Kids' movies that grown-ups can enjoy

[Piggy]

After reading a bit about J.M. Barrie, I watched Finding Neverland (http://imdb.com/title/tt0308644/), followed by the recent film adaptation of Peter Pan (http://imdb.com/title/tt0316396/).

I'd heard good things about the latter film, and ended up really liking it -- enough to watch it twice. And this despite the fact that I rarely watch movies with kids in prominent roles.

Granted, some of this came from simply being grateful that a live-action version was done with a male in the lead -- as a boy, when I saw the play, it seemed bizarre that Peter was played by a woman and it spoiled the show for me.

But more than that, Jeremy Sumpter (http://imdb.com/name/nm0838911/) (who did a great job with a demanding role in Frailty (http://imdb.com/title/tt0264616/)) and the other kids did a fine job, Jason Isaacs (http://imdb.com/name/nm0005042/) and Lynn Redgrave (http://imdb.com/name/nm0001655/) were brilliant, and of course Olivia Williams (http://imdb.com/name/nm0931404/) made my jaw drop every time she appeared.

What I especially liked about this film was that it didn't pull many punches, and presented the story as what I'd always thought it to be -- a coming-of-age tale (about Wendy more than Peter, actually), possibly overlaid with (my speculation here) a metaphoric and apologetic love note from Barrie to Sylvia Llewelyn Davies. We get to see the truly irresponsible and even cruel side of Peter, especially in his treatment of Tinkerbell, whose glaring faults are also not glossed over.

The balance here makes it a rare find -- a flick the little ones can enjoy that will also engage the parents (or in my case, the babysitting uncle). I think the dance of the fairies scene is a classic, and the ending is at the same time upbeat, but also quite tragic when you think about it.


What happens to Peter when he and Tink return to Neverland, sans Wendy, sans the Lost Boys? The future doesn't look at all hopeful for him. I think the decision to discard the alternate ending -- in which Peter returns and flies away with Wendy's daughter, with Wendy's approval no less -- was wise.


Anyone care to recommend other kids' moves that grown-ups can enjoy? It's a genre I haven't spent much time with at all, although I love well-written books for kids and have kept a lot of the books I read as a boy. And since I'm now living close to the family, and there are others coming along who, at some point, I'm sure I'll be sitting for, recommendations are welcomed.

[fuelair]

Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (THE REAL ONE)
Matilda
Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day
Song of the South (if you can find it)
Lady and the Tramp, Dumbo (Hey, Disney did it well so take him as read....)

[CriticalThanking]

Babe (the pig movie, and NOT its sequel)

[Piscivore]

You didn't say what ages.
Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (THE REAL ONE)
Yes, for 6-up
Matilda Absolutely. 6-12
Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day Yes for 3-7ish.
Song of the South (if you can find it) Not really. My dad has a European bootleg, and the cartoons are okay, but the framing story is trite and boring. As far as the racism goes, I thought the white people come off much worse.
Lady and the Tramp Maybe, for 6-10 year old girls. little slow for today's kids.
Dumbo Meh, I don't like Dumbo. People bitch about SotS but this is much worse as far as stereotyping Blacks.
BabeYes, 6-14

Let me know what ages and genders you are dealing with and I'll give you my suggestions. Just keep in mind my kids are way ahead of the curve- the boy went to LotR:Fellowship when he was six and both him (10) and the girl (12) watch some R films by now.

[Piggy]

Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (THE REAL ONE)
Matilda
Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day
Song of the South (if you can find it)
Lady and the Tramp, Dumbo (Hey, Disney did it well so take him as read....)
I was so impressed with Freddie Highmore in "Finding Neverland" that I actually watched "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". His performance as Charlie didn't match his performance as Peter -- which, I have to admit, was genuinely worth watching -- but then the role wasn't nearly as demanding. I've also been a Depp fan since "Donny Brasco", so that sealed the decision. And although I didn't like the ending, I thought "Charlie" was superior to "Willie Wonka" even though "Wonka" is an icon from my childhood.

Granted, a movie couldn't end the same way the book ended. But "Charlie" was much truer to the book. The kids preferred "Charlie", but I think some of that has to do with us showing them "Willy Wonka" when they were littler, so maybe they think of it as a "baby" movie.

"Song of the South" was the first film I ever saw, at a small theater in my hometown which has since been torn down. I have the Uncle Remus book that my mother used to read to us from. A few years back I managed to find a copy of the film and watched it again. It seems so dated that I don't think kids today would even understand it.

I didn't know there was a film version of Matilda. Live or animated? Probably live, I'm guessing.

I remember "Lady and the Tramp" and "Dumbo" from my childhood, but haven't seen them since. Have they excerpted the crows from Dumbo in the name of political correctness?

I have an old vinyl recording of "The Blustery Day", but also didn't know that had been made into a movie. I've seen the Disney TV series based on the Pooh characters and thought they did a fine job of it (I worked for them for a while, shortly after they acquired the rights).

Thanks for the recos. Will have to check out Matilda and Blustery Day.

[Piggy]

Babe (the pig movie, and NOT its sequel)
Everyone I know who's seen it says that "Babe" is terrific. <Adds "Babe" to list.>

[The_Fire]

Shrek......

[Piggy]

You didn't say what ages.
The oldest are soon to be 10, boys and girls. The youngest -- 2 of 'em, both boys -- just turned 1, so there's quite a range. There's also a 13yo, but of course by now she's way too cool for watching kids' movies, which is good b/c now we can start talking about books. (Although, to be fair, the 9yos are starting into more serious books now, as well.)

