Movies That Motivate | The Adventures of Motivatorman!: April 2020

Sunday, April 26, 2020

Tip#1193: Top Inspiring Movies About Isolation, Part 2 – COVID-19

This is Day 42 of the COVID-19 quarantine/social distancing/self-isolation here in Toronto, Canada.

This week I’ve had a few days of depression and it could be from the prolonged isolation and loneliness. But it could also be my diet of eating more heavy comfort foods that I’ve been cooking like mac n cheese tuna casseroles. It was delicious but I hadn’t been eating lighter live foods like salads or other raw fruits and vegetables.

I was also drawn to watching Sci Fi films I’ve loved over the years that happen to feature people dealing with isolation in outer space. All these stories took me away from my dark reality for awhile and, at the same time, gave me insights and positive thoughts to lift my spirits. Watching Matt Damon’s character in The Martian learn how to grow and eat potatoes is always fun and educational to watch!

Here is part 2 of my list of eight movie tips to inspire you to persevere and stay resilient during your quarantine time. Here are the next four films:

• The Martian (2015) Extended Edition
• Passengers (2016)
• 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
• WALL-E (2008)

The Martian (2015) Extended Edition

Plot: This science fiction, adventure is about astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) being stranded on Mars and learns how to survive.
Life Lessons: Learning to utilize whatever tools and supplies at hand after choosing to stay positive, resilient, optimistic and resourceful.
Watch/Rent or Buy: Amazon Prime Video

Passengers (2016)

Plot: This science fiction romance is about Jim Preston (Chris Pratt) being awakened too early on a 90 year journey on board a starship on its way to a new home planet.
Life Lessons: Learning to deal with prolonged isolation and the importance of social interaction; learning that some seemingly wrong decisions could turn out to have bigger more positive impacts on others.
Watch/Rent or Buy: Amazon Prime Video

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Plot: This science fiction epic is about man’s evolution and explores themes of existentialism, artificial intelligence, and the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
Life Lessons: This film is meant to be thought provoking and meditative. It’s lack of dialogue and abundance of visually stimulating images is accompanied with classical music that can help clear your mind of negativity.
Watch/Rent or Buy: Amazon Prime Video

WALL-E (2008)

Plot: This computer animated science fiction film is about WALL-E, a solitary trash compactor robot, working on a future, uninhabitable, deserted Earth.
Life Lessons: Learning how to cope with loneliness through uplifting songs and films. Learning about mankind’s responsibilities of caring for our planet.
Watch/Rent or Buy: Amazon Prime Video

Films like WALL-E reminded me of stunning images coming out now of our Earth healing from pollution because we have been in quarantine indoors around the world. My favourite image is a video of a jellyfish swimming in new, clear waters of the Venice, Italy. See: Jellyfish in Venice Canals

Let these movie tips help lift your spirits while in isolation and quarantine. Let them inspire new thoughts and rejuvenating feelings while allowing them to provide life lessons on how to persevere and stay resilient and optimistic. Most of all be reminded of the greater silver lining of this global quarantine at our homes is allowing the air, land, sea and animals to heal and thrive once again on planet Earth!

Related Tips:
Tip#1191: The Recipe For Resilience, Perseverance & Indestructible Optimism – COVID-19 – 6 Movie Tips
Tip#1192: Top Inspiring Movies About Isolation, Part 1 – COVID-19

SEE EMMANUEL's:

• Top Movies as Inspirational Learning Tools: www.Movies for Motivation.com

• Award-winning Illustrations: www.EmmanuelLopez.com

• Social Media Consulting Services: www.SocialMediaWingman.com

Remember How Movies Can Help You:
A) Entertain & Escape
B) Re-energize & Release
C) Inspiration & Motivation

Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Award-winning Illustrator | Movie Blogger | Speaker | Foodie
Discover Movies As Inspirational Learning Tools!
See website: www.MoviesForMotivation.com

© Emmanuel Lopez 2020

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Tip#1192: Top Inspiring Movies About Isolation, Part 1 – COVID-19

This is Day 35 of the COVID-19 quarantine/social distancing/self-isolation here in Toronto, Canada.

I continue to do my best to focus on the silver lining(s) of this global life change and my latest epiphany is that more time at home is a chance to reduce the noise in life. Decluttering my work/live space is one of these tasks I’ve been doing because I believe the amount of physical clutter is a mirror for the amount of mental clutter in our minds. I’m reducing the noise of mess in my home and in turn will make my mind feel lighter!

For example it’s been a joy to declutter and re-organize my kitchen cupboards because it feels so good whenever I open it now and see everything so tidy and easy to access. I was actually inspired by seeing the well-stocked and organized pantry of Will Smith’s character in the film, I Am Legend. This is one of several movies about people in isolation that I’ve been watching during quarantine. They are entertaining and escapist as well as teaching me some simple life lessons while in my own isolation.

