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HOLLYWOOD — While movies are often meant to merely entertain, there is often good life advice in them. Here are five pieces of advice from various movies that contain wisdom to implement in life.
"Shrek"
“You shouldn’t judge people before you get to know them.” -Shrek
In “Shrek,” the massive green ogre with the Scottish accent is misunderstood by everyone around him. The townspeople treat him as a hideous and dangerous beast when it turns out he has a kind disposition. Likewise, Shrek views Fiona as a dainty and snobbish princess before she busts out Matrix-esque moves against her would be "heroes." The characters in “Shrek” are good examples of the timeless adage that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.
"Forrest Gump"
“Life is like a box of chocolates: You never know what you’re going to get.” -Mrs. Gump
As Mrs. Gump astutely points out, you never know what life’s going to have in store. Much that life brings is great, but there are also moments of intense pain. In Forrest Gump, Forrest experiences extreme highs and lows. He is named an All-American kick returner for Alabama, becomes a war hero and ping-pong world champion, and has a slew of other incredible experiences. But, he also has his best friend die in his arms in Vietnam and experiences the loss of his mother and his wife. Forrest’s life is a reminder to all of us that life is beautiful, but it is also random and can change at any time.
“The Lion King”
“Oh yes, the past can hurt. But from the way I see it, you can either run from it, or ... learn from it.” -Rafiki In “The Lion King,” Simba feels responsible for his father’s death and spends his youth running away from the guilt he experiences. Everyone has things in their past that they feel guilty about — it’s part of being human. But that guilt can lead people to either try to run from their mistakes or to own them and do their best to not let them happen again. As Simba discovers, you have to confront and accept your past if you want to have a bright future.
“Chariots of Fire”
“If you don't run, you can't win.” -Sybil Gordon
In “Chariots of Fire,” Harold Abrahams is an ultra-competitive runner who is obsessed with winning. He informs Gordon that if he can’t win, he won’t run. Gordon wisely informs him that “if you don’t run, you can’t win.” In life, people cannot win if they do not accept that there’s a chance of failure.
“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” -Ferris Bueller
Especially in the United States, it seems that people are always in motion. Millions of people work all day and millions more are busy transporting children to various activities. We are a society where there’s always something to be done. While that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it is important to pause and try to enjoy each day in the present. But, kids, don’t skip school!
Dylan Cannon is a regular KSL.com contributor and can be reached at DylanCannon86@gmail.com or via twitter @DylanCannon11.
