“There is a time of year in New York when, even before the first leaf falls, you can feel the seasons click. The air is crisp, the summer is gone. And for the first night in a long time, you need a blanket on your bed”
A gust of wind blows orange leaves across the sidewalk, I savour the excitement of impending Autumn. Today is a cool, cloudy day, I’m wearing a soft cardigan over my dress and the leather booties have been pulled out for the first time. Summer is almost over and I’m so here for it.
I’m in Fall movie mode and this weekend I finally watched Rudy. It has been on my list to watch for years and it holds all the feels: college campuses, varsity jackets, foliage and football. The story was really inspiring too. If you’d like to read my past Fall movie recommendations click HERE
And now, my NEW list of Shows & Movies for FALL
SHOWS
Anne with an E
This wholesome show is set in Prince Edward Island Canada and although it moves through the entire year, it has the most beautiful Autumnal scenes. Anne’s forest clubhouse and her walk with Diana to school each day are some of the most atmospheric. This one’s for the entire family.
Scooby Doo, Where Are You?
I woke up a couple of weeks ago on Saturday and grabbed my breakfast smoothie, climbed under a blanket on the couch and watched Scooby Doo. There are lots of episodes on Youtube of the original series from 1969. I remember thinking it was a little scary as a kid but now it’s just pretty funny. I used to run home from school to watch this every afternoon; oh, the nostalgia.
Gilmore Girls
Rory and Lorelei Gilmore (if you don’t know already) are Mother and daughter, living in the quaint (fictitious) town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut. The town has a general store and a lot of the scenes are of the girls having coffee at Luke’s Diner or vegging out on the couch at home in sweats. Rory goes to private school and wears a uniform and there’s a gazebo in the centre of town where there’s always some kind of Fall themed event; pumpkins, lattes and Autumn. There are 7 seasons but some of the best Autumn themed episodes are
- Season 5 Episode 7, “You Jump, I jump, Jack”
- Season 1 Episode 7, “Kiss and Tell” …
- Season 3 Episode 7, “They Shoot Gilmore’s, Don’t They” …
- Season 2 Episode 4, “The Road Trip to Harvard” …
- Season 4 Episode 9, “Ted Koppel’s Big Night Out”
Wednesday
Tim Burton did an amazing job at creating this spinoff to the Addams Family. Wednesday, the daughter of Morticia and Gomez Addams, is attending Nevermore Academy, the same school her parent went to as teens. Following her throughout the school year, Wednesday attempts to master her emerging psychic abilities, puts a stop to a killing spree and solves the mystery that involved her parents years ago. She rooms with the very eccentric Enid Sinclair (who by the way is a werewolf). The school scenes are filmed in a real life castle called Cantacuzino Castle in Romania. There’s lot’s of spooky, dark forest scenes, colourful leaves, dark academia aesthetic and fog.
Nancy Drew
Nancy Drew is getting ready to head off to College when she finds herself drawn back to her hometown of Horseshoe Bay, Maine to solve a mysterious murder that could involve her family. I grew up reading Nancy Drew books, mostly borrowed from my older sisters. This remake has graveyards, ocean storms, a lighthouse, the cozy diner where the friends hang out and plenty of scenes perfect to watch on a stormy Fall night. The wardrobe sets a chill in the air feeling and it’s completely filmed in my hometown of Vancouver, BC. Horseshoe Bay is actually an area in West Vancouver, where the ferry terminals are.
MOVIES
Rudy
Rudy is the touching true story about Rudy Ruettiger. For as long as he could remember, Rudy wanted to go to Notre Dame University and play for the Fighting Irish Football Team. From day one, everyone he shared his dream with told him it was impossible. Not only did he struggle with dyslexia but he only grew to be about 5’6″ and had more heart than real athletic ability. Nothing anyone said however kept Rudy from his dream. He not only go into Notre Dame, he got to play in one game and was the only player to ever be carried off the field on the shoulders of his team mates.
The Odd Life of Timothy Green
This is such a sweet family friendly movie. When the Green’s are told they will never be able to conceive a child of their own, the couple, over a glass of wine one evening, create a list of what their child would be like if he existed. Placing the list in a box, they bury it out in the garden. That night the rain and wind magically bring Timothy to their lives. The boy has leaves growing from his legs and has the ability to change people’s lives for the better, shedding a leaf each time he does. This film is new to me and has been immediately added to my collection of Fall movies to watch every year.
The Batman
I’m not a huge fan of Superhero movies but the Batman movies are always good. This one in particular (with Robert Pattinson as Batman) is a good one for Fall. It rarely stops raining in Gotham City and Batman is on the hunt for a serial killer who is going after important political figures. Nirvana’s song Something in the Way sets the mood to the dark gothic feel of the story ( filmed in Edinburgh Scotland). Wait for a cold dark night in October, make some popcorn, turn out the lights and watch it.
Adventureland
This is more of a goodbye-to-summer film. I think a lot of cities have a Fair before Labour Day, I know my city does and we went last weekend. When James plans to go to Europe fall through, he’s forced to take on a job to pay for school. He ends up working at Adventureland, the town’s amusement park employed by the local outcasts. To James it seems like a terrible way to spend summer, that is, until he meets Em. Cotton candy and an awesome 80’s soundtrack.
Monster House
I’ve watched this film 2 Autumns now and will be watching again this year. A trio of teens, home alone for the weekend while their parents are out of town, find the “haunted house” across the street is actually a monster. They take it upon themselves to destroy the monster just in time for Halloween. This film actually has a bit of a sad backstory but as you watch you get to understand why the old man that lives in the home is so mean. The animation is so great and the fall scenes run throughout the film.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
I know this film is for kids but I still love it. Each scene gets more and more funny. It’s back to school, P.E. class, the annual musical and a Halloween night of trick-or-treating with a stark warning to never go near the The Devil worshipper woods!. Watch it and be sure not to get the cheese touch.
The Haunted Mansion
I’m planning on watching the new Haunted Mansion this weekend (after this blog goes up) but if you haven’t watched the original from 2003, it’s a MUST for Fall. Jim Evers is a workaholic realtor who refuses to give up any opportunity to make money. On their way to a weekend at the lake, the family stops in at the Gracey Manor as Jim sees the opportunity to sell it as a huge money maker. What he doesn’t realize is that they’ve been purposely coaxed there to help break a curse. A creepy mansion surrounded by wrought iron gates, secret passage ways and a cemetery in the yard? Sign me up!
If you’ve come this far, thank you So much for reading. I hope you find something new to watch from this list this Fall.
Until next time.
Love,
Jennifer