There are some movies that absolutely changed my life.
Amazing that images and stories on the big screen can do such a thing.
I’m told that at a very young age, I wept and wept over The Yearling.
My mother said I cried for some time and had to be comforted.
I don’t even remember this movie, but apparently it’s about a boy who tries to care for a deer. Any guesses on what happens to this deer? I wouldn’t want to spoil the ending for all of you who are headed on down to Blockbuster to rent it.
Just like a movie can affect your heart in a good way, it can also damage you for years.
Take these two: The Wizard of Oz and The Exorcist.
When you’re a child, flying monkeys can freak you out. But, even more freaking out can come from the devil himself. I only saw bits and pieces, but what I saw made sleeping difficult for the next 3 years. I try to stay as far away from the devil as possible.
Fear turned into inspiration after seeing The Turning Point and Grease.
My dream of becoming a ballerina seemed more attainable. (Not sure if I’ve mentioned my love for ballet. I danced for 11 years and performed in some full-length ballets with the Lafayette Ballet Company. It was a dream that died after I became a cheerleader because that was going to get me so far.) If not a ballerina, I could sing and dance on Broadway for sure. I could sing every song from Grease word-for-word.
Then, there were other song and dance movies to come like Flashdance, Fame, Dirty Dancing, and Footloose … all of which I adored as I got older. (The Sound of Music will always be watched in my home. No discussion.) Musicals were and will always be a favorite here even with Beau’s opposition.
The tears cried for The Yearling pale in comparison to the tears shed for E.T. Ridiculous to me now, but he was kind of a cute little alien.
I also developed my love for Gone with the Wind at an early age. I remember longing for the days when it would come on TV again.
But, the movies that ripped my heart out and stomped on it were the movies I saw as an adult: My Life, Terms of Endearment, Steel Magnolias, Schindler’s List, Forrest Gump, The Notebook, The Passion of the Christ.
And, even more recently, Marley and Me. Yeah, it’s about a dog. So what?
And, what’s with the movie, Up? Um … sad and depressing. I think I got teary-eyed watching it this weekend too.
Any movies change your life? Made you cry? Inspire you? Affect you in any way?
Help a sister out. What am I missing?
I’m having the urge to see some I haven’t, like The Shawshank Redemption. Any ideas?
Simon Birch. I don't think I've ever cried so much in a 2-hour timeframe in my life. It is heart-breaking and gut-wrenching. Don't hate me when it's over.
We allowed our girls to watch The Passion of the Christ (15 & 16) last year during Easter break. They both cried and cried over the cruelty – but knowing that it had to happen! Neither of them ever want to watch it again.
I can watch Pride & Prejudice over and over but it isn't a musical or dance movie. Just a great romance! We are into comedies at our house so Get Smart is also a fav :}
I have a hard time with emotional movies…if I want to sit and cry I can do that at any time in my day. I watch a movie to escape real life :}
ps – I was always creeped out by the flying monkeys too!
The Shawshank Redemption is a great movie. You should definitely see it.
Have you seen the Man in the Moon with Reese Witherspoon? Great movie.
That's all I got right now.
I think one of my favorite movies OF ALL TIME would have to be:
The Family Stone
LOVE IT!!! Nuff said :-).
Oh my gosh, I feel you on this. When Kyle and I watched The Notebook, I cried in the theater, in the mall, outside in the parking lot, and for 20 minutes on the drive home. So he uses that movie to propose to me, cause he knew he'd be guaranteed tears. Loser. 😉
Other movies that make me cry: P.S. I Love You (and, honestly, I hate that movie), My Girl (had nightmares — oh, speaking of nightmares, Paranormal Activity…yeah, I still can't watch the commercials on that one), and the cartoon version of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. And, really, the "real" version, too.
It's A Wonderful Life for inspiration when things are going rough.
Pride and Prejudice when I just want to be inspired!
You could try, A Room with a View (Edwardian Brits being repressed in beautiful Italian landscapes)
Babette’s Feast, lovely story about a small Danish town. Two elderly sisters allow their french cook to speak to their souls through food.
Out of Africa. The mostly fabricated story of Baroness Karen Blixen , who wrote the story of Babette's Feast. Still a good watch.
The Railway Children (1970 version)
Your girls might like this one if they haven't seen it before. The "Daddy! My Daddy!" bit reduces everyone to tears no matter how many times they've seen it.
Wow! These are all OLD. Is it that there are no good movies being made, or just that I'm not getting to see any?
I liked Stage Beauty and In Good Company. They're more recent!
I just rewatched "The Turning Point" this weekend. So crazy that you mentioned it. Misha rules!
My first crying movie was Old Yeller.
I loved Grease, Star Wars (that was a major WOW moment for me), and Superman. I saw Tootsie in the movie theater and it seemed particularly titilating to me.
I love Some Kind of Wonderful, Say Anything, and Fried Green Tomatoes. My daughters enjoy The Outsiders and claim that all the cute actors were in the 80s 🙂
The Green Mile with Tom Hanks. Loved that movie.
All musicals. Love musicals.