MandyAwful, Terrible Movies (In A Good Way)
July 15th 2008 02:33
I'm using the terms "awful" and "terrible" in the old-fashioned way, and what I mean is these films are full of awe and terror, but that doesn't make them bad movies. Got it? (Well, except maybe Armageddon. But's that's debatable.)
Four Films (And One Film Trilogy) That Make Me Tear Up Every Single Time I Watch Them:
The Land Before Time: Dear God. You might think that, at 19, I'm too old to be affected by this animated dinosaur movie. But you'd be wrong. As soon as Littlefoot's mum dies, the waterworks start, and they don't stop until the exquisite credits are over. James Horner's heartbreaking score keeps wreaking havoc with my emotions until I'm a puffy eyed, sobbing wreck. And when Littlefoot sees his own shadow and thinks it's his dead mother...!
Armageddon: Say what you want about this movie- it's cheesy, it's big, dumb, loud and in-your-face, it has Bruce Willis saving the world- but the fact remains: I've never watched this with anyone who DIDN"T cry. Army cadets. Hardened football players. Even my dad cried.
Deep Impact: The OTHER killer asteroid movie of 1998, less famous but quietly better than Armageddon. It's the montage that gets me every time, the damn montage with the sad music, and the words of hope from the President, and Elijah Wood and Leelee Sobieski getting to safety, and Tea Leoni reuniting with her dad on the beach right before a tidal wave kills them. But mostly the words of hope.
The Day After Tomorrow: The words of hope again are the catalyst for tears in this disaster movie, but it's usually a restrained spillage rather than the proverbial waterfall. In another montage, Jake Gyllenhaal and Emmy Rossum fly away in the chopper, looking across the frozen wasteland that was New York city, while the vice-President (cos the President died) makes a speech of humility and hope as the dawn breaks on the defiant hand of the Statue of Liberty.
The Lord of the Rings: Was Peter Jackson trying to kill us all? I'm ruined after watching any of these films. Which is why I insisted on seeing them by myself in the theatre. Howard Shore's unforgettable score is engrained in my heart forever and I can cry just by listening to it.
From The Fellowship of the Ring:
1. "I will take the ring to Mordor! Though... I do not know the way."
2. When Gandalf falls off the bridge of Khazad Dum ("GANDALF! NOOOOO!")
3. When Pippin and Merry distract the orcs so that Frodo can escape
4. When Boromir dies protecting Pippin and Merry
5. "Go back, Sam. I'm going to Mordor alone."
From The Two Towers:
6. Wormtongue's tear of terror at the sight of the Uruk-Hai army
7. The March of the Ents
8. "Fell deeds awake... now for wrath, now for ruin, and the red dawn... Forth Eorlingas!"
9. When the Rohirrim arrive with Gandalf at dawn
10. Isengard falls, Osgiliath is overrun, and Sam's speech ("There's some good in this world, Mr Frodo. And it's worth fighting for!")
And the worst of the lot, The Return of the King:
11. Faramir rides out to Osgiliath and certain death, while Pippin sings to Denethor- possibly the most heartbreaking thing ever committed to film.
12. Pippin lighting the beacons of Gondor
13. Sam rushing into the orc-tower to save Frodo
13. Gandalf comforting Pippin before the battle
14. Theoden's speech to the troops ("Ride now!... Ride now!... Ride! Ride to ruin and the world's ending!")
15. Aragorn's speech to the troops
16. "I can't carry it for you. But I can carry you!"
17. Aragorn, Merry and Pippin leading the charge against all of Mordor's forces ("For Frodo!")
18. Barad-dur falls (I'm tearing up just thinking about it! What's wrong with me?)
19. "I'm glad to be with you, Samwise Gamgee. Here at the end of all things." (sniff, sniff...)
20. The Grey Havens (hnnnnggghhh...)
Dear God, I need to take a breather.
Four Films (And One Film Trilogy) That Make Me Tear Up Every Single Time I Watch Them:
The Land Before Time: Dear God. You might think that, at 19, I'm too old to be affected by this animated dinosaur movie. But you'd be wrong. As soon as Littlefoot's mum dies, the waterworks start, and they don't stop until the exquisite credits are over. James Horner's heartbreaking score keeps wreaking havoc with my emotions until I'm a puffy eyed, sobbing wreck. And when Littlefoot sees his own shadow and thinks it's his dead mother...!
Littlefoot and his mother
Armageddon: Say what you want about this movie- it's cheesy, it's big, dumb, loud and in-your-face, it has Bruce Willis saving the world- but the fact remains: I've never watched this with anyone who DIDN"T cry. Army cadets. Hardened football players. Even my dad cried.
Stop grinning, Ben Affleck. You're ruining the slo-mo walkout.
Deep Impact: The OTHER killer asteroid movie of 1998, less famous but quietly better than Armageddon. It's the montage that gets me every time, the damn montage with the sad music, and the words of hope from the President, and Elijah Wood and Leelee Sobieski getting to safety, and Tea Leoni reuniting with her dad on the beach right before a tidal wave kills them. But mostly the words of hope.
Even the poster is sad
The Day After Tomorrow: The words of hope again are the catalyst for tears in this disaster movie, but it's usually a restrained spillage rather than the proverbial waterfall. In another montage, Jake Gyllenhaal and Emmy Rossum fly away in the chopper, looking across the frozen wasteland that was New York city, while the vice-President (cos the President died) makes a speech of humility and hope as the dawn breaks on the defiant hand of the Statue of Liberty.
Uh, guys? Guys?
The Lord of the Rings: Was Peter Jackson trying to kill us all? I'm ruined after watching any of these films. Which is why I insisted on seeing them by myself in the theatre. Howard Shore's unforgettable score is engrained in my heart forever and I can cry just by listening to it.
From The Fellowship of the Ring:
1. "I will take the ring to Mordor! Though... I do not know the way."
2. When Gandalf falls off the bridge of Khazad Dum ("GANDALF! NOOOOO!")
3. When Pippin and Merry distract the orcs so that Frodo can escape
4. When Boromir dies protecting Pippin and Merry
5. "Go back, Sam. I'm going to Mordor alone."
"Of course you are! And I'm going with you!"
From The Two Towers:
6. Wormtongue's tear of terror at the sight of the Uruk-Hai army
7. The March of the Ents
8. "Fell deeds awake... now for wrath, now for ruin, and the red dawn... Forth Eorlingas!"
9. When the Rohirrim arrive with Gandalf at dawn
10. Isengard falls, Osgiliath is overrun, and Sam's speech ("There's some good in this world, Mr Frodo. And it's worth fighting for!")
And the worst of the lot, The Return of the King:
11. Faramir rides out to Osgiliath and certain death, while Pippin sings to Denethor- possibly the most heartbreaking thing ever committed to film.
12. Pippin lighting the beacons of Gondor
13. Sam rushing into the orc-tower to save Frodo
13. Gandalf comforting Pippin before the battle
14. Theoden's speech to the troops ("Ride now!... Ride now!... Ride! Ride to ruin and the world's ending!")
15. Aragorn's speech to the troops
"There will come a day, when the strength of men will fail But it is not this day!"
16. "I can't carry it for you. But I can carry you!"
True friendship
17. Aragorn, Merry and Pippin leading the charge against all of Mordor's forces ("For Frodo!")
18. Barad-dur falls (I'm tearing up just thinking about it! What's wrong with me?)
19. "I'm glad to be with you, Samwise Gamgee. Here at the end of all things." (sniff, sniff...)
20. The Grey Havens (hnnnnggghhh...)
Dear God, I need to take a breather.
| 45 |
| Vote |
Shared on
Subscribe to this blog
