Thursday Movie Picks: Comfort Movies

I think I’ve written a similar post before when I used to do Fandom Fridays…but I can think of a few films that bring me comfort. There are film that I can watch over and over and those that I watch if I really can’t think of anything. Movies in my top ten aren’t my comfort films because when I sit down to watch them, I pay attention, unlike a comfort film I can put on and dose off in the middle of. I suppose Lord of the Rings is a comfort trilogy but I don’t like falling asleep through those. In fact, that reminds me, I need to do my epic watch of all three films over Christmas AND write my 15^th Anniversary of The Fellowship of the Ring. But for now, these are the films that bring me comfort…

Don't forget to check back on Wandering Through the Shelves where is all started.

Rear Window

I think I’ve always liked Rear Window. One of my favourite Hitchcock films about (as if you didn’t know) a photojournalist who has broken his leg and is restless after being on bed rest for weeks. He starts to watch his neighbours as they go about their daily lives with no net curtains. But when he notices something strange, he starts to suspect foul play. With the help of his society girlfriend and nurse, he uncovers a dark plot. It’s a detective story where the detective never leaves his room. I used watch this when I was a teenager when I was really ill. My room faces out to the road and I can see quite far down both ends. I took the film to Uni and watched it when I was hungover, somehow it always cheered me up. Later it turned into my rainy day movie, I’d put it on when it was terrible rain. It was comforting to watch while the rain beat on the windows.

Dredd

 This has now become my go to film to watch when I’m ill or too tired or both. It’s an easy watch and I know it so well that I don’t have to worry about missing anything. Based on the comic book character Judge Dredd from 2000AD, set in Mega City One in a mega block, Peach Trees where a gang led by the vicious Ma-ma are distributing a new drug ‘slo-mo’ around the city. Dredd and the rookie Judge Anderson who has mutant abilities storm the block only to end up trapped inside. They make their way up the block floor by floor, fighting all the way. It’s an excellent premise that was unfortunately compares to The Raid which was released around the same time, but both are great in their own way. Dredd is my comfort movie though, I guess it’s the fact its set in a futuristic place yet it feels like it could take place now.

Back to the Future 2/The Goonies/Ghostbusters 

 I know this is a bit of a cheat but these three films were my comfort movies during Uni. I tend to associate comfort movies during those three years as I had barely any films with me. Now at home I’m spoilt for choice, plus I have Netflix and Amazon Prime at my fingertips, which I didn’t have 6 years ago. Watching Doc and Marty in the future Hill Valley and The Goonies on the pirate ship and the Ghostbusters fight the stay puft marshmallow man always made everything better. Kinda. These gems from the 80s were there to comfort me through all sort of things; writer’s block, post party mistakes, hangover, deadlines, come downs, stressful classes, friend problems, guy problems and yes, rainy days. The last one being the best as in my final year I had the back room which had a large window but I also had the airing cupboard so I opened that and warm air filled the room. It was bliss.