SIX OF THE BEST #24 – FILMS TO HELP YOU KEEP CALM AND FEEL BETTER!
As everyone knows we’re all being impacted by the medical pandemic and COVID-19 virus in some way. Essentially, these are troubled times for everyone and my sympathies go out to anyone who has the virus, lost someone to it or knows someone who has it. Similarly, if you are vulnerable and isolated, I wish you all the best. If we can, as a species, all keep calm, work together and NOT panic, I think we can work through this. That is my hope, anyway.
The United Kingdom is slowly moving toward, like many other European countries, some kind of lockdown scenario. Indeed, cinemas have shut down, so that means we will be watching a lot of movies indoors. Obviously, there may be a clamouring to watch apocalyptic or dystopian visions of society. However, I would advise watching some feel good or feel better films too. So, here are Six of the Best Films to Help you Keep Calm and Feel Better! Please note that some of these films have darker themes and events, but the narratives represent hope and light, finding resilient and positive characters overcoming the odds.
BABE (1995)
“This is a tale about an unprejudiced heart, and how it changed our valley forever.”
E. T. THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL (1982)
“You could be happy here, I could take care of you. I wouldn’t let anybody hurt you. We could grow up together, E.T.”
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
“What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That’s a pretty good idea. I’ll give you the moon, Mary.“
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SEABISCUIT (2003)
“I was crippled for the rest of my life. I got better. He made me better. Hell, you made me better.”
THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994)
“I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living, or get busy dying.”
UP (2009)
“Hey, I know a joke! A squirrel walks up to a tree and says, “I forgot to store acorns for the winter and now I am dead.” Ha! It is funny because the squirrel gets dead.”
The Cinema Fix presents: 
Agreed. These are fine, inspirational films that get the spirit soaring–especially Babe, in my estimation. Thanks for the list.
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Thanks for reading! I’m sure there are loads more too 😁
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What a great selection. Also a great topic (timely too). It’s a Wonderful Life instantly came to mind.
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Thanks Keith. I like horror and suspense, but sometimes you just need some light too.
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So true.
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“That’ll do, pig. That’ll do.” We say it all the time in our house. Love your choices. Hmmm. Feel good for me would have to include Willy Wonka with Gene Wilder.
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Great list – agreed, all these films will make one feel better. Oh that scene in Babe when the farmer is dancing when Babe is sick. Who would not want to re-watch it a thousand times?
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Thanks for reading. Yes, sometimes you just want some comfort. Even Shawshank which has some very harsh scenes, is about patience and ultimately getting out free.
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Yes, Shawshank can be a comfort film too – it definitely turns into a comfort in the end. It is probably my favourite novella of Stephen King too – there is one sentence that I love there that goes something like – “some people have no hope in their lives and they are not even locked up within four walls” – this puts living and the meaning of hope into perspective.
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That’s a great quote. I’ve read a fair bit of Stephen King, so should revisit that story again as I only read it once years ago.
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Great choices there 🙂 I especially love it that you included Babe on there 🙂 That pig is just so adorable 🙂 I remember someone said that it was not so much the animals talking in Babe that was impressive as much as what they talked about that made it such. In other words, it treats the visual effects as a surface element and puts what comes out of the animals mouths at center stage 🙂 Anyway, keep up the great work as always 🙂
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Thanks John. You make some great points. As you say the characters in Babe are so adorable and well drawn. Cheers
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