There's lots of good movies out there. Funny movies, serious movies, happy movies, sad movies. Today, we're going to discuss some of those tear-jerkers, the ones that do such a thorough job of evoking an emotional response in their viewers. As a warning, there will be spoilers, so if you haven't seen these some of these films, you may want to avoid their descriptions.
Old Yeller
Yeah, you know the one. The classic movie that's legendary for turning on the waterworks.
In this 1957 Disney film, teenager Travis is the man of the house while his father is away. When a stray dog appears, he finds the animal a nuisance due to his habit of stealing meat and taking eggs from hen houses.
However, when his little brother Arliss gets in trouble with an angry bear, the dog steps in to protect him. The whole family soon grows attached to the dog, who is dubbed 'Old Yeller'. The dog helps them on the farm, and protects them on numerous occasions.
Unfortunately, the family is later confronted by a wolf, and Old Yeller is bitten while defending them. Old Yeller later shows signs of having rabies, and they're forced to shoot their beloved companion. Everyone is heartbroken, especially Travis. However, the movie ends in a more uplifting note when one of Old Yeller's pups is spotted stealing meat, just as Old Yeller would do, and Travis accepts the young dog as his own.
Let's face it, it's hard for people not to cry when Old Yeller dies, and seeing the family's sadness doesn't nothing to help the matter. Put Kleenex on the shopping list, because we ran out while watching this movie.
Lilo and Stitch
A Disney film from 2002. After the death of their parents, Nani struggles to care for her sister Lilo. Lilo fails to fit in, and is lonely. When an alien experiment escapes trial and crash-lands in Hawaii, he tries to avoid being captured. The aliens seeking him can't risk harming humans, so he pretends to be a dog and is adopted by Lilo, who names him Stitch.
Stitch learns what it's like to have a family, though his odd behavior, short temper, and tendency to wreck things makes Nani consider getting rid of him. Despite his abnormally high badness level, Lilo is determined to give him a chance.
Throughout the film, Lilo and Nani deal with the threat of being separated. A social worker is watching to make sure Lilo is well cared for, and everything's going wrong. It seems likely that Lilo will be taken away.
You can't help but feel for the characters. Nani's trying to support her little sister, and Lilo struggles with the loss of her parents and lack of friends. Stitch is caught between his violent, destructive nature, and his desire to belong and be loved. It focuses so much on their struggles, making them real, and at times you can't help but... (picks up handkerchief and sobs)
At the end, the Grand Councilwoman among the aliens, who planned to take Stitch back for trial, has a change of heart. Seeing the bond that has formed between them, she declares that his sentence will be carried out on Earth, with Nani and Lilo in charge of him. Lilo won't be taken by the social worker, either; everyone can be a happy family.
Stitch learns what it's like to have a family, though his odd behavior, short temper, and tendency to wreck things makes Nani consider getting rid of him. Despite his abnormally high badness level, Lilo is determined to give him a chance.
Throughout the film, Lilo and Nani deal with the threat of being separated. A social worker is watching to make sure Lilo is well cared for, and everything's going wrong. It seems likely that Lilo will be taken away.
You can't help but feel for the characters. Nani's trying to support her little sister, and Lilo struggles with the loss of her parents and lack of friends. Stitch is caught between his violent, destructive nature, and his desire to belong and be loved. It focuses so much on their struggles, making them real, and at times you can't help but... (picks up handkerchief and sobs)
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| "Ohana means family. Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten." |
At the end, the Grand Councilwoman among the aliens, who planned to take Stitch back for trial, has a change of heart. Seeing the bond that has formed between them, she declares that his sentence will be carried out on Earth, with Nani and Lilo in charge of him. Lilo won't be taken by the social worker, either; everyone can be a happy family.
Lilo and Stitch: Stitch Has a Glitch
A 2005 film, this one is another tear-jerker. Lilo is practicing for a hula competition, but things keep going wrong when Stitch seems to be constantly acting out. It turns out that when Jumba created Stitch, he didn't fully charge Stitch's molecules before the intergalactic police arrived to arrest them. As a result, Stitch is beginning to 'glitch'. It will kill him if not remedied, so Jumba works to make a fusion chamber.
After Stitch accidentally scratches Lilo during one of his fits, he takes the spaceship and plans to leave Earth, fearing he is become too dangerous. However, another glitch causes him to crash. When the family finds him, Stitch is badly injured. They rush him to the completed fusion chamber, where they try to restore him. However, it turns out to be too late, and they watch as Stitch dies.
After Stitch accidentally scratches Lilo during one of his fits, he takes the spaceship and plans to leave Earth, fearing he is become too dangerous. However, another glitch causes him to crash. When the family finds him, Stitch is badly injured. They rush him to the completed fusion chamber, where they try to restore him. However, it turns out to be too late, and they watch as Stitch dies.
