Five Movies You NEED To Watch (If You Have Not Already)
Part 1
1. Clouds(2020)
Summary: The movie tells the true story of Zach Sobiech based on his mother's memoir: Fly a Little Higher: How God Answered a Mom's Small Prayer in a Big Way by Laura Sobiech. In 2012, Zach is a high school senior being treated for cancer called osteosarcoma. One day after a trip to the hospital where he needed an emergency surgery to fix his collapsed lung he discoveries that his treatment has stopped working and is given six to ten months to live. As his cancer is now terminal he teams up with his best friend Sammy Brown as they begin to write music together. As the year goes on Zach spends time with his family, gets a girlfriend named Amy Adamle and writes many songs with Sammy including the titular song Clouds.
Thoughts: The movie is bittersweet and hard to watch but is also wholesome. It connects to the emotional state of humans and how we cherish everyone and all the moments that are worth living. I highly recommend you look into any facts about the real Zach Sobiech and listen to the song Clouds.
Stream: Although originally released on Disney Plus the movie can be streamed on Amazon Prime.
2. Lady Bird(2017)
Summary: In 2002 Christine McPherson is on a college road trip with her mother Marion but an argument causes to purposefully tumble out of the front seat and breaks her right arm. In the fall Christine gives herself the nickname Lady Bird and begins her senior year at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic High School in Sacramento, California. Lady Bird is close with her father, Larry and best friend, Julie but has a turbulent relationship with Marion and her brother Miguel. Lady Bird wants to graduate, see the world and experience new things away from home. As the year goes on Lady Bird gets involved in the school play, attempts new relationships both romantic and platonic, navigates the rest of school while realizing that it's the small moments that make a big impact.
Thoughts: This movie game me a ot of mixed emotions but that's what makes it so special. Things affect you and sometimes we are yelling one minute only to start laughing the next. Anyone high school can relate to the present while anyone older can have memories about the past. Take care of yourself and everyone who is important to you.
Stream: Netflix, Hulu, Paramount Plus
3. The Half Of It(2020)
Summary:Ellie Chu is an Asian American teenager living in the fictional, remote town of Squahamish with her widowed father who is the town's station master and signalman. The two barely get by and Ellie often writes other student's homework assignments for them for money. Although Ellie is highly intelligent she is afraid of going to college the next year and leaving her father alone. One day she approached by football player, Paul Munsky, who asks for her help to write a love letter to Aster Flores, a girl at school whom he has a crush on. Ellie is initially reluctant to help but changes her mind when she needs the money to pay for her home's electricity bill. Soon one letter turns into many letters, messages, quotes from movies or books and even art paintings and soon Ellie is stuck in the middle of it all. She finds new comfort and confidence in school and herself and while her friendship with Paul is growing so are her own romantic feelings for Aster.
Thoughts:The film is a loose modern retelling of the 1897 play Cyrano de Bergerac. It contains many ideas of love and takes the time to point out that true love is not always romantic. You can have a special connection with someone that will last a lifetime however close or far apart you will be. One personal thought I have is I do not believe in soulmates. The town is very traditional so everyone is afraid of being the odd one out. Heritage, sexuality, and faith are major themes. While I do not agree with the deceit I love how the movie shows we could have more in common with people that we might have originally assumed.
Stream: Netflix
4.Are You There God? It's Me Margaret(2023)
Summary: In 1970 Margaret is an eleven year old girl who moves from New York City to New Jersey the summer before she begins sixth grade. On her first day Margaret meets and befriends her neighbor and soon to be classmate Nancy Wheeler who invites her to join a secret club with her friends, Janie Loomis and Gretchen Wheeler. The girls want to feel more like adults and long for the days when they start wearing bras and will get their first periods. In secret Margaret did not grow up with any religion as her father is Jewish and mother is Christian so therefore have been leaving her to decide her belief in adulthood. Margaret only knows how to pray by using the titular saying "Are you there God? it's me Margaret." As the school year goes on Margaret decides to look into religion and what is means fore her for a school project. The deeper she digs the more she discovers that it's okay to not have all the answers and it's about the journey, not the destination.
Thoughts: This movie is based on the novel of the same name by Judy Blume. I felt like I was reliving middle school. However, unlike Margaret I was not looking forward to bras and my period. I felt like like I was too young and stuff like this was for twenty year old girls. All that aside I was smiling, crying, and laughing at everything. Things like this should be in more movies. I recommend both the book and film for all ages because even if we pray, grow, and experience things differently one thing we all relate to is growing up and maturing.
Stream: Amazon Prime
5.Gifted(2017)
Summary: In St. Petersberg, Florida Mary Adler is a mathemathical genius who lives with her uncle Frank. Her best friends are her forty-three year old neighbor Roberta Taylor and her one eyed cat Fred. Frank enrolls her in the first grade at the local elemetar school where she shows remarkable mathematical skills. Her teacher Bonnie Stevenson tells Frank she is is 'gifted' and must continue to study more advanced material but Frank insists she stay in public school. However, Bonnie is not the only one who as noticed Mary's mathematics skills. Frank's mother, Evelyn, has also been keen on making sure Mary lives up to her full potential even if that means the cost of having a normal life. Soon a custody battle begins as family secrets are discovered and Mary's supposedly predetermined future is tested.
Thoughts: The movie is very wholesome and reminded me of a modern day Matilda but without the telekinesis. Mary is smarter than kids her own age so she is easily bored when talking to them. She is still a kid though and enjoys playing and having fun. The adults in Mary's life only want what's best for her. Do not be fooled at thinking there is a villain. Everyone wants what they believe is best for her and sometimes families disagree. Disclaimer: Although the movie is not sad themes like grief and suicide are main discussions.
Stream: Amazon Prime
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Operation Flight
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