will be hated as Jesus was hated, we will be made fun of, we will be chastised and we will experience trials and tribulations. Through all of that are faith in our Savior must remain. I do love this movie, and see it reminds me of the verse in Timothy, "2 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. "
Mumbo jumbo pish!
I remember seeing this film in the theaters and let me tell you, I was so pissed off with the ending lol. I remember telling my film teacher Howie Movshovitz about it. He told me succinctly, "Don't let that shit bother you." To this day, when I hear the soundtrack into the fray, I get emotional, this video made me cry not gonna lie. A frustrating but powerful and moving film.
I’ve watched this film with a couple of friends before and some of them are very surface level thinkers. They were very disappointed with the ending of the film but I absolutely loved it. I always enjoy films that make you think and dive deeper into the underlying meaning of the film. This a criminally underrated film that has been taken viewed to much by its surface level content. Great analysis!
Again, you have an insight and way of articulating yourself that brings hope and life. These essays themselves are an incredible art form and you're knocking it out of the park. Keep them coming. I've grown to look forward to these.
Excellent video, as always. Another underrated film that deals with desperation and suffering from a religious point of view is Martin Scorsese's Silence. Looking forward to listening to your analysis of this film someday!
I loved Silence! Hopefully someday I will get around to it!
I recommend you the book as well. It's amazing. Thank you so so much for your videos. They are profound, intelligent and touching :-)
The grey is about existentialist meaning, not religious religious. While these aren't necessarily binaries, in the greys case they almost certainly are.
The film is about human will constructing meaning in the absence of external meaning- it's extremely secular. Almost anti religious in my opinion.
Carnahan, the director says:
“Listen if an atheist sees this film they say, ‘There’s no way he [Liam Neeson’s character] believes in God.’ If the most hardcore Christian sees this film, they say, ‘Absolutely he believes in God’ and I think it’s a lot like the ‘God helps those who help themselves’ idea that if you are motivated and have the self-interest and have the self-survival and you get out and get after it and struggle to live, then you’ll in some way be taken care of. You’ll be in some way rewarded and then sometimes not. This is the way of the universe and certainly it’s the way of nature. Nothing is given. Nothing is certain and I think that as you get older you start to think about things. You start to think about your own mortality, your own advancing age. …There are things that start to occur to you where you go, ‘What’s out there? What’s waiting for me? What’s the afterlife look like? Is there an afterlife?’ All these things that… listen we’re given the ability to abstract thought. We should consider these things I guess from time to time. These were things that were certainly weighing on me as I was writing it and again the beauty of having that kind of time is that I was able to go back and look at the pages and explore them and kind of root around in them to hopefully extract the things that were meaningful to me. But I think it’s absolutely spiritual, ‘religious,’, and deals with those things. I don’t shy away from but I also don’t try to. I think the film is non-denominational. Let’s say that.”
Also it is worth noting Neeson is catholic, i wonder if there are hidden meanings we just arn't seeing yet.
@@LikeStoriesofOld I loved that movie, i felt as if scorsesse had changed himself into someone dufferent in order to make this film. Please make a vídeo about it and please keep on, you are a really unique... "RUclipsr"?... Well either way, what you do is great.
possibly everyone of us can relate to the situation ottway is in somewhere in life. it just happened in my case that this situation is right now..
i guess the most difficult aspect in these kinds of circumstances is to be without a person to talk to. but thanks to the internet you do not need to know those individuals personally anymore.
therefore i want you to understand on how many levels this video spoke to me emotionally. no other person couldve helped me in the way you did. so please accept my "thank you" in lack of a better term which could express my gratitude..
at last i wanted to compliment you on the choice of the music accenting your soothing voice + the topic of suffering which pose a near perfect mixture altogether.
i think creators need to know the value their work creates and how it impacts the lives of us viewers. so please never stop doing these videos and stay as a shining example of what people may cause while pursuing their calling.
once again
thank you
- princeps
Well put, indeed.
