Movies are important in our lives because not only do they provide us with entertainment, but they also provide us with knowledge about the world. Movies teach us lessons, morals, how to act in certain situations and things we’re too scared to ask our parents. For me, for example, when I watched the movie "The Princess Bride" as a child, I learned to never go into the forest on my own, or else I would be captured by a group of men that consisted of a short, balding man, a frustrated, Spanish soldier and an obtuse giant.
There is a plethora of informational movies that are waiting to be shared with their audience, however, there are times when the audience member wants to see a film pertaining to their mood. Simple moods are easy to match with a movie. If you want to laugh, then you watch a comedy. If you are happy and want a happy movie, then you would probably watch your favorite movie. The more complex the moods get, however, the more difficult it is to choose your movie.
Here is a list of complex, specific moods, along with movies that match them perfectly so that your film entertainment can be thoroughly enjoyed:
When You Want to Root for the Main Character: This mood usually entices feel-good movies that make you wish so badly for the main character to accomplish his or her goal. "Shawshank Redemption" is about a man in prison who isn’t the exact fit for prison. He is an educated, upper-middle class man who meets eccentric characters, tries to begin programs for the jail, and gets picked on immensely. It’s a lot like a male-centered version of "Orange Is the New Black," 1940’s style. "The Blind Side" is about a homeless young man who has dreams, but no one to guide him towards those dreams. He is looked at differently in both his old impoverished, Black community and his new white, privileged community. While watching "The Blind Side," all you want is for him to become better than all those who made fun of him.
When You Need a Good Cry: Sometimes, for no specific reason, you have a build up of energy inside of you and your body wants to let it out in the form of crying. And, sometimes, we just need a little push of a sad movie to make us cry. "My Sister’s Keeper" is about a young girl with cancer who has been fighting for her life for years. Once her parents found out about the cancer, they decided to have a genetically modified baby who could supply her with certain bodily necessities that would help get rid of the cancer. Although a bit cheesy at times, this movie is definitely going to make you cry. "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" is about a son of a Nazi general who ends up meeting an imprisoned Jewish boy. Because the two are both young, and therefore naïve about the severe circumstance surrounding them, they developed an adorable friendship.
Inspirational Movies: These movies make you want to go out into the world and make something of yourself. "A League of Their Own" is about the first All-American women’s baseball league that occurred when men went off to war during World War II. This movie is full of so much inspiration that it will make you want to be the first of something as well. Dead "Poet’s Society," is a movie about a teacher who changes the ways of the classroom at a prestigious all-boys boarding school. The teacher is so powerful and moving that you will even learn some lessons as well.
When You Think You like Your Friend: Friends of the opposite sex are difficult because at one point in time, you might think you have a crush on them. "When Harry Met Sally" is about a man and a woman who decide to remain friends, and just friends. Although this movie is from the '80s and you have to see big, crazy hair, their situations in life are much like ones we can relate to and we can even learn so much from how they react to those situations.
When You Need Something Uplifting: When you’re sad, or down in spirits, or feeling like the world is against you, you need an uplifting movie to show you that there is still good in the world. "The Help" is about the life of black maids who live in Alabama during the 1960’s. These women face intense racism at work, and during the movie all you want is for them to take revenge on the white women they work for. "Good Will Hunting" is about a poor kid from Boston who works as a janitor at a college, but is secretly smart himself. He has a potentially successful life ahead of him, but he can’t seem to work through his anger issues to allow himself to work his way up in the world.
As you can see, there are many different movies for many different moods. Hopefully, by watching these movies, you can learn something new while also helping out the mood you are in.
