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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
I haven't been keeping up with the letters, but if no one's mentioned this it's an absolute must. Terrific movie. It has it all: Ireland, kids, gypsies, a magic white horse; adventure, quest, magic. Throw in superb handling of serious thematic issues like identity, family, racism, death. And the performances are great, especially the kids. And the horse is beautiful. It really is a movie you do not want to miss.
An American in Paris (with Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron)should also make the list. Great score, costumes, choreography, lots of variety. There are other classic musicals that have great dance scenes that are fun to watch, such as Frad Astaire's Firecracker dance in Holiday Inn and the dancing on the ceiling number in Royal Wedding but they don't usually want to sit still for the sappy "Moon/June" stuff, especially Bing Crosby crooning. They liked the Singing in the Rain dance by Gene Kelly, another great scene.
Also, I know we are trying to avoid the list being too mainstream, but my kids loved the early Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies and Jurassic Park (esp. the first one)which they did not seem to think scary (as I had feared). On the other hand, they found E.T. and Jumanji terrifying for years.
Another good one for teens was the skateboard movie "Dogtown and Z-boys" on which the Hollywood "Lords of Dogtown" was based. The skating and videography was amazing and the history of that part of the skateboard culture really interesting for kids and parents. Parental co-viewing advised to discuss the negative aspects (poor parenting and partying, especially after they start to get contracts and hang out with the wrong types).
How about "Babe"?
Otherwise great and interesting list. Some were my own favorites as a kid, especially "Singin' in the Rain" and "Mr. Hulot's Holiday".
I remember sitting in the living room with my parents laughing till we wept as we watched and waited for that ridiculous door. What a treat.
Movies I loved as a kid:
Old Yeller (my very first movie, ever; I cried a lot, though; I might have been a bit too young at four or five)
In the Heat of the Night (saw this with my dad when I was 8; it was intense, but I learned a lot)
Franco Zefferelli's version of Romeo and Juliet (yes, there were naked people, as well as blood and brawling, but I was enthralled, and I've loved Shakespeare ever since)
How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying (I have no idea how this would stand up to the test of time, but my sister and I watched it every time it was on TV)
The Great Race (Jack Lemmon, Natalie Wood, Tony Curtis -- a fun flick, lots of silly stuff, and my son loved it when he was 8)
Some westerns:
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (another rather intense film, but still a great adventure)
Cat Ballou (haven't seen it in years; liked it a lot around the age of 9 or 10)
Jeremiah Johnson (Redford flick, definitely for teens)
Around the World in Eighty Days (both versions -- my eight-year-old son adored the Jackie Chan version)
As far as the Hitchcock debate goes, I still recall loving the colors and glamorous setting of To Catch a Thief.
Oh, I can't forget Genevieve Bujold in Anne of a Thousand Days
and
Dr. Zhivago (I suppose that falls into the blockbuster category)
My son liked the old version of Pippi Longstocking
What about Sleeper and Bananas for teens?
Joseph Papp's delirious "Pirates of Penzance?" [The play on DVD, movie on VHS only.]
My goddaughters, every day of the world for almost two years, wanted this--alternating (sorta) with "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?", another that seems to have fallen into the cracks here.
Let me add:
Second Hand Lions--a wonderful film about a boy forced
to live with his two eccentric uncles. Funny, heartwarming with a bit of mystery and adventure included.
I didn't see it on list, though I might be blind.
Obvious choice, yes, but still a must.
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
Charlotte's Web (animated)
Scooby Doo, Where Are You! (season one)
The Point
Mary Poppins
The NeverEnding Story
Annie (1981)
I loved this movie as a kid - can't believe no one else mentioned it yet.
Second Hand Lions is a treat for all ages.
And a million years ago, my own children and their friends daily emptied out our linen closet so they would all have their towels, for the original BBC production of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
My 7-year-old daughter was recently entranced by Jacques Demy's THE YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT, a candy-colored bauble which can stand up proudly next to any classic Hollywood musical. Some of her other favorites that no one has mentioned yet:
NATIONAL VELVET
A HARD DAY'S NIGHT
ANNIE (the Kathy Bates TV version, far better than the movie)
HAIRSPRAY (the musical, not the John Waters original)
THE POLAR EXPRESS (which I find creepy, but she loves)
THE THIEF OF BAGHDAD (the 1940 version)
THE MUSIC MAN
OLIVER TWIST (the live-action Roman Polanski version -- she's watched it over and over)
PETER PAN (the Mary Martin TV musical, sadly unavailable on DVD)
THE NUTCRACKER (the version narrated by Kevin Kline and featuring Macaulay Culkin)
THE WAY THINGS GO (an indescribable art piece which chronicles a 30-minute-long chain reaction involving ordinary household objects)
TARZAN THE APE MAN (the Johnny Weissmuller original, another movie that can provoke useful conversations about the historical depiction of Africans on film)
She's also nuts about the usual Disney and Pixar classics, as well as:
PETER PAN (the live-action P.J. Hogan version, which is as peculiarly magical and memorable as Cocteau's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST);
THE GREAT MUPPET CAPER, which is by far her favorite Muppet movie;
THE POINT, about which much has already been said;
THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, ditto;
MICROCOSMOS, ditto.
For the record, she was either unmoved or frightened by several movies I love:
THE COURT JESTER
WAY OUT WEST
MARCH OF THE PENGUINS
To each their own, I guess...
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Salon headlines in your mailbox
