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Author Topic: It's Not a Wonderful Life  (Read 4725 times)

chardy999

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Re: It's Not a Wonderful Life
« Reply #20 on: January 20, 2017, 10:06:05 PM »
CINECAST!ing Amal is about a depressed young girl who hates her small town life.

Noooooooooooo. She is growing up and doesn't know what she is feeling and discovers love. Definitely belongs on this list.

I do agree with almost all of your other counter-points.*
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PeacefulAnarchy

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Re: It's Not a Wonderful Life
« Reply #21 on: January 20, 2017, 10:13:09 PM »
CINECAST!ing Amal is about a depressed young girl who hates her small town life.

Noooooooooooo. She is growing up and doesn't know what she is feeling and discovers love. Definitely belongs on this list.

I do agree with almost all of your other counter-points.*
Yeah, but it's about the struggle of working through her feelings not about her happy relationship, isn't it? I've not seen it in a long time, but I seem to remember loving it for the depiction of confusion and frustration and struggle, not for being a happy movie.

oldkid

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Re: It's Not a Wonderful Life
« Reply #22 on: January 20, 2017, 10:28:02 PM »
I gotta support Stormy Weather, my #1 discovery of last year.  It is thin on plot, but the entertainment and talent level is rich.  And so many smiles involved.  Yeah.

I also need to give a smiley to Amelie    :D

Feel good movies...movies that make me smile throughout them

About Time
When Harry Met Sally
What's Up Doc?
The Muppets
Groundhog Day
The Princess Bride
The Scent of Green Papaya
One Week
City Lights
Kind Hearts and Coronets (which only proved what a warped person I am)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
The Emperor's New Groove
How to Train Your Dragon
Kung Fu Hustle
Planet Terror
The Wizard of Oz
Lilo and Stich
Jack Jack Attack
Validation
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Young Frankenstein

I could go on, but that's enough.
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Bondo

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Re: It's Not a Wonderful Life
« Reply #23 on: January 20, 2017, 11:57:49 PM »
CINECAST!ing Amal is about a depressed young girl who hates her small town life.

Noooooooooooo. She is growing up and doesn't know what she is feeling and discovers love. Definitely belongs on this list.

I do agree with almost all of your other counter-points.*
Yeah, but it's about the struggle of working through her feelings not about her happy relationship, isn't it? I've not seen it in a long time, but I seem to remember loving it for the depiction of confusion and frustration and struggle, not for being a happy movie.

Sometimes a sad film with a happy ending is more uplifting than a film that is just happy. Because if I want to be cheered up, my life is in a low place. Seeing the move from low to high gives me more hope rather than just making me bitter about happy people being happy. The ending of The Truman Show is very buoyant.

smirnoff

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Re: It's Not a Wonderful Life
« Reply #24 on: January 21, 2017, 03:04:46 AM »
Endless Summer II is a feelgood staple for me. You may tire of the shenanigans between the surf stops but I find every time they hop on their boards, and another great song starts, all is right in the world. :) I've queued it up for you. Give it a quick look!
« Last Edit: January 21, 2017, 03:06:30 AM by smirnoff »

DarkeningHumour

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Re: It's Not a Wonderful Life
« Reply #25 on: January 21, 2017, 03:53:32 AM »
Well, since you asked... Most of them

(...)

I dunno, I feel weird writing all this because like I said, a lot of these movies (the ones I like) probably do make me feel better than something like Singin' in The Rain (Not Philadelphia, though, I'd like to hear your argument for its inclusion). I'm just very confused.

You emboldened a part of my opening post there that mentioned saccharine movies, but that was just part of a list. Sure, the Singin' in the Rain vomiting rainbows onto star-eyed children who are hugging unicorns fare has its place here, but it is not what the thread is about. I wanted people to talk about all the movies that make them smile, laugh, or even be happy. If a thriller about a serial child murderer makes your day and just fills you with happy thoughts, by all means, mention it here, review it and tells us why you like it.

In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths
I don't care that there are some very dark edges in these movies. I could have added Elle to the list had I been going beyond my Top 100. There is no moment during those movies where I am not jubilant. The deaths and other heavier moments, though sad in nature, do not actually make you sad. I suppose it's the tone of them that is so well handled.

Magnolia
It is not a comedy but there are no genre restrictions here. The story is just so wonderful and PTA fills it with flourishes that, as some people around here would say « insist upon themselves » (philistines...), which apparently I like. Once the movie's done introducing all the characters it's a quick succession of great character moments. It's probably one of my most bittersweet choices but it never makes me sad because it plays the sad scenes from a more hopeful angle.

The Dark Knight
People will probably take it as a shock but I like superhero movies. Or rather, I like the good ones. The Dark Knight is in the top 5 of, possibly, the genre that makes me more excited. The film's candy for a sugarholic.

Le Dīner de Cons
It's just funny. Sure, it mocks an idiot and the other main character is a prototypical obnoxious Parisian upper class type, but who cares? I am not bothered by mean jokes.

Philadelphia
Okay, you got me here. I meant to put in The Philadelphia Story but my copy of the DVD is foreign and has a different title, so I get it mixed up on occasion.

It is not a list meant for everyone. If I had been thinking about movies that everyone could like (with the exception of the odd curmudgeon) most of those would have to be scrapped. Not necessarily the ones you mentioned though.

About Time
When Harry Met Sally
Groundhog Day
Kind Hearts and Coronets (which only proved what a warped person I am)
The Emperor's New Groove
Kung Fu Hustle

I will second these. KDAC: dark humour ftw!
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Dave the Necrobumper

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Re: It's Not a Wonderful Life
« Reply #26 on: January 21, 2017, 05:27:17 AM »
Cheer up, DarkeningHumour. You know what they say.
Some things in life are bad,
They can really make you mad.
Other things just make you swear and curse.
When you're chewing on life's gristle,
Don't grumble, give a whistle!
And this'll help things turn out for the best
And

Always look on the bright side of life!

Always look on the bright side of life
If life seems jolly rotten,
There's something you've forgotten!
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing,

When you're feeling in the dumps,
Don't be silly chumps,
Just purse your lips and whistle -- that's the thing!
And always look on the bright side of life

Come on!

Always look on the bright side of life

For life is quite absurd,
And death's the final word.
You must always face the curtain with a bow!
Forget about your sin -- give the audience a grin,
Enjoy it, it's the last chance anyhow!

So always look on the bright side of death!
Just before you draw your terminal breath.
Life's a piece of shit,
When you look at it.

Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true,
You'll see it's all a show,
Keep 'em laughing as you go.
Just remember that the last laugh is on you!

And always look on the bright side of life

Always look on the bright side of life

Come on guys, cheer up

Always look on the bright side of life

Always look on the bright side of life

Worse things happen at sea you know

Always look on the bright side of life

I mean, what have you got to lose?
you know, you come from nothing
you're going back to nothing
what have you lost? Nothing!

Always look on the bright side of life


And watch The Life of Brian :)

DarkeningHumour

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Re: It's Not a Wonderful Life
« Reply #27 on: January 21, 2017, 05:47:34 AM »
Oh you don't need to remind me of that.

« Always look on the bright side of life... »

Was I sounding cheered down?
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Dave the Necrobumper

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Re: It's Not a Wonderful Life
« Reply #28 on: January 21, 2017, 06:07:03 AM »
Not particularly, more the thread just made me think of the song, and personalising it seemed appropriate. So I posted it. It is also a great song.

DarkeningHumour

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Re: It's Not a Wonderful Life
« Reply #29 on: January 21, 2017, 06:18:38 AM »
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