Movies that cheer us up. Especially Star Wars!

The year is 1983, it's a cold night in Durham. I'm standing in a very long queue outside my local picture house (cinema) with my mum and older sister waiting to see Return of the Jedi.

I was nine!

Now, for all that sounds like a standard thing... queueing I mean... to me it was one of the most exciting feelings I'd ever have as a kid.

I was about to be transported into the Star Wars Universe for the third time!

I loved the first two - Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back, I even had some of the toys, including the Millenium Falcon and figures including Han & Chewie!

But this was the last in the trilogy after the second instalment left fans with so many questions - " No Luke, I am your father"... you catch my drift!

I actually still remember seeing a friend of mine walk past me in the queue who'd just seen it and I asked (shouted in a 9-year-old giddy way more like!)

" what's it like?"... "Ohhhhh Lee, it's amazing, you're gonna go nuts!" he replied

Now I was already at a new level of excitement before I saw him but with that one sentence, I found myself jumping into HyperSpace... WOW!

The queue eventually went down and we all found our seats. I didn't want any popcorn or sweets either and practically ran past the food area. I remember my older sister being agitated with my giddiness, she wanted food but there was no way this was happening. I knew she'd be eating throughout the film which was going to drive me crazy!

I wasn't sitting behind a Giant either and could see the whole screen, although my mum made sure I'd get the best seat out the 3 of us. My sister was having a really good nite so far! :-)

And then it starts!

Sssssssssssshhhhhh, everyone.

Now, for any original Star Wars fans, the beginning will always have the 20th Century Fox music. That's not a dig at Disney in any way but there's something about their title music which married perfectly with John Williams main theme. You know the one I mean with the scrolling storyline - baaaaa babbababaaaaa ba ba ba baaa aaa baaa baaa baaa baaa aaa baaaaaaaaaaa baaaa baaa BAAAAA BAAAAA ( I might have missed a few Baaaaas here!)

And so there I am... sitting watching in awe.

The space battles... new characters... Darth Vs Luke... it just blew me away!

When it all finished I came out feeling like I'd just seen the most perfect thing in all my life, and for 2 hours I'd escaped. Taken to a place pushing my 9-year-old imaginations to the limit!

That night will stay in my memory forever.

So, why share this? (by the way writing that bit was pure joy!)

I guess it's to demonstrate the power a good movie can have on our emotions. And look, I know films & TV are not everyone's cup of tea and people can get that level of joy & excitement reading a good book... which is awesome.

But if there is a point here it's to demonstrate there's still a place in our lives for a good story. They help us feel good especially at the moment with so much sadness and sorrow in the world!

And okay, these emotions we feel might not be permanent., like a temporary Elastoplast healing a big wound! But, for a short period, they elevate us to that happier place where we need to be now and again... Pure escapism.

So, as a huge movie fan, I thought I'd share 20 films that might make you feel good.

Here's my 20ish:

1) It's a Wonderful Life - If you haven't seen it then shame on you! Starring James Stewart it tells the story of a family man trying to do the right thing but unfortunately, he falls on bad luck. And, ends up finding help from an angelic character!

2) Castaway - Tom Hanks as always is easy to watch but I think of all his performances this is my favourite. Oh and as endings go... one of the best.

3) Citizen Kane - Now, before you think I'm going all pretentious with movies I'm just throwing in here to be cool, I actually only watched this 8 months ago... and let me tell you... it's fantastic. Orson Welles is sublime.

4) Angels with Dirty Faces - A story of how good or bad luck can change our lives... amazing acting too with James Cagney and Pat O'Brien in the lead roles.

5) Shawshank Redemption - How this never won the Oscar is still a mystery as it's everyone's favourite. I was one of the lucky ones to see it at the cinema... twice! The ending is also spectacular.

6) Soul - I thought Pixar might struggle to ever get to the dizzy heights of UP ( no pun intended ) but in Soul they have... and then some! Thought-provoking and magical.

7) Ben Hur - Beleive it or not this is still one of my favourites. One of those your Nana would make you watch on Boxing Day... but what a story. Also, if my mum knew I never included it I'd be in big trouble!

8) Spartacus - For me, this will always be perfect. And Kirk Douglas... "I'm Spartacus!".

9) Rocky - I love a story about an underdog overcoming adversity. And actually, there's a speech in one of the more recent ones which really hits home. See here.

10) UP - It's a toss of a coin as to which I prefer from Pixar... this or Soul... I think Soul just edges it but this is still an awesome film.

11) Float - This short movie from Pixar is about a dad who is bringing up a boy with a talent he's trying to hide from the rest of the world. Inspired by a dad of a little boy with Autism it is, without doubt, one of the most accurate, educational and loving films going! A must-see for anyone interested in neurodiversity.

12) Lincoln - I keep this in my box set at home. I do so just to remind me if anyone ever questions who the greatest actor of all time is ( and there's been a few! ) I direct them to look at Daniel Day-Lewis. For 2 and a bit hours, he is honest Abe... amazing!

13) Interstellar - Probably one of the best movies I ever saw at the cinema. Also, just my opinion, I think it's Christopher Nolan's magnum opus! One of my favourite films of all time.

14) Forrest Gump - I nearly forgot! :-) Nothing else needs to be said.

15) When Harry Met Sally - Rob Reiners best.

16) The Princess Bride - A lot of people love this film... The craic between characters and the storyline is awesome!

17) About Time - I absolutely loved this movie. A strong message too!

18) Big Fish - a film which always makes me think of my dad and for that reason will always be important.

19) Jerry Maguire - Just an all-round good movie.

20) I should finish my list with Star Wars... but, I'm not including them as all the 3 originals mean more than just a good mood. They were my childhood. So, at number 20 it's Billy Elliot. A story about a kid from the same region in the UK as me. It's set in a time when people were out of work and didn't have much. It's a film about defiance & determination and as endings go... again... fantastic!

Oh, and the ish... there's 2.

21) Good Will Hunting - "how'd you like them apples"! & 22) ET - my older sister cried at the end in the cinema & I didn't... so for that reason, I'm keeping it in! :-)

Popcorn at the ready!