Movies Get Reel at SJA
EllaMarie Murphy, Senior Staff Writer
Movies shape people’s lives by inspiring beliefs, evoking emotions and educating and fostering perspectives. Many people rewatch old favorite movies to experience the sense of nostalgia that comes from that. Movies in general can help with mental health by relieving stress and offering a sense of escapism. At SJA, movies are a big part of the community, as pop culture has an immense influence on young adults.
The film industry first became popular in the early 1900s. In the 1920s, films changed from being silent and short to having audio and became longer forms of storytelling. Drive-in movies became popular in the 1950s, then VHS, and eventually DVDs, that lead to modern-day streaming platforms.
At SJA, based on a poll, the most popular movie genres among students surveyed were romantic comedies and dramas, including a student favorite, “10 Things I Hate About You.” Many people included that the movie they chose was their favorite because it is fun and comedic. The actors also play a big role in why that movie was their favorite, especially if they are attractive. Films that have important lessons in them and mature themes that offer commentary about the world today were common. Music and how inspirational the movie is affected how frequently it was listed as a favorite.
Freshman Abby Boevingloh talks about one of her favorite movies, “The Dead Poets Society.”
(The Dead Poets Society is about the story of a group of young boys who learn about the freedom that creative writing offers.)
“I love the friend group vibes that it has, and it is a good example of mental health and how authority can affect it,” Abby said.
She also mentioned that she would recommend it to everyone.
Additionally, another movie that recently premiered is Scream 7. It came out on February 27, and although the ratings aren’t high, it offers a nostalgic feel and closure for long-time fans, including Amanda Isom, SJA’s Social Media coordinator and photographer.
“My favorite part of the movie was probably, which is rare for me, the beginning because since this was obviously the seventh movie of this franchise, [there was] a lot of ‘all right we’re bringing everything back’, it felt like they were going to start the end, and this would possibly be the last one, so they were including a lot of recap and callbacks,” Ms. Isom said.
Ms. Isom also mentioned how the killer remained a mystery until the end, and the final reveal was still surprising even though it is the seventh installment, making the film still intriguing to watch even for those who have seen every movie in the series.
As stated previously, new and old movies serve the same purpose to bring people together and teach the same lessons. At SJA, the values this school upholds see representation in films of all types. From a new horror film like Scream to an older but still relevant one like The Dead Poets Society.
Movies allow people to experience all sorts of emotions, from simple nostalgia to empathy, escapism, and understanding different points of view. The community at St. Joe loves a wide range of films, watching a good movie with a cozy blanket and popcorn, and taking a break from the world.
