Saturday, September 13, 2014

What are Your Comfort Movies?

For when you just want to feel better.

Our comfort movies aren't always our favorite movies. They're the ones we return to cheer us up or to escape or just allow us to spend time with something familiar. They're also often the movies we've seen the most even if we like other movies better. So what are yours? No judgies.

52 comments:

  1. Off the top of my head:

    Scott Pilgrim VS the World
    School of Rock
    Back to the Future

    Those are probably the three that I've seen the most times that can almost instantly cheer me up because of how fun and energetic they are.

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  2. Terminator 2 and Jurassic Park were the first two VHS tapes I remember being "mine," so there's always a degree of comfort there. I've also more or less memorized the narrative beats in Clerks and Jaws, so there's always a degree of "Sunday afternoon on the couch" comfort in those, too.

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  3. I'd say anything by Edgar Wright particularly Hot Fuzz. 500 Days of Summer always finds a way to make me happy when I'm feeling down. Seth Rogen movies always make me laugh. James Bond I find is always great at help me take my mind off of things when I'm feeling blue. All of Quentin Tarantinos movies because they are my favorites and I always get sucked into the story and characters no matter which one I'm watching and I just forget everything else that's going on. I think that's one of the most important things for me personally when i need to be comforted. Taking a time out from this world and going into another one for a little while.

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  4. Ghostbusters and Fletch always make make me laugh despite the fact that I know every line & beat by heart. Star Trek II is also a great escape movie for me because it's so easy to get enveloped in that world.

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  5. Silver Linings Playbook for when I've had a bad day, The Room for when I'm scared of something, Jurassic Park for when I'm feeling nostalgic, Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight for when I need fun

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    1. Genuine question: how does The Room help you deal with fear?

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    2. I'll keep it short but I had a cancer scare a few years ago and I discovered The Room around the same time. It made me laugh a lot when I didn't feel like laughing otherwise.

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    3. Oh wow. So glad it was only a scare! And I'm glad you found something to help you through it.

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    4. Oh Hi Adam, I love the room excellent pick. I'm happy you made it through that tough time. That's what I love about movies, they can comfort us during hard moments in our lives and something as silly and ridiculous as The Room can be a slight bright spot in the darkness that can provide a little bit of relief.

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    5. Holy crap Adam. Another vote for Demon knight. Billy zane is so funny in that movie

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    6. I can see how The Room helped with that...

      No matter what happens in your life, you can always take comfort in the fact that you're not Tommy Wiseau.....

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    7. Hey dude. glad to hear it passed. Hope it stays down. Now I need to finally watch the Room. That thing will beat cancer.

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  6. On my crappiest days I always sit down an watch either It's a Wonderful Life, Jurassic Park, or Beauty and the Beast. I perk right up.

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  7. Hmmm...off the top "The Goonies" was the first thing that came to mind. Always cheers me up and brings me back to when adult life wasn't a factor.

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  8. Musicals usually work for me. Sometimes an old Fred n' Ginger (Swing Time is at the top of that list), sometimes a blockbuster adaptation of a stage musical (The King and I - etcetera, etcetera, etcetera). Recently I've been loving Criterion's release of the Bob Fosse film All That Jazz. "Take Off With Us" is a terrific dance set-piece in the middle of that movie.

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  9. I like a happy ending when I'm down and usually animation. So my go to is usually a Disney movie. The one I currently seek out the most is Tangled.

    However, if I don't want a Disney movie, I'll pop in 27 dresses or Role Models...

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  10. Shaun of the Dead
    The Princess Bride
    Die Hard
    Any Marvel movie
    Back to the Future
    Ghostbusters

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    Replies
    1. The Princess Bride is a great choice for this subject!

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  11. Every time I get sick, I'll watch the Star Wars trilogy. It always makes me feel better.

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  12. Will watch these at least once every couple of years:

    Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
    Army of Darkness
    Home Alone
    The Burbs
    Breakfast Club
    The Hitcher
    Weekend at Bernie's

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    1. Army of darkness, Bruce campbell. Bring it on. Groovy

      And Weekend at Bernies. Hell yeah

      Terry kiser is brilliant. Even part 2 is good because of his performance. Possibly the best mustache in any movie ever. I'll take his mustache over Magnums anyday. Hes also in Friday the 13th part 7 though not with the mustache!

