To celebrate the new year, here is a list of movies with NYE celebration in them. Fun, feel-good, fantastic movies to watch tonight or on weekends!
Ghostbusters II
A classic comedy set in New York at New Years Eve, the Ghostbusters sequel is a simple save the world on a countdown story with wacky hijinks along the way. Featuring comedy, the supernatural and one of the most ear wormy songs ever, Ghostbusters (the entire series really) is well worth watching.
Here’s hoping the next one doesn’t disappoint.
Bridget Jones’s Diary
The first new year’s romantic comedy on the list, Bridget Jones’s Diary, based on the book of the same name, is amongst the best of the genre. Starring Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, this reimagining of Pride and Prejudice (yes, a film adaption of a book which was adapted from another book) is a nice bit of light, charming and funny entertainment.
Sleepless in Seattle
The next rom com drama here, Sleepless in Seattle starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan is set with the two main character haven’t never met each other and are in fact across an entire country, only brought together by way of a radio show (yep, old movie). The plot may be nothing new but the acting is top notch and sincerely likable. Worth a watch if you have the time for it.
While You Were Sleeping
More rom com. Girl (Sandra Bullock) falls in love with with guy (Peter Gallagher), guy falls onto train tracks, girl saves guy who goes into a coma while girl is mistaken for guy’s fiancée by his family, girl hangs around guy and falls in love with guy’s brother (Bill Pullman). And the entire comedy of errors and misunderstandings along the way.
Forrest Gump
If you haven’t watched Forrest Gump, go watch Forrest Gump. A cornerstone of modern culture and a reference to most of recent american history. Tom Hanks plays the titular Forrest Gump, in one of the best performances by an actor in one of the greatest movies of all time. (Six Oscars, including Best Actor, Director and Picture)
The Holiday
Even more rom com. Two women (Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet) do what many of us dream of, just dropping everything and going somewhere far, far away. For them, it’s about escaping heartbreak and finding love (Jude Law and Jack Black) again. If you want to see the results of the fantasy as acted out by some of the best Hollywood has to offer, check it out.
New Year's Eve
Still more rom com, (no more I swear!) this one is a series of vignettes starring a massive ensemble cast of acting A-listers. It’s all happily ever after and holiday cheer, so go into it and expect to be entertained for two hours. Or poke fun at it; it’s still two hours of good times with friends or family.
All's Well, Ends Well
Hong Kong’s own brand of ‘mo lei tau’ humour from the film giant Stephen Chow and some of the biggest names to come out of the local entertainment scene (Raymond Wong, Maggie Cheung, Sandra Ng, Teresa Mo and the late Leslie Cheung). This is still funny, still entertaining and still a cult classic 20 years on.
Radio Days
Dating back to 1987 by the great Woody Allen, Radio Days is a nostalgic trip back to the Golden Age of radio. Not exactly current and its relevance is arguable, but a classic is a classic. Though one can’t be faulted for not really getting the zeitgeist, the spirit of the times which the film so heartwarmingly portrays.
The Gold Rush
Charlie Chaplin. The progenitor of making people laugh, comedy and humor in films since they were silent, black and white and actually on physical film.
This is the big one on the list. While the above films all have their merits, this is a genuine cultural milestone and a film to watch for film buffs, would be comics and most anyone who cares about movies at all.