5 Day Movie Challenge: Motivational

Motivational movies have been a fairly stable genre in Hollywood. It seems like every couple years or so, we come across a really heartwarming or uplifting movie that spurns up emotions or even encourages us in our own shortcomings to never give up; always pursuing self-improvement and personal growth.

I'm a sucker for a good movie like that. I love action-packed thrill rides, but I love the motivational genre also. Films like Remember the Titans, Rocky, Good Will Hunting, Dead Poet's Society, The Blind Side and The Pursuit of Happyness.

It was a tough call for me deciding between two films as to which one was my favorite motivational film: Fearless or October Sky. Both, in my mind, are great inspirational films, they encompass the concept of remaining determined no matter the circumstances and staying true to what you believe in. Ultimately though my choice is:

'October Sky'

This is one of those movies that is plain old-fashioned fun. It's full of sweet sincerity, dramatic elements and brings to light the coming-of-age story that is full of heart. The movie is based on the memoirs of Homer Hickham (a former NASA engineer) as he and his friends started building rockets with the guidance of their high school teacher who believed that the boys were destined for great things.

It's tops in my mind because of how determined Homer stays throughout the movie, even after everything seemingly goes wrong, he perseveres through it all. He has his ups and downs and goes through a period of self-doubt and becomes discouraged but finds his passion again and strives to achieve his goals.