Lilo pulls her friend out of the chamber, hugging him and crying. After a few agonizing minutes and a few thousand sheets of Kleenex, however, Stitch awakens. It's a miracle, and everyone is thrilled. Jumba says that it could only be Lilo's love that brought him back.
Sure, some people might say it's sappy, but it doesn't change the fact that it inspires tears. Don't pretend otherwise; I see those wet tracks down your cheek.
Sure, some people might say it's sappy, but it doesn't change the fact that it inspires tears. Don't pretend otherwise; I see those wet tracks down your cheek.
Brave
What is it with Disney and making people cry? This 2012 movie is set in Scotland (just like the little-known but good movie Three Lives of Thomasina, cough), and involves strong-willed princess Merida. She's constantly at odds with her mother, Elinor, who wants her to be more proper.
When Merida discovers she's to be betrothed, she's not happy with the news. She rebels, and Elinor is furious. They argue, and Merida slashes the family tapestry between the images of herself and her mother.
Merida rides away, and encounters will-o'-the-wisps. She follows them, and meets a witch, who gives her a small cake that will change her mother. When her mother eats it, she changes... into a bear.
They return to the witch's place, and learn that if they don't "mend the bond torn by pride" by the second sunrise, the change will be permanent. Merida vows she won't let that happen to her mother.
Thinking the witch's words are related to the torn tapestry, they return to the castle to repair it. Merida then drapes it over her mother and waits for the spell to reverse. As the sun rises, it seems that it hasn't been broken. Merida begins to weep (and so do the viewers), and she apologizes for her mistakes. Then Elinor reverts to her normal form, and she and Merida embrace, their differences finally reconciled.
Bolt
Disney is evil. That's the only logical conclusion. Why else would they tug at our heartstrings so? The 2008 animated movie features a dog named Bolt, who plays in an action television series. He thinks it's real, and believes he actually has superpowers, including a 'super-bark'.
When an episode ends with his owner, Penny, being kidnapped, Bolt's determined to rescue her. He escapes the trailer where he's kept, and when he tries to break through a window, he instead knocks himself unconscious and falls into a box. Unseen beneath the packing peanuts, an employee seals the box, and it's shipped across the country.
Upon the box being opened, Bolt bursts out. He searches for Penny to no avail, then decides to ask a cat, believing them to be agents of the villain who took her. Mittens finds a map and shows Bolt the way to Hollywood, where he's from. But Bolt is unwilling to let her go until he's found his person. Along the way, they meet a hamster named Rhino, who's a fan of Bolt, and joins them in the quest to find Penny.
Bolt eventually realizes that he's part of a TV show, and doesn't really have powers. This identity crisis shakes him, but Mittens teaches him how to be a regular dog. The three animals eventually reach Hollywood, becoming close friends along the way.
Around the time he reaches the studio, a scene they're shooting goes wrong, and the stage catches fire. The others escape, but Penny is trapped in the building. Bolt rushes in, and the two share a happy reunion. Bolt then tries to lead her out, but the only opening is too small for Penny to follow him. Penny collapses from smoke inhalation, and tells Bolt to go without her.
Bolt won't leave her side, however, and lies down beside the now-unconscious Penny. He remains that way for a while, when an idea strikes him. He super-barks into the duct, and the sound is heard outside. The firefighters know where to search for Penny, and they find her and Bolt.
Seeing Penny heartbroken at her missing dog, then the emotional scenes during the fire, are all bound to bring a few tears. By the time you reach the final scene, with all three animals living happily with Penny and her mother, you certainly need a happy note.
When Merida discovers she's to be betrothed, she's not happy with the news. She rebels, and Elinor is furious. They argue, and Merida slashes the family tapestry between the images of herself and her mother.
Merida rides away, and encounters will-o'-the-wisps. She follows them, and meets a witch, who gives her a small cake that will change her mother. When her mother eats it, she changes... into a bear.
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| Elinor: (tries in vain to cover herself up) |
They return to the witch's place, and learn that if they don't "mend the bond torn by pride" by the second sunrise, the change will be permanent. Merida vows she won't let that happen to her mother.
Thinking the witch's words are related to the torn tapestry, they return to the castle to repair it. Merida then drapes it over her mother and waits for the spell to reverse. As the sun rises, it seems that it hasn't been broken. Merida begins to weep (and so do the viewers), and she apologizes for her mistakes. Then Elinor reverts to her normal form, and she and Merida embrace, their differences finally reconciled.
Bolt
Disney is evil. That's the only logical conclusion. Why else would they tug at our heartstrings so? The 2008 animated movie features a dog named Bolt, who plays in an action television series. He thinks it's real, and believes he actually has superpowers, including a 'super-bark'.
