Movies That Instantly Make Me Happy

With all the sadness in the world and everything you have to worry about on a daily basis, it’s nice to have those movies that can put a smile on your face and not having to worry about a single thing.  I put together a list for you, of movies that never failed to make me happy.

Love Actually (2003)
This beloved film may be a Christmas movie, but it can be watched year-round. At least I watch it any time I can. Its huge ensemble cast makes up eight different couples whose love lives are all intertwined. It all culminates in a story that will always warm your heart, no matter how many times you watch it.

The Princess Bride (1987)
This fantasy romance follows long-lost loves Westley and Buttercup, who in order to be reunited, must fight through various obstacles they face in the kingdom of Florin. When I’m in the worst of moods, “The Princess Bride” always gets me laughing.

Forrest Gump (1994)
Tom Hanks stars as Forrest Gump in this 1994 classic. His character is so endearing and it might sound cliché, but “Forrest Gump” never gets old. I have nothing but love for this film.

La La Land (2017)
A pianist and actress transport audiences back to the golden days of Hollywood, when musicals and the art of dance were used to encourage viewers to follow their dreams. The 2017 Oscar-winning film is a must-see for theater buffs, and anyone who loved bright colors and romance.

You’ve Got Mail (1998)
“You’ve Got Mail” is maybe a bit outdated, but this is such a fantastic romcom. It’s over 20 years old, but the dialogues still crack me up and each time Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks find each other in the park at the end, it makes my heart melt.

Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
This is my go-to movie whenever I’m feeling down. It’s a classic and never fails to put a smile on my face. Especially the moment where Gene Kelly sings the titular song in the rain, I can’t stop smiling.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Nothing makes me smile more than a quirky, out-of-the-ordinary family. If this movie doesn’t make you smile, you’re dead inside. It’s about dreams and illusions and the beauty of a dysfunctional family. Pure joy. And Abigail Breslin literally brings sun to the rainiest cold days.

Annie Hall (1977)
“Annie Hall” tells the story of a neurotic New York comedian Alvy Singer who tries to work out why his relationship with Annie Hall ultimately ended and the nature of love. When I first saw this movie, I learned that Alvy Singer is my long lost sibling, because it’s like watching myself. Woody Allen’s hilarious nervous pessimism will have you gunning for happier vibes. The lobster scene alone should make you feel better.

Amélie (2001)
The magic of “Amélie” is in how it defines us not by what we buy or what we consume but by what we do. It’s a whimsical romance, but it’s more than just a girl-meets-boy love story. Amélie attempts to fix the broken people around her even as she ignores her own happiness in the process. Random acts of kindness is Amélie’s middle name.

Intouchables (2011)
It’s a life-affirming, witty, funny and charming movie. The proportions of drama and comedy are almost perfect. The story of two friends, as different as black and white, day and night, is truly amazing.

Big Fish (2003)
Tim Burton made a movie that’s almost like a fairytale. The story of Edward Bloom says that everyone has their own universe inside of them. This is such a positive film, filled with the ‘dream big’ message.

Top 5 Thursday: Non-English speaking movies

For most of you they are called foreign movies, but I’m Dutch, so any Hollywood film is a foreign movie for me. So I decided to rank some of my favorite movies that are not in English. Here are my picks.

5. Intouchables

Such a heartwarming film, a movie I immediately loved.

 

4. Goodbye Lenin

I just love the idea behind this film. Daniel Brühl in his younger years, before he became a Hollywood actor. Such a great movie.

 

 

3. The Motorcycle Diaries

Here we meet Che Guevara before he became the powerful man. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen this film in quite a while. Gale Garcia Bernal is fantastic in “The Motorcycle Diaries”.

 

 

2. Jagten

A movie that totally took me by surprise. I heard a lot about “Jagten”, but didn’t know much about the movie. When I first saw it, it literally took my breath away and got under my skin. I thought about this film for days after and it really had an impact on me. “Jagten” is one of the best movies ever made.

