4 movies that get me misty-eyed
To prove I’m not a completely heartless bastard void of emotion, the following is a short list of movies that tug at my heart strings… in no particular order.
What: I Am Legend
Who: Will Smith
Why: I Am Legend, regardless of the previews and hype and Hollywood rumors, is about one man’s loneliness in a world no longer comfortable and familiar to him. He’s completely alone. Although not “alone” in the classic sense, I miss my Marines. I miss what we’ve been through (IEDs, 52 days without showers, hundreds of hours of operations, wings and beer). I miss the Marines who I call brothers above everyone else. And loneliness isn’t hard to find when you’ve been yanked from your surrogate family. I would, literally, do anything for my Marines.
What: The Fountain
Who: Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz
Why: Aside from the fact the soundtrack totally kicks ass, The Fountain parallels past, present, and future times, telling the story of a man (Hugh Jackman) completely dedicated to the woman (Rachel Weisz) of his time. In the past she’s his queen. In the present and future, his wife. I see it as my make-believe relationship, the one where I have no reservations or doubts or fears. He’s who I wish I was. But I’m a bastard, so I’m not.
What: Man on Fire
Who: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning
Why: Creasy (Denzel Washington) plays an alcoholic former assassin who “swears vengeance on those who committed an unspeakable act against the family he was hired to protect.” More specifically, Creasy struggles with his personal demons and the atrocities he’s committed in the past, taking the job as bodyguard to Pita (Dakota Fanning) and learning what it is to care again. I have a known weakness for children, despite being a bastard, and the lengths Creasy goes through to get Pita back is nothing short of extraordinary.
What: Big Fish
Who: Billy Crudup, Albert Finney, Jessica Lange, Helena Bonham Carter
Why: Will Bloom (Billy Crudup) is the adult son of Ed (Albert Finney) and Sandra (Jessica Lange) Bloom, dealing with his father’s terminal illness. Ed Bloom is known for his fish stories; tall tales of his past of circuses, world wars, traveling salesman, and Siamese twins. Will is the son who grew up listening to those stories, becoming more disbelieving and realistic as he anticipates the birth of his own child. The story revolves around Ed Bloom’s life, as Ed tells it, and how Will becomes increasingly jaded thinking he was lied to his entire life.
When I moved back to North Dakota at age 16, following a month long stint in county jail, I spent many hours at the kitchen table with my dad as he told countless stories of his youth. I never bored of those stories. I always felt his youth was, in part, my youth, the one I couldn’t have because of the divorce, and I yearned for simpler times and harder living. What I recall most vividly is he never spoke ill of anyone. He always trusted me. It was his life, his experiences, but never his opinions. I respect and admire him for that.
The scene in Big Fish that hits me hardest is near the end, when Will tells the story of taking his father to the lake to become the big fish of his stories, and everyone of his father’s past is there. They do not mourn, but rather applaud because they know he’ll live through his son and the stories he told. My children will know their grandfather. I guarantee it.
24 Responses to “4 movies that get me misty-eyed”
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March 9th |
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Its official... I'm going to answer the door totally shit-faced. Please forgive me, pizza delivery guy. [jaymekohler]
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Dear bank account, I'm sorry. I've been drinking. [jaymekohler]
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March 7th |
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One more reason to avoid marriage: Not having to take the obviously staged engagement photos. [jaymekohler]
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I realized what a dirty old man I've become after I watched Miley Cyrus' entire 3:43 performance in the 2009 Teen Choice Awards. Dammit. [jaymekohler]
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March 6th |
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439 new Marines! Yut! [jaymekohler]
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March 4th |
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Had to use a couple hrs of the Crucible to take my Microeconomics final exam. Back now, waiting for company to return frm the night hike. [jaymekohler]
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March 3rd |
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Stepping for the Crucible in 35 min. [jaymekohler]
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March 2nd |
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100% on my last accounting test, making me exempt from the final. Finishing Accnt I with a 97%. [jaymekohler]
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Ahhhhhh... Boxer shorts. [jaymekohler]
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Born in the year of the Dragon, the author grudgingly accepts the fact he has too many interests and not enough time. A cyclist as long as he can remember, an avid yet inconsistent writer since age eleven, and a U.S. Marine since age twenty-one, the author also adds web design, snowboarding, and motorcycles to his list of interests. Incidentally, he is aware of his inability to make a living from any but the Corps. The author accepts this as fact and remains optimistic. Feel free to drop him a line.
