Article by Abby Paras '24
Part of the DSJ's Finals Distractor
Finals season is upon us, and though it’s important to study hard and do well on exams, sometimes it’s good to take a break from the TWAMP mentality and not work yourself to death. Finding time to relax and destress is just as important as studying hard and preparing for exams. There are so many great ways to destress, but a personal favorite of mine is watching movies. There are so many great movies available on different streaming services that are perfect to just relax or zone out to. I’ve selected five of my personal favorites to share, in the hopes that it may get some people through the next week.
1. Ratatouille (2007)
Ratatouille is one of my all-time favorite movies, and it’s the one that I go to when I just need to relax and have a laugh. I’m pretty sure everyone in the world knows the plot of the movie, but just for a quick refresher: Remy is a rat who loves to cook, and when he ends up in Paris, his dream comes true. He works alongside the human Linguini to restore the good name of Gusteau’s restaurant, among other adventures. The film’s color palette and overall aesthetic are definitely soothing, and the cooking scenes are some of my favorite film moments. When Remy starts fixing the soup or making the ratatouille, I can’t help but relax. Though Ratatouille is technically a children’s movie, those are the best ones to relieve stress. You don’t have to think too hard, and they always have a feel-good ending. Another fun fact: the actor who voices Remy, Patton Oswalt, is a William & Mary alum.
Where to watch: Disney+
2. Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
So this one can technically apply to any Studio Ghibli film, but I particularly like this one for the soundtrack. There’s just something about Ghibli aesthetics that lures you in and soothes you to the point of contentedness. Again, this one is a children’s movie, but it isn’t too intense and is certainly compelling enough to distract you for two hours. The movie follows a girl named Sophie after she is cursed by a witch. She moves into the wizard Howl’s moving castle, and learns of his fight for resistance against the war in various kingdoms. It’s incredibly nuanced and has a beautiful animation style, but is easy enough to follow and has another feel-good ending. Again, this could apply to any Ghibli film, so you can take your pick. All of them have gorgeous animation styles and an incredibly calming aesthetic.
Where to watch: HBO Max
3. Armageddon (1998)
Okay, hear me out on this one. Yes, this movie is terrible in so many ways. It is the most predictable action movie ever. It is a genuinely corny film that is kind of terribly made. So why would I recommend it? Because it’s a mindless action movie that’s easy to follow. Nothing gets stress out like watching a group of guys blow stuff up in space with no basis in science. Trust me on this. Again, this recommendation could apply to literally any action movie out there, so long as the plot is predictable and every moment is basically laughable. Basically, an asteroid is about to hit earth, so Bruce Willis and his crew need to go to space and blow it up. That’s the entire plot. This is a great movie to put on just for background noise, because you literally don’t need to even follow the plot to know what happens in the end. The acting and special effects are so over-the-top that it immediately relaxes me. It’s a great punching bag movie; that is, a movie that you can endlessly bully to get your own frustrations out. Seriously, if you haven’t tried cheesy 90s action movies to get your stress out, you need to get on that. Plus, the soundtrack is kind of awesome. Seriously, they packed as many Aerosmith songs into this movie as humanly possible.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Showtime
4. Mamma Mia! (2008)
What’s more relaxing than ABBA music? Not much. Another genre of movie I love to watch to destress is musicals. This is a great one not only for its catchy songs and gorgeous Greek island aesthetic, but also for—you guessed it—the feel-good ending. Sometimes you just need a happy movie to distract from real life. This is another movie that most people already know: Sophie is getting married, but doesn’t know who her real father is. She invites three possible matches and chaos ensues. It’s a cute and cheesy movie, and all of the songs scattered throughout will make you want to sing and dance alone in your room. After all, can’t we all be the dancing queen? Donna and Sophie both seem so happy and carefree on the island that you can’t help but want the same thing. It’s a great idea for an escape from the pressure of exams, even if just for a short period of time.
Where to watch: Starz
5. Any Christmas movie
Okay, I know it might be a little early for Christmas, but there’s nothing wrong with a little shot of holiday cheer right before finals. After all, Thanksgiving is fast-approaching, and everyone knows that you can start celebrating Christmas after that. Pretty much any Christmas movie will do since they’re all feel-good and easy to follow. There’s just something about the snow falling down, the pretty lights, and the carols that make the world seem a little better. Home Alone is streaming on Disney+, Jim Carrey’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas is on Netflix, and Die Hard (which absolutely is a Christmas movie) is streaming on HBO Max. So yes, it may be a little early to start watching Christmas movies, but is there really anything else that can cheer you up like one?
These are just a few of the movies that I like to watch to destress. If anything, you can pick pretty much any movie in any of these genres (animated/children’s, action, musical/romance, holiday), and enjoy. Remember to take some time for yourself this week and try to relax. We’ve almost made it through a full semester, so make sure that health, both physical and mental, is your first priority. Enjoy your movie-watching and good luck on exams!