In my book ”How to find inspiration” I promised you all that I’d share some of my favorite, inspiring movies. (And if you haven’t read the book yet here is the link to why you should)
Sometimes all it takes is a good movie to get you back on track towards finding your inspiration. I’ve categorized them by how they made me feel;
A: Adventurous (well, there’s simply some kind of adventure in the series)
C: Creatively awesome (either the plot or how it was made was creative)
B: Biographical (as it sounds, it is based on a real event)
H: Happy (need I say more?)
HP: High Pulse (something exciting or terrifying happens like it does in a scary movie – or something along the lines of that)
M: Mind-blown (”what just happened?!”)
S: Sad (Some series can be both happy and sad, but the ones marked with an ”S” in these lists brings more happiness than sadness and is therefore also marked with an ”H”. It just wouldn’t be inspirational otherwise.)
Here are some of my favorites:
The Blind Side (B,H, S)
Micheal Oher, a teenager in has been homeless and drifting in and out of the school system for years until Leigh Anne Tuohy and her husband take him in. Michael ends up having talents no one seemed to know about and with the support from his new legal guardians (played by Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw) he realize his potential both as a football player and a student. This movie is truly wonderful and even though it made me cry several times it has a happy ending and is just something you have to watch. And it’s based on a true story.
The Greatest Showman (A, B, C, H)
This might be one of my favorite movies ever. Based on the life of P.T. Barnum you get an insight into how far persistence, creativity and support can take you, but also how greed can make you miss out on all the things that really matter in life. Barnum became a worldwide sensation and founded the concept we call the circus. With amazing acting from Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, Zac Efron and Zendaya this movie will not disappoint you. Neither will the incredible song This is me by Keala Settle. I could write an essay about how awesome this movie really is but I’ll just let you watch it instead.
Any Harry Potter movie (A, C, HP)
When these movies came out I was about 10 years old and loved to read. The first Harry Potter-book is however the first book I read for three straight days until I finished it. I just loved it. Of course, a movie is never just like a book, but these ones are so creatively made and simply worth watching, if you haven’t already. Most people probably know a bit of what Harry Potter is about, so I’ll let the trailer do the rest of the talking.
Inception (A, HP)
This one is just mind-boggling. You’re not really sure what’s happening and what’s a dream/subconscious or reality. The concept is creative and it’s definitely an adventure. With Leonardo DiCaprio and Marion Cotillard, among others, this movie will either give you a mind-blowing experience or you’ll just wonder what really happened.
Ocean’s 11/12/13 (A, H, HP)
I honestly don’t know how many times I’ve watched these movies. They are some of my absolute favorites. It’s all about creative ways to rob someone and get away with it. Some of the stars include George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Andy Garcia and many more. Check out the trailer for the first movie (Ocean’s Eleven):
Alice in Wonderland (A, C, H)
”I give myself very good advice. But I very seldom follow it.” How can you not relate to this? I mean, seriously, I could probably make a very convincing Alice myself if anyone would like me to. Just let me know.
Both the animated movie and the live-action one are brilliant. I simply love the concept of a different reality with talking animals, a mad hatter, a prophetic caterpillar and talking flowers. I don’t know how many times I’ve wished to be able to speak with animals and travel to a surreal, beautiful place like this. I even had an Alice in Wonderland-themed party once with those tiny ”Drink Me”-bottles and ”Eat Me”-cookies. In the future I’ll have another one of those parties with a bigger budget. But until then I’ll keep watching the movies.
Inside Out (A, C, H)
So you know all those voices in your head who are kind of in a constant battle with each other? No? Well, maybe that’s just me then. Anyway, you can watch those voices come alive as tiny creatures controlling the brain in this movie. It’s really funny and such a creative way to see how we are easily influenced by our own thoughts.
Catch Me if You Can (A, B, C, H)
Someone pretending to be a pilot and forging his way to fly commercial planes without an actual license isn’t something you hear about every day. Well, this is what Frank Abagnale actually did, for real. He even fooled people into believing he was a doctor and a lawyer before his 18th birthday. Check out this movie based on his life with Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks and Christopher Walken among others.
Transformers (A, C, H, HP)
Robots from outer space. What can I say. Some of them here to save planet Earth, some to destroy it. I don’t know how that sounds to you but the way these robots change their shapes is cinematically awesomely made.
The Grinch (C, H)
I mean the one with Jim Carrey. I haven’t seen the new one with Benedict Cumberbatch yet, so I’ll stick to the old one. Based on Dr. Seuss’ book this is a wonderful story anyone at any age can appreciate. Watch how a girl, a who, in Whoville wants to become friends with the Grinch (a sort of monster-like creature living in the mountains) while all the other who’s in Whoville are afraid of and dislike him. I think any adult can relate to the part where the Grinch asks himself ”Am I just eating because I’m bored”, or when he thinks about his schedule for the day, realizing his busy to ”wallow in self pity” at 4 pm, ”4.30, stare into the abyss” or at ”6.30, having dinner with me, can’t cancel that again”. Just watch it. But maybe not until Christmas (it is a Christmas movie, you know.)
Sully (B, H, HP)
An emergency landing on the Hudson river with a commercial plane filled with passengers. Every single person survives. Sounds too good to be true? Well, it happened on the 15th of January in 2009 when Captain Chelsey ”Sully” Sullenberger had to make an emergency landing after the engines were struck by a flock of – you’ll never believe this – geese. Yup. Watch Tom Hanks in the role of Sully and be awed at how one man actually landed on a river with no casualties.
Hobbit (A, C, H, HP)
This is a true adventure-movie. Not only is it amazingly made, it’s also pretty funny. With Martin Freeman in the leading role of Bilbo Baggins you’ll get to follow his journey to reclaim his people’s mountain home and the gold within it. The problem is of course the gold-loving dragon who’s claimed it as his own.
Have you watched any of these? Which one is your favorite? Let me know what you thought! You can find part one of this list HERE.
And if you’d like to know which my favorite, inspiring tv-series are you can check them out HERE. Enjoy!
Charlotte Lundqvist Photography 