We all know that movies can do funny things to us. And some say that the test of a good movie, or a good performance in general, is how much it keeps a person in their seat, even when nature calls.
Sometimes nature calls in a different way, of course, but either way, it calls. Here are five movies that can elicit some pretty nature-y responses.
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Yep, we’re leading off with The Wizard. Legend has it when this movie first began to be shown on TV in the nineteen-fifties, sanitation departments in some cities experienced big drops in water pressure once the film was over. Who knows if that’s true, but given Oz‘s history, it wouldn’t exactly be surprising.
Blast From the Past (1999)
How would it feel to be in a fallout shelter for thirty-five years, only to finally see the sky and the ocean? And for that matter, stay in a high-rise hotel? Adam Webber does just that and goes into childlike raptures. A completely understandable reaction, of course.
Prefontaine (1997)
Steve Prefontaine, of course, has inspired plenty of people to take up running, and there’s something about this movie that keeps that going. In Pre’s hometown of Coos Bay, Oregon, people tour all the Pre sites around town, often with Pre’s sister, Linda, leading the group. In Eugene, Oregon, Pre’s Trail is a popular hotspot for runners and walkers.
Panic Room (2002)
This entire movie centers around a mother and daughter in a panic room while a bunch of baddies roam around their house. It’s a pretty good movie, but once it’s over, going outside to touch grass is not unappealing.
The Perfect Storm (2000)
When I went to see this movie at the Colfax Theatre, a funny thing happened as soon as the ending credits rolled: All the women in the theatre made beelines for the door. When my parents and I left a couple of minutes later, we saw a line stretching from the women’s bathroom all the way across the lobby to the concession stand. “Soooooo much water,” we heard one of the women say.
Which movies make nature call to you in one way or another? Leave a comment below! Thanks for reading, all, and I’ll see you on Tuesday for another “During World War Two” post…
The Wizard of Oz (DVD and Blu-ray), Blast From the Past (DVD and Blu-ray), Prefontaine (DVD and Blu-ray), Panic Room (DVD and Blu-ray) and The Perfect Storm (DVD and Blu-ray) are available to own from Amazon.
~Purchases made via Amazon Affiliate links found on this site help support Taking Up Room at no extra cost to you.~
If you’re enjoying what you see on Taking Up Room, please subscribe to my Substack page, where you’ll find both free and paid subscriber-only reviews of mostly new and newish movies, documentaries, and shows. I publish every Wednesday and Saturday. You can also subscribe to my Club 15 Tier, which gives you at least one extra Taking Up Room post every month for a small fee.
Taking Up Room 