Last fall I began a new topic on seasonal films, my favorite movies to see during certain seasons. I have already written about my favorite fall time, Christmas, and winter movies and will now conclude with my favorite spring time and summer movies. I realize springtime has come to a past as we stand in the midst of this July summer, yet I want to knock both of these posts out at once while I have some free time. So onto this category; my favorite movies to watch during the spring time.
The first thing I should do before describing my favorite films to watch during the spring season, is to describe what spring means to me. It's a transitional season, the light at the end of a tunnel. The winter cold is brushed aside with warm winds and rain that bring on new plants and colors. It's a time of hope, inspiration, laughter, warmth, joy, and love.
As a student, it gave us a week long break usually at the end of March. And by May was usually the end of school and the beginning of summer. And of course there was that glorious feeling of graduation I felt three times in spring. In sports it marks the beginning of baseball season and the end of soccer and basketball season. Its a time when you feel more inclined to enjoy outside rather than inside; which I understand is perhaps not the base case for movie viewing, yet nonetheless every season has it's downtime.
I should also once again make clear that this film list is in regards to the spring season, rather than it's overall acclaim. For me, there are certain movies that just work better during certain times. For example a football movie is best during the fall and a baseball movie is best during the spring or summertime. I have often associated this rule to my movies and music since I can remember. Perhaps it's just being a lifelong Midwestern native enduring the four seasons, or I'm just a overly picky person. Nonetheless here are my favorite movies to watch during the spring season.
Honorable Mention
10. Garden State- This one has personal reasons for me as I remember watching it during the spring of 2004 when I was a sophomore in college. I was in love at that time, and the music from this film carried me thru spring-time and into summer. The plot incorporates themes of homecoming, recreation, friendship, and love all elements that could be associated to the spring. The setting also has many outdoor scenes in the warm and rainy season of New Jersey. The soundtrack also has a spring quality to it, with it's calm and dreamlike song selection.
9. Annie Hall- This is perhaps one of Woody Allen's most iconic films. It is a romantic comedy unlike anything I've ever seen before. When I think of this film I think of two lovers strolling thru New York City, in a temperature that is neither hot nor cold. It is a springtime setting for me, associated with the outdoors, flowers, the beach, and the booming city.
8. The Passion- The Lenten season usually begins during wintertime and ends with Easter Sunday at the onset of spring. For me there is no other Lenten movie (Or Easter for that matter) quite as powerful as Mel Gibson's Passion. This film is a dramatic portrayal of the final days of Jesus Christ and his crucifixion. It has many emotional moments, some that are just difficult to watch that demonstrate the suffering that Jesus Christ enduring during his crucifixion. Since the movie first came out in 2004, it has become a Lenten tradition for my dad and I to watch this film.
7. Shakespeare in Love- I believe it was around Feb of 2015 that I first became inspired by this great film, but for the sake of argument I'm going to consider this a spring movie rather than a winter movie. First case is the romantic plot between Shakespeare and his muse, that takes place in a temperate setting. There is no dark violent conflicts in this film, yet rather lovable, comical characters who add to the flare of the story. It is ultimately a warm film, a movie masterpiece, ideal for the spring time.
6. Wedding Crashers- I remember watching this comedy with my friends quite frequently during my college years. The film could probably be enjoyed at any time, but I think the setting is best related to that of springtime. It kicks off at the start of wedding season, which is the start of spring-time. It incorporates themes of romance, the outdoors, college humor, and family gatherings. The colors of the film are spring-like as is the soundtrack consisting of soothing rock. To this day it remains one of my all time favorite comedies.
5. American Pie Series- I was beginning high school when this classic comedy first came out and at the time I could relate to everything the characters were going thru. For me it is the ultimate spring movie about teenage drama that takes place during the school's spring season. The main four characters are on a quest to get laid during prom and before graduation. The second and third movie also incorporate spring elements of light-hearted romance and comedy. The soundtrack, characters, and classic quotes of this film have become top notch nostalgia for me. It's a great series to enjoy during the spring season or to kick start the summer.
4. Baseball Movies- It seems fitting to kick start the spring season with classic baseball films, as the Major League normally starts in early April. While many of these films could also be enjoyed during summertime, it's always nice to group them together if at all possible. There are so many classic baseball films I remember watching as a kid and new ones that continue to glorify the American pastime.
3. The Godfather- This one is hard to explain for me, but over the years it seems I have gotten into this gangster classic around springtime. While the film series is ultimately a crime genre it also has strong elements of family and religious ceremonies. The title Godfather for example is in reference to the Catholic sacrament of baptism. There is also the ceremonies of marriage and first communion celebrated in this film. The Italian culture is best demonstrated when Michael Corleone visits his native home of Sicily, a springlike setting of colorful pastures and romance. The 2nd and 3rd movie continue with the theme of crime yet also family structure. Much of the settings in these films including New York, Italy, Miami, or Las Vegas are usually warm.
2. Almost Famous- This musical film about the glory of rock and roll is a great way to kick start the warmer seasons for me. I was in college when I first saw this film and began to appreciate movies as art rather than just movies. I also began to enjoy classic rock during my college years and this movie was the ultimate combination of great film with great music. The setting takes place during the spring season as a rock journalist skips out on school to tour with an up-and-coming rock and roll band in the 1970s. It is the stuff of poetry, comedy, flowers, friendship, music, and love which is the essence of springtime.
