Sometimes it’s the little things that matter and I love watching non scary Halloween movies. I’ve see a few of these already but there are two on this list that are new to me! I want to watch these when I’d like that Halloween spirit but I don’t want to brace myself for a jump scare or gore. If you enjoy cute movies then watch Coco and Hocus Pocus. You guys know I would die for Hocus Pocus. For some romance watch Warm Bodies and for laughs you can watch both Ernest Scared Stupid and Hubie Halloween. I haven’t seen the last two but I will watch them this year! Hubie is brand new too and I’ve heard a lot of good things.

This category is more for good watches without the gore and jump scares. I saw the Shining this year and it was great! It was more of a psychological thriller than spooky tale but it’s a classic for sure. I haven’t seen WWZ, Hellboy, or The Fog so I can’t say much about them. I think Hellboy and WWZ are more on the action side while The Fog is a mystery thriller. I’ll have to get back to you guys on what I think when I see them! I’ve seen Crimson Peak though and it’s beautiful to watch. While it is a bit scary, it doesn’t made it into the next list because it’s not full of jump scares.

I haven’t seen any of these movies but from what I hear… They’re perfect for those nights when you don’t want to sleep. I actually got idea for The Mothman Prophecies from one of my favorite podcast and couldn’t wait to see it. These are the movies that people watch during Halloween to be grossed out and scared silly!

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Easy entertainment
My parents were too busy working to babysit. Like many other immigrants in the 1990’s, they owned their own business. They would pick us up from school and bring us to work. Of course what better way to entertain young kids than to sit them before a TV and put on a movie. There was a movie rental store a few businesses down so once a week my dad would take us out to pick out 3 films. I remember grabbing a lot of cartoon titles but one I always went back to was My Neighbor Totoro. There were dozens of other animated films but something about My Neighbor Totoro resonated in my small brain and I had to get it week after week.

Stories of Spirits and Guardians
My Neighbor Totoro was about two sisters, Satsuki and Mei, and their father who move out to the countryside. Their mother is in the hospital and the new deep country home made visits easier. The movie follows them as they adjust and grow to love both their new home and each other. Once huge (literally) character is the gigantic forest spirit Totoro. Said to only appear to children and those in need, Totoro lives in an ancient Camphor tree. One sign of Totoro’s movement is the wind, so if you feel a huge gust go by you can be sure Totoro is out and about! This first step into the world of fantasy stuck with me hard and that wonder continues to live inside of me. Because of this movie, I had dreamed of living in a countryside home in a town forgotten by time.

Growing up and believing
The next Studio Ghibli film of my youth was Kiki’s Delivery Service. It’s the coming of age story of a young witch named Kiki. At the age of 13, every young witch must set out and be independent for a year. They have to rely on their skills and talents to grow and create a business trade. Unable to find any talent in herself, she resorts to the only skill she has, flying! Kiki uses her ability to fly to start a delivery service. But, doubt brews inside of her half way through her journey. The loss of her confidence results in the loss of her powers.

Kiki’s story hit me hard as a child and even now it’s my go to movie when I’m down. Sometimes it takes the story of a young witch in training to remind me that I’m fine the way I am. My skills, talents, journey are my own and they belong to no one else.

Refined Art
I had always wanted to be an art student but I was young and stupid and didn’t follow my dreams. When I went back to school I began to watch more movies based on their art style and execution. A film from a little over 10 years ago, Ponyo hits all the perfect points. It’s a gorgeous retelling of The Little Mermaid and my favorite version of the old fable. The animation is fluid, gorgeous and blows me out of the water everytime I watch it! If you haven’t seen this one yet, please do. It will change the way you feel about water in animated films. Even though some scary stuff happens in it, this film makes me so nostalgic for the beach.

Always there for a good cry
Boy, was I an emotional teenager. A difficult divorce, my parents dreams for my school goals hovering over my head, and the constant need for validation from my peers created a disgusting period in my life. Being the introvert I am, I clammed up during therapy, and wrote often in a journal. I would hide everything and anything from my parents. That included terrible grades and questionable tastes, but also achievements and my dreams for the future. I felt alone in a world where my voice was small and insignificant.

