Cinematical Seven: 'Comfort' Movies, Volume 2

I've done some pieces that I'm happy with here at Cinematical. No seriously, I actually LIKE maybe 15% of my total output, but one of those good articles was a Cine-7 called The World's Best 'Comfort' Movies. And going by our traffic numbers and reader feedback, it seems a few other people enjoyed it too. So you know what that means: Sequel Time!

It was a few doses of horrific dental surgery that inspired the first article, but this time it's the suffering of a good friend that got me writing. Pictured above is Cinematical's official cat (Jonesy) as he watches a favorite film from the inside of a cone collar that he has to wear because his front paws are in seriously bad shape and he's prone to licking at them. Jonesy's comfort movie suggestions are listed in italics. He just likes typing in italics.

The first time around I just picked seven films that always seem to make me feel good, and those films were: Finding Nemo, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Princess Bride, Raising Arizona, King Kong '33, Miller's Crossing, and the comedy combo of Animal House, Blues Brothers, Caddyshack, and Stripes. (And then I threw Superman '78 onto the pile.) But this time I'm using a few suggestions from our readers ... and I'm digging into the scary stuff.

A L I E N -- People are actually surprised when I tell them that this is my favorite film of all time. I just don't understand why. Basically it (and The Thing) is the flick that introduced me to the awesomeness of horror cinema. I could probably teach a (Learning Annex) course on why this film is so awesome, but I'll spare you. If it's been a while since you've seen A L I E N (but you think you've seen it 11 times because you've seen the chest-burster 89 times), then I recommend a re-spin soon. And I can already hear what you're thinking: YES, the sequel is eleven shades of amazing awesome coolness, a five-star masterpiece of sci-fi / action / horror, but if forced to choose, I have to pick the original.

The Aristocats -- Where's live-action remake? Meow.

Back to the Future -- This one was suggested a LOT, and I can't argue it one bit. An absolutely wonderful piece of entertainment that successfully blends comedy, adventure, and some sincere sweetness -- thanks mostly to a finely-tuned screenplay that's as clever as it is cool. Great cast, great concept, a director at the top of his game, and (as they say) a little something for everyone. If you're dealing with a longer bout in bed, the sequels are perfectly fine ... but nothing like the original. As a whole, though, the trilogy kinda works: Adventure, then sci-fi, then western. Kinda.

Cat's Eye -- Because dad thinks cat bad but cat actually save little girl from troll. Meow.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail -- It's like the movie version of a CD you can listen to over and over. Like The Wall or anything by The Beatles. And while it's true that way too much of this flick is way too over-quoted among the geek crowds, I'm more a fan of the quieter bits. Like the exchange between Graham Chapman and Michael Palin that includes the line "I'm 37, I'm not old!"

The Cat From Outer Space -- Saw it as a kitten. Loved it. Mrowr.

The Shawshank Redemption -- Ah yeah, there's just something about Morgan Freeman's sagacity and Tim Robbins' nobility, combined with a great screenplay and a rock-solid supporting cast. Mention this movie in a crowded room and see what happens.

Cat People -- Schrader over Tourneur anyday. Two mangled paws up. Meow.

Unforgiven -- More Freeman! But overall I think Eastwood's best westerns slide on like a warm pair of jeans -- even if most of the films deal with themes and sequences that might not go down all that well when you're feeling crappy. But I like to live dangerously, so set me up with a mini-festival comprised of the three Leone classics, High Plains Drifter, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Pale Rider, and the grand finale (of sorts), the awesome Unforgiven.

Sleepwalkers -- Best. Movie. Ever. (Meow.)

Friday the 13th -- Yes. I actually sort of consider this a comfort movie. It's like an old snapshot from the early '80s that reminds me of a time when I wasn't old, bald, and clinically miserable. Plus, get this, I've always thought the movie was kinda ... scary. I know, the haters will tell you that F13 is nothing but cardboard & gore, and it is in some regards, but it's also got a creepy foresty atmosphere that always got to me a little. Ditto on Part 2, which scared the living HELL out of me when I was sleeping at a distant aunt's house somewhere in Chambersberg, PA, back in 1983.

Catwoman -- I may be fixed, but lead kitty still hot. Meow. Ignore canine-controlled media. This movie rocks. Mrowr.

An American Werewolf in London -- Jonesy refuses to watch this one with me for some reason, but I still think it's one of the most effective balances ever struck between hard-edged horror and sly humor. It's a horror flick that's somehow clever, creepy, and oddly comforting at the same time. I've lost count of how many times I've actually seen this film, but let's just say I'm deeply in love with Jenny Agutter and I always will be.

Again we ask for contributions from you and your pets. I bet my cat has better taste in film than yours does, even if he is drugged up and stuck wearing a lamp shade.