1. Dazed and Confused- This is one of my all time favorite movies to watch during the springtime. I think it was in college that I first saw this famous cult comedy classic about high school initiation. The film takes place in a day, the last day of school, and the first day of summer, which fittingly is in late May, springtime. Its a warm rural setting with elements of romance, comedy, smoking, and total partying. For me one of it's most defining features is the classic rock soundtrack. I remember watching this film for the first time in college with my friends seeing it as more than a stoner comedy yet rather a unique work of art. Over the past few years now I have often watched this movie after running the Mini Marathon or some time in early May to kick-start my summer season. While for me it represents the start of summer, I enjoy to watch it at the peak of springtime.
As a student, it gave us a week long break usually at the end of March. And by May was usually the end of school and the beginning of summer. And of course there was that glorious feeling of graduation I felt three times in spring. In sports it marks the beginning of baseball season and the end of soccer and basketball season. Its a time when you feel more inclined to enjoy outside rather than inside; which I understand is perhaps not the base case for movie viewing, yet nonetheless every season has it's downtime.
I should also once again make clear that this film list is in regards to the spring season, rather than it's overall acclaim. For me, there are certain movies that just work better during certain times. For example a football movie is best during the fall and a baseball movie is best during the spring or summertime. I have often associated this rule to my movies and music since I can remember. Perhaps it's just being a lifelong Midwestern native enduring the four seasons, or I'm just a overly picky person. Nonetheless here are my favorite movies to watch during the spring season.
Honorable Mention
- Memoirs of a Geisha (It's a cultural movie about Japan with a romantic and colorful setting)
- What Dreams May Come (an extremely colorful setting with religious and philosophical elements)
10. Garden State- This one has personal reasons for me as I remember watching it during the spring of 2004 when I was a sophomore in college. I was in love at that time, and the music from this film carried me thru spring-time and into summer. The plot incorporates themes of homecoming, recreation, friendship, and love all elements that could be associated to the spring. The setting also has many outdoor scenes in the warm and rainy season of New Jersey. The soundtrack also has a spring quality to it, with it's calm and dreamlike song selection.
8. The Passion- The Lenten season usually begins during wintertime and ends with Easter Sunday at the onset of spring. For me there is no other Lenten movie (Or Easter for that matter) quite as powerful as Mel Gibson's Passion. This film is a dramatic portrayal of the final days of Jesus Christ and his crucifixion. It has many emotional moments, some that are just difficult to watch that demonstrate the suffering that Jesus Christ enduring during his crucifixion. Since the movie first came out in 2004, it has become a Lenten tradition for my dad and I to watch this film.
- American Pie (1999)
- American Pie 2 (2001)
- American Wedding (2003)
- American Reunion (2012)
4. Baseball Movies- It seems fitting to kick start the spring season with classic baseball films, as the Major League normally starts in early April. While many of these films could also be enjoyed during summertime, it's always nice to group them together if at all possible. There are so many classic baseball films I remember watching as a kid and new ones that continue to glorify the American pastime.- Bill Durham (1988)
- Field of Dreams (1989)
- Major League (1989)
- The Sandlot (1993)
- Rookie of the Year (1993)
- Angels in the Outfield (1994)
- Moneyball (2011)
- 42 (2013)
3. The Godfather- This one is hard to explain for me, but over the years it seems I have gotten into this gangster classic around springtime. While the film series is ultimately a crime genre it also has strong elements of family and religious ceremonies. The title Godfather for example is in reference to the Catholic sacrament of baptism. There is also the ceremonies of marriage and first communion celebrated in this film. The Italian culture is best demonstrated when Michael Corleone visits his native home of Sicily, a springlike setting of colorful pastures and romance. The 2nd and 3rd movie continue with the theme of crime yet also family structure. Much of the settings in these films including New York, Italy, Miami, or Las Vegas are usually warm.- The Godfather (1972)
- The Godfather II (1974)
- The Godfather III (1990)
2. Almost Famous- This musical film about the glory of rock and roll is a great way to kick start the warmer seasons for me. I was in college when I first saw this film and began to appreciate movies as art rather than just movies. I also began to enjoy classic rock during my college years and this movie was the ultimate combination of great film with great music. The setting takes place during the spring season as a rock journalist skips out on school to tour with an up-and-coming rock and roll band in the 1970s. It is the stuff of poetry, comedy, flowers, friendship, music, and love which is the essence of springtime. 
1. Dazed and Confused- This is one of my all time favorite movies to watch during the springtime. I think it was in college that I first saw this famous cult comedy classic about high school initiation. The film takes place in a day, the last day of school, and the first day of summer, which fittingly is in late May, springtime. Its a warm rural setting with elements of romance, comedy, smoking, and total partying. For me one of it's most defining features is the classic rock soundtrack. I remember watching this film for the first time in college with my friends seeing it as more than a stoner comedy yet rather a unique work of art. Over the past few years now I have often watched this movie after running the Mini Marathon or some time in early May to kick-start my summer season. While for me it represents the start of summer, I enjoy to watch it at the peak of springtime.
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