Movies for the Whole Family

By Kathy O'Connell

I inherited my love of movies from my Dad. Thanks to him, I discovered Marx Brothers movies and old musicals. My mother mostly took us to the movies in the summer because we didn't have air conditioning and the movie theatres did. I went to a lot of movies that were inappropriate and boring for kids. While The Manchurian Candidate is a fine movie for grownups, no little kid should have to sit through it like I did.

There are movies for kids that might bore grownups (The Rugrats Movie) and movies for adults that kids won't enjoy (All About Eve). They're fine movies, but the whole family may not enjoy watching them together. I'm assuming that your family has already discovered some classic treasures, so they aren't on this list. If your family hasn't discovered The Wizard of Oz, ET, classic Disney movies (like Lady and the Tramp), The Princess Bride and Star Wars, stop reading now and go watch them together as a family.

Now, these are among my favorite movies for family viewing:

Kathy's Movie Picks:

	CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (2005): Do a grown-up a favor and introduce them to this movie. This is an imaginative re-telling of Roald Dahl's classic kids' book about a poor young boy who wins a trip to a fabulous candy factory owned by a strange man named Willy Wonka. Johnny Depp is amazing and a little weird as Willy Wonka - he has said he based his portrayal on Michael Jackson. My favorite part of this movie is the Oompa Loompas, who live and work in the Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. They are everywhere. The other kids who win a tour of the candy factory with Charlie are rotten and spoiled, and there are lessons in what happens to them. Rated PG.
	HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE (2004): Hayao Miyazaki is the greatest creator of animated films since Walt Disney. This fantasy is the story of Sophie, a plain young girl who works in a hat shop. She is put under a spell that turns her into a very old woman. Howl is a mysterious wizard. His castle (which moves!) is protected by the fire demon Calcifer (voiced by Billy Crystal), who is also under a spell. Their country is involved in a stupid war.This is a beautiful and creative movie. Miyazaki's images include amazing flying machines. Rated PG. NOTE: I prefer the English language version of this movie.
	OSMOSIS JONES (2001): In the tradition of Who Framed Roger Rabbit this movie combines animated and real-life actors. Bill Murray plays Frank - a widowed dad with very bad health habits. One day, he eats a bad egg and gets a disease. Inside his body (the cartoon parts of the movie), a white blood cell/crimefighter named Osmosis Jones (voice of Chris Rock) struggles to save Frank from the evil bacteria that is trying to kill him. Osmosis joins with a cold pill named Drix (voice of David Hyde Pierce) in the quest to save Frank. It was created by the Farrelly Brothers, who are very good at gross-out humor. Rated PG.
	AKEELAH AND THE BEE (2006): Akeelah is an 11-year-old girl from Los Angeles who discovers her talent for spelling. This movie is about Akeelah's journey to try to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Along the way, you'll meet Akeelah's hard-working mother, her coach, and all the people in her neighborhood who help her train for the bee. There is a lot of spelling in this movie, which might bore some little kids. But kids 10+ and their families will get swept up into this story of achievement and community. Watching Akeelah and her competitors is like watching a great sports event. Rated PG for some bad words.
	SECONDHAND LIONS (2003): Walter (Haley Joel Osment) is a shy troubled young boy with a very irresponsible mother. She drops him off with a couple of old uncles in Texas. She believes stories that the uncles are hiding a fortune, and she wants Walter to find the money for her. Instead, Walter finds a family with these grizzled old varmints. Walter learns the story of his uncles' exciting past lives of adventure. This movie has adventure, an old lion, and lots of meat (which the uncles love to eat). Kids 10+ will love seeing Walter's quest to find happiness and security in life. Rated PG.
	BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS (1971): An inexperienced witch's adventures take her and her children from WWII England to a mythical land where jungle animals rule - all via an enchanted flying bed. This was the very first movie Kids Corner producer Robert Drake saw ... as well as the very first time Robert went to a drive-in movie theatre ... the experience of taking pillows and camping out on the roof of the car, under the evening stars, made this movie even more magical!
	A HARD DAY'S NIGHT (1964): The Beatles' first movie is about a day in the life. They're chased by fans. They run around a television studio. Ringo goes for a walk. Your parents will probably sing along with the songs. Let them.
	THE GOONIES (1985): A bunch of kids try to save their homes by finding hidden pirate treasure. They encounter bad guys and adventures in the caves that hide the treasure.
	THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938): The tale of Robin Hood and his Merry Men and Maid Marian. Robin fights for justice and love in spectacular color photography.
	DUCK SOUP (1933): The funniest Marx Brothers movie. The nation of Fredonia goes to war with the nation of Sylvania. Chicolini may look like an idiot and talk like an idiot, but don't let that fool you ... he really is an idiot.
	MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1945): A musical year in the life of a family in Missouri as they await the 1904 World's Fair. Wonderful music and kids, especially Margaret O'Brien as Tootie.
	POLLYANNA (1960): Hayley Mills is an orphan who goes to live with her mean Aunt Polly. An old-fashioned story that will teach you The Glad Game and the scientific principle behind prisms.
	THE 5000 FINGERS OF DR. T (1953): A kid hates his piano teacher (Dr. Terwilliker). He winds up in a strange place where boys are forced to practice the piano all the time. Written by Dr. Seuss, this is one of the strangest movies ever made.

A Few Rules For Old Movies
For The Family

• You can't go wrong with Hayley Mills (The Parent Trap, Summer Magic, In Search of the Castaways)
• Old horror movies are better than today's violent slasher movies. If you like to get scared, check out Frankenstein, Dracula and The Wolfman.
• Old musicals can be corny, but they are lots of fun. Try Singin' in the Rain, 1776, and The Music Man.
• Older kids might enjoy more serious movies. Have you ever watched The Miracle Worker? It's the story of Helen Keller and her teacher.
  
• Sometimes comedies can have deep messages (Lilies of the Field). Check out director Frank Capra movies (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, It's a Wonderful Life).
• Remember old movies were made in different times. There may be scenes or characters that seem offensive now that were acceptable long ago. Enjoy the movie as entertainment and be glad we live in better times.

For Grownups:

My all-time favorite movies are not aimed at kids. Their common thread is they are about show business (Broadway, all-girl orchestras) and they are all funny.

THE PRODUCERS (1967): My Dad came home one day and said, I've just seen the funniest movie ever made. He took me to see it the next day. He was right. The story of two failed producers who try to create a sure Broadway flop.

SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959): We first saw this in an icy-cold theatre in Florida and I still laugh at it today. A couple of male musicians hide from gangsters by joining an all-woman band.

ALL ABOUT EVE (1951): Behind the scenes in the theatre. Margot Channing, the greatest actress of her time, befriends a miserable weasel named Eve Harrington. You can see whose side I'm on.