A: 10 FATHER'S DAY MOVIES!

It is this time of the year when people celebrate an occasion that I cannot totally relate to. Well, not because I don’t have a father, I do, I just address my father as “mom”. I think I can say I can’t really relate to it because I really don’t know how it feels; how having a father really feels. I’ve never had any of those “Go ask your dad” nor those “I’m telling your father” moments. And oh, if you think that I will go all “I am so sad I may never know how it feels like to have a dad” on this entry, then you are soo wrong. I grew up not having a dad and I don’t feel like I am missing out on anything. It’s like being born without a Porsche. You don't know how having one feels like, so you don't really miss having one. – Oh how I wish I have a Porsche. :D Though I couldn't really relate to how having a dad feels, I do have a list of some really good movies that showed me just how much love a father can show his kids. I’ll call these movies my Father’s day movies. So without further ado, here is my list.

Disclaimer: It has been really long since I've watched these movies. Should there be some wrong pieces of information that I will share, please feel free to correct them on the comment box below. And yes, this list is in random order. 

1.    I AM SAM (2001)

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Sam Dawson (Sean Penn), a father with a mental disorder fights for the custody of his daughter, Lucy Dawson (Dakota Fanning) after Lucy's mother left them. Lucy, a very smart girl, will help Sam prove to the judge that beyond her father’s condition, he is, like other dads, capable of taking care of his own child.

If Sean Penn’s depiction of Sam Dawson’s character will not make you cry, or at least move you, then I don’t know what will. This movie can be an eye-opener to many of us who are not fully aware of the positive things people with physical and mental disabilities can really do.

I loved how Sam, who the other characters in the movie considered as someone incapable of doing the right things and making the right decisions, became a role model to Lucy and how he tried to teach her what is the right and wrong.

2.    THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS (2006)

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A father who had nothing yet had everything – his son. The movie is based on real life events that happened to Chris Gardner when he was just a couple of bucks away from being homeless, and some of the saddest adventures he and his son, Christopher (Jaden Smith) went through.

Yes, you are reading that right, happyness is spelled with a “Y” rather than an “I”. In the movie, Will Smith, who played the role of Chris Gardner points two things on the mural outside the daycare centre where he leaves his son; one is the F word written in black, and two, how happiness is misspelled with a “Y” instead of an “I”. 

I must say, that after watching this movie, I just gained even more respect towards Will Smith as an actor. I liked him in Hitch, Men in Black, Bad Boys, and even on that animated movie where he did the voice of a fish named Oscar, but him as Chris Gardner, is so far, I think, his best movie. Just how his character – who we shouldn't forget is a real person who really experienced those things – tried to become a strong foundation for his son, would really show just how most dads are with their kids. He went through so many hardships and trials, but rose trough everything victorious.

3.    LIAR LIAR (1997)

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An attorney, Fletcher Reede (Jim Carey), will learn the good things about telling the truth after his son, Max’s (Justin Cooper) wish that his father would not tell a lie even for a day, comes true.

Jim Carey, as always, is hilarious in this movie. And yes, he depicted a character of a good father who admitted to his mistakes and was willing to change to become a better father to his son, and a better husband to his wife.

“The claw!” :D

4.    TAKEN (2008)

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Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) would use all the skills he acquired through his years of being a US CIA operative not for the usual reasons he used them before, but to try to find his daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace) who was kidnapped.

Okay, now this is the kind of dad I would really like to have. Too cool! Who could forget this line, “I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.”.

If choosing who your father would be is possible, I’d choose someone like Bryan Mills; loving to his child and wife, but tough to people who plans to do his family harm. Sorry, tough is an understatement, but wouldn't a father who can do some serious ass-whooping be a really cool one?

5.    BIG DADDY (1999)

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The twins Cole and Dylan Sprouse who both  played Julian/Frankenstein in the movie.

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Sonny (Adam Sandler), a law graduate bachelor doesn't know how to become the mature person that his girlfriend wanted him to be. He then finds himself changed after Jullian/Frankenstein (Dylan and Cole Sprouse) knocks on his apartment door. Sonny becomes his temporary daddy and they both teach other life lessons.

I enjoyed watching this “feel-good” movie. How Sonny let Julian become the kid that he is while also guiding him was oddly touching. The movie is packed with fun moments that I guess real father-and-son/s can really get examples from; not including the saliva thing though. Haha!

