family movies
presenting, for your viewing pleasure, a list of my (and my
daughters) favorite movies! so grab the popcorn, kick up your
feet and browse on my friend. Disney is a staple of every household
with children (and some without), but what to watch when simba
makes you scream and arial makes you gag? that's why we have
decided to share with you a list of our favorite 'not disney'
movies that the whole family can enjoy.
* Every parent and every child is different. I always view
questionable movies before allowing my daughter to see them,
however I do let her see more than the average parent does.
family movies : kid friendly : not disney
the princess bride
The somewhat tweaked fairy tale about a princess and her prince.
Except she doesn't start out as a princess but as a farm girl
and he doesn't start out as a prince but instead a farm hand
who becomes a pirate who defeats the evil prince (who makes
her a princess) and gets the girl.
Confused yet?
It's really not that hard, but it is quite cute and more than
fun. This is not your everyday Cinderella type of story and
is sure to please boys as well as girls. There are plenty of
sword fights, Giants (and in Andre The), Miracle Workers and
Rodents of Unusual Size.
support this site - buy The
Princess Bride at amazon.com
labyrinth
An amazing trek into the fantasy of a teen girl. Opening, the
girl is in the park acting out her favorite play (poem?) about
a Goblin King. As the clock strikes the girl realizes she is
late in getting home to watch her 1/2 brother for her father
and {evil} step-mother. Actually the step mother is not evil
and the parents play a very small role. The girl feels neglected,
but part of that is just part of growing up. She resents her
baby brother and the fact that she always has to baby site him,
thus in a moment of typical teen drama recites the lines from
her script calling the Goblin King to take this awful child
away from her site. To her surprise it actually happens
and thus begins the adventure. She has until midnight to find
her way through the labyrinth and save her brother. Along the
way she meets some rather unusual characters (Jim Henson and
friends out do themselves this time) and makes some very special
friends. She also learns a few very important life lessons.
Personal note: My daughter and I have this on VHS and it was
one of the first DVD's we bought when we got our player for
Christmas. We have watched the movie together a ridiculous amount
of times. Yes, we know most of the words as well ;)
support this site - buy Labyrinth
at amazon.com
willow
Willow is a movie of note for several reasons. The first being
that this is one of the few, if not the only, movie to portray
Little People in a natural environment (meaning living as a
regular community not Munchkins). Billy Barty holds a special
role as the Wizard of Willows village, and assisted on the set
in pulling together Little People of all nationalities (this
film was shot on location in Europe, they required over 200
Little People to create the village where Willow Ufgood is from
and had to expand the call far into the bordering territories).
The second is that this is actually from the first book in a
series created by George Lucas and Chris Claremont (the 2nd
and 3rd books, Shadow Moon and Shadow Star have yet to cross
over to the silver screen. The first book is titled Shadow Moon,
not Willow).
This is another amazing adventure complete with fairies, brownies
(like fairie but without wings and a bit nastier), Trolls, Dikinies,
Witches and good & evil armies. The evil Queen Bavmorda
needs to kill the baby that was prophesied to cause her doom.
The baby, Elora Danan, is rescued by a maid in the Queen's castle
and set to drift down a river (when the army caught up with
her and killer her). Some miles later, Willow is in the fields
near the stream with his children, who find the infant Elora
caught in the reeds. Beginning an undesired adventure for Willow
who must return the child to her rightful people (Dikinies).
In their trek to find someone (anyone) to hand the child over
too, Willow learns of Elora's destiny and vows to protect her
as long is necessary. Along the way they meet up with a swordsman
(Val Kilmer) who finds out that he does have a heart after all,
and a couple of Brownies that the Fairy Queen has guide the
trio.
Starring Warwick Davis as Willow and co-staring Val Kilmer,
Joanne Whalley and Billy Barty.
support this site - buy Willow
(Special Edition) at amazon.com
