On the old YouTube, people used to make “tags” where people answered questions and encouraged others to post a video answering the same questions. I miss this concept because it creates a sense of community. So, I wanted to create my own movie tag. If you choose to answer these questions and make a YouTube video or a blog post, or even an Instagram post, tag me and I would love to check it out and support you.
All of these questions I compiled from my mind. These are the questions I wished people would ask me, so I would have a chance to talk about my favorite stories and characters. Let’s get into it!
1. What movie is your all-time favorite?
Gosh, this one is easy, even though it took me a few years to get to this conclusion. Some good contenders were Interstellar (2014), Shutter Island (2010), and Cinderella 2 (2001), but in the end, the winner is Good Will Hunting (1997). If you have not seen this movie, I highly recommend that you watch it right now. It will make you laugh, cry, and contemplate some important aspects of life. The story follows Will Hunting who had a hard childhood, lives in Boston with his friends, and works as a janitor at MIT. This brilliant film stars Robbin Williams (Sean), Ben Affleck (Chuckie), and Matt Damon (Will).
2. What is the worst movie you ever watched?
I don’t usually mention movies that I did not like because I know how much work goes into a movie. From writing the script, to choosing the actors, directing, editing, and producing. It is a lot of time, effort, and money. But all that being said, there has to be some bad movies, so you can appreciate the good ones even more. The worst movie I have ever seen *drum roll please* is Warcraft (2016).
Why was it so bad? Well, there are so many loop holes that the film actually made me angry. I could not finish watching it because the loop holes were never-ending. Also the story was very flat and not interesting. The lack of plot points and the loop hole list puts this film on the top of my least favorite films I have ever watched. Sorry Warcraft, but maybe I just don’t understand the story because I am not the biggest fan of video games?
3. What film makes you cry the most?
I cry at most films if I watch them alone. If I watch something with a group of people, I tend not to cry because I am not as absorbed in the story as I would be if I watched the film alone. A few films that made me cry a lot were What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Saving Mr. Banks (2013), and Infinitely Polar Bear (2014).
In What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Gilbert Grape (Johnny Depp) has to care for his younger brother (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his mother, while also trying to live his own life separate from them. The story is heart-felt and beautifully acted. In Saving Mr. Banks, the author of Mary Poppins (Emma Thompson) meets with Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) who wants to buy the movie rights to her story. However, P.L. Travers does not want to sell her rights for personal reasons that reach toward her childhood. In Infinitely Polar Bear, a father (Mark Ruffalo) with some internal struggles is trying to be better, so he can take more responsibility and support his go-getting wife (Zoe Saldana). This story will make you cry, laugh, and want to run and hug the people you love. Family is a beautiful thing.
4. What film makes you laugh the most?
I rarely watch comedies because they do not usually make me laugh. Weird, I know. I love to laugh but I guess that I have a comedic taste that is “unique.” The movies that make me laugh the most are probably any Disney channel movie from my childhood. When I watch the movies now, I realize how silly they are. Ahem, the Luck of the Irish (2001), Camp Rock (2008), Smart House (1999), Zenon (1999), the Thirteenth Year (1999), Santa Clause (1994), and last but not least, The Even Stevens Movie (2003).
A newer film that make me laugh is Kingsmen: The Secret Service (2014), which stars Taron Egerton as Eggsy, Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson, and more. There is also the sequel, The Golden Circle (2017) that is pretty great, as well. Much of the comedy is satire and I find the movie highly amusing and extraordinarily creative. The directing and timing is next level. The films are also visually beautiful, which is unique for an action/comedy film.
Here is one of my favorite scenes. It is even better in the context of the film. WARNING: It has major spoilers, so if you have not watched the film yet, maybe don’t watch this clip.
