I am a big fan of movies, especially of good movies. Not only do I love watching the movie, I love the feeling I have after the movie. I get this buzz, a feeling of euphoria that sticks with me for some time after the movie. I find I get this feeling more with a certain subset of movies. I’m not even sure my classification of this type of movie could be called a genre, it’s more like a description of they type of movies I really like. You may remember I listed my top 5 favorite movies in my 100 Things About Me post. Well, I realized I forgot one, so I’m making it a top 6 now.
Are you ready for a little challenge? Try to guess the common theme in my favorite moves. Here are my favorites and their trailers.
The 5th Element
The Postman
Unbreakable
Mars Attacks
The Matrix
Moulin Rouge
You can hum the Jeopardy theme while you ponder the common theme, if that helps.
I’m sure some of you may have never heard of some of these movies. They certainly weren’t all box office hits, but they are great to me. Just watching these trailers makes me feel good.
Are you ready for the common theme? My favorite type of movie is “The unlikely hero overcoming great evil.” I’m not even sure anyone classifies a movie like that, but time after time, I find this to be the common theme that gets me pumped up about a movie.
The 5th Element: In a world of the future, a retired military dude and a fragile being overcome the greatest evil in all the universe
The Postman: In a post-apocalyptic world, an average guy builds a community of others to overcome the greedy and powerful.
Unbreakable: An average guy find out that he cannot be injured and overcomes the man who committed heinous acts of evil to find him.
Mars Attacks: This one is great. A boy and his grandma fend of an alien invasion with the melodic tunes of Slim Whitman.
The Matrix: I’m sure we all know this one. The lowly computer programmer overcomes the machines to save humanity.
Moulin Rouge: The simple poet overcomes the powerful financier to win the girl.
I guess part of me likes the story of the underdog. It reminds me that I can accomplish anything. I am free to reach as high and as far as I wish. I can choose any career, and can choose any hobby. I can have as much fun as I desire. I have the power to make a difference. A difference in myself and a difference in the world around me.
Do you have a movie theme that you enjoy or live by? What are your favorites?
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Hi Eric – You know what Julia Cameron says? The movie theme that most resonates with us is actually about us. Who we are deep down. So my guess is you’re going to do great, unexpected things! Very cool. BTW, I love The Matrix.
Patty @ Why Not Start Now?´s last blog ..Big Questions
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Eric Watermolen
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December 4th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Patty, I had not heard that before, but I like that idea.
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Hey Eric,
The recurring theme in movies I like is people transforming themselves. This is why for example, I like Fight Club a lot. I suppose it’s a sign I’m obsessed with personal development.
Or just passionate about it.
Eduard
Ideas With A Kick´s last blog ..Personal development ideas I can do without
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Eric Watermolen
Reply:
December 4th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Yes, personal tranformation is a great theme. I need to watch Fight Club again, I saw it a long time ago. I hear it being talked about alot lately, I think I need a refresher. Did you like Pursuit of Happyness, it’s one of the more recent ones that comes to mind in that genre.
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Hey Eric,
I saw most of those movies, too – except The Postman. I’ll have to check it out. Yes, that’s a great them to your life – You can overcome anything, do anything you set your mind to.
I don’t have a favorite movie, really. But I do watch quite a few. I’ll have to pay more attention! I definitely agree with Patty’s comment – whatever resonates deep within us from a story or movie, is really about us. Just like your dreams.
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Eric Watermolen
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December 8th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
The Postman was great. A little long, but a great movie. Plus Tom Petty makes an appearance, and that’s the icing on the cake.
You know, a funny thing just occurred to me. Many of these movies are themselves the underdog, movies that didn’t perform well in the box office but were actually really great movies.
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