the delphic expanse

Spending nearly three weeks sick does have an upside: I watched a lot of movies. Thank you Netflix!

It ran the gamut of genres and styles, from old B&W classics to horror to adventure, sci-fi, comedy and a few new ones I hadn't seen. Obviously I'd like a lot of sic-fi, but there's a few others that I watch over and over again like Roman Holiday, The Count of Monte Cristo, and absolutely anything set during the golden age of sailing vessels.

What's you favorite comfort movie? Do you prefer to re-watch something you've seen a million times, or find something new? What would you recommend to anyone curled up with liquids and Kleenex?

I'm not the tear-jerker type, but when I'm feeling down or sick, my go-tos are Casablanca, The Cutting Edge and When Harry Met Sally...

I tend to prefer something that doesn't require me to think too much, that has a lot of sweet moments and a happy ending (and yes, I do consider Casablanca to have a happy ending). At the same time, it has to be realistic enough not to require me to suspend much disbelief or figure too much out, while being engaging enough to keep my interest. Sci-fi often requires me to spend more energy thinking than I actually have when I'm super-sick, and laughing too much can actually hurt which is why I steer away from the major comedies.

I also sometimes find myself binge-watching shows when I'm sick. The last time I was really sick I ended up watching the entire second season of Lost (which is the farthest I've gone with that show) in three days. Given the serial nature of that show, it was kind of like watching a long movie.

lfvoy wrote:I also sometimes find myself binge-watching shows when I'm sick. The last time I was really sick I ended up watching the entire second season of Lost (which is the farthest I've gone with that show) in three days. Given the serial nature of that show, it was kind of like watching a long movie.

I've done that too. In fact, I think this was the way I found Firefly, Mad Men, Sherlock (BBC), and Downton Abbey.

Hmmm.... when I am down and out I'll usually pop in one of the Jane Austen movies - the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice being my absolute favorite. Everyone is always socially correct and polite and I find those and Disney flicks great for when I am sick AND emotionally fragile. But there are always all the superhero movies - Avengers, Thor 1 & 2, Iron Man, etc. If I am feeling nostalgic I'll pop in the Indiana Jones movies, or the original Star Wars trilogy. Unless I have mental energy I stay away from anything I haven't seen before. If I fall asleep in the middle of a movie I don't want to have to care if I've missed part of the plot.

Ever After. I bloody love that film. I love Drew Barrymore.

Edited because I just thought of a couple more - Clueless and Legally Blond.

I like movies with a contemporary setting, or preferably set within the last 25 years if not contemp for when I'm sick. Unless it is something like Fiddler on The Roof, or LOTR. I don't really want to critique the setting while I'm feeling sick or down and far future or in the past means I'm critiquing the setting.

My current favorite? Rag Tag, a LGBT British/Nigerian indie flick from 2006. Setting is roughly only 10 or 11 years old, the relationship between the two men is treated like a given, and little things like the machismo factor in regards to Black men is spot on.

Lillith wrote:My current favorite? Rag Tag, a LGBT British/Nigerian indie flick from 2006. Setting is roughly only 10 or 11 years old, the relationship between the two men is treated like a given, and little things like the machismo factor in regards to Black men is spot on.

Oh, interesting! I had to look that one up, but now I've got it on my Netflix queue. Thanks!

EntAllat wrote:

Lillith wrote:My current favorite? Rag Tag, a LGBT British/Nigerian indie flick from 2006. Setting is roughly only 10 or 11 years old, the relationship between the two men is treated like a given, and little things like the machismo factor in regards to Black men is spot on.

Oh, interesting! I had to look that one up, but now I've got it on my Netflix queue. Thanks!

You're welcome! It really is an awesome movie. The two men make a cute couple.

The movie that I always watch when I'm down is Auntie Mame with Rosalind Russel - the play version not the musical. The dialogue is hilarious, the costumes are over the top and it has the just under the censors' radar risque dialogue that makes me laugh so hard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZXi_vOkMyU