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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
When my 11-year-old daughter came downstairs late at night with a fever, Roman Holiday had just started (the 1953 classic with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck). She cuddled up against me in the dark and spent the next two hours entranced; ten years later it remains one of her favorites. The innocent, bittersweet romance, the poignancy of a runaway princess, a pinch of slapstick, and a truly lovely ending scene would make it perfect for anyone older than 9 or 10.
It also reminds us why Americans were once welcome guests in foreign lands.
Since I manage to miss seeing more movies than anyone I know, I'm thrilled that I've seen most of these; I must be doing SOMETHING right.I like the variety and the appeal to different ages, and of course I can think of a few additions: for those who like "Robin Hood" and "The Princess Bride," Danny Kaye in, "The Court Jester," is not to be missed. ("Get it?' "Got it." "Good!") The list is a tiny bit short on films for slightly older kids, so let's have all the "Time Bandits" fans see "Monty Python & The Holy Grail." And if your kids are old enough to handle knowing that "everyone knows cops have the best" pot, give "Foul Play" a try.Kids in their early teens are enchanted by the kooky antiquity of the 1970's. And certainly I would add the Rick Moranis/Steve Martin musical version of "Little Shop of Horrors;" I think the original with Jack Nicholson is better for older teens, but that may just be my squeamishness.
And, from the "genuine classics" department, both "Arsenic and Old Lace," and "You Can't Take It With You," are good older-kid movies. I've been trying to think of a Hitchcock that's family-suitable -- maybe "The Lady Vanishes?"
Actually, Eric Beckman, the guy from the NY children's film fest, says he wrestles with this all the time, and there's no easy answer. Does it mean a movie about kids? A movie mainly marketed to kids? Simply a movie without certain kinds of defined-as-adult themes and subject matter?
The standard here was meant to be utilitarian: The movie will engage a large mixed group of children and adults, whether they're closely related or not, without striking any of them as hopelessly stupid or boring. By Timothy's account, Kung Fu Panda fails this test. (I haven't seen it, but a lot of the Cannes critics loved it. I guess it's a film for grown-ups.) Here's what I wrote on June 2, in the original invitation:
"With summer upon us, I want to accumulate an absolutely killer list of DVDs for grown-ups and kids (say, ages 4 to 12) to watch together when the beach day gets rained out, or just before bed, or just for the hell of it. What I'm mainly looking for are non-obvious, non-recent and non-computer-animated choices; classics that our generation has partly forgotten, or odder, older stuff that might broaden the kids' horizons a little and intrigue even the snobbish, film-buff adults in the audience. Obviously it's got to be entertaining to a broad viewing spectrum, or no dice."
Whatever flaws are revealed in the accumulation of this list (no "Duck Soup"), most of the films on it pass that test. Although I remain highly skeptical about "Mom and Dad Save the World."
Xrandadu, I'll definitely come back with that list of runners-up.
Probably true that "Muppets Take Manhattan" is superior to "Great Muppet Caper," come to think of it. I was just following the polls with that one.
Evidently there's some fondness out there for this execrable, Hollywood dress-up version of Carroll's classic - don't ask me why, I've never seen another Alice this lifeless or flat. The first tip-off it doesn't have a clue how to tell the story is Alice screaming as she falls down the rabbit hole (well, it *is* an Irwin Allen production); everyone knows she has a very sensible conversation with herself while floating down into Wonderland.
My favorite Alice: 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," a 1972 all-star British version (Michael Crawford as the White Rabbit, Dudley Moore as the dormouse, Peter Sellers as the March Hare, etc.) beautifully photographed by Geoffrey Unsworth with music by James Bond composer John Barry. It's easy to find crappy pan 'n scan, public domain dubs of this in 99-cent DVD bins, but hopefully someday an official, first-generation widescreen version will be released.
For older kids I'd recommend the Sherlock Holmes series by Jeremy Brett that was done in the 80s. My then 9 year old grandson was enchanted by these stories that don't involve car chases or blowing things up. I do recall after viewing The Speckled Band he slept with the light on that night!
Only one Miyazaki film? What about "Spirited Away," and "Kiki's Delivery Service," not to mention "Whispers of the Heart," "The Cat Returns," "Graveyard of the Fireflies," and many others by that studio. You could build one hell of a library on just Studio Ghibli films alone.
And I might mention one that would probably wind up under the surprises: "The Three Lives of Thomasina." This isn't that well known, so it doesn't surprise me that it's not here, but if you haven't seen it, you should. It's from back when Disney treated their audience with respect. Plus, it's got Patrick McGoohan in it.
And I second - third? Fourth? - the addition of Pixar films.
THE LAST STARFIGHTER (1984). Maybe the only thing really dated about this '80s minor classic is that kids might not understand why you have to stand up somewhere not in your house and insert quarters to play video games! Other than that, boys especially - I'd say eight or nine and up, will groove to this modern fantasy where a young lad scores so well on an arcade game - sort of an Atari sword in the stone - that he is recruited into outer space to help save the good galaxies of the universe from some advancing meanies. Some terrific characters, including a gentle intergalactic conman played by the late, great Robert Preston. This was one of the first films to use C.G.I. for the space ships and such, and while the grown ups especially will notice how basic that element is the wish-fulfillment adventure of it all is timeless. And probably just as good as the intergalactic starwars going on is the situational havoc caused by the boy's doppelgänger robot double back on Earth interacting with his would-be girlfriend and family.
THE ROCKETEER (1991). Too often lost in the shuffle, this Disney-produced adaptation of the '80s cult comic book that so lovingly paid homage to the serials and pulps of the '30s and '40s, it's probably a little too kiddie-friendly by design to ever soar into the stratosphere of masterpiece, but it also makes it ideal for the pre-teen set looking for a good action movie that doesn't even have the level of bloodshed and frightening mayhem found in Raimi's SPIDER-MAN franchise. The period setting and fun with gangsters and international spies vying for the rocketpack found by a humble yet stalwart hero-to-be (Bill Campbell) who has to save the would-be love of his life (Jennifer Connelly) while learning how to operate the flying device should keep them entertained and make the adults smile throughout. A top-notch supporting cast led by Alan Arkin, Paul Sorvino and Timothy Dalton as the Errol Flynn-type Hollywood baddie raises the enjoyment level of the whole flick.
NATE & HAYES (1983). No, it doesn't have the unlimited budget, effects spectaculars or over-the-top pacing and plain visual denseness of the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN mega-blockbusters, but this PG-rated pirate adventure with the dashing thirtysomething Tommy Lee Jones as Captain Bully Hayes is still a lot of fun. Even with the pirating, kidnapping, swordplay and ships it probably has more in common with RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK than the classic Hollywood swashbucklers (CAPTAIN BLOOD, THE SEA HAWK, THE CRIMSON PIRATE). A good time to be had by all. If they're old enough to see those Johnny Depp theme park-inspired pirate flicks they can certainly take this one.
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