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The Story: Widower Carl Fredricksen sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream of seeing South America by tying thousands of balloons to his house and turning it into an airship. He soon realises he’s not alone as Russell, a Wilderness Explorer who had previously called to his door was on his front porch when he takes off.
Where I lose it: The first 15 minutes are some of the most beautiful animation I have ever seen. A wonderfully simple intro tells the story of a husband and wife’s life together from their wedding through to her illness and death and the fertility problems they encountered on the way. There’s no dialogue, the animation tells the story, and you would have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by it.
The Story: 20 years spanning the lives of 2 friends Emma and Dexter as they see each other through heartbreak, success, failure, happiness and misery.
Where I lose it: In the end Emma and Dex end up together, but when Emma is knocked off her bike and killed on her way to meet him he’s left waiting in his café and checks a voice mail she left him a few minutes before her death. It took them almost 20 years to realise they belong together and then their time together is cut short. I’m welling up thinking about it now.
Sex and the City The Movie
The Story: A continuation of the TV series. Carrie and Big finally decide to tie the knot but when she’s left at the alter it’s up to her friends to help her pick up the pieces. The film tells the story of the 12 months after she is left at the alter and how she gets her life back on track.
Where I lose it: After Carrie has been left at the alter Big chases her down to apologise and tell her she’s ready to get married, but she wallops him with her bouquet and yells “I am humiliated”! A really powerful scene.
Gran Torino
The Story: After his young neighbour tries to steal his prize possession - his 1972 Gran Torino - Korean War veteran Walt Kowalski takes him under his wing to reform him.
Where I lose it: At the end of the film Walt gives his life to make sure the criminals that attacked and raped his neighbour’s sister get justice. It’s only after you find out his intentions you realise the last few scenes are of Walt preparing to die.
The Lion King
The Story: After his father is killed by his deceitful brother, lion cub Simba is tricked into thinking it was his fault and flees into exile, leaving his uncle Scar in charge of the kingdom.
Where I lose it: When Simba's father Mufasa was killed by the stampede.
Greyfriars Bobby
The Story: A movie telling of the story of the legendary Greyfriar’s Bobby. A Skye Terrier who guarded his owner’s grave for 14 years after his death.
Where I lose it: The scene where the dog sneaks past the gate keeper and lies down pitifully on his owner’s grave. I know the story is probably a legend, but anyone who has ever had a dog knows they’re capable of this kind of love.
Schindler's List
The Story: The film tells the true story of Oskar Schindler who during World War 2 takes drastic steps to protect his Jewish workforce all the while having to mask his good deeds for fear of being punished for his actions.
Where I lose it: At the very end of the film there’s a very touching scene where surviving Schindler Jews and their descendants all place stones* on Oskar Schindler’s grave to signify the number of people alive today because of his actions. Actors from the film walk hand-in-hand in the procession with the people they portrayed, placing their stones as they pass. By the end of the scene the grave and the surrounding area is covered in stones with little room to place any more.
Bridge to Terabithia
The Story: Based on the book of the same name, Bridge to Terabithia is a fantasy drama about two friends - Jess and Leslie - who spend their free time together in a fantasy world called Terabithia. In order to get to their fantasy works the two must swing across a creek using a tatty rope tied to a tree branch. Once there they fight monsters and encounter magical creatures which closely resemble people in their real lives.
Where I lose it: When Jess is invited to go on a class trip to an art museum he sneaks off deciding not to invite Leslie. When he returns home later that day he is met by his parents who tell him that Leslie had drowned in the creek that morning while swinging across the creek to Terabithia. Jess is consumed by guilt, knowing that if he had invited her to the museum she would still be alive.
In the end he returns to the creek to build a bridge to Terabitihia and invites his little sister to accompany him which he hadn’t done previously. With his sister he rebuilds Terabithia in his mind to honour Leslie’s memory.
Toy Story 3
The Story: Andy is all grown up and getting ready to go to college. While packing a bag of his treasured childhood toys accidentally gets donated to a local playschool that’s being run by a cruel teddy bear. The toys are trying to escape to make their way home.
Where I lose it: The first time – when the toys get caught in a trash incinerator and they think it’s the end, they all join hands to face their end together, before being rescued.
The second time – On the day he leaves for college Andy gives all his toys to a little girl that lives on his street. He had planned to keep woody and Buzz but when he sees how much she loves them he decides to give them to her as well.
Deep Impact
The Story: Morgan Freeman is president, a massive meteor is heading towards the earth and everyone is doomed.
Where I lose it: At the end of the film when the main female character is escaping with her family they’re caught in grid locked traffic right in the middle of where a flood is to form. Her boyfriend catches up to them on a motorbike and the parents tell her to go with him, giving her her baby sister to take with her.
