Our Favorite Movies and TV Shows To Rent

Send us your favorites, Lola will view and post! Top favorites are at the top of the list. You're responsible for checking the ratings and the reviews on Netflix before you watch! Most are pretty uplifting overall.

It's nice to get a recommendation. (I've seen some real clunkers I couldn't even finish.)

  • We recommend Netflix.com's movie service if you live in the United States. Rent unlimited movies for only a few dollars a month, and they come right to your door, plus now you get to watch unlimited movies on your computer! Best deal ever, and no more searching video stores for good movies! Netflix has just about every movie ever made, and I love the ease of finding uplifting or hard to find movies on it.
  • Netflix, Inc.

 

 
Man finds beauty is more than skin deep.

 

DVD Title

Lola's Comments (use your own judgment) I go by how it feels to me.    
Surf's Up! An all time fave, uplifting, demonstrates following your bliss, never giving up, what's important, release of resistance, and going with the flow. Save it for later if you plan to come to the 5 Day.    
UP I cannot say enough good things about this movie. You'll laugh and cry and be inspired. Great family movie.    
The Kid With Bruce Willis, funny and wise! Will connect you with your kid self and your future self. Save it for later if you plan to come to the 5 Day.    
The Butcher's Wife Absolutely delightful, never slows down. See why guidance is often misinterpreted, even by the most psychic among us. Save it for later if you plan to come to the 5 Day.    
Ground Hog Day Bill Murray at his best, in a comedy of errors and endless chances to get it right.    
Michael



Quest For Fire
This movie is ten times better after Divine Openings.
Watch it again.

One of my all time favorites, it is authentic prehistory, and a top notch plot. It will take you back to the origins of the Ancient Mind and you'll believe you're there. A bit graphic in parts.
   
Winged Migration Now an all time favorite of mine. It is simply stunning footage of migrating birds, across the most magnificent terrain you've ever seen. I love that there is little narration, no preaching/teaching, leaving you to enjoy and have your own pure experience. I was spellbound. Watch it on a big screen TV if you can.    
Avatar Simply stunning beauty, and the creativity that went into it will blow you away. Good message in parts, but they did put the Hollywood violence in it. Oh, well, it's contrast. Worth every minute of it all.    
Lonesome Dove One of my favorite books and movies of all time. Look for how enlightened and human Robert Duvall's Gus is. May take you three nights to watch it, or do a 6 hour marathon. Violence, but overall uplifting to me. Robert Duvall is a genius actor.     
Australia See this epic on the big screen if you can. It has violence and bad guys, but the overall feeling to me was good. Incredible cinematography, and larger than life story. Nicole is one of my favorite actresses. Now I see why Hugh Jackman was voted sexiest man alive.    
Northern Exposure Any episode of this is great, and season 3 was an award winner. Watch them all in order. It's the best TV series ever made. Give it time to fall in love with the characters. It grows on you till you're hooked.    
Bruce Almighty


The Fighting Temptations
Think God's not doing such a great job? Try it yourself!

Goofy and sentimental, but rousing, inspiring gospel music, which I love! I got the soundtrack!
   
The Lakehouse A love story with metaphysical twists    
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Sweet story full of life and death and love.    
Bedazzled Hilarious tale of selling your soul to the devil.    
Across the Universe For Beatles music lovers. It's very long, so settle in.    
Dharma And Greg All episodes of this light, funny, always uplifting TV series are absolutely great. Wonderful counterculture and metaphysical humor. Jenna Elfman is my favorite actress.    
It's A Wonderful Life Christmas classic with Jimmy Stewart in a more innocent time, complete with guardian angel    
French Kiss The opening scene is classic. Watch how she makes up the story in her head. A movie about letting go to life. I love Kevin Kline.    

In The Shadow Of The Moon. Ron Howard's tribute to the moon landing conveys the sense of awe and wonder, and touches on the many astronauts who had spiritual awakenings as a result.