 

 

1. Amélie

When you need a feel good movie, but not the guilty pleasure kind, watch “Amélie”. It’s one of the sweetest films ever. And the leading character Amélie takes random acts of kindness very seriously. I love this movie, it’s in my top 10 of all-time favorites.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Pan’s Labyrinth, Let the Right One In, Deux Jours Une Nuit, De Rouille et D’os, Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro

DVD Collection Update (20)

Another update, some really cool movies and series to add to my collection. Here they are!

Off course I had to get "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1". I can't wait for the final movie. This movie I really liked, but I think the bigger audience will appreciate it more when the last chapter comes out.

This season was the final chapter of the series. I really hated "Sons of Anarchy" ending, but it was time. I think that it had to end. Lots of people died in this last season, some characters we really come to love over the years.

"The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" was really criticized, but I don't understand. It was a good movie. Okay, it was the least one in the series, but it was very enjoyable and beautifully made! Screw those people, I love it.

"Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" was on of my favorite 2014 movies. This is just awesome, so it had to be in my collection!

Oh how I love "Intouchables". Such a beautiful movie, it makes me happy!

"Cloud Atlas" was a pretty confusing movie, so time to rewatch it. And I also bought it because I can add another Tom Hanks movie to my collection.

"Captain America: The Winter Soldier" is also favorite of 2014. I slightly prefered it too the first movie. It just shows how amazing this superhero is, he is actually my favorite superhero. And Chris Evans is just amazing as Cap.

Haven't seen "Chef" yet, but I already know I'm going to love this film. I just love these tyes of movies. And it has a great cast. And I love food.

"Whiplash" is a movie I had to have in my collection. When I first saw it, I wanted to get up in cheer, that's how good it was!

 

I'm a big fan of the Disney cartoon "Beauty and the Beast" and I can't wait to see the live action version it. Untill then I have to do it with the French "La Belle et La Bête". I haven't seen it yet, but it looks like a darker version of the fairytale.

Monthly 4: April 2015

Here are my highlights for the month of april.

 

 

1. I don’t have a lot of plants. Okay, I have one. And a couple on the balcony, but nature takes care of those. So my mom said I should get some cactuses, because they are low maintenance. So I got three and I actually love them!

2. My friend Natascha gave birth to her second daughter Saar this month. She and her husband Mark already had a girl, named Caro.

3. On King’s day it tradition there are lots of flea markets. I always go to them with my mom, but never buy anything. With the exception of this year. I found two awesome DVD’s for only 1 euro each. That’s a bargain!

4. Call me a nerd, but this was my highlight this month, seeing “Avengers: Age of Ultron”. It was freakin’ awesome!!!

Top 10: Best Movies I Watched for My 2014 Challenge

I had a lot of fun with my movie challenge this year and I’m definitely going to start one in 2015. But first I’m going to share my ten favorite movies that I watched for my challenge. Please note them, because if you haven’t seen them yet, you must. Also check my honorable mentions, the movies that almost made my top 10 list.

10. Shame

I never thought I would love “Shame” as much as I do. Normally I would skip a movie about a man with a sex addiction. I’m glad I didn’t, because it’s so much more than that. Michael Fassbender was so good in this movie, seriously Oscar worthy.

 

 

 

9. Prisoners

I recently rewatched it and it left me the same as the first time I saw it: gasping for air. A totally unexpected thriller, that captivated me from beginning ‘till end. Wonderfull performances by Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal, but also Paul Dano did a good job.

 

 

8. 12 Years a Slave

If this movie doesn’t touch you, you’re a robot. Every inch in my body felt the pain and the suffering of Solomon. Such an amazing movie, goose bumps.

 

 

7. Whiplash

Oh how I loved this movie! I heard so many great things about it and I totally agreed with all of those people. Seriously, J.K. Simmons in this film, if his character was real he would scare the sh** out of me.

 

 

6. The Grand Budapest Hotel

This year I discovered that Wes Anderson is one of my favorite directors. His movies are a piece of art, they look amazing. I wish I had his creative mind. I enjoyed “The Gran Budapest Hotel” and Ralph Fiennes’ performance is one of the best of the year.

