Top Ten Children’s Films

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It’s a fact: the best kid’s movies are the ones adults can enjoy too. But there’s more to making a film appealing for both adults and children than letting Adam Sandler run rampant or dropping double-entendres and pop-culture references in among farting jokes. The story has to speak to the child in all of us while not talking down to its main audience.

Here is my list of the Top Ten Children’s Films that fit that description. Get your Netflix Queue ready, it’s time to take a trip down nostalgia lane.

1) The Sound of Music

This 1965 musical film is what I would call a “masterpiece.” I was memorized at an early age and have been singing Do, Re, Mi ever since. If I made a list of the Top Ten People I Want to Meet, Julie Andrews would be at the top.

If you like The Sound of Music , you might also enjoy: Oklahoma , Annie , Mary Poppins*, and all the Shirley Temple classics like Heidi and Poor Little Rich Girl .

*In an effort to choose a variety of movies from different genres, Mary Poppins is not listed in the Top Ten as it also contains Julie Andrews and all her brilliance. But let it be known that it is, of course, also one of the very best.

2) The Parent Trap

This 1961 flick was remade in 1998 starring the now infamous Lindsay Lohan and is also (surprisingly) worthwhile. Both films are about identical twins Sharon McKendrick and Susan Evers finding each other at summer camp and eventually reuniting their parents.

While the plot is quite unrealistic, it is a fun, humorous, and heartwarming (without being too heartwarming) story we can all enjoy. I have watched this movie both as a child and as an adult, and it passed the test that many other flicks have failed (Have you tried watching Land Before Time as an adult? Yikes).

If you like The Parent Trap , you should also check out Freaky Friday (both the 1976 and 2003 version) and Pollyanna .

3) Hook

This is a Baker family classic and a movie I have seen at least a dozen times (mostly on VHS). Hook is the story of Peter Pan, the sequel. The movie focuses on a grown-up Peter, a successful corporate lawyer with a wife and two children. Captain Hook kidnaps his two children, and he must return to Neverland and reclaim his youthful spirit as Peter Pan in order to challenge his old nemesis, Captain James Hook.

It sounds cheesy, and many parts clearly are, but as a whole Hook is every kid’s dream movie. It’s a fantasy film but also a comedy with underlying themes of loyalty and family values. Bottom line: I think it’s a stitch, definitely one of my favorites. The critics (at the time) were not so nice—but even as an adult, I still love it.

If you like Hook , you should definitely watch Jumanji —a movie I wanted to include but didn’t for fear of being Robin Williams heavy. I actually just re-watched it this weekend (so good). Mrs. Doubtfire is another William’s classic that never disappoints.

4) The Adventures of Milo and Otis

The Adventures of Milo and Otis is, oddly enough, a live action Japanese film about an orange tabby cat named Milo and a pug named Otis. The original Japanese version was released in 1986 and then reworked for us Americans three years later. The most amazing element of this movie is that the directors edited the film from 400,000 feet of footage (which is roughly 40.3 hours), shot over a period of four years. Incredible.

Some friends and I re-watched this movie in college and thoroughly enjoyed it (under the influence of no drugs!). It is such a sweet and simple movie. And who can resist adorable baby barn yard animals?

If you like The Adventures of Milo and Otis , you should also rent Beethoven , Homeward Bound, Andre, and Babe.

5) Anne of Green Gables

You may say that this is a total girl’s movie, but I happen to know two grown men who admit to loving it as well. Anne of Green Gables is a 1985 television movie based on the novel Anne of Green Gables by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Anne is a wily lass who transforms from annoying orphan to funny lady in this (fairly lengthy) miniseries. Wildly popular in the US, Canada, and in my childhood home— Anne of Green Gables and its sequel Anne of Avonlea is a work of art with its beautiful cinematography, moving plot, and gorgeous original score.

If you like Anne of Green Gables , you should of course watch Anne of Avonlea and then rent Sarah Plain and Tall and its sequel Skylark (both starring Glenn Close), based on the wonderful books by Patricia Maclachlan.

