5 Films That Made Me Fall in Love with Cinema
Movies are more than just balance sheets and production budgets. They are a strategic escape where reality stays on the other side of the door. Most importantly, they let us forget reality and walk into a different world for two hours.
Sometimes that world will be realistic, maybe even more than we were looking for, and sometimes it will be like a completely different universe. And that is why I fell in love with cinema and why certain films have considerably marked my growing up.
The Goonies (1985)
As a child, the title "The Goonies" felt mysterious, almost like a ghost story. I didn't know then that it would become my ultimate lesson in friendship and preserving childhood memories. I was just happy when I finally saw it. A group of friends who decide to save their homes by going on a treasure hunt. And it was nothing more than a pirate treasure that was always more of a myth than a fact.
After a long time had passed since I first saw it, thanks to that movie, I learned the value of friendship, family and preserving precious childhood memories. Needless to say, all the ideas about searching for treasure in my neighbour's yard came from The Goonies.
Read the entire article and see why The Goonies is the ultimate example of growing up.
Empire of the Sun (1987)
Empire of the Sun was a shock to me because at that moment, films were no longer just a means of entertainment; they also became a carrier of a message. Watching a boy who, at one point, no longer has the right to childhood, but is forced to grow up prematurely by watching all kinds of horrors, was so striking that I still remember it today. This visual and deeply emotional masterpiece will always hold a special place in my heart among the best films ever made.
If you've ever wondered why this Spielberg classic is a masterpiece when it comes to the emotional side of storytelling, find out in the full article.
Back to the Future (1985)
I know many scientists roll their eyes at the mention of this movie, but it is everything it should be: pure entertainment. Back to the Future is the blueprint for a perfect script. One car, one eccentric scientist, and zero wasted scenes. It's pure cinematic energy that still holds up 40 years later. As much as time travel confuses me, the fact is that getting into a car to travel to the future or the past was enough for me.
Jurassic Park (1993)
Watching the glass of water shake in that car wasn't just a visual effect. It was the moment I realized cinema could make the impossible feel terrifyingly real. I didn't see dolls on the screen; I saw dinosaurs. I don't know where to start. From the scene when Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler see dinosaurs for the first time.
That scene left a significant impact on me. It marked the beginning of future blockbusters with visual effects that seem unrealistic at times. So that moment when the T. rex approached was so realistic that I didn't feel like I was in the cinema; I felt terrified, like Lex and Tim in the car, because I couldn't believe what was happening. Truly a film that only confirmed why I love movies so much.
That moment when you realize that the impossible becomes real. Read how Spielberg marked a turning point when it comes to visual effects.
Arrival (2016)
Unlike films that won me over with their visual effects and return to childhood, Arrival touched me in more ways than one. Arrival didn't just "make me think". It forced me to redefine courage. This movie taught me that being fearless isn't about avoiding the path; it's about embracing the journey even when you know exactly where it leads. I always said: "I wish I knew what was coming because then I would know what not to do,". This film reassured me. What exactly does that mean?
Brave people are those who know the path their lives will take and decide to embrace the journey anyway. That's the beauty of Arrival, which is a bridge between real human stories and science fiction.
Read my full review of how Arrival changed the definition of courage and the concept of time.