The Family Stone. Comedy and drama.

Letters To Juliet. Romance, adventure, and synchronicity, set in beautiful Tuscany.

Under The Tuscan Sun. Rebirth and new life after divorce.      

Shadows In The Sun. Also set in beautiful Tuscany, in Italy.      

The Family That Preys Together. Got me liking Tyler Perry Movies after not liking another one. Cathy Bates makes a big difference.

Madea's Family Reunion. Medea at her funniest. Of course, Madea is Tyler Perry in drag. He's quite a force, writing, directing, gathering talent, acting.

Click. A movie about appreciating every minute and all of life. Adam Sandler

It's Complicated. I love it that the romantic lead, Meryl Streep, is 60 years old. Alec Balwin has discovered a comic genius inside himself.

Valentine's Day. Light, fun, fluffy romance with laughs.

Network. An old classic with an outrageous twist. Faye Dunaway is young and skinny!

Yes Man. What if you did say yes to everything? Jim Carrey is always good.

Gandhi. An amazing man, yet human. Makes tough choices and deals with the complications.

Boston Legal. My second favorite TV series ever. Wild, sexy, clever, and naughty, and oh, so entertaining.  

30Rock. A funny TV comedy series produced by Tina Fey, with hilarious straight man Alec Baldwin. I love when he talks about dating "Condy", or Condaleza. They lampoon everyone.
   
The Birdman Of Alcatraz. An old classic about a man with a stubborn vibration.      

Henry Poole Is Here. Miracles bring a man back from the brink.      

Forrest Gump. An all time heart opener. Laugh, cry, love, appreciate, feel.      

Amelie. A visual feast. Watch how she makes up stories, both uplifting and not.      

The Philadelphia Story. Katherine Hepburn glows, Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart were one of a kind. Smart, progressive attitudes.      

Adam's Rib. Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy spark in these smart comedies      
Pat and Mike                 "      
Woman Of The Year             "      

Once.  An original take on going for your dreams, from Ireland, with amazing original music, tender and authentic acting. Starts slow (I almost turned it off), then gets really good. Hang in there.

Juno. Wry, intelligent story about an unconventional teen who is totally herself at all times.      

Big.   Tom Hanks is fabulous in anything, and this is pure innocence.      

Secondhand Lions. Robert Duval is amazing as always. In this tale two eccentric old guys get a new lease on life.      

All Creatures Great And Small. Any episode is good if you like animals. Can get a little slow -- it's not Hollywood -- it's an old British TV series about a country veterinarian.      
Some Like It Hot. Old classic with Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis      

Almost Famous. One of my favorites of all time. Poignant story of loss of innocence on the road in the 70's. If you love rock music you'll love this. Shows drugs and sex.      

The Shopgirl. From the best selling novel by Steve Martin, also starring and made by Steve. Brilliant! I love watching the young man's evolution. It's a masterpiece about relationship timing.  

Sliding Doors. Shows two versions of a story -- what would have happened if she'd missed the subway, or if she'd made it before the doors closed.

Little Miss Sunshine. Starts out dark and cynical (I almost turned it off), but they're setting you up. It gets way better. Glad I hung in there! Profanity.      

Something's Gotta Give. Jack Nicholson and Diane Keeton as middle aged opposites thrown together.

Chocolat. Johnny Depp in a sensual and magical tale.      

Like Water For Chocolate. When people eat her cooking, they feel what she was feeling when she cooked it. Surreal realism with some nudity and a lot of oddity.      

Calendar Girls. British comedy of middle aged women busting out.  

Saving Grace. Funny tale of saving the estate of a widow whose husband had spent all their money. I love Craig Claiborn.   

Prince Charming. Romantic, fun, and silly.      

The Thin Man. Any movie in this series is good - they're smart, funny old classics.      

The In-Laws. Funny and wacky comedy with many twists and turns.      

Someone Like You. Cynical at first, she has a big victim story, but watch what happens.      