I have a list of eight movies tips to inspire you to see the silver lining of your own situation during your quarantine time. Here are the first four:

• Blast from the Past (1999)
• Cast Away (2000)
• Gravity (2013)
• I Am Legend (2007) Alternate Ending Version

Blast from the Past (1999)

Plot: This romcom is about Adam Webber (Brendan Fraser) entering the world after spending 35 years in a nuclear fallout shelter with his parents (Christopher Walken and Sissy Spacek) since 1962.
Life Lessons: Learning to adapt to unexpected life changes of isolation and quarantine. Learning to be resourceful both during and after quarantine in a new, unknown world.
Watch/Rent or Buy: Amazon Prime Video

Cast Away (2000)

Plot: This survival drama is about Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks), a FedEx employee, stranded on an uninhabited island in the South Pacific and his desperate attempts to survive.
Life Lessons: Learning to adapt and cope with an unexpected crisis and solitude. Learning to be resourceful with the items at hand. Learning how to stay positive.
Watch/Rent or Buy: Amazon Prime Video

Gravity (2013)

Plot: This science fiction thriller is about Astronaut, Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock), stranded in space after the destruction of her space shuttle and her perseverance to return to Earth.
Life Lessons: Learning to mentally adapt and cope to a sudden crisis. Learning to solve problems one step at a time.
Watch/Rent or Buy: Amazon Prime Video

I Am Legend (2007) Alternate Ending Version

Plot: This post-apocalyptic action US Army virologist Robert Neville (Will Smith) living in deserted New York City after a virus seeking a cure while defending himself against hostile mutants.
Life Lessons: Learning to live life alone and cope with loneliness. Learning to keep to a schedule while continuing to work.
Watch/Rent or Buy: Amazon Prime Video

Unexpected life changes like being in isolation and quarantine can bring about uncomfortable stress and anxiety. At the same time you may have access to an abundance of movies to help you escape and re-energize while simultaneously provide empowering life lessons and tips to cope and adapt to this change. Find a film today to help you discover the silver lining of your situation!

Next blog post features Part 2:
• The Martian (2015) Extended Edition
• Passengers (2016)
• 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
• WALL-E (2008)

Related Tips:
Tip#1191: The Recipe For Resilience, Perseverance & Indestructible Optimism – COVID-19 – 6 Movie Tips

SEE EMMANUEL's:

• Top Movies as Inspirational Learning Tools: www.Movies for Motivation.com

• Award-winning Illustrations: www.EmmanuelLopez.com

• Social Media Consulting Services: www.SocialMediaWingman.com

Remember How Movies Can Help You:
A) Entertain & Escape
B) Re-energize & Release
C) Inspiration & Motivation

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Tip#1191: The Recipe For Resilience, Perseverance & Indestructible Optimism, Part 1 – COVID-19 – 6 Movie Tips

Today is Easter Sunday and Day 28 of the COVID-19 quarantine/social distancing/self-isolation here in Toronto, Canada. It’s a very different Easter weekend for every one around the world who are learning to cope with this new pandemic lifestyle. This is an area that I am so grateful I was initially thrown into learning over several years because of the life and mental health challenges I faced.

It was also April 9th recently and that marked the 10 year anniversary of one of the most painful decisions I ever had to make. It was the day I filed for bankruptcy and forced into a life change that was frightening. I lost my business, my home and most of my belongings. It was a dark tunnel I had no idea on when it would end which I know is a feeling many people are facing right now with this global pandemic.

And yet one of two silver linings of my experience was it led me to being diagnosed with two mental illnesses that caused my life and work to collapse. The second was that I discovered critical tools and methods that helped prepare me body, mind and spirit for coping with an unknown future. I was able to rewire my brain to cultivate a positive mindset. I was able to keep feeling light. And now, more than ever, I can help others develop their own resilience, perseverance and indestructible optimism.

One of these methods is my tried and true use of cinema as empowering, inspirational learning tools. Here are six films I watched during my quarantine that I highly recommend you see to re-vitalize your positivity:

• Bicentennial Man (1999)
• Open Range (2003)
• The Quick and the Dead (1995)
• The Ten Commandments (1956)
• The Terminal (2004)
• Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Bicentennial Man (1999)

Resilience: Andrew (Robin Williams) was a robot that stayed strong over 200 years in his quest to become more human.
Perseverance: Andrew never gave up his quest and always found humans along his long path who were happy to help him.
Optimism: Andrew always sought out solutions to his problems rather then dwell on the negatives.

Watch/rent or buy now: Amazon Prime Video

Open Range (2003)

Resilience: Boss Spearman (Robert Duvall) and Charley Waite (Kevin Costner) are two cattlemen in 1882 who fearlessly faced their enemies.
Perseverance: Boss and Charley never give up on their quest for justice.
Optimism: Boss and Charely consistently demonstrated a positive mindset and excellent leadership and teamwork skills.

Watch/rent or buy now: Amazon Prime Video

The Quick and the Dead (1995)

Resilience: Ellen (Sharon Stone) is a lone gunslinger in 1881 who survives childhood trauma and remains strong to accomplish an important goal.
Perseverance: Ellen never gave up on her goal except for one time where someone helps her back on her mission, a reminder that we are never alone in dark times.
Optimism: Despite some moments where Ellen loses her confidence she remains optimistic in freeing herself from her childhood trauma.