5. What movie do you wish was never made?
I know to some people this might seem a little over dramatic, but after watching a plethora of movies, you come across a few that would have been better left in the screenwriter’s brain and never (ever) brought to life. The film that I have in mind for this question is crystal clear. I wish I never watched this film. I do not think it needed to be made. It made me feel uneasy and I wish that I did not watch it, especially the ending. It made me unsettled and sat with me for weeks after watching it. That film is called The Killing of the Sacred Deer (2017).
If you have watched this movie, you know what I am talking about. The dialogue, the topics of discussion, the characters, the setting, the personalities, and the plot all make me want to run away from whoever came up with the idea for this movie. It made me want a hug. I would not recommend watching this film. Seriously. I am not saying that to make you want to watch this movie even more, I am saying that because I truly hope you do not watch this film because there is so much wrong with it. Watch another Colin Farrell film, skip this one.
6. What is your favorite feel-good film?
I have a long list of feel-good films because these are the films that I gravitate towards and watch the most. Some of these films have nostalgic roots and others I feel connected to in a way that is hard to describe. My feel-good films include Dirty Dancing (1987), any Harry Potter, Princess Diaries (2001), High School Musical (2006), Point Break (1991), Stuck in the Suburbs (2004), and The Martian (2015). Of all those films, I probably watch Harry Potter the most. Who knows how many times I have watched those films! I have seen most of the films around 20 times (at least). That’s dedication.
7. What film do you wish you made?
I want to make films that are funny, full-of-heart, and over encompassing, making an important statement on life, providing a deeper value to its audience. One of the films that I think fits all of these requirements is The Outsiders (1983). It is directed by Francis Ford Coppola and is an adaptation of the novel with the same name. The films stars Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, Ralph Macchio, Rob Lowe, and more.
I remember reading this book in 6th grade and everyone loved it, but I was unamused. As an adult, I found myself appreciating the story on a whole new level. Following its battle between “bad” and “good,” “kind” and “mean,” me and other. Some important lessons can be learned through the characters in this film.
8. What is a movie that surprised you in a good way?
One movie that I love is Gifted (2017). It stars Chris Evans and Mckenna Grace. The story of family is beautiful and the complex characters kept me intrigued. I never hear people talk about this film, but it is one of my favorites. I am glad that I watched it a few years ago when it was on T.V. But, I have to be totally honest, I probably like this movie so much because Evans is in it. And because of Fred, the one eyed cat.
Another movie that surprised me is Honey Boy (2019). It is directed beautifully and tells a hard story. Shia has had some internal struggles, but no one is perfect. This movie gives a look into his life and shows that everyone is dealing with something, even if their life looks great from the outside.
9. What is a movie that surprised you in a bad way?
This one is easy: La La Land (2016). I heard great things about this movie, but when I watched it, I was left asking myself if I watched the same movie that everyone else did. Maybe the genre just isn’t for me, or maybe I am not the key demographic, but I was genuinely let down. Maybe that was because I had such high hopes. However, I do appreciate the great music.
10. What film is most visually stunning?
Ok, this might be controversial but, It (2017). I know that it’s technically a horror film, but the visuals were stunning. What other horror movies is so visually beautiful? Another, great contender for this category is Crazy Rich Asians (2018). The wedding scene is beyond beautiful. I also admire the look of the Avengers films and the Harry Potter films. They both do a great job of showcasing the world of the characters and are very immersive for the audience.
See ya!
Thank you for reading all of my answers, some long-winded and others are straight to the point. If you want to check out more of my opinions on movies, you can head over to my YouTube channel where I post some movie reviews and favorites. Some of my old videos need a lot of work, but they show where I started, so I am still proud of them. Here is the link to my movie playlist on my YouTube channel if you want to check it out.
Let me know if you want me to create a T.V. show tag as well! I would love to do that.
Thanks for being here,
Arianna
P.S. Some other movies I enjoy are Hairspray (2007), I used to be obsessed with this film because of Zac Efron, but now I see the deeper, more mature themes of the film, and The Greatest Showman (2017) because it has great music with deep meaning.
Aloha Arianna 