Movies Feel-Good Movies 11:22 AM These are my favorite feel-good movies in no particular order. Flipped An adaptation of Flipped novel by Wendelin Van Draanen. These middle school kids in the early 60's will prove to you that even at such an early age, love is possible. This movie is more than just conquering awkwardness growing up. It shows how girls think differently than boys. As with Juli, it shows how some girls are not all hair and no substance. The movie is also about family and the different views of people in life. Some of us lives in a fancy house, but all rotten and broken inside (like Mr. Loski) while others live simply yet are genuinely happy and have hearts of gold (like Juli's family). Why I like it It is more than just a pa-cute story, mainly because of Juli; her family's love and values, her perspective, and the way she handles life. She maybe young, but unlike girls her age, she's got substance, and as Bryce's grandfather described her, she's "a girl with an iron backbone" and is "iridescent". She's got no time for shallow things and people. I also like the way how Bryce finally caught up with her, saw what a gem Juli is, and did everything he could to make it up to her. About Time About an awkward 21 year old guy who discovered that he can travel in time; a family secret. He used this "gift" to find himself his one true love. As he travels in time, he learned that what he does today affects everyone else's future, and that there are things we take for granted that we can never take back. Time is the most valuable asset we can possess and the best gift we can give. Why I like it I like Rachel McAdams. There was never a boring scene in the movie. I like Tim's character, all the sacrifices he did for Mary---even sacrificing their first date for his obnoxious friend, and the way he loves and puts his family first. My favorite part, but which also is the saddest part of the movie was when he traveled back in time with his dad, back when he was a kid and they would spend quality time by the beach. Julie & Julia Two women from different generations, going through different everyday things, but with the same passion and spirit. This is about Julia Child's journey of becoming the famous professional cook that she was and Julie Powell, a telephone operator and a food blogger turned author whose book was made into this movie, and how their lives were changed by finding their passion. Why I like it Meryl Streep and Amy Adams are a delight to watch. How Julie Powell's blog gained traffic is every blogger's dream. I've always been a frustrated cook, too. Julia and Julie are inspiring because they both didn't give up what they want in life despite the dream stealers around them. I like their perfect husbands! They're both very blessed to have very supportive partners. Serendipity Two good looking strangers met, fell in love instantly, separated, hoped they'll meet again someday, and always believed they'll end up together. Finally after years of not seeing each other, fate made their paths cross and helped them find what's always been missing with their lives when they tried to live normally after their first meeting. Why I like it It's every hopeless romantic's kind of movie. Enough said. 50 First Dates A romantic comedy film. It's about Lucy, a girl with Goldfield Syndrome (a type of anterograde amnesia) and Henry, a guy working in Sea Life Park who loved her despite their challenging situation. He did everything to make Lucy love him even if it means introducing himself to her, and making her love him everyday for the rest of their lives. Why I like it It draws a beautiful picture of how love should be; persevering, patient and selfless. Love is not just lip service. It's not just a one-time deal or a one-day celebration. It's serving the person you love everyday. It's about being there in sickness and in health, it's facing every day's uncertainties with a certainty that love will get you through no matter what. Bruce Almighty A comedy about a regular guy with great ambitions who met God. He was given God's task and power and used it to his advantage, but eventually lost the one thing most important to him. Why I like it I find Jim Carrey hilarious especially when he exaggerates. What I like most is the way the movie demonstrates what it means that God gives us everything we need, not what we want. It also shows how genuine His love for us is, because though He can do even the impossible, He leaves the choice to us, to either love Him or not. He never forces us to love, worship or serve Him. That's the gift of freewill. We can be drowning in blessings, but we can still choose to whether thank Him or turn our backs on him. The Lake House A remake of Korean film II Mare, The Lake House is a romantic drama about an architect living in the past and a doctor who lives two years ahead. They communicated by sending each other mails until they finally decided to meet. Why I like it The uniqueness of the plot is captivating. I just can't imagine holding on to something as strange and as beautiful as loving someone from a different time. It's not everyday you encounter a love story as admirable as this. Plus of course, Keanu Reeves. Just Like Heaven A fantasy love story about unfinished business. Elizabeth is a dedicated doctor whose life revolved around her work. David