The first non-G movie I saw was "Jaws". My folks allowed us to see it with them... while we were on vacation in Florida! :eek: The 2nd non-G movie I saw was likely "The Bad News Bears", which I think I snuck into. (I know my parents wouldn't have allowed me to watch it.) The 3rd would have been "Star Wars" -- which, of course, was like nothing I'd ever seen before, and changed my life. The 4th non-G flick I saw was probably "Smokey and the Bandit". Friends and I snuck in. I still love that movie -- lowbrow humor at its best. Gleason is tremendous.

When the remake of "Bad News Bears" came out, I rented the original just for nostalgia, although I had no desire to see the new edition. It was much better than I remembered. Was surprised to discover that it wasn't just a flick about foul-mouthed kids. It's now on my list of faves, although I'd never watch it w/ the young'uns (even if my sisters-in-law wouldn't disown me, which they would).

[Piggy]

Shrek......
Oh, right! Great film! I'd put it out of my mind. It was playing as the in-flight movie the only time I saw it -- on September 11, 2001.

[The_Fire]

The first time I was it was also an in-flight movie, just on september 20th 2001. First flight to Canada....

[shecky]

I quite liked Harriet The Spy from the late 90s.

The Witches is pretty good, too.

I guess The Secret Of Roan Inish could be considered a kid's movie. Pretty good.

Dumbo I like. True, not politically correct these days. Interesting how Dumbo and Timothy Mouse end up in "the wrong side of town" after their little intoxication episode, and references to going "back where you belong".

How The Grinch Stole Christmas (60s animated version) is a holiday fave.

Another Dr. Seuss joint, The 5000 Fingers Of Dr.T is very enjoyable to watch.

Wallace and Grommit. Pick any adventure.

In general, I'm not very fond of the big computer animation blockbusters of the last ten or so years. To me they seem more like eyecandy and would probably be quite mediocre if done in another traditional animation style.

[Piscivore]

Matilda (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117008/)- has a lot of the Dahl bite to it, you'll be pleased.

The oldest are soon to be 10, boys and girls. The youngest -- 2 of 'em, both boys -- just turned 1, so there's quite a range. There's also a 13yo, but of course by now she's way too cool for watching kids' movies, which is good b/c now we can start talking about books. (Although, to be fair, the 9yos are starting into more serious books now, as well.)

Well, the 1 year olds don't care and won't remember, so it doesn't matter.

For the 9-10's (and I bet the 13year old too :) ):

Anything Pixar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pixar). Anything. They are all wonderful.
Anything Miazaki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayao_Miyazaki): Especially "Spirited Away", "Kiki's Delivery Service", and "Howl's Moving Castle." "My Neighbor Totoro" is superb as well, but skews younger than the others. It's still delightful for adults. You might possibly skip "Princess Mononoke" (but see it on your own) depending on their tolerance for decapitations and severed limbs.

Other Animated:
The Cat Returns (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0347618/)
Metropolis (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293416/)
Watership Down (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078480/)

The Black Cauldron (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088814/) is a Disney animated film they probably haven't seen before. Based on the Lloyd Alexander books.
Lilo and Stitch (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0275847/) is by far the best Disney animated film ever.

Yes, I'm an animation whore. :)

Classic Disney:
Candleshoe (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075807/)
Escape to Witch Mountain (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072951/)
Herbie Rides Again (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071607/)
The Cat from Outer Space (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077305/)
I like most of the old Disney catalogue in large part for nostalgic reasons, but these are the best ones. My kids loved them.

Others:
Narnia (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363771/) - Good chance they've seen this already.
Goonies (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089218/)
Gremlins (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087363/)
Then you've got E.T, Raiders, Star Wars, etc. The great thing about this age is being able to share the classics. I'll warn you Poltergeist scared the s[rule 8] out of my son where The Ring did not.

Godzilla movies are always fun too.

If they'll tolerate B&W then you have to do Treasure Island (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025907/). My son really liked "Abbot and Costello meet the Mummy" too.

That should get you started. :)

ETA:
I guess The Secret Of Roan Inish could be considered a kid's movie. Pretty good.

Oooh, good one I forgot!

In general, I'm not very fond of the big computer animation blockbusters of the last ten or so years. To me they seem more like eyecandy and would probably be quite mediocre if done in another traditional animation style.

Excepting Pixar I'd agree with that.

[hurdygurdy]

Crimson Pig (http://imdb.com/title/tt0104652/), Kiki's Delivery Service (http://imdb.com/title/tt0097814/) and My Neighbor Totoro (http://spanish.imdb.com/title/tt0096283/), among many others by Hayao Miyazaki.

Oh, and everything by Nick Park (http://imdb.com/name/nm0661910/), specially "Chicken Run".

[ranson]

The Princess Bride (http://imdb.com/title/tt0093779/).

Great action for the kids, funny for the adults.

[tkingdoll]

Finding Neverland wasn't really aimed at kids - in fact many of the themes are rather adult in nature.

I enjoyed it superficially it bugged me in places because it was grossy inaccurate - at times being entirely fictional whilst pretending to be biographical. I would hate for people to see it and believe that that's what actually happened when the reality is far more mundane.

[Piggy]

Finding Neverland wasn't really aimed at kids - in fact many of the themes are rather adult in nature.