Keeping the Faith. I love Jenna Elfman, Ben Stiller, and Edward Norton!      

The Illusionist. Edward Norton -- unrecognizable in this role, he is such a chameleon!      
The Thomas Crown Affair. Get the new one with Pierce Brosnan and Renee Russo. Awesome.      

Steal Big, Steal Little. A romp with seriously bad family dynamics, but all is forgiven in the end    
 
Dreamgirls. You won't relate to the heroine's long-suffering anymore, but it's good in some ways  
   
Best in Show. Funny, but really, really offbeat.      

Damn Yankees. Classic 50's, has my theme song in it: Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets. Was choreographed by Bob Fosse, and he and his wife do a cameo in it.

Wag the Dog. Political truths with humor.      

Primary Colors. Political inside story.      

Strictly Ballroom. Funny, original, quirky, and sweet movie from Australia.      

That Thing You Do! You just can't lose with Tom Hanks.      

Miss Congeniality, and the sequel. Total fluffy fun.      

Pay It Forward. Great concept, great actors, but too much suffering, and a sucky ending! Imagine the ending different!      

What Women Want. Great comedy about men and women.      

Pleasantville. What would happen if you could live in your favorite 1950's TV show?      
The Truman Show. What would happen if you found out you were just a character in a TV show?

Supernova. Australian comedy series, funniest stuff I ever saw. Showed on PBS. Hope you can find it!

Michael. John Travolta is a very human angel who scarfs sugar from the sugar bowl.      
Something New. She looks at things differently and is surprised.      

Legally Blond. Fun and drama as she becomes her authentic self.      

The Proposal. Uptight manager loosens up and finds love. I'm a sucker for Sandra Bullock, and like her in just about anything.      

Step Up. Great dancing, lame plot, but a fun romp with a really hot leading guy who sure can dance.      

Equilibrium. Rather dark and serious, but shows the cost of having no emotions. Don't watch a dark movie when your vibration is low.     

Into The Wild. A bit heavy, but has some really good stuff in it.

Everything is Illuminated. A bit dark, but OK in the end. It's OK....

Shallow Hal. I adore Jack Black. He is 100% himself. A tale with a moral of "beauty isn't just physical".

           
Watch comedy as often as possible.
It keeps your laugh muscles strong and your vibration high!


Eddie Izzard: Dressed To Kill (live comedy show) - Eddie used to be my favorite comedian during his early period when he was goofy, childlike, and light. (Now he's gotten cynical and edgy and I don't resonate with him anymore.) Light profanity, but he's pretty light and breezy in these.
Eddie Izzard: Definite Article (live comedy show)
Eddie Izzard: Circle (live comedy show)
Eddie Izzard: Glorious (live comedy show)
Eddie Izzard: Unreapeatable (live comedy show)
 



If profanity, some violence, and/or sexual content are OK with you, this is GREAT:

     
Craig Shoemaker: That's A True Story (live comedy show) Comedian, catch him live, and you won't be able to catch your breath between laughs.      

Get Shorty -  John Travolta is super cool in this classic movie, Danny DeVito is fun to dislike, and Renee Russo is fabulous.      
Sequel is Be Cool. Both are great.

All That Jazz -- Some darkness, drugs, but worth it for it's authenticity, and Bob Fosse's unrelenting honesty about who he is. Sexual content.      

All of the Blue Collar Comedy of Bill Ingvall, Ron White, Larry The Cable Guy, and Jeff Foxworthy is fun.  These guys are funny! Search them on Netflix. It's all there. They're all good, but together they are dynamite.                          


If you're OK with REALLY raw, not PC, no-holds-barred humor with seriously uncensored profanity:        

Tropic Thunder One of the funniest movies ever made, but don't say I didn't warn you -  it is NOT for the whole family or those with easily offended sensibilities!      

The 40 Year Old Virgin -- Hiliarous guy humor, but pretty un-censored.