Introducing... The Watchers Feelgood Films!

Things feel pretty grim at the moment, don't they? So much worry. So much stress and anxiety. The endless cycle of news and social media posting can leave you feeling drained and (frankly) joyless.

There's not much we can do to help, but we can do a little. So today, we start a new blog feature which we hope will help spread a little happiness during these trying times. Introducing...

The Watchers' Feelgood Films!

In this feature, the three of us are going to showcase our "feelgood films". These are films that we enjoy, that give us that nice warm cozy feeling, and we feel good after watching them (something which, given the current state of the world, we sorely need!)

So, for our first choices, Matt recommends...

Batman: The Movie (1966)

Dir: Leslie H. Martinson

Starring: Adam West, Burt Ward, Cesar Romero, Burgess Meredith, Frank Gorshin, and Lee Meriwether

Are there better Batman films out there? Yes (Mask of the Phantasm and Batman Begins, especially), but none are as much fun, or put a massive smile on your face, like this bonkers and joyous hundred-odd minute.

This is camp fun that cannot be replicated (Joel Schumacher tried and failed with 1997’s Batman and Robin): West trying to dispose of a bomb without harming women, children, or nuns; the Bat Copter complete with “Bat Ladder”; that shark!

Everyone gives it all, performance-wise. Lee Meriwether over Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman any day. Danny DeVito is a dad’s Sunday five-a-side team compared to Burgess Meredith’s Premiership-topping Penguin. And Chris O’Donnell’s Robin isn’t singing from the same hymn sheet, in the same ballpark, or even playing the same sport as Burt Ward.

Bat fans often mention Hamill, Nicholson, or Ledger as their favourite Joker, but there’s a strong argument for Cesar Romero. Of all the actors who have played the Clown Prince of Crime, Romero is the only actor who portrayed him as someone without an agenda, he breaks the rules because he can, no other reason. Ledger tapped into the same vein with his remarkable performance, however there is reasoning behind his Joker’s actions: he is an anarchist. Hamill is probably the closest anyone has got to Romero’s madness and unpredictability.

I will also happily argue with anyone down the pub that Adam West has the best Batmobile – it is a thing of unsurpassed beauty.

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Tez recommends...

Monty Python And The Holy Grail (1975)

Dir: Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones

Starring: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam

Not quite as family-friendly as Matt's suggestion, but I defy anyone not to laugh (at least once) during what is- for me- Monty Python's finest film. 

So much of this film has passed into the cultural landscape; it's a rare person who doesn't know The Knights who say "Ni!", the Killer Bunny of Caerbannog, or the insult "Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries". Even now, after many repeated viewings, I can watch the Bridge of Death scene ("What is your name?") or the Black Knight fight ("None shall pass"), and still be chuckling like a fool. 

Of course, in Python tradition, the main six play lots of different roles. Chapman plays an admirably straight Arthur (against the mounting absurdities around him), whilst Cleese goes gung-ho as the swordhappy Sir Lancelot, gives what can only be described as "an eccentric performance" as the Scottish Enchanter named Tim, and layers ze outraygeous accent on thick as the Taunting French Guard. Palin plays the belligerent villager Dennis, who challenges Arthur's authority as king, brilliantly and also gives voice to the lead Knight who says "Ni!" and the grasping King of Swamp Castle.   

Idle's "brave Sir Robin" is a masterclass in cowardice, whilst he adds to the humour straight off as the man collecting the dead. Jones is simply superb as the simpering Prince Herbert whilst also playing Bedevere (who has some odd ideas about science), whilst Gilliam rounds the cast off nicely with his trademark animations and also plays the Bridgekeeper in Scene 24. There's lovely support from Connie Booth, Carol Cleveland, and Neil Innes too. 

It's a brilliantly bonkers slice of fun that will help chase the blues away. Give it a try if you haven't before. And if you have... then watch it again!