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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
I thought my friend was crazy when she said her kids loved this '80s version with Kevin Kline, Angela Lansbury, and Linda Rondstat, but my kids did, too! While they don't usually watch it from beginning to end (they are 5 and 2) and don't really follow the plot, who cares? They have requested it again and again.
I remembered some of my own long-ago favorites from this list - I haven't thought about Rats of NIMH or The Point in forever. I must join the protest against the exclusion of Pixar. I have watched Cars dozens of times, but I still don't cringe when that is the requested fare, and it's not even my favorite of the bunch (that would be one of the Toy Stories or maybe Nemo).
There are so many wonderful movies listed here. There are some that my daughter loves, including "The Last Unicorn", "Dark Crystal", "The Brave Little Toaster", that didn't make the list, but have been mentioned in comments. I also wanted to mention to Andrew that I didn't really care for "Labyrinth", but my daughter loved it, and from a young age (about 5 or 6, if I remember correctly).
Something else she really loved that I really hated was a series called "Sailor Moon". I think there was a movie as well, but it's been a long time.
Recently, my family watched the first three "Indiana Jones" movies together. I was surprised by how well they held up. My daughter, who is 17 now, wasn't that impressed but she's a bit of a movie snob. The boys, aged 14 and 9, loved all of them. The second one did scare the youngest a bit, but he wanted to see it again almost immediately.
Fairly recently my youngest and I watched "King Kong" with Faye Wray. He was mesmerized during the entire movie. In fact, all of my kids like black and white movies, silent movies, and bad 80s special effects. I guess they're weird that way.
Rebellion is a damn important part of growing up. Do you folks think that your children will or even should like what you do?
Do you even understand that after a certain age, everything that you suggest that your children read, watch, play or otherwise spend their time will be hated by them. Oh, I am sure that everyone who posts here are perfect parents who have perfect two way communication between parent and child and there are absolutely no secrets or hidden agendas. Well, folks, you are delusional.
for teenagers--Man in the Moon with Reese Witherspoon.
my kids also liked these...
--Sullivan's Travels
--Young Mr. Lincoln
--High Noon
--and yes, as a previous poster mentioned, North by Northwest
When I was 8 years old, in Mexico City, I came down to the kitchen one night at around nine and my parents where sitting at the table, looking at the paper. My father said, "look, they're showing Moby Dick at ten. Let's go." So they took me, in my pajamas, to see John Huston's Moby Dick, with Gregory Peck, on a school night. I loved the movie. I've never seen it again, but I haven't forgotten it. I fell asleep on the way home and missed school the next day. It was my most memorable movie-going experience, because, let's face it, I missed school to go see a movie. But the movie is great.
I think boys older than seven would dig it. I remember it being slow-going at first, but thrilling once they where at sea.
Back then, I also loved The Return of the Pink Panther and The Thief of Bagdad, the one with Sabu.
The Thief of Bagdad, Man!
I was surprised not to find a wonderful old film with an appropriate to these times, emphasis on living in nature.
A boy lost in the forest meets a classic Old Hermit to who teaches him about living in nature, and even helps his mom find a husband.
The Enchanted Forest
Directed by Lew Landers
I am also surprised not to find the Disney anamation classics
Yoram Getzler
Jerusalem
...should have made the list! And absolutely watch Time Bandits without reservations - it's 100% awesome. Just ignore the comments to the contrary in this article.
Where is "Whale Rider"?? a fantastic coming of age movie perfect for all kids. Its a staple in my house, as is Howl's Moving Castle or anything by Miyazaki.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Did anyone nominate Little Dragons? Did anyone besides me even ever see Little Dragons?
One of the main characters loves to use the phrase, "no shit, Sherlock" -- so, it's probably for ages 10 and up -- but it's a great, ridiculous movie about three boys who walk around in their karate outfits and end up saving a kidnapped girl.
Neverending Story (the first one of course), and
The Dark Crystal... Both great films.
Maybe the next few are a bit too mainstream, but great nonetheless: Back to the Future, Ghostbusters, Don't Tell Mom the Babysitters Dead, and The Goonies.
You didn't mention the Jan Svankmeyer version of the tale, just called "Alice." It's certainly dark and macabre, but our son loves it. He's only 4, and seems to have rather sophisticated taste for his age (if I do say so myself). He also loves Nightmare Before Christmas.
Maybe for goth kids of a certain age? It's a foreign film, but no subtitles necessary--the visuals cover the story.
I must put in a vote for Altman's 'Popeye' from the early 80s, it has bright colors, a crooked town, upbeat songs and a huge emphisis on the importance of family, all sorts of family. And it has a very young and very funny Robin Williams as the title charector. I would say 9 and up.
My brother and I loved the Jodie Foster version of Freaky Friday and also the Parent Trap with Hayley Mills... and my very favorite movie growing up was the Anne of Green Gables series from PBS.
The early 90s versions of the Secret Garden and the Little Princess are haunting and are filmed so beautifully that the adults will be absolutly charmed.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
219 Democrats and one Republican join in favor of the legislation, which passed by a narrow margin
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Salon headlines in your mailbox
