Movies That Motivate | The Adventures of Motivatorman!: 2021

Sunday, December 19, 2021

Tip#1265: The Recipe For Resilience, Part 71 – Spider-Man: No Way Home

This is Day 643 of the COVID-19 pandemic here in Toronto, Canada.

The new, rampant COVID variant called Omicron has prompted new warnings and restrictions here in Toronto a week before Christmas Day. This adds to the lack of Christmas spirit I’ve been feeling since I’ll be spending the holidays mostly alone for a second year. But little moments are helping lift my mood like my anticipation and excitement of seeing a certain new movie in a theatre and sharing it with a friend recently.

SPOILER ALERT!

The film was Spider-Man: No Way Home and it has been a source of excitement for over a year because it was rumored to include characters and stars from other cinematic versions of Spider-Man. That excitement is an example of what has been fueling my positive emotional energy during the isolation of this long pandemic.

And when I was finally in the theatre with a good friend beside me I settled in for an experience that truly moved my cinematic soul and touched my heart in a deep, nostalgic way.

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

The superhero, action film, Spider-Man: No Way Home, is the third of a trilogy and is about Peter Parker (Tom Holland) asking Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to make his identity as Spider-Man a secret again after it was shockingly revealed in the previous film. But this magic spell breaks open the multiverse, allowing five supervillains from alternate realities who have fought their own versions of Parker to enter Peter's universe. The movie also stars Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Jamie Foxx, Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire.
See: movie trailer
Watch/Rent or Buy now: Amazon Prime Video

This highly entertaining film is even more exciting for all those who have seen the first Spider-Man trilogy (2002) starring Tobey Maguire and the second version (2012) starring Andrew Garfield. These amazing, nostalgic scenes were truly emotional and even surreal for me and the audience. Plus the story arcs and relationships between these previous Spider-man characters were allowed to continue and find satisfying closure in this new film.

I found all the performances to be so amazing and amplified the many life lessons that were at the heart of this superhero story. Themes like helping those in urgent need and productive teamwork shine brightly through the thrilling action scenes as well as the quieter interactions of the characters. And yes I cried at a number of scenes which I also counted as times to feel positive emotional energy flowing through me.

Excitement, anticipation and nostalgia can be fantastic sources of feel-good energy. They can help keep your spirits positive and hopeful for better days to come. So when the world feels like it's crashing down around you and you feel isolated please remember to let yourself feel good about something you love!

Happy Holidays All!

Join my free monthly Zoom group: High Notes Movie Club

Part 11 – The Farmer’s Daughter
Part 12 – Amélie
Part 13 – Hail the Conquering Hero – The Lady Eve
Part 14 – Back To School
Part 15 – Project Power – An American Pickle
Part 16 – The Secret: Dare to Dream
Part 17 – Chadwick Boseman – 42 – Black Panther
Part 18 – Phenomenon
Part 19 – Mulan 2020
Part 20 – Waitress - Labor Day - Michael

Part 21 – Enola Holmes
Part 22 – Kiss the Groun d
Part 23 – Top 5 Inspiring Thanksgiving Movie Scenes
Part 24 – Hubie Halloween
Part 25 – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Part 26 – The Queen’s Gambit
Part 27 – Trading Places
Part 28 – Greenland
Part 29 – Logan’s Run
Part 30 – Moonstruck

Part 31 – Remember the Night
Part 32 – Tenet
Part 33 – Noel
Part 34 – Soul
Part 35 – Feel Good Energy of Movies & TV Shows
Part 36 – Last Holiday 1950 & 2006
Part 37 – Synchronic
Part 38 – Appetite for Love
Part 39 – Tomorrowland
Part 40 – Cinderella 2015

Part 41 – Top Secret! – Real Genius
Part 42 – Close Encounters of the Fifth Kind
Part 43 – Coming 2 America
Part 44 – In & Of Itself
Part 45 – Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Part 46 – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Part 47 – Bill & Ted Face the Music
Part 48 – Housesitter
Part 49 – Tampopo
Part 50 – You’ll Never Get Rich

Part 51 – The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart
Part 52 – Avatar 2009 – Forest Bathing
Part 53 – WarGames
Part 54 – Oxygen
Part 55 – Cruella
Part 56 – History is Made at Night
Part 57 – The Celestine Prophecy
Part 58 – The More the Merrier
Part 59 – Born a Champion
Part 60 – Chef

Part 61 – Night at the Museum Trilogy
Part 62 – Free Guy
Part 63 – Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Part 64 – Source Code
Part 65 – Super Me
Part 66 – Battlestar Galactica 2003
Part 67 – No Time To Die
Part 68 – The Eternals
Part 69 – They Call Me Trinity – Trinity is Still My Name
Part 70 – Ghostbusters: Afterlife

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 2021

Sunday, December 12, 2021

Tip#1264: The Recipe For Resilience, Part 70 – Ghostbusters: Afterlife

This is Day 636 of the COVID-19 pandemic here in Toronto, Canada.