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    2. The 'Burbs is a great pick. Laid back summer vibes and Tom Hanks in his comedic leading man mode = comfort.

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  13. Im gonna stick in a random one. Not a movie but I go back to it a lot and always enjoy it

    Sold Out: A Threevening with Kevin Smith

    His stories and personality come across really well for me and its his stage shows like this that made me a bigger fan of him. Even when he makes Cop out

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    1. I really love all of the evening with Kevin Smiths. He's such a great story teller. I could watch them over and over and not be bored.

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  14. Whenever I can't decide on a movie to watch, I'll usually pop in American Graffiti. That's a nice world to be dropped into for a couple of hours. Others I go to: Dr. Strangelove, Diner, The Blues Brothers, Raising Arizona and The Graduate. Comedies always provide great comfort for me.

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    1. American Graffiti is a great example of a "hangout" movie, where the plot is secondary to just spending time with the characters. A favorite animated film of mine that is also a great hangout movie is The Jungle Book - featuring that great hymn to laziness, "The Bare Necessities."

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    2. The Blues Brothers for me as well.

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  15. Wow, this topic has really stumped me. I really don't have go-to comfort movies to pick-me up. The three I have (and I don't really watch them that often, just a bit more than usual) are Goodfellas, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Lone Ranger 2013, The Kentucky Fried Movie, plus any movie I know has a good commentary track (usually with Kurt Russell, John Carpenter or both) that'll kill time.

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  16. Phantom of the Paradise
    Head
    Metropolis (usually the Moroder version)
    Bride of Frankenstein
    The Mummy (Karloff)
    The Last Starfighter
    The Muppet Movie (first movie I ever owned on video)
    The Women (the original)
    A "Roadshow" film (Reefer Madness, Assassin of Youth, Girl Gang)

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    1. I love The Women (the original) how fabulous is Roz Russell in it? She was always fabulous though. There are so many great lines and deliveries. The Muppet Movie was also on my list

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  17. I've been racking my brain for an answer to this - I've only had a movie collection in the past 5-6 years and combined with my generally sunny disposition I've never really developed a "comfort" movie. That being said, during a bad few days a couple months ago, I'm pretty sure I discovered what will be my go-to comfort movies from now on: anything from the Rocky franchise. Those movies cheered me up so fast - by the time Mr. T entered the ring my funk was down for the count. A couple rounds later even Tommy Gunn couldn't knock the smile off my face!

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  18. It's interesting that more than one person has said they had a hard time coming up with answers. I did too. I can only think of That Thing You Do! and Kill Bill right now.

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    1. I don't know if I'd equate it with comfort, but Kill Bill is definitely a movie I can turn to when I want to watch something but nothing else appeals to me. Probably the movie in my collection I've watched the most.

      And That Thing You Do! - I already know I'm going to love it, why haven't I watched it yet?

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    2. Wait, what happened to "Phantom of the Paradise" and "Back to the Future" as comfort movies, Patrick? Seen them so many times they're not comforting anymore?

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    3. They're favorites, but they're not movies I'll just throw on anytime. I almost reserve them more for special occasions.

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    4. That's what I realized whilst struggling for an answer - I don't turn to my real favourites for comfort. If anything I'm more apt to when I'm already in a particularly good mood or, like you say, for special occasions.

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    5. My naming Phantom of the Paradise (for instance) was that because it IS a favorite it's comforting to revisit it. It's reassuring that a movie like it exists and I can watch it any time I want to and as many times as I want to.

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  19. I think mine changes all the time. I tend to go through phases where Ill watch one or two movies multiple times over a short period then rarely return to them for years at a time. And the hard part is that I dont really have one that im doing that with at the moment.

    Its sort of a movie, but something I can turn on at anytime and at least get a good 30 minutes of fun out of are the Bottom Live recordings, particularly the first two. funny stuff.

