Out-of-state freshmen may not yet be acquainted with the beautiful Massachusetts's holiday of Patriot's Day. There's no obligation attached and really no reason for it besides getting out of work to go watch the Boston Marathon and marvel at Matsuzaka's pitching during the early start at Fenway. A few people, who for some sick reason think running is fun, turn this leisurely holiday into the hardest day of the year by actually running in the marathon. If you aren't much of a runner, you can still get the feeling of accomplishment without breaking a sweat by viewing these 10 movies (with running in them, obviously).
10) "Run Lola Run" (1998) - Let's face it, this is probably the only German movie you've ever seen. We all know there are plenty of scary things in Germany to run from: Nazis, Neo-Nazis, ordinary German people. Fortunately, it ended up standing out as a crime/suspense/alternative reality action movie. It's proof that it doesn't matter how fast you run, just don't trip over a little boy on a stairwell. Remember that in the marathon.
9) "Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey" (1993) - In the final scenes, no run has ever been more passionate, more heartfelt or more tear-inducing than Shadow (the golden retriever)'s limping run up the long hill into the arms of his master. For any good child of the '90s, this film spawned a love for animals and also an eternal sadness that animals can't talk. It's just a depressing thought that you'll never get sassed by a cat.
8) "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" (2004) - When you're wearing matching wet suits, rings and sneakers, all customized with the official Zissou seal, running away from pirates with guns on a deserted island isn't all that difficult, especially when your rescue mission is set to mellow electronic music.
7) "The Running Man" (1987) - This is undoubtedly the lost Arnold Schwarzenegger classic. Arnie plays an imprisoned military officer who is sentenced to appear on the popular reality series, "The Running Man," hosted by "Family Feud"'s Richard Dawson. The twist, of course, is that it ends in the death of all its contestants. Sounds like something FOX would love.
6) "Baywatch" - No show has been more misleading about the awkwardness of running on a beach. David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson must have entered some alternate reality in which a job can consist primarily of bathing suits and slow-motion sprints across glistening sand.
5) "The Blair Witch Project" (1999) - This running movie is unique because the running is actually unnecessary. Though "Project" is billed as a horror film, it's really more of a comedy as the audience is encouraged to root for the characters to be put out of their misery. Really, how stupid do you have to be to start running once you've already found out you're going in circles?
4) "Running Scared" (2006) - Nothing will get you running more than angry Russians, police pursuits and kiddie pornographers. As the title implies, "Running Scared" features lots of running, with most scenes revolving around Paul Walker's sweaty prancing as he tries to save the life of a little boy - what could be better than that?
3) "Casino Royale" (2006) - Just when the James Bond franchise seemed to be a lost cause, Daniel Craig jumpstarted the series with an opening chase scene with free runner S?©bastien Foucan. The free runner flies over obstacles with absolute ease and accomplishes the near impossible task of making Bond look overmatched.
2) "Forrest Gump"(1994) - Forrest Gump was slow at just about everything but running. But just like Bubba rattling off uses of shrimp, you can list the times Gump ran: on the football field, in the jungle of Vietnam, across the continental United States, to escape a pack of bullies ... and so on.
1) "Cool Runnings" (1993) - This world-renowned hit of the '90s gave all of us hope with the uplifting story of an Olympic bobsled team from Jamaica making their way through the foreign world of "icy" competition. This masterpiece proves that sprinters can cross over into other sports, which is an important lesson in the world of running, and that even if your bobsled breaks during the race, you can always pick it up and run to the finish line. Even if you don't win, you still make a timeless, classic film about love, perseverance and John Candy. -compiled by Daily Arts Staff