I enjoyed it superficially it bugged me in places because it was grossy inaccurate - at times being entirely fictional whilst pretending to be biographical.
I had the same reaction to "Beautiful Mind". Really enjoyed the film, but unfortunate that it was passed off as biography.

[Jorghnassen]

While (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079820/) we're (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084315/) talking (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072901/) about (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062687/) animation. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095327/) OK, that last one actually isn't really for kids. But do check out other movies by Isao Takahata (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0847223/) of Studio Ghibli, of which
this other gem directed by Yoshifumi Kondo (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113824/) has not been mentioned yet. I think.

Oh, and, just out of nostalgia, this non animated movie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087373/) too.

[rustypouch]

Goonies! Yes!

Other films I loved when I was a kid, and have recently re-watched and still enjoyed include The Neverending Story, Explorers, Flight of the Navigator, and others.

[Piscivore]

Grave of the Fireflies. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095327/) OK, that last one actually isn't really for kids. Everybody should see it at least once. When is probably best left to the parents.

But do check out other movies by Isao Takahata (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0847223/) of Studio Ghibli. Agreed, but be aware Pom Poko (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110008/) has anthropomorphic raccoons that make frequent use of their scrotums in interesting, and sometimes violent ways. Might be hard to explain to the parents later.


of which
this other gem directed by Yoshifumi Kondo (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113824/) has not been mentioned yet. I think.

One of the few I haven't gotten to yet. It's tough having to share my Netflix account with a wife with an appetite for cheesy action moives.

Oh, and, just out of nostalgia, this non animated movie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087373/) too.

Representing Europe, yo. :)

You just had to make my queue longer, didn't you?

I'm kinda "meh" on "Explorers", but rusty's other two choices are good.

ETC: "Explorers" was the one I didn't like so much.

[alfaniner]

...
Another Dr. Seuss joint, The 5000 Fingers Of Dr.T is very enjoyable to watch.
...

I like that one a lot as well. Have lent it to a couple parents for their kids. It's always funny to hear their reactions to it.

I still kind of wish I'd seen it during a certain period in the '70's...


I can never say enough good about The NeverEnding Story. I really wish they'd come out with a good, double-disc DVD of that one. The book is also amazing. If you get it, try for a hardcover version with the black and red printing (and hopefully with an Auryn on the cover!). It's a rather more involving read that way.

For some good mindless fun, I liked Spy Kids 2 and 3 (not 1 so much), and Cats & Dogs (not "The Truth About...", totally different movie!)

"Son of my mom!!"

[Meffy]

I've not seen it since it devastated me as a seven-year-old kit, but "The Three Lives of Thomasina" was a mind-blower even if I didn't believe in the supernatural (including reincarnation and the like). I'd like to watch it again, see if it can be appreciated by adults.

Scenic but almost too hokey to be believed is "Ring of Bright Water," a story about a man who, with his pet otter, moves from London to an isolated Scottish town. Warning: sad ending; have Kleenex ready. ([edit] I've heard that the book is better.)

I've seen a few Asterix and Obelix animated videos, pretty funny. The songs were surprisingly inventive and off-kilter in the Uderzo-Goscinny tradition. Plenty of good brainless bashing and tossing of Romans about. Warning: bardic ending; have earplugs ready.

It's tough coming up with these. When I was a kit I usually saw movies with my mother -- serious films, stuff like "In the Heat of the Night" and "Doctor Zhivago" and "Bonnie and Clyde," or more-or-less adult comedies like "The Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming!" (all worth watching again, BTW).

[Piscivore]

Shoot, while we're at it, Piggy- look to your avatar.

[BlackCat]

No one's mentioned The Last Unicorn yet? (But then, maybe I'm crazy, and I'm the only one who ever liked that movie.) I can't recommend the US DVD though, as it's a terrible release of it (see reviews on amazon).

I definitely second the Studio Ghibli (Miyazaki) recommendations, with a couple of exceptions. Princess Mononoke is definitely for teens and older, and Pom Poko is ... odd, but probably makes sense, culturally, in Japan. Personally, I didn't care for the heavy-handed message, either.

BlackCat

[Hawk one]

Anything Pixar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pixar). Anything. They are all wonderful.

As much as it pains me, I am in total agreement with Piscivore on this. They don't do CGI simply for the sake of CGI, they do it because that is the best way to present their vision. Period. Finding Nemo, for example, could -never- have been done in normal animation.

Naturally, the earlier movies (Toy Story, A Bug's Life) will feel less... refined than the later ones, but even then you get the telltale signs of what Pixar is doing: They're treating kids intelligently. No stopping in the middle of the plot to break out in songs, for example (a very big plus now that Phil Collins do the "ordinary" Disney cartoons these days), the way they handpick the voice actors for such a perfect match that you could never imagine anyone else playing role X (Albert Broccoli as Marlin, for one), the way they allow for lots of references to other media culture that is entertaining in its own right, but even better if you know them.

And again, they treat the audience as having at least a modicum of intelligence. Hey, they're not making something brand new (except for the visual style), but they execute the plots so damn well, it's so easy to forgive.

Now if you forgive me, I think I might want to put on Finding Nemo again... Or buy the soundtrack, because that is nothing short of amazing.

ETA: And I think that my last paragraph is rather telling, that I want to see those movies even without having a kid nearby to use as an excuse.

