Outdoor Adventure Movies
March 18, 2019
Written by Maria Campanella
It’s pretty obvious during these rainy springs, that not every day is a perfect “outside” day. Everyone has days where they want to stay inside or times where the weather forces us inside. It is on these days that I get to combine two of my favorite things; the outdoors and movies.
These are four movies that focus on the outdoors, traveling, or adventure. Obviously, your opinions may differ, but these are the movies that I have enjoyed watching and make me appreciate and enjoy nature and the fun of adventures. I encourage you to give them a watch, they are well worth the time!
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
This movie is all about adventure and accomplishing the things you dream about. Walter Mitty is an employee of Life magazine and he works with the negatives of a cryptic photographer, Sean, whom Walter has never met. He also has a continual daydream problem and regularly “zones out”, thinking about the things he would do if he was bold and brave. Walter seems to be missing a crucial negative and he realizes that he will need to come up with it or be out of a job. Walter summons his courage and goes on an amazing journey to find the missing photo. The filming is beautiful, the locations are beautiful, it’s funny without really trying and the soundtrack is incredible (this is always a bonus for me). There is a quote from Sean that I think sums up the movie and is a great lesson to take away, “Beautiful things don’t ask for attention.” An A+ movie, for sure!
A River Runs Through It
This movie is set in Montana, so the mountain and river scenery is absolutely breathtaking. It is a coming of age movie, highlighting the lives of Paul and Norman, two sons of a Presbyterian minister. He raises them to fly fish, and as they get older, it is about the only thing they have in common. After going their separate ways through life, they both end up back home and it becomes even more apparent that they have very different approaches to decision making and life. Paul seems to be incapable of making good decisions as Norman continues to protect his brother. Despite these situations, Paul is at his best self while fly fishing and his problems fade away. Be prepared, it is a two hour movie and it has its moments where it can seem slow, but the ending makes it worth it.
Cast Away
I’m guessing many people have seen this movie or know the iconic volleyball, Wilson. This movie is about a man, Chuck, a FedEx executive. On one of his frequent business trips, the plane crashes and leaves Chuck to a deserted island with nothing but a few packages from the plane. Chuck has to become well acquainted with the island wilderness and learn how to survive not just physically, but emotionally (enter Wilson). It is a continuous battle with the wilderness and loneliness. It is a commitment to watch, most of the movie is just of Chuck on the island, but it is interesting and intriguing. Worth the watch!
Stand by Me
This is a bit of a stretch for an outdoor movie, but it is definitely an adventure flick. The film is about a group of four 12-year-old boys who have set out on an adventure to find the body of a boy recently gone missing. The majority of the movie is spent in the woods as they venture out across the river to where they suspect the body has been hidden. They all use this adventure as an escape from their homes and the problems they are all facing. They learn about each other and even more about themselves. They’re just boys, but they understand the importance of friendship and comradery. I would definitely recommend this movie for a good laugh and to reminisce on the adventures and friendships of your 12 year-old self.
And there you have it! “A” list of movie options for any rainy day! I hope you enjoy them. Stop by Hydaway and tell us what you think!