 

 

5. Intouchables

I’m a bit ashamed that it took me this long to finally watch “Intouchables”. I only heard good reviews about this movie and all I can do is agree. It’s an amazingly touching, endearing movie.

 

 

4. Guardians of the Galaxy

I didn’t know anything about the heroes in this film before seeing it. Each one of them stole my heart and I’m a fan of “Guardians of the Galaxy”. It’s understatement if I say I adored this movie. I even think it’s the best Marvel movie so far!

 

 

3. The Way Way Back

I have a selection of films that I watch whenever I want to feel happy, like “Little Miss Sunshine”, “Singin’ in the Rain” and “Happy-Go-Lucky”. Now I can also add “The Way Way Back” to that selection. Ever since I watched it, I rewatched it twice already.

 

 

2. The World’s End

I knew before watching it that I was going to love it. The combo of Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost works every time and I love this movie. I sure don’t hope this trio is going to stop making movies together.

 

 

1. Jagten

This movie really took me by surprise and it was an absolute winner for me. After the movie ended, I couldn’t stop thinking of it, it really grabbed me and got under my skin. It’s always great to get into a movie not knowing anything about it and then be speechless in the end. Fun fact: this was the first movie for my challenge that I gave a 5 star rating.

 

 

Honorable Mentions: Begin Again, Rushmore, Rear Window, The Lego Movie, About Time, Captain Phillips, Nightcrawler

Top 5 Thursday: Movies I Watched for My Challenge (July 2014)

I didn’t watch that many new movies this month, but there were some films I will love for the rest of my life! Here are my favorites of this month.

5. Blue Jasmine

I loved both Cate Blanchett and Sally Hawkins in this movie. Their performances were amazing. I really liked “Blue Jasmin”.

 

4. Hunger

With this I have seen all three movies directed by Steve McQueen and starring Michael Fassbender. It’s not my favourite, but it definitely a movie you should put on you ‘to-watch’ list. Great acting, great cinematography and camerawork.

 

3. Nebraska

I wish Bruce Dern got more leading roles, he proved he’s worthy of it. And Will Forte, normally the funny guy in silly comedies no one wants to see, really surprised me in his more dramatic role. I liked “Nebraska” and director Alexander Payne can add another great movie to his resume.

 

2. The Grand Budapest Hotel

Wes Anderson movies are growing on me. This guys has become one of my favourite directors and every time I think I have seen it all, he amazes me again. “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is amazing!!

 

1. Intouchables

This movie touched me in every way possible. Such a beautiful film, one that everyone should watch. If this doesn’t do anything to you, even a little bit, you’re not human.

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Girl Most Likely, A Million Ways to Die in the West

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 81: Intouchables

Director: Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano

Genre: Drama/ Comedy

Runtime: 112 minutes

Year: 2011

Starring: François Cluzet, Omar Sy, Audrey Fleurot, Anne Le Ny

Description: After Phillipe (François Cluzet) becomes a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident, young Driss (Omar Sy) is hired to be his caretaker.

Review: How do you objectively judge one of the biggest French cinema hits ever? Just forget everything that was said before and experience the movie called “Intouchables”. It doesn’t only make you laugh out loud at times, but at the same time you feel the mental pain of someone with a physical handicap and someone with a troubled social background.

The film is based on the true story of a French millionaire, who became quadriplegic after an accident. He hires an underprivileged young man, because he’s the only one who sees him as a person.

What we get to see next is a heart ripping and honest story of two completely different men, with a reconcilable characters. They dare to step over boundaries and trust each other. Driss opens up to Phillipes world of art, classical music and ethics and Phillipe is convinced by Driss and his love for Earth Wind & Fire. Both actors, François Cluzet and Omar Sy, steal your heart and show us a phenomenal performance.

“Intouchables” shows us that all the prejudices you might have about underprivileged people should end up in a bin. This movie touched me in every way possible. The French know how to make movies, but this one is extraordinary. This is a film everyone should have seen at least once in their life.

Rating: 5/ 5