[Piscivore]

No one's mentioned The Last Unicorn yet? (But then, maybe I'm crazy, and I'm the only one who ever liked that movie.) I can't recommend the US DVD though, as it's a terrible release of it (see reviews on amazon).

Thanks, forgot that one. Shame about the DVD.

I definitely second the Studio Ghibli (Miyazaki) recommendations, with a couple of exceptions. Princess Mononoke is definitely for teens and older,

My kids love it, we watch it all the time- but like I said, they were watching orcs getting sliced up at 6.

and Pom Poko is ... odd, but probably makes sense, culturally, in Japan. Personally, I didn't care for the heavy-handed message, either.

Yep, about a subtle as a bulldozer. :)

[Jorghnassen]

Princess Mononoke's nothing. I watched Excalibur when I was six, with the platemail sex and the limb chopping and everything...

I almost listed this movie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087034/) too, because it's the second movie I ever saw in theaters, after ET, when I was a kid. But I guess it's not intended for children.

[BlackCat]

Yep, about a subtle as a bulldozer. :)
:dl:

Princess Mononoke's nothing. I watched Excalibur when I was six, with the platemail sex and the limb chopping and everything...
I put the warning in about Princess Mononoke because some people have no clue about things like this. E.g. when this movie was in theaters, I saw parents bringing their young kids (10 and younger) to this movie, which was rated PG-13. (They promptly left when it got violent.)

I would probably show it to my kids, regardless of their age, because I watched things much worse. But I didn't want others to be surprised by its content.

BlackCat

[Godmode]

I've loved almost all the Pixar films. I don't even have kids and I have quite a few of them on DVD, lol. I also like the classic Disney stuff, the original Parent Trap was hilarious.

[Morrigan]

I also recommend any Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli film. If your kids are very young, I wouldn't show them Princess Mononoke, but the rest are fine.
My Neighbour Totoro (for much younger kids, but still puts a smile on my face), Kiki's Delivery Service, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky, Spirited Away, Porco Rosso, and Howl's Moving Castle are all wonderful films.

For non-Miyazaki Ghibli stuff, try Whisper of the Heart and The Cat Returns. Unambitious and without pretention, but cute, beautiful films for kids. Grave of the Fireflies HAS to be seen, but not with children. They'll either a) be bored to all hell because they don't understand or b) cry and be horribly depressed.

For non-Ghibli stuff: Metropolis, The Place Promised in Our Early Days, Wonderful Days (Korean anime, kind of shallow as far as plot goes but VERY beautiful visuals that make it worth the time - it's not very long anyway. Also known as "Sky Blue" apparently - a bit of animated gun violence, but no biggie, IIRC).

[Hawk one]

I personally don't understand why one would recommend Princess Mononoke to anyone at any age, but I guess that's just me... :D

[Beth]

A lot of good recommendations here. The only additional one I can think to add is The Triplets of Belleville A French animated film I'd never heard of before my husband got it via netflix. Excellent and my whole family enjoyed it very much.

[tkingdoll]

I also recommend any Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli film. If your kids are very young, I wouldn't show them Princess Mononoke, but the rest are fine.
My Neighbour Totoro (for much younger kids, but still puts a smile on my face), Kiki's Delivery Service, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky, Spirited Away, Porco Rosso, and Howl's Moving Castle are all wonderful films.

For non-Miyazaki Ghibli stuff, try Whisper of the Heart and The Cat Returns. Unambitious and without pretention, but cute, beautiful films for kids. Grave of the Fireflies HAS to be seen, but not with children. They'll either a) be bored to all hell because they don't understand or b) cry and be horribly depressed.

For non-Ghibli stuff: Metropolis, The Place Promised in Our Early Days, Wonderful Days (Korean anime, kind of shallow as far as plot goes but VERY beautiful visuals that make it worth the time - it's not very long anyway. Also known as "Sky Blue" apparently - a bit of animated gun violence, but no biggie, IIRC).

Porco Rosso was actually deliberately made for an adult audience, as a departure from the previous kid's fare the studio always made.

I think all of their titles since have been a good balance between the two, with the best of them being Howl's Moving Castle.

Metropolis is great, I agree, especially if you are an Astroboy/Tezuka fan.

[RebeccaBradley]

Yellow Submarine was my son's favourite movie when he was three...and four...and five...etc. Nothing to do with him now being a saxophone-playing guitar-strumming drum-bashing layabout, of course.

I'd second Princess Bride. We also had fun watching Time Bandits, Jabberwocky, Life of Brian; and on the tv side, Fawlty Towers, Blackadder, and endless streams of Monty Python. Of course, tv opens up a whole new can of worms...

[Kotatsu]

For non-Ghibli stuff: Metropolis, The Place Promised in Our Early Days, Wonderful Days (Korean anime, kind of shallow as far as plot goes but VERY beautiful visuals that make it worth the time - it's not very long anyway. Also known as "Sky Blue" apparently - a bit of animated gun violence, but no biggie, IIRC).

Catnapped! (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114689/)

[Piscivore]

A lot of good recommendations here. The only additional one I can think to add is The Triplets of Belleville A French animated film I'd never heard of before my husband got it via netflix. Excellent and my whole family enjoyed it very much.

I love it, but it didn't engage my kids, so I left it off.

Yellow Submarine was my son's favourite movie when he was three...and four...and five...etc. Nothing to do with him now being a saxophone-playing guitar-strumming drum-bashing layabout, of course.

