Bring on the tough stuff. There’s not just one right answer.
- Here's the billion-dollar question: do you think James Cole is insane or an actual time-traveler? Whichever the case, why do you think this question (and your answer) matters to the film?
- Cole is a complete bruiser in a street fight, but he can also be mentally fragile and several yippee-ki-yays short of being an action hero. Given this, why do you suppose they cast action-hero, tough-guy Bruce Willis to play the character?
- TVs, TVs everywhere, nor any channel to watch. Why do you think mass media plays such a prominent role in the film?
- Cole's ongoing dream changes subtly throughout the film. What's up with that? Do you think the film is trying to say something about memory? What about self-perception or the nature of time?
- Why do you think Dr. Railly insists she has met Cole before?
- How would you describe the pace of this film? Action-packed? Contemplative? Slippery? Why do you think this pacing is important to the film as a whole?
- The world of the future appears under the control of the Scientists. Why do you think this profession made it to the top? Do you see this commentary fitting any particular theme?
- How does the film convey its dystopian future visually? Why do you think it made these visual choices?
- Imagine you had to write the film's sequel, 24 Monkeys. (Or: 12 Monkeys: The Remonkeying.) What time period would you set the new film? What characters would you bring back and why? Finally, what themes from the original would you bring back or would you introduce new themes to update the film?