Beautiful video, i loved The Grey when i first watched it and was heartbroken by those who didn't understand what it was trying to portray and i couldnt really figure it out myself, i just knew the movie was a work of art. You sum it up perfectly
What an analysis! I honestly teared up as I came to really understand the true, deeper theme of the movie. This realization, for me, changed the movie completely. I honestly am sort of stunned that I missed it, and I can only say that my mistaken assumptions and expectations going in unfortunately caused me to experience this movie with a lazy disposition, resulting in only an artificial, aesthetic grasp of what I mistook as the theme. I couldn’t have been any more mistaken and couldn’t be more pleased to admit as much. The best way I can describe how I now experience this film is solely due to this exceptionally well-written and edited exam. The intention of this work of art, for me, is most closely associated with the overwelcoming, deeply moving emotions I have only felt after reading beautifully written works of literature that, in some cases, were capable of literally taking my breath away. Works such as Toni Moreison’s ‘Beloved’, Mark Danielewski’s ‘House of Leaves,’ Jon Krakauer’s ‘Into the Wild,’ ‘The Bell Jar’ by Sylvia Plath, Vladimir Nabokov’s ‘Lolita,’ ‘Alice Walker ‘The Cokor Purple,’ ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ by Maya Angelou, Jeannette Walls ‘The Glass Castle,’ ‘Night’ by Elie Wiesel, Hanya Yanagihara’s ‘A Little Life,’ ‘Spilled Milk’ by K. L. Landis, Matt Haig’s ‘Reasons to Stay Alive,’ ‘The Book Thief’ by Markus Zusak, and ‘David Copperfield’ by Charles Dickens, to name a few. If you have read even one of these, you will likely know what I am talking about. Stay golden, everyone.
*Truly gorgeous take on the film, and a lovely use of quotes.*
Hey, Tom, just wanted to say how much this video of yours changed my life. A few days ago the power was cut in my apartment because I hadn't paid my bill and it is now the beginning of winter with the weather being dangerously cold. I was low on cash, all my friends who I turned to rejected my appeals for help in time of need and I was very close to giving up hope. But I watched this video just to try and cheer myself up and I found something inside me that I thought was gone...strength...I decided that this wouldn't be it and that I would rough it out for the week or so that I had until I could pay my bill. And now I have...and I probably couldn't have done it without your work on this video...so I just wanted to say from the bottom of my heart...thank you and keep doing what you're doing.
"Pick up your damn suffering and bear it!"
---Jordan B. Peterson, alpha lobster
Says a man that never been in a true surviving situation.
You dont the feeling until your back is truly against the wall and you must survive In a horrible situation. Only some know it, and people like that guy(I repect his work) know nothing of TRUE SURVIVAL
You should listen to Jordan talk about where he grew up. Ironically it's up in northern Canada where you could die from staying outside to long in the winter. Alcoholism was rampant among his community because of how bleak the area was. He has also seen great suffering through his time with his patients. He knows suffering and he knows survival. He has seen it first hand and studied it. And to some extent experienced it.
Hawkeye 47 don’t pretend to know his life. We all have our crosses to bear.
Tony Perri
Better and wiser to be smart and strong and aggressive and therefore AVOID suffering.
"Suffering is for pussies and pansies."
John Wayne quoting William Gill.
Peterson sounds like he is constantly about to have a nervous breakdown and he looks like he needs to get more sleep. The lack of coherency and the pure sophistry of his positions could perhaps also be improved by more sleep.
An absolute masterpiece of a film. I don’t even know how many times I’ve seen it at this point but I never get tired of it.
Thanks for all the book and movie tips! I'm reading King, Warrior, Magician, Lover right now and it has definetely given me a life changing perspective on life. Specially in combination with watching your videos about the different Archetypes. Thanks again :*
This is a powerful film that has stayed with me. I couldn't understand why it was panned by critics. I think part of the main characters key is anger. Anger is one of the facilities that enable survival. Thank you for the wonderful videos you make.
the mood of your videos are all amazing
It is much deeper than that, to me, personally. Thanks to a review I read online I fully understood it's true meaning and it is a powerful one.