I truly believe that the universe will make sure you see a film that will lift you up or inspire you when you need it most. And sometimes a friend will be the one who guides you to that specific movie that can activate your inner emotions allowing you to feel joy or release some happy tears. This happened recently when I was thinking of seeing Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

I was never a big fan of the original Ghostbuster movies of the mid 80’s though I remember enjoying these two films. I did like the 2016 reboot with the female Ghostbusters team and loved the nostalgic feelings I got. Strangely though I wasn’t excited about the trailers for the direct sequel to the original two films called Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

For three weeks after the film opened I could hear my inner voice saying I needed to see the film but chose to ignore it. It’s partly because I wasn’t feeling well from seasonal depression and also I couldn’t imagine how good it could be based on the trailers.

Then recently a good friend wanted to see any film at the closest theatre after we had lunch. The one we both agreed upon was Ghostbusters: Afterlife. To my surprise I ended up loving it so much! Unfortunately I can’t even tell you exactly why so you can discover it for yourself. You’ll just need to have some trust.

Ghostbusters Afterlife (2021)

The supernatural comedy film, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, is set 32 years after the events of Ghostbusters II and is about two kids, Phoebe (Mckenna Grace), Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and their single mother Callie Spengler (Carrie Coon) moving to a small town in Oklahoma, where they discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and their grandfather's secret legacy. This highly entertaining sequel features excellent performances by the entire cast that also includes Paul Rudd, Celeste O'Connor, Bokeem Woodbine and several surprise cameos.
See: movie trailer
Watch/Rent or Buy now: Amazon Prime Video

What I can tell you:

I absolutely loved the pure nostalgic feelings I felt watching this film! It was also funny, witty and I instantly loved each character especially Phoebe. The music was perfect in capturing the fun of the 80’s while making the events of the original Ghostbusters film believable in today’s world.

What I can’t tell you:

I’m so sorry I cannot reveal exactly what caused me to have a powerful, emotional moment that made me cry. And during this moment I became so aware of why the universe (or my guardian angels/spirits) wanted me to see this movie. You’ll just need to trust your own inner voice and see it if you feel guided to. But the only clue I can give is right in the title of this movie!

Sometimes you need to trust in something intangible that lives in the invisible spirit world. Sometimes you need to trust in your inner voice to make decisions that could lead to moves or the answers you’ve been seeking. Trust in wherever the universe will guide you today to feel better or get unstuck in life!

Join my free monthly Zoom group: High Notes Movie Club

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, November 21, 2021

Tip#1263: The Recipe For Resilience, Part 69 – They Call Me Trinity – Trinity is Still My Name

This is Day 615 of the COVID-19 pandemic here in Toronto, Canada.

What a joy it was to find an unexpected delivery of freshly baked bread in a brown bag at my door early on a cold Saturday morning! An old friend has been baking these traditional three ingredient loaves for many months and his surprise gift of much needed comfort food helped me cope with an extra intense time of seasonal depression this year (SAD, winter depression). Random acts of kindness really do go a long way for feeling great!

I also have new cinematic comfort food when I recently discovered the joy of the spaghetti western film genre through a fun clip I found on YouTube of a man devouring a big frying pan full of yummy looking beans. It made me so hungry that I slow roasted a pork shoulder, cut it in juicy chunks and then added a can of beans in tomato sauce for a delicious, hearty lunch!

The clip was from the 70’s film, They Call Me Trinity, and soon after I found two other foodie clips from its sequel, Trinity is Still My Name, showing Trinity’s family enjoying a big roasted bird and another clip of Trinity and his brother enjoying some French fine dining. These spaghetti westerns are now added to my feel good films list and maybe even foodie film lists!

