Writing this blog post was surprisingly emotional for me. I thought about my favourite movies and watched clips on YouTube... with some of them bringing me to tears... as you'll soon read...
My Five Favorite Movie Scenes of All Time
I judge a movie scene as amazing if what the director
et al produce is as good, or better, as my own imagination. That said, there
are so many, many amazing movies out there with equally amazing scenes… I
approached this question methodically, with a Google search of all my favorite
movies, then I asked myself which of those had the most memorable scenes. Unavoidable
spoilers ahead…
My all-time favorite movie, since forever, is The
Princess Bride. There are about a million awesome scenes in this movie. If
you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it. I can practically recite every line
along with the movie and I often quote it. Often. One of my favorite lines is,
“As you wish.” In the movie, this actually means “I love you” and it has
special significance in the scene on the grassy hillside, before the Fire Swamp,
when Buttercup pushes the man in the black mask down. As he tumbles down the
hill he yells, “As you wish.” She realizes the man is actually her lost love.
In that moment, she regains hope and it also gives the audience renewed hope
for a happily-ever-after.
Next in my list is 13 Going on 30. I love
this movie. One of the few I still own on DVD. Not only was the soundtrack
killer – I love ‘80’s music – Jennifer Garner was the perfect actress for the
female lead. In “Freaky Friday” fashion, Jenna, a 13-year-old girl in a
30-year-old woman’s body, finds herself in an awkward social situation, a super
lame party. What’s a girl to do? She asks the DJ to play Michael Jackson’s
“Thriller” and starts to dance, in the middle of the floor, by herself. She
calls her childhood best friend Matt up to dance with her, then they are joined
by other party-goers flash mob style. This scene reminds me of the pure
innocence of childhood, which is often lost when we grow up. The adult dancers
move uninhibitedly, experiencing child-like joy.
My list would not be complete without the epic
movie The Notebook. When I was reviewing a list of the most unforgettable
scenes – it’s been a while since I watched it – I cried. Seriously. Several
times. From YouTube clips. The movie is that emotional. Poignant. Touching. A
real epitome of true love. What could be more moving than Noah’s unfaltering
devotion to his ailing wife Allie? The enactment of their story has many
memorable moments, including a steamy kiss or two, but the best scene hands
down is when Allie has a lucid moment and realizes the story Noah is telling
her is about them. Love is truly the most powerful thing in the world.
For the hopeless romantic <<raises
hand>> a love scene, when properly staged, is a must in every movie. Come
on, even action flicks offer a side of romance. The build-up toward that kiss
or more is as crucial as the act itself. In the ending scene of Underworld
Evolution, the camera view shifts between Selene and Michael as they walk
toward each other. The focus is on the stark emotion on their faces. When they
reach each other, Michael touches her face, as if to ensure she is real, before
they kiss. The camera moves away and you just know there’ll be another movie in
the series. It’s the drawn-out anticipation and, also, the promise of
continuity, a future, which makes this scene noteworthy.
Another of my favorite movies is Disney’s Enchanted,
a real-life fairy tale. I firmly believe if my life story were made into a film,
it would look like (parts of) this movie. The best scene takes place in Central
Park when Giselle sings “That’s How You Know” to Robert to explain how he
should show affection toward his girlfriend. As she sings and dances around the
park, random park goers join in, singers and dancers, marching around the park
like a Disney World parade. Even Robert, the cynical New York lawyer, finds
himself bobbing his head in time to the music. The song ends with a flash mob
near the Bethesda Fountain. Shouldn’t all important conversations occur in
song?
The best movie scenes evoke real emotion. Hope.
Joy. Love.
