TV/Film Tugging your Heartstrings

[BloatedGuppy]

There's been plenty of film and television moments to make me well up/cry. Film especially. Off the top of my head, this is a good one for film...


Obviously context is necessary to fully understand what's happening there, but the pain and isolation Sam must be feeling in that moment is unfathomable.

As for television, nothing really comes remotely close to this in terms of being emotionally devastating. Do keep in mind this is the end of the series finale, so don't watch if you have any intention of ever seeing the show.


The show about "death" is ultimately a show about our own mortality. Lots of closure and perspective. Or, to put it in the words of Spinal Tap...

 

[Lukirre]

I cried a lot at Never Let Me Go (film version).

Spoiler

It was because no one was "super sad" the whole time. The movie was really depressing overall, but the characters in it had this quiet acceptance of what was going on. There was an overarching sadness to their lives that the characters seemed to just accept as normal because that's how they'd been raised. So when Tommy D. got out of the car on the way home from meeting with Madame and just starts screaming, I was like "oh god".

Also the second Doomsday Book film, "A Heavenly Creature". That being said though, I have a soft spot for Artificial Intelligence and the discovery of consciousness.

 

[happyninja42]

Samurai Jack, Season 1, Episode 10: Jack vs the Lava Monster.

The voice actor for the lava monster nails such an awesome performance, layering tragedy, defiance, and victory into his voice. Coupled with the imagery and the music, makes me cry every time I watch it. Hell I'm tearing up a bit just typing this out.

 

[Lilani]

"It's not your fault" From Good Will Hunting. Get's me every single time.

Pixar are VERY good at assaulting my feels. The worst up to date was probably Toy Story 3 with THAT scene. I've seen it 3 times, knew what was coming two of the times and still blubbed like a *****.
Up and Wall-E had me boohooing, as well as shouting at the TV.
Disney has always also been very good (especially for scaring the shit out of me as a kid).

Yes, all of these. And especially the beginning and end of Finding Nemo. "It's okay, daddy's here, daddy's got you..." I've always been close to my dad, so it just makes me imagine him being that concerned and...shit, I'm tearing up just thinking about it :-(

 

[Ldude893]

Spoiler: How to Train Your Dragon

The bit where Hiccup and his father reconcile right before Hiccup's battle with the queen dragon. After everything they had to go through to get to this point, I just teared up.

I'll forever remember that movie for being the only Dreamworks film that ever made my cry. It's got so much sincerity and emotion to its characters and story, even if elements from the film had been done in other works already. Plus, It's hardly marred by the pop-culture-referencing and crude humor that's been common in so many Dreamworks films. It currently tops my personal list of 'favorite Dreamworks films'.

Hell, even the soundtrack [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY07_dX3F88] itself can tug at the heartstrings.

 

[WhiteFangofWhoa]

Spoiler: The access code is at 4:14

Runners up include the opening montage of Up, Darth Vader's death, and the incinerator scene in Toy Story 3.

 

[piinyouri]

Just watched the Adventure Time episode "The Vault" and while it wasn't the super melancholy of the Ice Kings backstory, it was a touching little episode that filled in a lot of world building holes.

I'unno, I ain't in the mood to cry right now.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Cowboy Bebob - The last time it reads 'See you, space cowboy.'

I think that actually said 'You're gonna carry that weight.'

Like a final little emotional gut punch.

OT: Ever seen the anime adaption of Nobody's Boy? Boy gets taken away from his mother by his alchoholic dad and sold to a street performer. The whole series is one big blubber fest.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

While I'm not a big fan of the Watchmen film adaptation, I did think that Jackie Earle Haley absolutely nailed Rorschach. Not quite a 'tugging at the heartstrings' moment. More of an 'emotional fizz'. The scene during his interrogation, when it flashes back to the moment Rorschach was created.

"Men get arrested. Dogs get put down."

Gives me fucking chills.

