We had a quick run-round in the emel office to find out which films have brought tears to the eyes of our staff:
Bambi
ET
Sophie’s Choice
Shindler’s List
Step Mom
Beaches
Dev Das
PS I Love You
It’s A Wonderful Life
Lion King
So what film’s make you cry and why?
The passion of the Christ is an incredible movie and I cried approximately 70% of its running time. I think it really brought the teachings of Isa/Jesus (peace be upon him) to life. Amazing.
I thought Toy Story 3 would be a fun and light-hearted movie. But watching the toys go through an existential crisis was an emotional rollercoaster.
I laughed often. At the psychotic cymbal-clanging monkey. At Chuckles the Clown.
But, more often that not, I was close to tears. And I never cry!
For some reason, the movie breaks your heart. It makes you reflect on growing up, mortality, and what it means to be a family. I’m guessing grown ups will enjoy this movie way more than children.
The ending is so emotional (so glad I had the 3D glasses to cover my eyes. Unlike my friend sitting next to me sobbing her eyes out loudly). Just watching Andy play with the toys one last time, remembering them and giving them a proper goodbye kind of parallels life: we grow up, and have to leave our childhood and innocence behind. Andy’s flinch when the little girl takes Woodie is so powerful: we have to let go, grow up. But it’s not so easy. It’s not so wonderful.
And then you can also sympathize with the toys: not everyone we love stays with us, no matter how much we love them. Sometimes they leave. Sometimes you leave. You have to let go. It’s how you say goodbye–how that last parting turns out–that matters.
Sometimes they leave even though they don’t want to. Death.
It reminds you of being a kid.
It’s such a cliche but The Message still makes me bawl like a baby; put Finding Neverland, Hotel Rwanda or The Green Mile and I’ll definitely tear up. When I was little I couldn’t watch Little Women without getting emotional (when Beth gets ill!*sob*)