I have these three young female cousins, ages 3, 5 and 7. Their parents are working class and don't have the money to get their daughters any toys/movies, though their other needs are met.
I want to build for them a decent film collection over the coming year. They don't have cable, so I want them to have some films that they can pop in anytime they're bored.
Last week I intended to buy "The Wizard of Oz" for them but the Best Buy I stopped by didn't have it and, pressed for time, I picked up "The Goonies." I knew it was a movie about a group of boys (I hadn't seen it before) and I thought it would be innocent enough for them. Well, to my surprise, there were a few startling scenes, but the girls seemed to enjoy it and my aunt told me today the girls have been watching it over and over again. Now I'm determined to get them more movies, but they have to all be rich, great movies, the kind people remember being fascinated with as children and not the typical Disney pabulum aimed at children these days. I compiled a list of films that I think fit this description. I haven't seen the ones marked with the asterisks:
quote: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Toy Story Peter Pan (2003) The Neverending Story* ET* Beauty and the Beast Who Framed Roger Rabbit Shrek (maybe) Labyrinth* Adventures of Milo and Otis* Little Princess (1995, Cuaron)* The Adventures of Robin Hood (1935)* Mousehunt The Sandlot
I know, I know...Mousehunt. But still, to kids, it might be pretty fascinating. Any other film recommendations? I hear people mention The Neverending Story and Labyrinth...are they scary? The trailer for Labyrinth is making me reconsider.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Those movies aren't too scary, but, there is an upsetting scene in Neverending story if I recall. Just don't give them Pan's Labytrinth. It's a great movie, but AUGH! SCARY I'd get stuff by Miyazaki like Kiki's Delivery Service, Totoro, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle. They are weird, but they tend to have strong girl characters, good plots, They are waaaaay better than most disney movies too. All the Pixar movies are great for kids. Then you have stuff like the new Peter Pan movie. I love that movie. Enchanted was cute and adorable too. Loved that movie. It was so funny. Little Princess is good, along with a newer version of The Secret Garden which is delightful as heck as a book.
I'll think of more.
Posted by Clive Candy (Member # 11977) on :
I like Toy Story, but I loathe the Pixar gloss and I don't want to inflict it upon them.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Awww. But they tend to have such nice movies. Especially Wall E... And Incredibles. And Toy Story 2.... And Up.... which makes me laugh and cry...
I tend to like all of their stuff, except for some of those shorts. That baby was scary looking *Shudder*
Hmm. Well, there's always Miyazaki.
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
The beginning of Labyrinth was too scary for my five-year-old. I think that if she'd kept watching, she would have enjoyed the rest but the first part was way too intense.
When I was a child, the movie that I watched over and over until the tape wore out was The Flight of Dragons. It never had a theatrical release, but it was still really good. Apparently the DVD came out last year.
--Mel
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
quote:Originally posted by Clive Candy: I like Toy Story, but I loathe the Pixar gloss and I don't want to inflict it upon them.
For a very similar story without the Pixar gloss, try The Christmas Toy, which came out about 10 years earlier. Unfortunately, due to licensing issues, the DVD doesn't have any of the scenes with Kermit the Frog, but it's still a good movie. Another one that I wore out the tape watching.
--Mel
Posted by Mike (Member # 55) on :
I guess this is no longer in effect?
Posted by Clive Candy (Member # 11977) on :
Thanks Mel. "The Flight of Dragons" seems like an excellent choice and I will add it to the list. Just saw the trailer and I'm looking forward to seeing it myself.
My cousins (and I) aren't Christians, so her parents won't want them exposed to anything ostensibly having to do with Christmas.
Posted by Xavier (Member # 405) on :
I haven't seen it since I was a kid, but I recommend Flight of the Navigator. Hopefully it has aged well.
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
It's been many years, so I can't be 100% sure on this, but I recall that the Christmas in The Christmas Toy was completely secular. For whatever that's worth.
--Mel
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
quote:Originally posted by theCrowsWife: It's been many years, so I can't be 100% sure on this, but I recall that the Christmas in The Christmas Toy was completely secular. For whatever that's worth.
--Mel
That baby really creeped me out...
Hmmm... gloss?
Posted by Jake (Member # 206) on :
The Secret of Roan Inish is quite good, and would be appropriate for children if I recall correctly.
Jim Henson's The Storyteller, while a TV show rather than a movie, is superb.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
I strongly, strongly recommend My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service. Posted by Glenn Arnold (Member # 3192) on :
I'll second The Secret of Roan Inish.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
I second My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service.
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
Kiki's yep. Totoro...meh.
Spirited Away.
Posted by Amilia (Member # 8912) on :
Labrinth scared me to death when I was a kid. We'd watch it at family reunions, and I'd go upstairs and listen to the adults talk rather than watch it. Note that the rest of my brothers and sisters and cousins were fine with it. But the idea that my younger siblings could be kidnapped by goblins while I was babysitting due to something I said while angry -- absolutely terrifying. Have not made it all the way through that movie to this day.
Movies I loved as a kid:
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Babes in Toyland (although that one scared me too. That is the one with the trees that eat people, right?) The Court Jester The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Anything else starring Danny Kaye Escape to Witch Mountain (cheesy in retrospect, but loved it at the time) I Remember Mama Pollyanna
Posted by Hank (Member # 8916) on :
I'll second Chitty chitty Bang Bang, and I'd also recommend Mathilda. Just FYI, the Sandlot has a LOT of swearing in it, so some families may not be okay with it.
I used to nanny for two girls in that age bracket (3 and 6 at the time)and they also liked watching Broadway musicals, like Peter Pan (with Cathy Rigby) and Annie.
Posted by Jim-Me (Member # 6426) on :
Along the lines of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Great Race and Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines were two movies my parents used to let me stay up to watch whenever they were on prime time. I have great memories of those.
Push the button, Max!
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by Xavier: I haven't seen it since I was a kid, but I recommend Flight of the Navigator.
Seconded.
Posted by Clive Candy (Member # 11977) on :
List updated:
quote: The Wizard of Oz Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Toy Story Peter Pan The Neverending Story ET The Lion King Beauty and the Beast Who Framed Roger Rabbit Shrek Labyrinth Adventures of Milo and Otis The Incredibles Little Princess (1995, Cuaron) The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) Mousehunt The Sandlot Pollyanna Kiki's Delivery Service My Neighbor Totoro Flight of the Navigator Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines Annie The Secret of Roan Inish Spirited Away
I might also include:
quote:The Secret of Nimth The Thief of Bagdhad (1940...Disney borrowed a lot from this film to make "Aladdin." I saw it recently and I wish I had seen it as a child. It's sumptuous. The thing is it contains a couple of short violent scenes -- like a sword striking someone's face and the cut is actually shown, and the Princess's father gets it in the back of the neck with a sharp object. Still...)
Thanks for your recommendations, everyone. I'll bookmark this thread.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Secret of NIMH is great. The book is better, but the movie is quite good.
Posted by Armoth (Member # 4752) on :
Little Women, Batteries not Included, Race to Witch Mountain (the original), Sound of Music...
Posted by Sala (Member # 8980) on :
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang The Computer that Wore Tennis Shoes It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World Mary Poppins Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (original)
Can you tell I'm a bit older than college age? Posted by Misha McBride (Member # 6578) on :
The Last Unicorn was my favorite movie when I was a kid.
Posted by vwiggin (Member # 926) on :
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)