This film doesn't take place in the Alaskan wilderness, there is no plane crash, the wolves are a "test" of his faith, and Liam Neeson is already dead.
He is in a transition realm purgatory where his faith is tested before moving on to the afterlife.
Ottway eases a victim's death by informing him to just relax, "it'll slide over you, it'll feel nice and warm." Strangely descriptive for any living soul to know without experiencing for themselves.
The repetitive vision of his wife lying next to him in bed, comforting him, reminding him to "not be afraid" (we later learn that this is actually a hospital bed -- but can't tell which of them is sick).
Based on my theory it is him who is terminally ill laying in bed dying. He dies in denial (For leaving his wife and everything he loved behind) therefore this causes him to go on believing that it wasn't him who died but his wife thus he writes on his suicide note with much grief and pain that 'You left me and I can't get you back'.
And then there's his father's poem -- revealed during a deep conversation of faith, religion, and the after-life amongst the survivors:
Once more into the fray.
Into the last good fight I'll ever know.
Live and die on this day.
Live and die on this day.
Grey is the colour between white and black, between life and death, between heaven and hell. The Grey is purgatory.
The wolfs were what ultimately lead him to salvation, and the cross that he made with the wallets before fighting the Alpha male was his way of finally showing his belief in a higher power. The wanting, and NEED to believe, right before you move on.
I really enjoy and accept your interpretation as well
Dude, don't spoil things by bringing religion into it... it's not always about your precious "God"
It is my interpretation of the film. Some might agree some not. You have your own opinion. Move on
@@PeteTheGrouch a pity you felt the need to belittle a stranger's view who wasn't being antagonistic towards anyone
When I saw this film, I hadn’t seen any ads for it, or promotion. And I thought the movie, and ending was so beautiful.
Years later and I'm back to this video. Nearly 20 years in fighting depression. Docs and meds are cool and all but finding the "why" is harder than ever. I just don't know... I'm tired...
Wonderful analysis. This video feels motivational in a good, non-cheesy way. Having Adagio playing helps with that, too :)
Thanks! The music definitely helped a lot ;)
That poem and the music..... still gives me goosebumps to this day
Now I understand my depression and how I took up responsibility for myself and became a stronger person. I underwent heroic suffering.......
I find myself coming back to this video, multiple times.
In the US, we are *mostly* about being individuals, which in not inherently a bad thing, but, what we lose is that human connection. This is what has been troubling me for so many years. Ugh, words are very difficult.
Tom: I have commented on this many times, but , your insight helps in ways I could not possibly explain.
My worst regret, in this life, is I cannot find a way to help others.
Thank you for the thought-provoking video, as always.
The "When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves" echoes Buddhist teachings on patience, such as found in Shantideva's sixth chapter. No small part of the suffering we experience is actually caused by our attempts to free ourselves from suffering while being unable to do so. And we learn indeed so much (to change ourselves) when we find no way to escape.
On another note, your video also made me think of 'The sea of trees'.
“ Once more into the fray.. into the last good fight I’ll ever know. Live and die on this day... live and die on this days...” this is once of my favorite movies 🎥
I personally relate to this film. The character that quit on the log, I know how he felt; I made a similar decision a few years back, but, unfortunately I am still here.
Hope is the word! without it we cannot endure suffering
To quote Jocko Willink.... " Discipline equals freedom."