And the movie that captures all those feelings for me was Howl’s Moving Castle where I found myself in Sophie. She’s plain girl tasked with inheriting her mother’s hat shop. The sad bit for her is that she believes her sisters are far more beautiful and smarter than she. So she resigns herself to her fate until she meets Howl.

I’m not saying that Howl inspired her. But because she got mixed up in his mess, Sophie had to embark on a journey that changes her forever. Her personal growth still inspires me to this day. We aren’t bound to anything in life, and it’s possible to reach for something greater. But the one scene that makes me cry everytime I watch it, is when Sophie’s bawling her eyes out. For years I convinced myself that crying would get me nowhere but seeing her let it all out… Encouraged me to do the same. Never forget sometimes you need a good cry!

I could go on and on about how much I love Studio Ghibli films but I won’t bore you! On top of beautiful animation, the music for each film is spectacular. I love listening to Lo-fo remixes of Studio Ghibli films when I work. You can find my favorite one here! Studio Ghibli also presents strong, independent ladies who are everyday girls. They aren’t sugar coated and they weren’t created for the male gaze. It’s another part of what makes their movies wonderful. The ladies of Ghibli are role models portrayed in the most positive light.

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Harry Potter Movie Series
I read Harry Potter growing up so I love the books. Every Christmas these movies would play on marathon mode. Now it just doesn’t feel like Christmas until I watch them. Especially the first movie. There’s nothing better than going back to Hogwarts for the holidays!

The Lord of the Rings Movies
I remember these movies also playing on marathon mode. While I haven’t read the entire trilogy, I have fond memories of seeing these movies with friends. I have these movies on in the background while I work or clean. It’s even better while making Christmas cake!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas
This is the typical story of a cold hearted person warming up for the holidays. It’s a classic and I love the Jim Carrey the most. I saw this movie in theaters with my dad and brother. Everytime I watch this movie I think of my dad. He passed away in 2014 but that day at the movies will always be with me. My dad was never much of a Christmas person but he enjoyed this movie.

Arthur Christmas
I didn’t have high expectations for this movie but boy was I wrong. It’s all about the true meaning of Christmas amidst all the modern day luxuries we have. It reminds me of the little things we should appreciate in life and this movie always makes me smile.

A Christmas Carol
Another holiday classic. I keep telling myself that I’ll read the book eventually… I like the animated version with Jim Carrey because the spirit of the past makes me laugh so much. You’ll just have to see it or believe me. I also really enjoy the Muppets version or the Mickey Mouse version. Any one of these three Christmas movies make me happy!

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Popular Anime website Crunchyroll recently published an article about two movies I’ve been dying to see and one of them is finally out on Netflix (the link isn’t working for me in the Netherlands but I’m hoping US readers can use it). Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni (In This Corner of the World’s original name) is a beautiful and emotional journey in a young woman’s life during World War II.

The story begins with Suzu’s childhood and we’re introduced to a creative and kind spirit made to grow up a little too quickly. At 19 she is wed to a man she barely knows and moves away from her home in Hiroshima to live with his family.

The movie follows Suzu as she grows accustomed to her new home, dealing with rations, learning about surviving bomb drops, all the while keeping her gentle and curious nature. The movie opens with her telling the audience that “Folks have told me that I have my head in the clouds a lot.” It becomes quite clear that she’s a bit of an airhead at times. She enjoys drawing, and has a real talent for it, but sacrifices it to care for her family as the war efforts heat up.

The movie wonderfully in captured Suzu’s adventures in keeping the family safe and the struggles that come with war. I’ve read that the movie was heavily inspired by photos, diaries, memories and survivor stories. Most of what happened in the movie, took place in someone’s life. It’s horrifying and humbling at the same time. I’ve often asked Sander about his family during the war. Thankfully the most trouble they had was a lack of food. Not to say this isn’t terrible, but they didn’t suffer the intense bombings that other countries endured.

I don’t want to give away any more spoilers but I highly recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys Anime or war time films. I’ve seen Grave of the Fireflies as well. I bawled my eyes out during that film. However, In This Corner of the World, humor is added in to help alleviate the blows dealt to the family. We laughed at times and we were silent at others. It’s no less impactful with the humor added in, don’t worry. Either way, it’s a beautiful film that deserves to be seen.

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