When an episode ends with his owner, Penny, being kidnapped, Bolt's determined to rescue her. He escapes the trailer where he's kept, and when he tries to break through a window, he instead knocks himself unconscious and falls into a box. Unseen beneath the packing peanuts, an employee seals the box, and it's shipped across the country.
Upon the box being opened, Bolt bursts out. He searches for Penny to no avail, then decides to ask a cat, believing them to be agents of the villain who took her. Mittens finds a map and shows Bolt the way to Hollywood, where he's from. But Bolt is unwilling to let her go until he's found his person. Along the way, they meet a hamster named Rhino, who's a fan of Bolt, and joins them in the quest to find Penny.
Bolt eventually realizes that he's part of a TV show, and doesn't really have powers. This identity crisis shakes him, but Mittens teaches him how to be a regular dog. The three animals eventually reach Hollywood, becoming close friends along the way.
Around the time he reaches the studio, a scene they're shooting goes wrong, and the stage catches fire. The others escape, but Penny is trapped in the building. Bolt rushes in, and the two share a happy reunion. Bolt then tries to lead her out, but the only opening is too small for Penny to follow him. Penny collapses from smoke inhalation, and tells Bolt to go without her.
Bolt won't leave her side, however, and lies down beside the now-unconscious Penny. He remains that way for a while, when an idea strikes him. He super-barks into the duct, and the sound is heard outside. The firefighters know where to search for Penny, and they find her and Bolt.
Seeing Penny heartbroken at her missing dog, then the emotional scenes during the fire, are all bound to bring a few tears. By the time you reach the final scene, with all three animals living happily with Penny and her mother, you certainly need a happy note.
Harry Potter
It's not just Disney who likes torturing its viewers. The 'Harry Potter' films, based on the book series by JK Rowling, centers around a young wizard named Harry Potter. An evil wizard, Lord Voldemort, was terrorizing Britain's wizarding community, until his attempt to kill Harry mysteriously backfired. However, Voldemort later comes back, and Harry must face him time and time again. Eventually, he learns of a prophecy, stating that he's the only one who can stop Voldemort one and for all.
Throughout the series, plenty of characters die. Rowling's hands are covered with blood after the emotional roller coaster she wrote. Harry discovers he has a godfather, and becomes attached to him. Then dear old Padfoot dies during a battle with Voldemort's followers, the Death Eaters. Dumbledore, who had become a terrific mentor to Harry, dies in a later movie. (Why mentors always die? It's just not fair...)
The movies for the final book, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows', is filled with death. First Harry's beloved pet, Hedwig, is killed when Death Eaters are chasing Harry and his friends. Mad-Eye Moody dies as well. Later on, Dobby dies. And in the final battle at Hogwarts, Lupin, Tonks, and Fred die, along with many others. You also find out that Snape wasn't as bad as he seemed. Too bad he's dead now.
As if there aren't enough heart-wrenching scenes, Harry learns he must sacrifice himself to get rid of Voldemort. It's an incredibly emotional time as Harry struggles with his fears. Yet, selflessly, he approaches Voldemort, not even lifting a wand to defend himself.
Voldemort hits him with the killing curse, and Harry falls to the ground. However, the killing curse only destroyed the fragment of Voldemort's soul; Harry was the horcrux that Voldemort never intended to create, nor knew anything about. Harry pretends to be dead to avoid further attack, and everyone is horrified when they hear that Voldemort killed him. Then Harry reveals himself to be alive after all, and faces Voldemort again, this time defeating him.
The story comes to a sweet conclusion, showing the major characters years later, married and with families. All is well, all is peaceful.
Up
Before we conclude, let's take a moment to appreciate the 2009 Disney movie. The story involves a man, Carl Fredricksen, who ties balloons to his house to send it afloat, deciding to fulfill the dream of moving to Paradise Falls, which was never obtained when his wife was alive. A Boy Scout winds up accidentally coming along, making the journey more complicated.
Upon reaching South America, things don't turn out as planned. A storm slows their progress, and to make matters worse, they encounter villains who threaten their lives. Eventually, Carl has to reexamine his priorities, and decide what is most important to him.
Perhaps the biggest tear-jerker in the movie is the relationship between Carl Fredricksen and his wife, Ellie. The movie begins by showing Carl as a child, meeting Ellie. They find that they share common interests, and she tell him about her dream of living on a cliff overlooking Paradise Falls.
They eventually grow up and marry, and are happy together. They experience many ups and downs; discovering they can't have children, planning to travel to Paradise Falls. They never manage to make the trip a reality, and Ellie dies with the dream unfulfilled.
In the initial minutes of the film, it manages to tell such a poignant love story that you're already crying. And when Carl happens to flip through Ellie's childhood scrapbook later in the movie, he finds the blank pages filled with pictures from their married life together. At the last page, he finds a note written from her deathbed: "Thanks for the adventure—now go have a new one! Love, Ellie'. It's hard not to get choked up in that moment.
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