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  20. Whenever I'm sick, I take a full course of Indiana Jones (from Raiders through to Crystal Skull). It usually does the trick.

    Otherwise, Harry Potter or Disney musicals work as comfort viewing too.

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    1. Raiders, the Harry Potter series and a few of the Disney movies are great comfort movies. I think I have seen some of the Harry Potter films so many times I know them backwards. Especially the first three as my siblings aren't quite old enough for the others so we have seen those more times than I can remember!

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  21. Runaway Train, with it's cold snowy existentialism gives me some sort of weird comfort. Am I doing it wrong?

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    1. Nope. If it comforts you, there's no such thing as doing it wrong. Similarly off-kilter example from me: No Looking Back. It's a TERRIBLE Ed Burns movie, melodrama done badly, but it was shot on Long Island and replicates the feeling of being in the town I grew up in so well that I find it comforting to watch, despite the fact that I don't even like the movie, just the atmosphere. At least Runaway Train is a good movie!

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  22. Major League. Loved that since I was a kid and didn't understand baseball (not sure I fully do even now). Others include Anchorman, Lethal Weapon 2 (not 1), Wall-E and a couple of Finnish comedies I won't bother naming.

    On the TV front, any episode of Sports Night (really, any show written by Aaron Sorkin) or Boston Legal will do it for me.

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  23. Lady on a Train, What’s Up Doc?, Bringing up Baby, Sabrina (1954), Ball of Fire, Lover Come Back and Back to the Future. Movies with Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, Audrey Hepburn, Julie Andrews, Deanna Durbin or Charlie Chaplin. Quite a few animated movies including some Winnie the Pooh movies, Studio Ghibli, Frozen and Beauty and the Beast. Screwball comedy is a great go to for comfort for me as well. I have watched Last Chance Harvey a few times to cheer myself up. Besides the ones I mentioned there is also Some Like it Hot and Bend it like Beckham.

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  24. Scott Pilgrim VS the World and Groundhog Day. They're both movies with a ton of heart and a good sense of humor. When I need a comforting movie, I go to them.

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  25. I will watch any Indiana Jones or Star Wars movie whenever they are on. I have memorized all of them and love them to death. (The prequels/Crystal Skull less so, but I still have some affection)

    If I'm feeling bad, it depends on why I'm feeling bad. Young Einstein is a movie I love, but I won't watch it if I'm having a serious depressive moment because it wouldn't work. When I'm depressed I'll watch things that match that mood somewhat (The Crow, Interview With the Vampire) because when I am depressed I get to feeling like no one knows how I feel and watching those movies makes me feel that someone understands.

    If things get really bad, I just put on almost any MST3K episode. I honestly love 80% of the movies that they featured and one of them (In its original Russian form) is on my top ten list for all time greats. There are actually a few really, truly, great movie makers that I only know about because I was introduced to them through MST3K, and let THAT little gem sink in for a moment.

    Lately I've been watching a lot of Samurai movies because I want it to be Scary Movie Month like everyone else, but I don't want to watch horror movies early. Lone Wolf and Cub gives you all the gore and none of the scares. It's like diet slasher.

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  26. Speed Racer (like eating a whole pint of ice cream), Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream (when my self-esteem has taken a hit/I need to strengthen my resolve), Back to the Future (because BTTF) and Raiders of the Lost Ark (my all-time fave).

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  27. Midnight Run
    Three Fugitives

    A lot of my choices seem to be from the late 80's.

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  28. Shaun of the Dead, Jackie Brown, BTTF (of course!!), Airplane, Clue (probably my #1), A Guy Thing, and Alien.

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  29. Most of my comfort movies are pretty obvious - Star Wars, Indiana Jones, even-numbered Treks - with the exception possibly of Defending Your Life and Sidney Lumet's Murder on the Orient Express.

    What might be considered odd is the movies I use to combat the odd bout of mild insomnia - Blade Runner, The Thing, The Black Hole. I stream them on my phone, put on headphones with the sound low, and turn off the screen. It doesn't take long for me to nod off while listening to one of those movies... though a bit startling when I wake up to Wilford Brimley yelling, "That thing wanted to be UHHHHSSSS!"

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