emotional movie watching

If I had to name one of the top three characteristics that I would use to describe myself one would have to be emotional. Unfortunately that word assumes negative connotations as well as positive and I'm guilty of just about all of them. Because I'm lead by my emotions I can sometimes be overly-sensitive, highly dramatic and annoyingly melancholy (even to myself). Luckily some of those traits have lessened over time and as I've grown up (and married a happy-go-lucky, eternal optimist) and I've also learned to study myself - find out what "stirs my emotional pot", if you will.

Polly Walker looks freakishly similar to Catherine Zeta-Jones in this film.

I watched Enchanted April the other day and had another revelation about myself as I took a mental picture of myself sitting on the floor, mouth a-gaping at the screen. I love movies but I'm very picky about what I like. Since there's so much trash out there I don't even think twice about half of what Hollywood produces. I like lots of movies, love a handful of others . . . and then there are a few that have influenced me and I will never forget how I felt when I watched them.

Without a doubt the most important, life changing movie for me is Shadowlands. I've mentioned my love of this movie before in this post about Harry Potter but the thing is, this movie affected me to my heart's core. I remember watching it as a teenager with my family and after it was through, I went up to bed without talking to anyone and felt raw. I had never felt that before. I've only watched it a few times and only with a select few people. It is the greatest (true) love story with such wonderful themes of hope, faith and everlasting love (what Sandra?).

My dear friend, Michelle, even gave me the DVD as a wedding gift (it's actually really hard to find) and it may have been the most meaningful gift I've ever received. If you haven't seen the movie and would like to, promise me this. Watch the movie either alone or with someone who won't want to pause, make popcorn or talk about something else. You have to really dedicate yourself to feeling the relationship of C.S. Lewis and his beloved, Joy. I may sound like a freak here but if you've read the aforementioned post above about Harry Potter than you've probably already come to that conclusion. Ha!