My boy loves it, the girl not so much.

[Jorghnassen]

I should mention that the Studio Ghibli people really admire Paul Grimault, particularly his masterpiece: Le Roi et l'Oiseau, (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079820/) which deserves much more praise than that simple link I gave earlier. It's a shame the DVD doesn't come with subtitles, it should be available outside of the Francophonie.

[Kiwiwriter]

I've seen plenty in the last nine years, I assure you!

Shrek
Hercules
Mulan
Matilda (a terrific film, my dream come true)
Harry Potter (the whole lot)
Monsters, Inc. (That one is a howl)

Film that desperately needs to be chopped up and re-done:

Dumbo.

The crows at the end are straight out of Amos and Andy and are flying stereotypes of minstrel shows. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

I wrote a column on my web page about how my daughter Wallis and her pals staged a mutiny at a Halloween Party to get rid of Scooby Doo in favor of something really scary. At age 8, Wallis and her pals had learned that Scooby Doo was no longer entertaining...he was just a coward...and he never faced a real ghost.

[Piscivore]

Dumbo.

The crows at the end are straight out of Amos and Andy and are flying stereotypes of minstrel shows. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Blackface crows and clowns. Hate it.

[alfaniner]

I've loved almost all the Pixar films. I don't even have kids and I have quite a few of them on DVD, lol. I also like the classic Disney stuff, the original Parent Trap was hilarious.

For my money, you just can't get any better that the original "The Love Bug". I got the DVD a few months ago and was amazed at how well it holds up. Very funny, and non-CGI special effects! The extras are very entertaining also (but that menu is very hard to navigate!).

[shecky]

Film that desperately needs to be chopped up and re-done:

Dumbo.

The crows at the end are straight out of Amos and Andy and are flying stereotypes of minstrel shows. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

I disagree completely. The crows do one of the best bits in the movie. And they're perfectly acceptable in context.

Funniest thing is, I never made the connection of crows=black folks until I was an adult. When I was growing up, blackface minstrelry and even Amos and Andy were pretty much long gone. I never made the connection. My guess is that if you never mention it to the kids, they'll never make the connection, either. At least not until much later.

I do recall as a child seeing some now long banished cartoons on TV featuring actual blackface minstrel characters or mushmouf caricatures. Along with some nasty-ish wartime cartoons. Even at a young age, I seem to recall these being somewhat un-PC.

[Kiwiwriter]

I disagree completely. The crows do one of the best bits in the movie. And they're perfectly acceptable in context.

Funniest thing is, I never made the connection of crows=black folks until I was an adult. When I was growing up, blackface minstrelry and even Amos and Andy were pretty much long gone. I never made the connection. My guess is that if you never mention it to the kids, they'll never make the connection, either. At least not until much later.

I do recall as a child seeing some now long banished cartoons on TV featuring actual blackface minstrel characters or mushmouf caricatures. Along with some nasty-ish wartime cartoons. Even at a young age, I seem to recall these being somewhat un-PC.

Kathy and I caught the crows right away. Wallis did not, so we did not explain it to her, so she watched Dumbo repeatedly. Admittedly the film was done in 1941, but I still dislike the crows. That gag could have been done better. Today it would be done better.

[Sandy M]

what girl DOESN'T like horses?

Black Beauty (in it's latest incarnation, for the 12 and up - because it's sad but has a happy ending)

Gypsy Colt (Lassie Come Home [also good] with a horse instead of a collie)

And the Disney horsey offerings:

The Littlest Outlaw
The Horse in the Grey Flannel Suit
Justin Morgan Had a Horse
Run, Appaloosa, Run

typical Disney, but not TOO Sappy for adults. [Actually, if an adult female likes horses, only truly BAAAAAD horse movies will put them off]


P.S. Except for Pink Elephants on Parade, I HATED Dumbo. But it made my 12 year old "boyfriend" cry. LOL Sort of goes along with Stephen King's take on Bambi: Most kids know the monsters in horror movies arent real, but BAMBI's MOTHER DIES!!!!

[Piscivore]

For my money, you just can't get any better that the original "The Love Bug". I got the DVD a few months ago and was amazed at how well it holds up. Very funny, and non-CGI special effects! The extras are very entertaining also (but that menu is very hard to navigate!).

I only mentioned the second one instead because, despite the lack of Dean Jones, it has the VW Army in it.

[tkingdoll]

what girl DOESN'T like horses?



This one.

[shecky]

Yellow Submarine was my son's favourite movie when he was three...and four...and five...etc. Nothing to do with him now being a saxophone-playing guitar-strumming drum-bashing layabout, of course.

My kids really like that one. They also love A Hard Day's Night, as do I.

I'd second Princess Bride. We also had fun watching Time Bandits, Jabberwocky, Life of Brian; and on the tv side, Fawlty Towers, Blackadder, and endless streams of Monty Python. Of course, tv opens up a whole new can of worms...

We're getting into movies that aren't really kid's movies, but may be quite enjoyable for kids. For example, My kids enjoy City Of Lost Children. They also like Brazil. And Tommy. These movies have a somewhat sadistic/comic element I suspect most parents would steer clear of for children's consumption.

Just this week, we all watched two movies based on filmaker Marcel Pagnol's life, My Father's Glory and My Mother's Castle, and were very well recieved by all.

I rented the Love Hina anime series for my daughter and found it very enjoyable.

