A couple of films to note, nothing exceptional but I've been choosing films to inspire conversation with the children. "Religulous" by Bill Maher and a film at the Plaza entitled "The Examined Life".
Now the problem with these films is that they're "Preaching to the Choir". By which I mean that if you've taken the time to go and see them, chances are you're already sympathetic to the film makers POV. The very people that should be seeing the film - who might benefit from it's skepticism and humour, are the very people who won't go to see it.
That said, "Religulous" was amusing. I'd give it 6/10. Nothing new or particularly insightful, merely amusing.
"The Examined Life" - despite the hype and the fact that if you were going to see a film about practical philosophy you'd probably be predisposed to rate it highly, was as well somewhat of a disappointment. A few interesting characters, but somehow it felt like it just could have been done, well, better. Philosophy without action is nothing but speculation. And again, preaching to the choir, it's highly unlikely anyone went to the film and was even slightly surprised as to what it offered, and chances are most of the audience (when we went I counted about 8 other people) have already mused upon these themes. I'd give it a 6/11 - with points off for the very annoying philosopher they interviewed at the start of the film.
On this note I'll end with the idea that to reach their target audiences these films need to sugarcoat their plot and their message. Sort of like "Fight Club" or "The Matrix", films that have a strong component or central theme of philosophy and/or spirituality, yet on the surface were not "about" philosophy or religion. And as a result reached a much wider audience while still prompting conversations and debate about their "message".