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You know....for kids....Jul 28 '01 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line Sometimes the old classics are the best ones....Robin Hood, The Dark Crystal and The Last Unicorn are only some of the movies that make this list. Despite its severe case of arrested development, Hollywood still, by and large, seems to have trouble telling what makes a quality children's movie. Recently I saw Nickolodeon's lackluster adaption of Harriet the Spy and another Nick flick, Snow Day. Both had their amusing moments, although I curse Nickolodeon for practically shredding one of my favourite childhood books. I suppose the best we can say for their version of HtS is that it brought Michelle Trachtenburg into the limelight. But I'm digressing. You want a list of the ten ultimate kid movies. I've got 'em. Movies that magically touched us when we were young, perhaps. Movies we've laughed over with our younger sibs. Movies our nieces and nephews and, in some cases, children will beg to see over and over and over. Covering all ages, I hope, from early grade school to early teens. PixelFish's Top Ten Movies For Kids 1] Disney's Robin Hood I don't care who you are. This movie rocked my world when I was little. Yeah, the Mouse House has lost their way in recent years, floundering with stiff, politically correct fare screaming with historical inaccuracies. So what. Robin Hood was a masterpiece. From the moment Allen A'Dale began singing "Ooodellally" to the very end, this movie was magical. First off, it had talking foxes. How can Errol Flynn compare? (Side note and amusing anecdote: My father once took me to see Citizen Kane on the promise that after sitting through Citizen Kane we would go see Robin Hood. We got all the way through Citizen Kane and halfway through the Errol Flynn version of Robin Hood, when I plucked Dad's sleeve and whispered, "Dad, where's the fox?" At that moment my poor father realized I'd sat through CK on the expectation of talking foxes.) Besides the various loquacious animals, the writing and breakneck pace was quite entertaining. One of my favourite scenes in all cinematic history is when Robin has to make his escape from the tournament and is proposing to Maid Marian while the whole of Prince John's army is after them. And speaking of Prince John, how can any kid not fail to be amused by the relationship between him and Sir Hiss??? So...at the top of my pack, and one of my all time favourite movies, to this day, Robin Hood. 2] Star Wars The ultimate space opera movie. I grew up watching space shuttle launches. When I was in third grade, I saw the Challenger explode. At that moment, space had never seemed so close, yet so unattainable. Star Wars has the power to make you believe that the future is possible. That you too could be a Jedi master. That you could ride a rickety old ship like the Millenium Falcon into the cold depths of space and fight for the good guys. And, on top of that, it had a strong female main character. Leia didn't need much rescuing once the boys broke her out of the cell block. And she was pretty good with a blaster. 3] The Last Unicorn For mystical enchantments and a bittersweet story about an inept wizard, a lonely woman, and a sad unicorn, you can't beat this. Based on Peter S. Beagle's book of the same name, this movie instilled a sense of beauty and awe in me. The animation is a bit old fashioned, but still quite lovely. Girls will love it. Younger boys might be entertained by it. 4] The Dark Crystal Muppets. Dark, sorcerous, evil muppets. Good, kind loving muppets. And muppets that seemed like elves brought to life. Perhaps a tad dark for younger children but thoroughly satisfying and intriguing for older children of both sexes. And one of the best fantasy stories ever, muppets or no muppets. 5] Toy Story I and II Both Toy Story movies were excellent animated works, and while amusing for children, nostalgic for us slightly older kids. :) It's for any kid who has ever loved a toy to distraction. (I have this stuffed dog that will be twenty six years old this Christmas. I'll be twenty five next year. This dog has gone with me to college. That's part of the reason I love this movie. The other reason are the squeaky aliens. I love the squeaky aliens. Kids will love the squeaky aliens too.) 6] The Parent Trap I haven't seen the new version, but the old one with Haley Mills is a hoot. What kid didn't want to discover their unknown, long lost twin and reunite their fabulously rich parents. Heck, my parents were together and happy, and I still figured out ways to have a long lost twin and pull all sorts of evil twin pranks. 7] Swiss Family Robinson I really wish Disney would return to making their old style of family films. Swiss Family Robinson had the Ultimate Treehouse. And it didn't hurt that it had pirates and ostriches and elephants and booby traps. 8] Goonies More pirates. I rest my case. Well, not completely. Goonies took pirates and mixed in a treasure map and a pirate ship and evil bad guys to chase the kids. Again, what kid would not want to have this happen to them. I personally spent my childhood dreaming about finding hidden tunnels beneath my hometown and following a treasure map to a long lost pirate ship. And then....me and my long lost twin would figure out a way to reunite the pirates. Kinda like reuniting the Beatles, but different. :) 9] Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown This is yet another classic. Snoopy and the gang head to camp, only to find themselves pitted in a race against the camp bullies. Surprise ending that beats out The Sixth Sense any day. 10] Labyrinth Even more muppets. And David Bowie. And every preteen girl's fantasy come true. Fabulous dress, Goblin King dying for your love, loyal and stalwart companions, and an Escher-Froud mixed up world. Silly songs. Wonderfully imaginative twists on fantasy conventions. Oh yeah, and a happy ending. Speaking of happy endings, hope you found my list entertaining and perhaps informative. Most of the movies on this list came out over ten years ago, but they are still classics in every sense of the word. ------ Okay. It's not like me to go without leaving a bit of a postscript. So...the Honourable Mentions. The Princess Bride - fractured faery tale The Goofy Movie - updated and hip story of father and son spending time together Beauty and The Beast - duh Aladdin - duh again Willow - another good fantasy Charlotte's Web - not as good as the book, but sweet  |
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