I have mixed feelings about lots of anime. Some, like Kiki and Spirited Away are quite enjoyable across the board. But a lot of them I find overwrought, too long, and stories mired in minutiae, with much emphasis on style over substance. I wonder if it's cultural or if they're just aimed at anime nerds who like that sort of thing.

Ray Harryhausen's fantasy flicks are enjoyable my me and my kids, such as Jason And The Argonauts, The Seventh Voyage Of Sinbad, and so on.

[BlackCat]

I have mixed feelings about lots of anime. Some, like Kiki and Spirited Away are quite enjoyable across the board. But a lot of them I find overwrought, too long, and stories mired in minutiae, with much emphasis on style over substance. I wonder if it's cultural or if they're just aimed at anime nerds who like that sort of thing.

Saying you have mixed feelings about anime is like saying you have mixed feelings about live action films, and how they're too caught up in fancy CGI. Obviously, not all live action films even have fancy CGI. Anime isn't a genre, it's a medium. Certain series/movies are aimed at certain audiences, so you have to find the series/movie that fits what you like.


BlackCat

[shecky]

Saying you have mixed feelings about anime is like saying you have mixed feelings about live action films, and how they're too caught up in fancy CGI. Obviously, not all live action films even have fancy CGI. Anime isn't a genre, it's a medium. Certain series/movies are aimed at certain audiences, so you have to find the series/movie that fits what you like.


BlackCat
Fair enough. However, I get the sense that lots of folks treat it as a genre, and I can see the point, as Japanese anime is quite distinct from American animation, for example. Even more, folks tend to lump the works of Miyazaki Ghibli together, and I definitely find that stuff a mixed bag.

ETA:
I do consider computer animation stuff largely a genre still. I did mention earlier I find much of it simply eye candy that wouldn't cut it if it didn't look so dazzling.

[Sandy M]

This one.


Awwwww.... c'mon.... I'm constantly fending off little girls (and boys for that matter, but mostly girls) from ages 4 and up who come running out of their suburban yards everytime they see my beastie...and since a lot of them are barefoot I have to do some quick warning lest tiny toes get inadvertently stepped on.

Under 4.... the reaction is "oooooh.... horsey" but yeah, when they get up close, it's too big and scary. Even so, their parents say, "Oh, little Suzie just watches "Spirit" over and over and over again...."

Did you have a bad experience? Are strictly a city girl (horses too big, smell bad, etc.)? Or?? *G*

[Piscivore]

Fair enough. However, I get the sense that lots of folks treat it as a genre,

Yeah, that perception is not uncommon, actually. It mainly stems from the kids who haven't gotten out of the Sailor Moon/Tenchi/Inu Yasha phase, because they are the most vocal (not to mention market-targeted and media-worthy) in the US.

and I can see the point, as Japanese anime is quite distinct from American animation, for example. It's becoming less so, especially on TV, as American animators are adopting elements of style from Asia.

Even more, folks tend to lump the works of Miyazaki Ghibli together, and I definitely find that stuff a mixed bag. You may know this, and if so, forgive my pedantry, but Hayao Miyazaki is a director, and Studio Ghibli is the studio he heads.

ETA:
I do consider computer animation stuff largely a genre still.
No, it's still a medium, or a technique. "FF: Spirits Within" and "FF: Advent Children" is Sci Fi (or Sci Fantasy, if you prefer), and most of the rest of the all-CGI movies are family comedies, but that doesn't restrict the medium to only family comedies.

If you are talking about movies that use CGI for effects, well- would you say "Gone with the Wind" and "Star Wars" were a genre because the both use matte shots?

I did mention earlier I find much of it simply eye candy that wouldn't cut it if it didn't look so dazzling.

Are you talking about all-CGI, or movies that use CGI? Beacuse if it is the latter, you could level the same criticism about a lot of actors as well. ;)

[Piggy]

I wrote a column on my web page about how my daughter Wallis and her pals staged a mutiny at a Halloween Party to get rid of Scooby Doo in favor of something really scary. At age 8, Wallis and her pals had learned that Scooby Doo was no longer entertaining...he was just a coward...and he never faced a real ghost.
2 vehicles that aren't allowed in my house in any shape or form: Scooby-Doo, and Batman.

Even as a kid, I hated Scooby-Doo. It was lame with a capital SUCK.

As for Batman, for some reason, I've disliked every incarnation, from the original comic, to the campy TV series (the absolute worst), to the Dark Knight, to the live-action movies. These are all highly diverse incarnations, so I have to figure that there's just something about the property that turns me off.

[Meffy]

From my mate: "Babe." (The pig.)

From me: Any Nick Park claymation, unless you're a parent who's had to listen to them on auto-repeat for four months in a row.

[bruto]

Adding to the above (yeah, Pixar and Nick Park and Babe and so on need no further selling).

The Mouse and His Child, (1977), Very hard to find, and not on DVD, but we all liked it back when my kids were kids. If you can't find the movie, get the book.

The Iron Giant is also well enough done to keep adults from grinding their teeth.

There were a few made for TV movies that appeared on PBS Wonderworks in the 80's that we enjoyed, and which do sometimes appear on VHS.

Frog is pretty funny.

Danny, the Champion of the World is a must for Roald Dahl fans.

I've forgotten most of the rest, but as I look at the list above and think about others, I realize there really are quite a few good kids' movies out there that are tolerable for adults too.