6.    ARMAGEDDON (1998)

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A group of deep-core oil drillers was flown outer space to protect the Earth from completely being wiped off by an asteroid. Under the leadership of Harry Stamper (Bruce Willis); AJ Frost (Ben Affleck), Charles "Chick" Chappel (Will Patton), Rockhound (Steve Buscemi), J. Otis "Bear" Kurleenbear (Michael Clarke Duncan), Oscar Choice (Owen Wilson), Fred Noonan (Clark Heathcliffe Brolly), and Max Lennert (Ken Hudson Campbell) set off on a mission that didn't promise a good ending. With the dream that his daughter, Grace Stamper (Liv Tyler), will live the life he wished for her to have, Harry will make the biggest sacrifice a dad can ever make for his daughter.

I think many of you would agree with me when I say that the saddest and most touching part of the movie was when Harry bid his daughter goodbye. I cried rivers. Just how much sacrifice Bruce Willis’s character made to save his daughter and the world makes this movie one of my all-time-faves!

7.    FINDING NEMO (2003)

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After losing everything that he had, Marlin (the voice of Albert Brooks), a clownfish, will do everything to protect the only thing that matters to him, his son, Nemo (the voice of Alexander Gould). And just like every kid, Nemo, thinking that his father is overly restricting him on so many things, tries to break free and disobeys his father. The events then lead to Nemo being part of an aquarium gang, and Marlin swimming all the way to Australia to save his only son.

Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming swimming swimming. Finding Nemo is a movie about the love of father to his son, the love of friends, determination, trust, and hope. I don’t think I will ever get tired of watching this movie. All the animated characters are funny in their own way; Dory (the voice of Ellen DeGeneres), most specially.

8.    MRS. DOUBTFIRE (1993)

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Daniel Hillard, a dad who neither had a job nor his own house loses custody over his children after his wife filed for divorce. Not wanting to be away from his children, Daniel pretends to be an elderly lady by the name of Mrs. Euphegenia Doubtfire and applies for the nanny ad that his wife posted. With the talent he has in being a voice actor and the skills that his brother and his friend have in creating a mold that will complete the look of an elderly British woman, Daniel easily makes his kids and wife believe that he really is who he presents himself to be. All was going well until a dinner appointment between his family and his future boss revealed his disguise.

I remember I was nervous during the restaurant scene as I was quite anticipating that something bad is going to happen on Daniel Hillard’s disguise, and something sure did.

9.    THE LION KING (1994)

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The reign of a throne, Simba (voice of Jonathan Taylor Thomas) runs away from home after his father, Mufasa (voice of James Earl Jones) dies, and his uncle, Scar (voice of Jeremy Irons) blames the tragedy on him. Young Simba will meet two friends in another part of Africa who will watch over him as he grows up to be a lion. But no matter how he tries to forget the past, it will find its way back to him.

I remember watching this (Again. For the nth time) while I was on a long flight back to Singapore. I got excited when I saw that it was one of the films on the plane. Ooohh happiness! And yes, that part where Scar let Mufasa fell on a raging stampede of animals still broke my heart.

I was six years old when this movie was released and I remember how my moms friends told her that she should take me to watch it as it is very good. I really liked it when I was younger, but I think that was because it was an animated movie. It was only after I watched this movie again when I was all grown up that I realized why The Lion King is one of the biggest movies of all time. There is just something to love in every animated character in the movie, well, all except Scar and those nasty hyenas. 

10. THE GAME PLAN (2007)

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As an NFL quarter back and a certified bachelor, John Kingman (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson), thought he was living the life and had everything under control. Until he got a knock on his door and found a little girl, Peyton (Madisson Pettis), who claims to be his daughter. Left with no other choice but to take care of the guardian-less kid, Kingman will be forced to open his house to Peyton and tell the world the truth before it "ruins" his career. Peyton will not only win the heart of Kingman, but also the rest of the Boston Rebels team.

This movie is too cute! I enjoyed watching Peyton drive her dad crazy first by showing at his doorstep, second by bedazzling the coat he wore on a date, dressing her dad’s dog like a ballerina, and a lot more! :D

Happy father’s day to all the dads, grandpas, and those soon-to-be-dads! And yes happy father’s day to all single mothers! Happy father’s day, mom! Love you!

- A! *hug*