6) The Emperor’s New Groove

You might be surprised to find this fairly recent (2000) Disney movie on a list of classics, but do not judge until you watch it. It is really, really funny.

The Emperor’s New Groove sidesteps the stereotypical Disney mold with no scantily clad princess or terribly evil villain. In fact, the villains are the best (and most humorous) part of this movie. The first time I watched it, I laughed so hard it hurt.

If you like The Emperor’s New Groove , Aladdin and The Lion King are also classically funny Disney flicks.

7) Monsters Inc.

In an effort to include movies from all sorts of genres and categories, this particular movie had a lot of competition. As a fan of blockbusters such as Up , Finding Nemo and WallE, it was hard to choose just one Pixarish movie to place on a Top Ten list.

I actually re-watched Monster’s Inc a few months ago, curled up on the couch and terribly nauseated with morning sickness. I could not stop laughing. Unique, imaginative, and Billy Crystal is always hilarious.

If you like Monsters Inc., you should most certainly watch Up, Bolt, Finding Nemo, WallE , A Bug’s Life, & The Muppet Movie .

8) Robin Hood

Robin Hood is a 1973 animated feature produced by Disney. The film is based on the legend of Robin Hood, but uses animals instead of people to tell the story. If you can’t quite remember this childhood favorite, youtube has the intro with the famous Rooster’s song to jog your memory. It’s a sweet and folksy film and never fails to give me the warm fuzzies.

If you like Robin Hood , check out The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under . These three movies are some of Disney’s finest, and won’t leave you feeling icky about princess cleavage. If you’re not worried about princesses, The Little Mermaid was my personal favorite growing up. I really wanted to be a mermaid.

9) Little Women

Louisa May Alcott’s novel Little Women has actually been made into a movie 5 different times. The 1994 movie could place on my list for its’ soundtrack alone. This version stars big names such as Susan Sarandon, Winona Ryder, and Claire Danes. Full of depth, heartache, and beauty, I cannot think of a better movie to watch on a cold night by a flickering fire.

If you like Little Women , be sure to watch The Secret of Roan Inish and The Indian in the Cupboard .

10) Home Alone

Unless you’ve never turned on a TV at Christmas, you have seen this movie. Home Alone is a coming-of-age story about an 8-year old boy named Kevin who gets left behind (and home alone) during the holidays while his family goes on vacation. When robbers come to the house, Kevin sets up elaborate (and completely unrealistic) pranks to stop them. You know what happens, you’ve seen it.

If you like the Home Alone movies, you probably also enjoy 90s kid favorites like Richie Rich , Blank Check , Free Willy , Honey I Shrunk the Kids, and (duh) Home Alone II.

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1 Comment

Filed under Motley Mama

Tagged as pop culture , Top 10

The Never Fairy March 4, 2011 at 4:52 pm What I an’t stand about Hook is that it completely undermines the essence of Barrie’s stories. On top of that, it has a TON of fact-checking mistakes in it. It’s pretty, yes, but it’s a terrible sequel, I think. It’s like there’s no respect for Barrie at all. There is a FAITHFUL continuation of Peter Pan’s adventures in book form… it’s even based on Barrie’s notes for more! Click ! And then I gotta mention this very cool ‘What If?’ tale that charts a new course for the story entirely. Yes, it veers from Barrie’s path, but it remains anchored in his core essence and unfolds with such a command and deep understanding of his world and themes… but be warned! It’s NOT for kids! Click ! BELIEVE! Reply

What I an’t stand about Hook is that it completely undermines the essence of Barrie’s stories. On top of that, it has a TON of fact-checking mistakes in it. It’s pretty, yes, but it’s a terrible sequel, I think. It’s like there’s no respect for Barrie at all.

There is a FAITHFUL continuation of Peter Pan’s adventures in book form… it’s even based on Barrie’s notes for more! Click !

And then I gotta mention this very cool ‘What If?’ tale that charts a new course for the story entirely. Yes, it veers from Barrie’s path, but it remains anchored in his core essence and unfolds with such a command and deep understanding of his world and themes… but be warned! It’s NOT for kids! Click !

BELIEVE!

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