 

[Pinkamena]

I've seen a lot of movies, but they rarely make me sad. The only example I can up with right now is Requiem for a Dream. I had a bit of a lump in my throat at the end of that one, was a pretty depressing movie.

 

[Queen Michael]

Fluke.
We watched this movie when I was twelve, my mom and my little brother and me, and it was so sad!

 

[ToastiestZombie]

Cloud Atlas. I love that movie, and the ending sequence is freaking emotional whiplash. Frobisher's ending is a helluva tearjerker, Cavendish's climax is positively hilarious, and Sonmi... in amongst it all is this scene, which is one of the most bittersweet scenes I have ever seen:
The audio's a little out of sync, but yeah. Amazing film.

Agreed. But, I can definitely see why quite a few people don't like it. It is pretty much Marmite: The Film.

OT: Apart from the obvious there's few other shows or films I've legitimately cried at. I think the last piece of entertainment I cried after finishing was Persona 4.

 

[Artina89]

Oh, the last bit of "Blackadder goes Forth"

Spoiler

IMHO, the annoying laugh track actually makes it funnier, because people will say something funny, and then follow it up with something tragic and the laughter stops. "Work at Pratt and Sons...marry Doris".

Another vote for Blackadder. I was reminded of the first time I watched that scene and I kept on thinking that Blackadder would come up with some way to get out of it, but the heartfelt "good luck everyone" and the "who would notice another mad man around here?" quotes continue to send a chill down my spine. A brilliant end to a brilliant series.

 

[Glongpre]

Fluke.

Omg, that movie...when he paws at the tombstone q.q

I found the scene where Andy gives up his toys in Toy Story 3 to be more emotional than the boiler room.

I always found this scene pretty sad, always chokes me up.

Spoiler

 

[jesse220]

Supernatural season 2 episode 17 when Sam has to kill the girl he's just fallen for. I think it hit me hard partially because I just didn't expect it from that show. Having said that, it was done very well and those last few minutes make me tear up every time.

Also I am legend. Killing his own dog who is also his best and only friend. If you didn't tear up at that, you're made of stone.

 

[Alduin Silas]

Up. Especially the life montage at the start.
No further comment.

 

[Alduin Silas]

Samurai Jack, Season 1, Episode 10: Jack vs the Lava Monster.

The voice actor for the lava monster nails such an awesome performance, layering tragedy, defiance, and victory into his voice. Coupled with the imagery and the music, makes me cry every time I watch it. Hell I'm tearing up a bit just typing this out.

Tale of X9's wonderful atmosphere and character arc nailed the titular robot. X-9 was a great character.

 

[Bertylicious]

Spoiler: How to Train Your Dragon

The bit where Hiccup and his father reconcile right before Hiccup's battle with the queen dragon. After everything they had to go through to get to this point, I just teared up.

I'll forever remember that movie for being the only Dreamworks film that ever made my cry. It's got so much sincerity and emotion to its characters and story, even if elements from the film had been done in other works already. Plus, It's hardly marred by the pop-culture-referencing and crude humor that's been common in so many Dreamworks films. It currently tops my personal list of 'favorite Dreamworks films'.

Hell, even the soundtrack [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY07_dX3F88] itself can tug at the heartstrings.

The bit that always got me was when Hiccup is looking away whilst moving his arm towards Toothless and Toothless presses his head against Hiccup's hand. I'm welling up just thinking about it.

A lot of great moments been mentioned already but some other memorable moments would be:

Babylon 5 -

Spoiler

when Marcus dies.

Warhorse - total sadness porn.

Perfect Sense - Saw this on Iplayer and I was expecting a disaster movie. Instead it was a chick flick and I loved it because I am a massive girl.

 

[Ipsen]

Seeing as somebody already took my go-to with Blackadder, I'll have to go to my second choice for semi well known "look at me I'm original for not using Futurama" example. Deep Space Nine, season 4, The Visitor. It takes massive balls to throw an episode like this immediately after the season premiere that had a giant space battle. You follow it up with this:

Ooooookeh, gotta pick up Deep Space Nine now.