Alyson HillBearable Kids Movies
March 27th 2008 09:45
My children are 12, 10 and 7 THANK GOD! They toddled with 'Bug's Life', 'Ice Age' and 'Monster's Inc' before making the leap to Harry Potter and Star Wars movies, in the case of the two older boys, and anything with girls and soccer and Amanda Bynes, in the case of my daughter. I love my kids. My niece and nephews on the other hand, (don't get me wrong, I love them too) are well ensconced in Barbie movies (AAAAH Kill me now) and the latest range of animated rubbish which is sucking our money in today. And perhaps that's the problem - so many of these films are pumped out to meet school holiday profits, and compete with the other animated houses that the substance is a bit thin on the ground.
The bearable movies I've found have been surprises: 'Arthur and the Invisibles' was a lovely film and suffered only from Madonna's lacklustre voiceover of the Princess...big names should only do animated character voices, if they are actually animated themselves. 'Nanny McPhee' a great tale, funny and one of the best cast films I've seen lately, 'The Incredibles' was enjoyed by all the family, and 'Meet The Robinson's' was pretty funny (although I fell asleep briefly and woke myself up with my own snoring). 'Alvin and the Chipmunks' was a hit with the younger two and their Dad. I made the mistake of taking the 12 year old in to see 'I am legend' at the same time, not realising it was a Zombie film - (he thoroughly enjoyed it) that's another blog for another day - bad mother! My personal favorite, although it's a few years on now is 'Big, Fat Liar' - great story, lots of slime and funky music - great for all ages.
For the littlies maybe it's time to bring back the classics - the kids movies that were made once a year, because kids weren't as important to film studios back then...like '101 Dalmations' the ORIGINAL Walt Disney cartoon one. It could be time to turn our kids on to the films we loved when we were young - they may be dated in technologies, but the stories and the attention to detail are pretty acute. Opening children up to different types of movies from what's currently screaming for our attention, can only enhance their experience of film and before you know it, they'll be discussing the finer points of Monty Python with you at the dinner table...now that's bearable!
The bearable movies I've found have been surprises: 'Arthur and the Invisibles' was a lovely film and suffered only from Madonna's lacklustre voiceover of the Princess...big names should only do animated character voices, if they are actually animated themselves. 'Nanny McPhee' a great tale, funny and one of the best cast films I've seen lately, 'The Incredibles' was enjoyed by all the family, and 'Meet The Robinson's' was pretty funny (although I fell asleep briefly and woke myself up with my own snoring). 'Alvin and the Chipmunks' was a hit with the younger two and their Dad. I made the mistake of taking the 12 year old in to see 'I am legend' at the same time, not realising it was a Zombie film - (he thoroughly enjoyed it) that's another blog for another day - bad mother! My personal favorite, although it's a few years on now is 'Big, Fat Liar' - great story, lots of slime and funky music - great for all ages.
For the littlies maybe it's time to bring back the classics - the kids movies that were made once a year, because kids weren't as important to film studios back then...like '101 Dalmations' the ORIGINAL Walt Disney cartoon one. It could be time to turn our kids on to the films we loved when we were young - they may be dated in technologies, but the stories and the attention to detail are pretty acute. Opening children up to different types of movies from what's currently screaming for our attention, can only enhance their experience of film and before you know it, they'll be discussing the finer points of Monty Python with you at the dinner table...now that's bearable!
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Bridge to Terabithia would top my list of contemporary family films that can touch every age demographic.
Iron Giant is also another delight.
Totally agree their is a lot of sludge on the market, thankfully there is still quality to be found.
Comment by Hazel Castillo
Working Title
Cirrus Cloud
Movie Dime
Parent Adventures
Everything you said!
I hate the Barbie cartoons and I'm really sorry but BRATZ??? what kind of children's cartoon is that?! Teaches them how to be brats and materialistic!
So far, Disney hasn't failed us yet. My son's only 3, turning 4 in four months and he's learned to appreciate Disney-Pixar films such as Toy Story (1&2), Cars and Monsters Inc. He understands the morals of the stories of these and he uses them on a day to day basis.. something as simple as saying THank you or apologizing when he realizes he's done something that made anyone upset.
We just watched Enchanted yesterday and sure it's a comedy and a parody of their own classics, there was still morals to the story, he enjoyed the musical parts too
there, don't want to lengthen it any more than this.
Comment by Alyson Hill
Screen Trip
Hazel..ah yes Bratz!! Thank goodness my daughter has had no interest in them either..it's a tricky thing for a girl, there's just so much girliness one can take!
Another I forgot was Zathura...even though it was in the footprint of Zumanji, it was a bit of fun and depicted the sibling wars accurately.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Iron Giant did have Aniston as the mum, but its Harry Connick Jnr as the Beatnik voice that gave me my kicks. Also John Mahoney (aka Frasiers Dad) was great.
Just continuing my list for fun, in the modern era I would also include:
Spy Kids & Lemony Snickets which both seemed to have a Roald Dahl vibe inspired by Willy Wonka.
Monster House had such a classic 80's charm that was so reminiscent of The Goonies/Last Starfighter etc i couldn't resist.
The Secret Garden and The Little Princess also delivered. About now I should confess I don't have kids but love a good fable
Comment by Alyson Hill
Screen Trip