[Morrigan]

I personally don't understand why one would recommend Princess Mononoke to anyone at any age, but I guess that's just me... :D
Blasphemy! It wasn't the best of his films, but it was still incredible.

Catnapped! (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114689/)
Hmm, the review refers to the Akira staff, which puts me off, but it does say it's very Ghibli-esque, which interests me. I'll have to check it out one day. Plus it has cats, which rule.

Le roi et l'oiseau sounds intriguing also...

[tkingdoll]

Awwwww.... c'mon.... I'm constantly fending off little girls (and boys for that matter, but mostly girls) from ages 4 and up who come running out of their suburban yards everytime they see my beastie...and since a lot of them are barefoot I have to do some quick warning lest tiny toes get inadvertently stepped on.

Under 4.... the reaction is "oooooh.... horsey" but yeah, when they get up close, it's too big and scary. Even so, their parents say, "Oh, little Suzie just watches "Spirit" over and over and over again...."

Did you have a bad experience? Are strictly a city girl (horses too big, smell bad, etc.)? Or?? *G*

Neither, I grew up in the country but now live in a city. I just don't see horses as anything but another animal - and possibly a food source if I was hungry enough (and in France).

Puppies make me gooey though, as do Pokemon.

[B.D.]

Finding Nemo is a great movie. I had to play emergency babysitter for some friends and Nemo kept the little one occupied. I love it, though I have to admit it did start to grate on me. Then again, after 5 or 6 times, most things will.

Monsters, Inc. is another good one.

[antihippy]

I loved Cats and Dogs! I hated the mealy mouthed touchy feely rubbish pooches and rooted for the masterfully evil cats. I wanted the cats to win! They should have won! What kind of a lesson was that to show children.

Remember: Evil does not wear a bonnet!

[Sandy M]

Neither, I grew up in the country but now live in a city. I just don't see horses as anything but another animal - and possibly a food source if I was hungry enough (and in France).

Puppies make me gooey though, as do Pokemon.


Well, whatever. Different strokes. Are far as being food is concerned, I think it will be very interesting if complete information ever is disseminated in France about "American" horses that are shipped for human consumption. While I'm sure some of them end up on the table, technically it is illegal to sell BLM mustangs for slaughter (the only horses I can think of that haven't been medicated, vaccinated, etc. for most of their lives). Most domestic horses that have been taken care of at all are loaded with medications designated "not for use in animals destined for human consumption." The French may be ingesting quite a few chemicals they don't want....

But as a general rule, girls/horses is a cliche based in truth. I'm sure no "girl" any more, but I've owned horses for 35+ years and can't imagine being without one, although the economy being what it is, I may have to learn.

As for movies: I think someone did mention The Black Stallion? Lovely movie, better in the first half than the 2nd though.

[Piggy]

Danny, the Champion of the World is a must for Roald Dahl fans.
Agreed. I don't think "fan" adequately describes my love (and gratitude) for the work of Roald Dahl, and I thought the Jeremy Irons film adaptation was extremely well done.

{I'm not a book purist, btw. I'm one of those Tolkien freaks -- and a rare one, being from the US academic lit sphere which on the whole has never given JRRT the credit he deserves -- who is thoroughly enthusiastic about Jackson's film adaptations of LoTR. Film is a different medium with its own dramatic and structural requirements.}

And fortunately, I don't think the wee ones will be able to identify Victor Hazell as Hagrid.

Piscivore, are you referring to the 1963 B/W Flies, or the 1990 color Flies? I'm assuming the former. I haven't seen the latter, but the responses I've seen weren't excellent.

[Piscivore]

Film is a different medium with its own dramatic and structural requirements.

Thank you.

Piscivore, are you referring to the 1963 B/W Flies, or the 1990 color Flies? I'm assuming the former. I haven't seen the latter, but the responses I've seen weren't excellent.

The later one isn't nearly as good as the '63 (although, in keeping with your comment above, the '63 does have some flaws in that it is too much the play), but the 1990 version engaged my kids better. It is wholly an American movie, though they didn't screw up the story too badly.

Funny story, not long after seeing LotF we got the game Kingdom Hearts 2, in which there is a huge Pelennor Fields-style battle, in the course of which one of the characters gets a large boulder dropped on his head. My son, who had been exulting about the LotR similarities, called out "That's Piggy! They did a Piggy on ******!"

I was so proud.

[Boo]

Watched Milo and Otis the other day and while my youngest liked it for the animals, I was howling as I realized this movie would NEVER have been made in the US. Something about throwing cats off cliffs, pushing pugs at bears, etc. The SPCA would have had fits.

Can't nominate Pixar enough times.

Classic Warner Brothers cartoons, Bugs Bunny et al, take on a whole new look as an adult.


The Muppets are good too. The first season of The Muppet Show is now out on DVD and the original Muppet Movie never gets old.



Boo

[Hawk one]

The Muppets are good too. The first season of The Muppet Show is now out on DVD and the original Muppet Movie never gets old.

I especially love how they've included the original sales pitch in this DVD collection (paraphrased from memory):

"It's got something for everyone. The kids will love the cute puppets. The teenagers will love the new expressive styles, the college kids will love the "hidden" symbolism in every sketch, and the dirty, long-haired unwashed hippies will love the dirty, long-haired, unwashed puppets!"

[Wudang]

A Feast at Midnight (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109784/)If you can find it, it's a little gem, rated PG.