That has nothing to do with this bro 😂
@@connorbullock1669 issa meme. Gorsh
My mom died about a year ago from cancer, and thankfully I was able to be with her to the very end. I was then at a point of deep questions about the meaning of life and how I fit in. What is all this suffering for? Are we to work difficult jobs, make sacrifices and then die suddenly before we are ready? Some months later this video appeared in my recommendations, so I clicked because I remembered hating The Grey years ago when I saw it and wanted an explanation. I can honestly say this video started me on a journey that has enriched my life in profound and lasting ways. Despite its conspicuous flaws I now fully appreciate The Grey and it’s universal message about the meaning of suffering, our choices to suffer bravely, and the revelation for me that it isn’t mankind who gets to ask questions of life, it is we who are being questioned, and we who are free to answer in a way befitting our conscience. I have now read V. Frankl book about a half dozen times, and if you’ve made it this far in this comment on this video you definitely should read it too, it’s a very inexpensive and short book but very helpful.
Thanks to this channel for excellent and unique content. It has helped me immensely.
You continue to knock these videos out of the park. Bravissimo! 👏
I saw this last night. Without a doubt one of the best movies I've ever seen. The symbolism of death and courage is heartbreaking. I doubt I will forget this movie any time soon.
After watching this movie I thought only an Irishman would confront God in such a manner.
Watched it all alone in a movie theater in Malta at at midnight with a bag of popcorn.. one of the best memories that I have.
This was one of the best movies I've ever seen that I did not know about...
the people in this video are ones that i strive to be. i always continue to find the meaning life, even when life feels like it wants me dead, i find a way to carry on, until that moment that comes may be my last, i continue to fight regardless, i will always fight, and i will never stop going forward. and before that time, i always remember my own set of words, ''the universe can disappoint me me, hurt me, or even kill me, but it will not break me''.
Great Video, actually gave me some hope for my own situation.
A fantastic video. This gave me alot more insight not only from the movie, but about my own personal life. Thank you.
very clever, connecting Frankl. he's a very underrated existentialist and his main themes (finding meaning in suffering, et al.) can be traced back to Sartre (and beyond) but clearly dovetail into more modern examples of media and thought. I guess good ideas don't go out of style... I really enjoy your content. as always, thank you.
I went in expecting the big fight scene and an action flick. It was so much more, and makes me choke up up ten years later. So good.✌️🇺🇸
I, like you, really love this film, and really liked your analysis. My own personal view is that the film is a metaphor for life itself, with life being represented primarily by the wolves. Wolves are pack animals. Part of what they do is coordinate to run down and wear out prey. When dealing with larger animals, or more dangerous ones, a common tactic is to wear down the target with repeated attacks, usually just quick, opportunistic attacks to slowly inflict light injuries that gradually add up and weaken their prey, until it has been worn down to a point where it really cannot put up much of a fight, at which point the pack can then finish off its prey quickly and effectively. The same is true of life. People living in the first world are generally unaware of it, but the truth is that life is harsh, relentless, and does not at all care about us. The universe at all times is generally trying to kill us in one way or another, be it with gravity, radiation, disasters, or any number of other means, but it is without malice. It is simply doing what it does. When things go south, that is when you really notice it, like a pack of wolves constantly nipping at your heels, trying to find your weak points, and wearing you down. Some people get caught off guard, and are taken out before they have a chance to react, or process what's happened. Others eventually get worn down, and just give up, letting themselves be taken. Yet still others eventually get frustrated, turn around, and charge headfirst into whatever issue they are dealing with, deciding to just let fate work out as it may. But for those that do choose to fight, even if they win, eventually there will be another battle to fight, and another after that, until eventually they lose. Just like in life, we lose people we love, we get fired from our jobs, have marriages fail, or find ourselves in pandemics, and unable to connect with the people we want to, with our lives completely disrupted. It is the relentless march of time and reality that will inevitably kill us at some point or another, but it doesn't have to be today.
At the end of the day, we can pray for help, but whether or not you believe in a higher being or not, that being will not always step in to help you, at which point you can give up, or do it yourself. As for myself, I have that cliche Irish stubbornness, and for whatever reason, even when I want to just give up, some part of me just gets frustrated and annoyed by the idea, and I pick myself again, and go once more into the fray.
I watched this movie with my family, at the end a lot of people booed. On the way back to the car they complained about how the movie ended on a cliffhanger. I told them I loved the movie and the ending, I was only bummed out about missing that end scene after the credits which I later saw on blu ray. Definitely on my top 10.
