Movies are incredible. They’re packed with emotion, drama, music, and effects. Movies are an alternate reality. They encapsulate us into a new world for a brief moment.  Movies aren’t real, but they’re an artistic way of presenting aspects of reality.

I used to only have seen comedies and kids’ movies. At the young age of 5 or 6, I saw Star Wars. Throughout my life those were the only genres of film that I was exposed to. I was too afraid of horror movies, not mature enough for dramas, and not interested in the “classics.” My film experience was limited; I was naïve. Ignorant. Oblivious to what I was missing out on. I lacked interest in movies other than what I was familiar with. Even watching Star Wars wasn’t my choice. It was playing at a neighbor’s house at a party that I had to be at because my whole family was there. Given that after watching it and loving it as much as I did, I should have known that there were other fantastic movies out there to consume, but I didn’t use logic.

Luckily, I have seen the light and since about eighth grade or so, I’ve been inclined to go out of my way to watch different and new movies that I now believe many other people should take time to see. Whether it be classic movies like Goodfellas and Shawshank Redemption, or newer hits like Inception and the Revenant, movies are a gateway into new modes of thinking and perception of the people around you. They’re learning experiences that drive creativity and thought-provoking ideas. Movies are inspiring: they lead people to create films of their own or create a new lifestyle.

Luckily for us, the Oscars ceremony, or more formally the Academy Awards, are this Sunday. With that, movies from this past year will be analyzed and celebrated. Films that weren’t necessarily pop culture phenomena will be put into the spotlight for us to add to the list of films to see. I’m surly excited to see the nominees for multiple film categories, as my familiarity with recent film is based on pop culture hits. I want to expand my horizons further with these movies of 2019, and hope you all will, too.

I’m not exactly sure where I want to go with this blog yet. I’ve considered analyzing movies I haven’t seen yet, exploring the history of film, and detailing movies I love. Maybe there will be posts about each, but I’d be open to suggestions from you, my readers, if you have an idea you want to see me cover. I’ll end this post with a short recommendation of a movie you should see in the near future. Without going into too much detail for spoiler reasons, The Revenant is a film everyone should see. Along with a fantastic story of perseverance and will to survive, no other film that I’ve seen captivates North American nature better. The cinematography will leave you speechless and glued to the screen in a way I cannot further describe. After viewing this film, I’m sure your urge to go outside and enjoy nature will mount, along with an urge to travel to the pacific northwest. Go out of your way to watch this story of historical significance, and Oscar winning caliber.