Ok I can agree with you on these, odd! I really don’t like to admit that though. Nice to see an update also nice to see you spend your time yelling at 18 year olds or watching tear jerking movies! You may be starting to scare me a little .
I can’t believe I’m responding to this as I never hear from you on my end…lol
What about Message In a Bottle or When A Man Loves A Woman? 2 of my favorite tear jerkers which I think you’ve seen…….I of all people know you have a few emotions tucked away in that bald head of yours-you know my theories….too long to get into on this post!!!
I liked all of those movies, but only got teary at I am Legend it think. The most recent movie I’ve seen that got me teared up was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Have you seen it?
Have you seen The Notebook? I only recently saw it for the first time but I’ve seen it twice since then and every time I need the Kleenex. And I’m not a “cry at the movies” kind of girl, either. James Garner and Gena Rowlands are the best part of that movie.
52 days without a shower – muy zien mistah.
HAHA, I saw: Dawson, you’re a bitch. HAHAHA
Dude I was gonna write something appropriate, you know, telling you how much of a wuss you are for talking “Oprah”. But what you said about missing Marines is right on. I’m coming down for some wings and beers soon.
OMG where have you been? Have you been really busy i dont hear from you that much anymore? You got teary eyed at Iam Legend? I was scared shi—- man!
I’ve got two problems one more troubling than the other. First, I agree with you and what’s disturbing is that I even agree with Dale. Makes me feel like I need a shower. If you haven’t seen it, check out August Rush. I was pleasantly surprised even though the Robin Williams character is pretty cheesey.
…here are a couple for you…”whale rider” and “water horse”…
I Am Legend … It’s a remake of “Omega Man” with Charlton Heston, but it’s infinitely better.
Robert has a plan to save humanity, he takes the weight on his shoulders … and seems to be failing. But when he listens and watches, in the quiet, for God’s plan – humanity is saved. But only by Robert giving his own life. Interesting enough, you note that by giving up his life, he saves humanity by his own blood (the cure comes from his blood). This is all obviously a reference to Christ, to God’s providence in the world. In “Omega Man,” for example, Charlton Heston dies hanging on a weird sort-of-cross-shaped sculpture.
I Am Legend shows us, in a way, how to be real Christian men. It’s a reminder that, even though our churches have come to look (and be) horribly feminine, being Christian is a noble, and masculine, challenge. No chest-pounding stupidity. Real love, gift of self, in the manner Christ loved us all.
Best movie of the year, no doubt.
-Jason
Damn Jayme… If I weren’t already an old hag, and if you weren’t like a kid to me, I’d marry you. Men so in touch with their feminine side are very hard to find… actually have not seen one in years! So sensitive… Who would’ve thunk???
Love ya.
I watch a shit ton of movies. It’s my crack cocaine. Yeah, my updates suck. But I pay the bills. Screw it.
The part I’m referring to about his loneliness if after Sam dies and he goes back to the video store to “talk” to the mannequin he likes. Also, his dealings with Anna and Ethan when they first show up at his house. He’s been alone so long he doesn’t know how to interact with people.
And yes, it scared the crap out of me too!
Ah yes, Message in a bottle. Read the book AND saw the movie. Book’s better (but isn’t it always). That’s a good one too but it didn’t make my list. Haven’t seen the second one though. I’ll put it in my Blockbuster queue.
Hmm, theories? I’m curious!
I haven’t seen Benjamin Button yet. It looks better now that I know the storyline. But three hours long??
I’ve got The Notebook but haven’t watched it yet. I read the book on the Kuwait pier, New Year’s 1998 and sobbed like a little girl. Damn those pesky emotions! If you’ve read the book I’m curious to know which you liked better.
You were there!
“Talking Oprah” is I risk I took. People say I should become more vulnerable (WHY??!).
Glad you can relate to #4. I was just telling MSG stories today. I fill my recruit’s heads at every opportunity. Good times!
Almost all the pics in my posts have witty captions. It’s a shame they go unnoticed!
August Rush added to my Blockbuster queue.
Thanks for the Christmas card, by the way. You’ve damn near got a whole fire team!
Yes, I love the 2nd movie…..since u r a little girl at times, u will 2!!! lol, miss ya. me
I didn’t find I noticed the length. Cinematography is beautiful too.
I haven’t read jack squat but textbooks for the last year and a half, but I have a very LONG list of “Books To Read When I’m Done With School”. The Notebook is in there somewhere. I’ll let you know what I think of it when I eventually get around to reading it. Speaking of books, read “The Time Traveller’s Wife”… it’s supposedly being made into a movie w/ Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams, but I don’t know how they’ll do the book justice.