Abbott is a landscape architect who's mourning his wife's death. Both have emotional and personal issues. Both will discover what they need, what they're missing, and how to resolve their issues in an unexpected way. Why I like it Mark Ruffalo seems like the nice unassuming guy you can't help but adore. He's so winsome. The movie is about knowing that there are more important things in life than work or career. It also shows how we stop ourselves from experiencing beautiful things in life if we keep holding on to our past. Yet another movie that shows how love could be the most powerful force on earth. Afterthought: Looking at this list made me realize what a sucker for love stories I am. Movie posters from Google images Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Books Lessons Learned From Charlie 11:19 AM Life's full of second chances. Don't waste yours. In case you haven't read the book The Death And Life Of Charlie St. Cloud or seen the movie Charlie St. Cloud, the story is more about finding your reason for living. When Charlie's younger brother Sam died, he found it extremely difficult to move on. He felt like he also died with him in the car crash that took his life. He wasn't grateful that he was given a second chance because he couldn't see the purpose of living anymore. Until this girl came along and taught him how to live again. Now he's torn between keeping his promise to Sam, and pursuing the love of his life. Lessons Learned From Charlie Death can never separate us from the people we love. They will always be alive in our hearts. Life catastrophes are inevitable, but the choice between letting it steal our hope and joy or moving on is up to us. Sometimes, it's okay to break our promise if it will eventually release us from the prison we built for ourselves and for the other person. It's normal to grieve over a loss but at some point, we need to let go. Not only for ourselves, but for the other person too. Death is indeed the beginning of another life, both for the person who died and the person he left behind. Nothing just happens. Everything has a purpose. There is a solid reason why we're given a second chance. Let's not waste it by living a directionless life. When we let go of the past, we open ourselves to new and beautiful possibilities. It's not easy to let go and move on that's why we need other people to help us. Don't shove them away. Let's be more compassionate and understanding towards others. We don't know what they've been through and what they're going through. We can let guilt eat us alive or let forgiveness give us a new life. There's no such thing as a lost cause. Follow what you believe in. It's always worth the risk. Take as many chances as you can. You'll never find the meaning and reason for living if you keep on living in the shadows of the past. It's better to put your faith on something than believe in nothing. Ultimate lesson learned from Charlie St. Cloud: Love is the ultimate force in this universe. Love conquers all, especially the fear of living, fear of giving and fear of not receiving something back. If Tess didn't come along, Charlie would have been stuck in the past, playing catch in the woods with Sam every night for the rest of his life. He would have died in vain without finding the reason why he was given the second chance; why him and not Sam. It's a powerful story about love (and Zac Efron playing the lead role is reason enough to watch it, c'mon). Not just about romantic love but also about the unconditional love we have for family and ultimately about selflessly loving ourselves. All photos from Google images. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Books Where True Magic Lies (A Harry Potter Lesson) 1:26 PM What makes the Harry Potter novel enchanting? For me, it's not about the spells or the magical creatures. It's about the rare kind of friendship formed between the characters. Where True Magic Lies The friendship of James, Sirius and Remus. All three of them died in the novel. Not together, but all three sacrificed their lives for a greater cause. That is for the boy who lived and for the next generations of witches and wizards. For both the wizarding and the Muggle world. My favorite line about friendship in the whole story is what Sirius said: "I'd rather die than betray my friends". Then of course Harry, Ron and Hermione's friendship. A friendship that started in a rather unusual place (they saved Hermione from a towering troll in a girl's rest room), but lasted for a lifetime. No abandonment, as they all went where ever Harry went even if it meant exposing themselves to grave danger (even after Ron left because the Horcrux around his neck made him, he wanted to come back immediately regretting his action). Of course there's fighting and misunderstanding between them. I don't think it's considered a genuine friendship if there was no squabble whatsoever. I believe that's why they were able to defeat the Dark Lord. They stayed together and they're all willing to sacrifice each others' lives and comfort to protect the other. They're all willing to stop their time and drop everything that matters to them in the name of friendship. Real magic happens when there is genuine friendship. Friendship is where true magic lies. Photos from Google images Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