[HeyLeroy]

The Princess Bride (http://imdb.com/title/tt0093779/).

Great action for the kids, funny for the adults.

And one of the most entertaining fight scenes ever put to film.

William Goldman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Goldman) also wrote the screenplay for Marathon Man.

Yellow Submarine was my son's favourite movie when he was three...and four...and five...etc. Nothing to do with him now being a saxophone-playing guitar-strumming drum-bashing layabout, of course.

I'd second Princess Bride. We also had fun watching Time Bandits, Jabberwocky, Life of Brian; and on the tv side, Fawlty Towers, Blackadder, and endless streams of Monty Python. Of course, tv opens up a whole new can of worms...

I wouldn't recommend The Corpse Bride for just any six-year-old, but my son has pretty sophisticated tastes. The Blues Brothers is one of his and his nine-year-old sisters' favourites.

Does anyone remember Twice Upon a Time (http://www.panandscan.com/news/show/Animated_DVD/I_Want_My_DVD:_Twice_Upon_a_Time/1071)? This one should be released to DVD.

Years ago I worked in video stores, for about eight years. Many times, a new employee would unwittingly recommend A Boy And His Dog (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072730/) when asked for a "good kids' movie". Hoo-boy!

[AmateurScientist]

Here's a "family movie" (which I think is sometimes used synonymously with "kid's movie") that everyone can enjoy. I loved it, and so did my parents when they watched it with my niece and nephew and me.

Fly Away Home (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116329/)

It's a true story about a New Zealand girl who has gone to live with her estranged Canadian father. She becomes enamoured with a family of young orphaned Canadian geese living nearby. She and her father understand that without a gaggle to fly with to migrate for the winter, the geese will die.

SPOILERS FOLLOW************************



Her father teaches her how to pilot an ultralight aircraft, and she imprints herself on the geese. They map out the normal migration route, plan an improbable trip, and the girl flies along with the geese at migration time, successfully taking them to their precise destination in the southern U.S.




END OF SPOILERS**************************




The story is terrific, the acting is top notch, and the cinematography is gorgeous. The story could have been sappy, but it isn't. It's a perfect little drama that leaves you feeling good about the capacity for human decency and ingenuity, and about our ability to forge strong bonds with other animal species.

I can't think of any type of person who wouldn't enjoy the film. I think it belongs in any DVD collection.

AS

[slingblade]

Just watched Nanny McPhee this weekend. Can't say enough good about it.
Put her trademark line in my sig, it's just that cool.

Has anyone mentioned Fantasia yet? Great intro to classical music and classical cartooning. Make the lil' barstids learn, that's my motto. ;)

Oh, and Whale Rider. I really, really liked that. Maori girl defies tradition. Good, good stuff.

[elaine]

Ditto on anything by Pixar and The Princess Bride. The Muppets Wizard of Oz, was hilarious, a lot of adult humor in that one.

[American]

The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059221/)

Popeye (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081353/)

Sheena (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088103/)

Over the Top (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093692/)

Full Metal Jacket (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093058/)

[fuelair]

Whale Rider!!!!!!!

[chance]

rather enjoyed 'Ella Enchanted'

[Trifikas]

Corpse Bride was mentioned, but nothing about "The Nightmare before Christmas" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107688/..

[dglas]

An old claymation film, The Adventures of Mark Twain.
The humour is wry enough that it can appeal to grown-ups. Wonderful Adam and Eve segments.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088678/

[HeyLeroy]

Never Cry Wolf (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086005/).

Disney's first PG movie due to a man's bare butt.

[Jon.]

She becomes enamoured with a family of young orphaned Canadian geese living nearby.

It's Canada geese if you're talking about the species. Lots of different species of goose are Canadian!


Has anyone mentioned Fantasia yet? Great intro to classical music and classical cartooning. Make the lil' barstids learn, that's my motto. ;)

When my (then-girlfriend, now-wife) and I saw this in the theatres when it was re-released in (?)1991-ish, we sat behind a mother and her child, who was maybe 3 years old. The kid did not enjoy the movie, and kept asking when Mickey was coming on. However, during the "Rite of Spring" sequence, when the primordial earth was shown with bubbling magma, the sprog asked "Mommy, is lava hotter than cappuccino?"

ETA: two missed words

[Piscivore]

An old claymation film, The Adventures of Mark Twain.
The humour is wry enough that it can appeal to grown-ups. Wonderful Adam and Eve segments.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088678/

And the "Mysterious Stranger." Thanks for reminding me about this!

[Meffy]

My mate just recommended either October Sky or Rocket Boys (they're anagrams; the book goes by both titles but movie just by one).

[Polaris]

Aliens
Black Sunday
Harry and the Hendersons
Saving Private Ryan
Nine and a Half Weeks
Caligula.

[gumboot]

Yes... Saving Private Ryan... the kids will love it... but adults can appreciate it too... :rolleyes:

I saw this thread and instantly thought "Peter Pan" (the live action one). But the creator of the thread beat me too it... absolutely amazing film.

I add my voice to the Pixar camp...and the Shrek camp.

Have to chip in for my all-time favourite childhood movies - Star Wars (IV) and The Dark Crystal.

Two pre-CG disney films I still enjoy:
-The Lion King
-Aladdin

Good call on City of Lost Children, but wait until your kids are comfortable reading subtitles!

For a bit of a tangent, the film version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Cats".

-Andrew