Watch/rent or buy now: Amazon Prime Video

The Ten Commandments (1956)

Resilience: Moses (Charlton Heston) demonstrates incredible inner strength in every painful life change he faced.
Perseverance: Moses never gave up even when his adversities seemed overwhelming or impossible to overcome.
Optimism: Moses had such a deep sense of belief and faith in something he couldn’t see that fueled his positivity and confidence.

Watch/rent or buy now: Amazon Prime Video

The Terminal (2004)

Resilience: Viktor Navorski (Tom Hanks) is forced to live at an airport (based on a true story).
Perseverance: Viktor never gave up and every day filled out permission forms for release because he believed one day he would be able to leave.
Optimism: Viktor learned how to eat and live life day by day using whatever he found around him.

Watch/rent or buy now: Amazon Prime Video

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Resilience: Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is able to escape the many traps he finds himself in while saving his entire race facing extinction.
Perseverance: Thor never gave up and always found a way through adversities with the help of the people around him.
Optimism: All the film characters demonstrate a lot of humour which is a key factor for you to remember to laugh, feel lighter and see the silver lining of the dark clouds you face.

Watch/rent or buy now: Amazon Prime Video

These are just some of the movies I’ve seen many times before and a reminder to you that repetition is an important factor for rewiring your mind for new habits of positive thinking. Witnessing how movie heroes deal with problems can empower us to be more aware, more conscious what we can do in our own lives.

When we feel forced into a painful life change it can seem hopeless, stressful and heavy with anxiety. And yet these times are the golden opportunities to rewire our brains for positive thinking. This is the perfect time to feed our minds using the recipe for resilience, perseverance and indestructible optimism. That recipe includes cinema as a primary ingredient! Find a film today to help lighten your mind and guide you to a brighter tomorrow!

For more of my uplifting movie tips: www.MoviesForMotivation.com

Related Tips:
Tip#200: How To Build Indestructible Optimism - Top 9 Movie Tips

SEE EMMANUEL's:

• Top Movies as Inspirational Learning Tools: www.Movies for Motivation.com

• Award-winning Illustrations: www.EmmanuelLopez.com

• Social Media Consulting Services: www.SocialMediaWingman.com

Remember How Movies Can Help You:
A) Entertain & Escape
B) Re-energize & Release
C) Inspiration & Motivation

Sunday, April 05, 2020

Tip#1190: Stay Light & Laugh, Part 2 – COVID-19 – Zombieland 2: Double Tap

This is Day 21 of the COVID-19 quarantine/social distancing/self-isolation here in Toronto, Canada.

Life continues to be surreal staying home and not seeing friends, family and colleagues in person. But I’m still going for my therapy walks when the sun is out so I can also get fresh air and vitamin D sunshine. My seasonal depression symptoms are still active but usually dissipate in April each year.

Shopping at grocery stores has become surreal with new labels on the floor for six feet social distancing between shoppers at the check out. I’m also getting extra cautious of whatever I’m touching as I’m learning that COVID-19 can still remain alive for a number of hours or days depending on the surface.

It’s also starting to get lonely being single and living alone during this quarantine. And at times I can feel stress and anxiety slowly creep up on me. Thankfully there is Facebook Messenger, FaceTime and Zoom for video chats to see a friendly face. And, of course, there is an abundance of movies to watch to lift myself up, inspire me to persevere and to just laugh and feel lighter!

Zombieland 2: Double Tap (2019)

The zombie, comedy film, Zombieland 2: Double Tap, is a sequel after ten years later with survivors Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) now dealing with evolved zombies while struggling with each other’s life issues. Highly entertaining, hilarious and lots of blood and guts, this film has great performances by all including new to the cast, Zoey Deutch, Rosario Dawson, Luke Wilson, Thomas Middleditch and Avan Jogia.
See: movie trailer
Watch/rent or buy now: Amazon Prime Video

I initially had no interest in seeing this sequel but it was perfect timing during this quarantine because it made me laugh so much! Zoey Deutch’s character as Madison was a standout and I enjoyed the witty dialogue that everyone delivered. There are also more fun Zombieland Survival Rules and the new character, Flagstaff (Thomas Middleditch), adds his own quirky zombie “Commandments” as well. Need a laugh? See this film and make sure you watch right to the very end past the credits!

Unexpected life changes can be stressful and fill us with anxiety. These are the times to remember to inject some fun and laughter into our days. These feel-good feelings make us feel lighter and clear our heads of negative thoughts and feelings. There are many comedy films to choose from so find one today and just laugh your head off!

For more of my uplifting movie tips: www.MoviesForMotivation.com

Related Tips:
Tip#1170: Just Have Fun, Part 10 - Charlie’s Angels 2019
Tip#1032: What Makes You Laugh? - Part 5 - Crazy People
Tip#483: Stay Light & Laugh – Paul – Bad Teacher

SEE EMMANUEL's:

• Top Movies as Inspirational Learning Tools: www.Movies for Motivation.com

• Award-winning Illustrations: www.EmmanuelLopez.com

• Social Media Consulting Services: www.SocialMediaWingman.com

Remember How Movies Can Help You:
A) Entertain & Escape
B) Re-energize & Release
C) Inspiration & Motivation