'Movies' by Megan Lilly

​Movies
By Megan Lilly
I have been watching more movies during this last month than I have throughout my entire life. Because of the unconventional situation we have found ourselves and the world in, movies have become one of the only forms of entertainment that can be accessed without having to go anywhere. As such, I have made a list of my top ten movies and have included reasons as to why each is in my list.

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
   1. This no doubt my favorite movie (and book) series. I love the detail given to Harry’s excursions throughout the wizarding world and his encounters with the darker sides of it. I always find myself wishing that I had magical abilities and could attend a place such as Hogwarts, and time and time again have to “wake up” and re-realize that those things are not real. It does what any good movie or book should do, in my opinion, and transports me to another world and another time in which I can imagine myself riding the train to Hogwarts or getting my first wand.
2. Shrek
   1. I love the characters and the humor in this movie. I never tire of watching Shrek and how he deals with the world he is thrown into. My favorite character is the Gingerbread Man because of how cute he is, but at the same time doesn’t take mistreatment from anyone. He has an attitude that just adds to his cuteness and makes me fall in love with him every time I watch the movie. Donkey and Shrek together and how they feed off of each other is another dimension that also makes this movie enjoyable. The take on a traditional fairytale is changed because both the “prince” and princess are ogres and should not be together.
3. Love, Rosie
   1. This movie stars Lily Collins who is my favorite actress. Added to that is the fact that it is set in England, which is where I most want to travel in the world. The accents of the actors make everything they say ten times more interesting. The premise of the movie is of two friends who are in love with each other, but don’t act on it until much later in their lives. It shows their teenage years and details all of the ups and downs of their lives as they grow up and become adults. The two starring actors, Lily Collins and Sam Claflin, are perfect for each other in the film and the ending would make any girl fall in love.
4. The Godfather
   1. I have always been interested in mafia movies and how the mafia is portrayed in film. There are so many movies about the mafia, but this one is the ultimate one for me. The acting is amazing and the story, though long, always surprises me. It is such an anomaly to me how people grow up in this kind of environment with all of the danger and crime that goes on around them. How someone ultimately becomes “the godfather” makes this movie what it is. You know deep inside what these characters are participating in is dangerous, but you can’t help but become attached to the characters and almost start to see them as normal.
5. Beauty and the Beast (Cartoon Version)
   1. This is my favorite Disney princess movie ever. I see myself in Belle, and as a young girl, wanted to grow up and be like Belle. She, like me, is an introvert who loves to read and spend time alone rather than buying into all of the things that the world says is what should be done. I was drawn to how she transformed the Beast back into a man and was able to get him to trust her through her kindness and compassion towards him. She was not born into royalty like many of the other princesses, but to me seemed like a normal, kind girl who wanted to live her life.
6. The Princess Bride
   1. This is an older movie and was first introduced to me by my dad. The turbulent love life of Wesley and Buttercup was an immediate draw for me. And come on, the main character’s name is Buttercup, so what could be better? There is something for everyone in this movie including action, romance, and drama. I will admit that the effects and action scenes are not as crazy as they are now, but this movie was made 30 years ago. Another aspect of this movie, is the multitude of characters and how all of their storylines come into contact. Buttercup and Wesley are the main characters, but there is also Inigo Montoya and Fezzik the giant. Both of them, along with Wesley and Buttercup, team up to escape the evil prince who wants to marry Buttercup. This is not a traditional princess and prince get married story, but has a dark side to it in that many of the characters are not all good, but the audience still finds themselves rooting for their success despite their flaws.  
7. Mamma Mia
   1. The music and singing is what gives this movie a spot on my list. It is similar to your typical romance story, but the songs send it over the top. “Dancing Queen” and “Lay All Your Love on Me” are my two favorite songs from this entire movie. Each musical number makes me want to get up and dance and the dual love stories of Sophie and her mom only add to my love of this movie. And the fact that it is set in Greece for me only makes things better because to contribute to the music and dancing is the beautiful landscape that they are living in.
8. The Princess Diaries
   1. This makes my list because of the plot. Mia is seemingly a normal girl who gets told that she is a princess of a small European country. She is not the most popular or most beautiful girl in her school and is somewhat awkward when it comes to most situations, which makes her character more likable. When I was younger, I transported myself into Mia’s shoes and imagined how awesome it would be to be told I was a princess. I love the normality of Mia’s life and how she is akin to any teenage girl just trying to get through high school and deal with the ups and downs of teenage life. The humor is a bit cheesy and subpar at times, but that is one part of why I could re-watch this movie any number of times. I still love watching Mia’s transformation into a princess and how she adapts to royal life.
9. The Lion King
   1. Disney animated movies have always been in my list of favorite movies and this one is a constant. I love the arc in which the prince disappears only to come back and retake his kingdom from his powerful, corrupt uncle. The scene in which Mufasa is killed gets me each time I watch it and young Simba’s subsequent reaction in which he runs away. To make things better, the characters of Timon and Pumba add a lightness to the movie that makes it comical in the midst of the solemn situation of Simba’s arrival in their presence. It has the drama with Simba and Scar, the romance between Simba and Nala, and the humor from Timon and Pumba. And I love the cute little animals throughout the movie, specifically the baby lions when both Simba is presented at the beginning of the movie and his daughter is presented at the end.

10)Lilo and Stitch

1. To top it off is this movie about which I could go on for longer than I probably should! To begin, it is set in Hawaii, which already makes it amazing. I love the music in this movie as well because of its beachy vibes and the upbeat lyrics and melodies that always get stuck in my head. The fusion of alien race with Stitch and Lilo who is a little girl looking for a friend is brilliant. They are both outcasts in their own respective worlds, and when they find each other, they forge an immediate bond even when others think Lilo should not engage with Stitch. The family dynamic between Lilo and her sister is another aspect that is interesting about this movie, because there are no parents and Nani is responsible for caring for Lilo and acting as her guardian when she is but a young adult herself. She does not necessarily know the best way to parent Lilo, and struggles to find the balance between being a sister and being a parental figure. However, I fell in love with the light hearted aspect that Stitch brings to Lilo’s life and how he gives her a friendship in which she can be herself without being criticized, which often happened with the other girls her age.

 
So, there you have it, my top ten favorite movies. In all honesty, any one of them could be number one for their own reasons and I only ranked them for matter of convenience. In my mind, each one has its own merits and gives me something different when I watch it. If you have seen any of these, I invite you to watch them again, and if you have not seen any please give them a watch because I promise you will not regret it!
 
Edited by Emily Chance