Let's be honest, life can be pretty dull. Before I go on a cynical, miserable rant, I will offer up something positive: movies. I am a film junkie. Having been bred and fed pop culture for the past 22 years I have become a living, breathing, die-hard movie maniac. There's nothing like the thrill of watching your favorite film, or experiencing a new one for the first time. The beautiful thing about movies that no matter what decade a film was produced in, I can still find appreciation for a film whether it was made in 2009, or 1939. Film is universal; it offers windows into different worlds and ways of life. We connect with characters and their story lines. We become so immersed that our feelings and those of the characters were watching become one entity.
1. "E.T. The Extra Terrestrial"- Bike Ride
While the classic movie about the bond between a young boy and the alien that crash-lands in his hometown moves me from the beginning, it's really the iconic bike riding scene that makes the tears flow. The care-free joy expressed by Elliot is so palpable, I immediately feel as if I'm a child again, flying on my bike through the night sky.
2. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2"-Epilogue
I'm not trying to sound dramatic or anything, but Harry Potter is my life. Ever since I read the first page of "Sorcerer's Stone" as a little kid, the influence the magical series has had on me is immense. Of course the final movie, which is seen by most as the official ending the of the series, which also meant the end of my heart. Every time I watch the Epilogue seen that takes place 19 years later, my throat swells up along with my heart. Hearing John William's iconic score as Harry, Ron, and Hermione send their own children off to Hogwarts makes me weep harder than a baby. Seeing the fade-out on the trio, all grown up is a stark reminder of how like my fictional heroes, I'm getting older too.
3. "The Color Purple"
Oh man, oh man if you haven't seen the sprawling epic story that stars Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah and Danny Glover, then you need to change that immediately. There isn't exactly one moving moment in "The Color Purple", if anything, the entire movie is just one giant, moving moment. For me, when Celie (Whoppi Goldberg) finally stands up for herself, and when she is reunited with her sister Nettie are poignant moments that stand out.
4. "Juno"
Mark my words, "Juno" is going to be a classic in 20 years. With the snappy dialogue from Diablo Cody and the wonderful performances by the cast, "Juno" has all of the ingredients of a classic film. Known primarily as a comedy, you're probably wondering why Juno sends me downstream. Towards of the end of the film, right after Juno gives birth, a beautiful montage of scenes occurs set to the song "Sea of Love " by Cat Power. Juno lays in bed, upset over the prospect of giving her baby away, when baby daddy Paulie Bleeker comforts her. Adoptive mother Vanessa gets the meet the baby that she has wanted for so long, and I cry on my couch.
5. "Meet Me In St. Louis"-Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
The classic 1944 musical starring Judy Garland is a joy, but also a tear-jeaker. The pivotal scene where Esther (Judy Garland) sings "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" to her young sister Tootie (Margaret O'Brien) to comfort her at the prospect of the family's impending move makes me feel the Christmas sprit no matter what time of year it is.
6. "Toy Story 3"- Andy's Goodbye
I feel as if everyone I know has shed at least one tear at the final movie in the "Toy Story" trilogy. It's hard to pinpoint an exact moment when I start to feel emotion because let's be honest, the entire film is pretty emotional. However, when Andy decides to leave his childhood behind in favor of college is when I breakdown.
7. "Gone With the Wind"-Tomorrow is another day!
Hearing battered heroine Scarlett O'Hara speak the final phrase of the movie can give anyone hope. I instantly feel confident, and that I can take on any challenge.
8. "The Royal Tenenbaums"
"The Royal Tenenbaums" is a film that relies entirely on emotions, whether they are stunted, or bombastic. But, the particular moments that do me in are when Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow) and Richie (Luke Wilson) reunite, when Richie commits self-harm, and when Chaz (Ben Stiller) finally realizes that he loves his father are moments that make me feel a myriad of emotions.
9. "Roman Holiday"
Roman Holiday has many fun and lighthearted moments. Whenever I watch Princess Anne (Audrey Hepburn) having so much fun and feeling carefree while riding through the streets of Rome on a moped with reporter John Bradley (Gregory Peck) laughing, makes me jealous. Every time I watch this scene I yearn to be in her place, riding through Rome without a care in the world.
10. "Doctor Zhivago"
"Doctor Zhivago" is an total epic. Spanning over the years before, during, and after the Russian Revolution, "Zhivago" is an iconic film. There are many emotion evoking moments during the movie, but for me, it's probably towards the end, where Zhivago (Omar Sharif) has nothing to his name, but stills find beauty in the nature and people around him. And, the score doesn't hurt either.
11. "It's A Wonderful Life"
Where do I begin with "It's a Wonderful Life"? The film's premise alone is enough to make a pile of rocks crumble from emotion. Personally, the moments that actually make me feel something occurs after George Bailey (James Stewart) experiences the world if he were never born. Seeing George run through Bedford Falls, realizing how lucky he is to be alive makes me cry like a baby.
12. "The Dead Poet's Society"- "Oh Captain, My Captain"
As a literature lover, "The Dead Poet's Society" is total emotional bait for me. But, the memorable moment, when all of the students stand on the desk in tribute for teacher John Keating (Robin Williams) while reciting "O'Captain, My Captain" make anyone feel even the slightest of emotions.
As I mentioned before, films are universal. They transport us and take us to new worlds. If you're reading this and have not seen any of them films on my list, do yourself a favor, watch them. Allow yourself to be transported, you might be surprised at the results.