Thank you so much. I needed this.
HIT ME
This quote from the Joker actor Heath Ledger from "The Dark Knight" made a huge impact on me and inspired me to create a philosophy. It helped me make peace with all of that. Through practices of all kinds. I have learned to love my trauma, my illness, my feelings, my thoughts, my conflicts, my life and ultimately my suffering. The hits are a fact of life and the key to enlightenment. A hit affects you, internally or superficially. Everyone and everything has this HIT ME side in it. HIT ME always works. And you will never be disappointed with this life expectation. Because something always hits you. Even if you don't want to be hit by something, it still hits you. Hence, it still works as a life expectation. It even works when positive things hit you. Like soft raindrops or a soap bubble. Same as joy or bliss. Hit me all the way, in any way, anyway (even if sometimes or often I don't want it). If you commit yourself to such an idea, you decipher the path to enlightenment. It is therefore a good reason to follow the path of loving our suffering. Because it brings you great benefits. From ourselves, when we don't want to be hit and don't want to take in the hits, to the desire to be hit and take in the hits. It always works, regardless of the form. Once one has developed a certain level of this practice, one masters the suffering and becomes truly enlightened. And for conflicts, but also that which hits us in general, I quote Bruce Lee: "I do not hit. It hits all by itself."
The Way Out Of The Abyss
Only when we can accept, what we want to let go, can we let go, of what we want to accept.
A peaceful mind is the cure for restlessness.
And love is the cure for a broken spirit.
Pain is strength in disguise waiting to be revealed. And it takes a lot of strength to cry. Because when we cry, we open ourselves to the pain we experience.
When all the waves are crashing down on you, there is faith to get you through. Express your belief in reality and believe in it. This is how you get through the waves.
We make mistakes because we are not perfect. And for this fact I am grateful that I make mistakes.
Remember that the solution to any problem, is the problem itself. It came into existence and it won't leave you.
A sacrifice for love is a sacrifice worth dying for. We don't have to undo the things we do wrong or have done wrong in life. We die for it and thus sacrifice ourselves for love.
Hence, die for your negative qualities. And live for your positive qualities. That is the sacrifice and the salvation of the human spirit.
The guilt we feel is the one that enslaves us. Only when we also remember our innocence are we free at the same time.
There is nothing in this universe that can harm a mad person. Except to make the mad person even more insane through harm.
When one is ready to take in all hits, in order to gain strength from them and at the same time is ready to pass on all the love out of compassion to others; one will be as strong as a demon and as compassionate as an angel. A demonic angel.
A victory can be achieved by resolving the battles within.
When you give up fighting yourself and instead start absorbing yourself; you will be invincible.
When you change the powers that hold you back, into the powers that hold your back, you will be unstoppable.
You are an example of what a human being is capable of. Use the hits as fuel for the ascent.
Because the greatest bliss is found when you make peace with your suffering. Because suffering is the root of blissfulness. If you love your suffering, blissfulness arises. And blissfulness is the key to heaven on earth.
When you conquer yourself by loving yourself, your fears, your pain and ultimately your suffering; then it will transform you and you will be reborn.
In order to overcome suffering, one must become suffering oneself.
Because when you are one with all, you are bound by nothing and therefore free from everything.
And by becoming one with suffering, you master it.
The journey to enlightenment is a process that involves a lot of suffering. But in the end, every moment of suffering will be worth it. Because choosing to suffer consciously is the springboard to enlightenment.
This is how you remember your origin and you begin to embody it.
Because where there is suffering, the love spark resides. And the fire is kindled where God or consciousness enters and spreads.
Become Ryu, the dragon. Become suffering. Have a relationship with the suffering (HIT ME) from sadness to madness. And become the suffering yourself, (HIT ME) and the hits. And Ryu, the dragon spreads its wings and rises with the darkening and the enlightenment. So the dragon finds the way out of the abyss.a