They Call Me Trinity (1970)

The Italian Spaghetti Western comedy film, They Call Me Trinity, is about a lazy, unorthodox gunfighter Trinity (Terence Hill) and his horse-thieving brother Bambino (Bud Spencer) impersonating the law to defend a Mormon settlement from a land-grabbing mayor, a Mexican bandit, and all their henchmen. This entertaining film is filled with great, and sometimes silly, performances by the whole cast.
See: movie trailer
Watch/Rent or Buy now: Amazon Prime Video

This film was brimming with a pure sense of fun and very likeable characters! There were many memorable scenes like the opening beans binging scene as well as Trinity’s saloon challenge of drinking whiskey and then shooting the glasses he throws in the air before it hits the ground. The card game Trinity and Bambino plays was goofy fun as well as the hilarious slap stick like scenes of Trinity showing how fast he is with a gun by slapping his challenger in the face multiple times! These two brothers are oozing with playful charm.

Trinity is Still My Name (1971)

The Italian Spaghetti Western comedy film, Trinity is Still My Name, is about a would-be horse rustler Bambino (Bud Spencer) teaching his brother Trinity (Terence Hill) to become an outlaw and ending up doing good deeds for people. This highly entertaining sequel has more of the same as the first film, They Call Me Trinity with great performances by all.
See: movie trailer
Watch/Rent or Buy now: Amazon Prime Video

I really loved the fun of the random acts of kindness Trinity and Bambino provides to strangers along their journey. There are also the two dining scenes of the roasted bird and French fine dining I mentioned that any foodie would love to see! There is also another hilarious fast-draw scene of Trinity slapping his challenger multiple times.

And though these spaghetti westerns can be cheesy and silly at times they are also full of heart and a huge sense of innocent fun! Trinity is also full of confidence will lightening quick draw skills and is always fearless in confrontations that I found to be very inspiring!

Whether it’s comfort food or cinematic comfort food, these can be your personal go-to-solutions to helping lift your mood quickly when you feel the blues or depressed about life. Enjoy some delicious foods today while you watch a favourite film with favourite characters that'll make you feel great all day long!

Join my free monthly Zoom group: High Notes Movie Club

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, November 07, 2021

Tip#1262: The Recipe For Resilience, Part 68 – The Eternals

This is Day 601 of the COVID-19 pandemic here in Toronto, Canada.

I continue to feel heavy symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD or winter depression) as we enter the colder winter months. Watching movies, extra vitamin D supplements and daily therapy walks soaking up the warm sunshine on my face always feels fantastic and helps lift my mood and soothe my mind from ruminating, negative thoughts.

Thankfully, I continue to practice my daily Qigong exercises (see tip#1259) which helps me focus, visualize and believe in the power of the universe all around me as an energy resource. The practice includes visualizing my connection with the universe and saying this three-part mantra:

• I am in the universe
• The universe is in my body
• The universe and I combine together

Video for Qigong exercise: Spring Forest Qigong

Just like The Force in Star Wars, Qigong (or Chi energy) is inside each of us and flows through the universe. So by visualizing how vast the universe is makes it easier to believe in this invisible energy source. Movies can help us visualize this vastness especially fantasy and SCI FI films and even those about superheroes!

The Eternals (2021)

The superhero, action, drama film, The Eternals, is about ten immortal beings with superhuman powers who’ve secretly lived on Earth for thousands of years emerging from hiding and reunite to battle their evil counterparts, the Deviants. This is a highly engaging, entertaining chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) which stars an excellent, multicultural, ensemble cast that includes Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lia McHugh, Brian Tyree Henry, Lauren Ridloff, Barry Keoghan, Don Lee, Harish Patel, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, and Angelina Jolie.
See: movie trailer
Watch/Rent or Buy now: Amazon Prime Video

This movie is truly epic in its storytelling because it spans thousands of years on Earth and introduces us to massive, galactic characters and concepts called The Celestials. It also introduces ten new Marvel comics characters done so skillfully by director, Chloé Zhao, who won many awards for her film Nomadland (2020) including Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture. The film also features several firsts in the MCU such as the first deaf actress playing a deaf superhero character and first gay couple.

What lingers in my mind are the visually stunning images of the enormity of The Celestials. These scenes and concepts is what help empower my Qigong practice and feeds my imagination to connect deeper in the power of Chi energy flowing through the universe.

Creative visualization is a powerful tool for helping each of us out of difficult times. It helps activate our imagination to picture positive solutions and futures instead of dwelling and ruminating on the past and fears that have not even happened yet. Find a film today to activate your imagination!

Join my free monthly Zoom group: High Notes Movie Club

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