Although Halloween has passed and Mariah Carey has released her iconic “It’s Time” announcement, let’s not move on from fall just yet. Autumn is one of the most overlooked seasons of the year, with October as its one true month of seasonal spirit. While November is often the forgotten month of fall, with stores already selling Christmas decorations and sending Christmas coupons in the mail, let’s not end autumn too quickly. To make the most of November before the holiday season, here are three movies that center around the fall spirit.
- Fantastic Mr. Fox
Directed by Wes Anderson and released in 2009, this animated movie tells the story of Mr. Fox as he begins stealing food from three farmers, putting his family and town in danger. Although it is based off of the children’s book written by Road Dahl, the movie takes its own spin on the original plot. The audience watches Mr. Fox break his promise of giving up crime to lead a safe family life and relapse into his bad habits of thievery. Overall the movie focuses on the issue of struggling with your identity, represented by the problems faced by different characters, especially Mr. Fox and his son.
My favorite quote: “I think I have this thing where I need everybody to think I'm the greatest, the quote-unquote Fantastic Mr. Fox. And if people aren't knocked out and dazzled and slightly intimidated by me, I don't feel good about myself.”
Where to watch: Disney+, Apple TV, Youtube, Amazon Prime Video
- Dead Poets Society
Set in the fall and winter of 1959-1960, Dead Poets Society is told in Weldon Academy, a highly conventional all-boys prep school, filled with students carrying the weight of various expectations regarding their education. The story describes how the lives of a group of students are changed when introduced to a new English teacher- Mr. Keating. He, a past star-student of the school, returns as a teacher- devoted to broadening the students’ minds with literature and poetry. The movie follows the transformations of the characters, for better and worse, showing growth among the students and encapsulating the teenage experience.
My favorite quote: “We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life, but poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”
Where to watch: Disney+, Apple TV, Youtube, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu
- Alice in Wonderland
While most people are familiar with the classic fairytale of Alice in Wonderland, the 2010 film takes a slightly more eerie and mysterious approach. 19 year old Alice is troubled by strange recurring dreams and the oppressive expectations of her society. The story begins with Alice attending a garden party, where she spots a white rabbit in the middle of receiving an unwanted marriage proposal. Rather than answering her suitor, she follows the rabbit instead, accidentally falling into a rabbit hole. She ends up in the fantastical world called the Underland, where she is destined to slay the Jabberwocky, a dragon that had been terrorizing citizens, and end the tyranny of the Red Queen.
My favorite quote: “Sometimes I believe in as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” “That is an excellent practice.”
Where to watch: Disney+, Apple TV, Youtube, Amazon Prime Video, Sling TV
While these are three of my favorite movies to watch during fall, there are many others that may suit your taste better. I encourage you to try out one of the movies listed above or to go searching for a fall film that catches your interest! Either way, make sure to find the time this month to appreciate the last embers of fall before the winter season rolls in.
Sources:
- Students at Linn-Benton Community College. (n.d.). Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009). Pressbooks. https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/dpdfilm/chapter/378/#:~:text=As%20you%20can%20see%2C%20the,class%2C%20gender%2C%20and%20sexuality
- Hinesman, L. (n.d.). “Dead Poets Society” review. The Communicator. https://chscommunicator.com/87408/a-and-e/2023/10/dead-poets-society-review/#
- Alice in Wonderland (2010) - Quotes - IMDB. (n.d.). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1014759/quotes/
