The mishandled COVID pandemic has shuttered the film industry, and has taken away the fun of talking about upcoming movies…because there aren’t upcoming movies to talk about. It is a dark time for cinema (literally), but there is a silver lining to everything, and this long break has provided us with two of them.
First, it has given us the opportunity to re-watch, re-examine, and re-rank our favorite films from the past…and to discover some hidden gems that we never got around to. Second, overworked parents are eager to find quality entertainment for their stay-at-home-at-all-times kids; constantly looking for a good two-hour flick that will keep the kids quiet so ma and pa can regroup. Ever the helpful blog, Reel Speak has decided to take these two silver linings and combine them…presenting the Top 10 Best Films Every Child Under 13 Should See; when they're at the age when they're the most impressionable.
How is this list stacked? It’s easy for an adult to pick any old film that is colorful and G-rated to keep those short attention spans locked in for 100 minutes, but if we’re going to entertain them, why not educate them while we’re at it? These are the films that kids can walk away from learning something important; not just in movie-watching, but in life in general. Most of these films are relics of this Blogger’s childhood, but are very much applicable today…and hey, I turned out OK so they must be good, right?
So be our guest…
10. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1991)
Disney’s cultural-smashing fairy tale that has a presence in our world today. If your kid is going to enter the world of Disney princesses, then this is the place to start. Belle isn’t the typical damsel-in-distress, as she is strong and brave, and breaks the mold of her little society by reading books and standing up to the bully in town. As entertainment, BEAST fascinates with its visuals, provides plenty of chuckles, and throws in just the right amount of scary stuff…because all of those emotions are important for a kid to learn.
9. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
Steven Spielberg has spent half a career telling stories for children, and this was his masterpiece. A young boy befriends a stranded alien and keeps him hidden at home while the government hunts them both. An emotional powerhouse, ET can take kids through a roller-coaster; laughs when ET gets drunk, tears when he dies, elation when he resurrects, and then tears again when he says goodbye. Kids could very well be exhausted by the time the credits roll after so many ups and downs, but those ups and downs are important to know.
8. MARY POPPINS (1964)
Disney’s masterful adaptation of the beloved books by P.L. Travers, with the queen Julie Andrews playing the part of the magical nanny. This film belongs to at least three different generations, and for today’s kids there’s a lot to take away; children can relate to competing for the attention of too-busy parents, the catchy musical numbers can teach them there’s a song to be sung other than Let it Go, and they may just get interested in flying a kite. And as a bonus, if another couple hours of cinema are needed, there’s always the practically-perfect sequel Mary Poppins Returns (2018).
7. THE NEVERENDING STORY (1984)
Based on the book by Michael Ende, this fantasy follows a young boy with a fascination for reading who comes upon a magical book that takes him on a journey with a young warrior, tasked with stopping the dark force known as the Nothing. In a world where hand-held, digital entertainment is everywhere…the obvious lesson here is that books can be awesome too. Beyond that, NEVERENDING STORY has its moments of light terror and sadness, but the elation at the finale makes it worth it. And it’s probably a good idea for kids to learn to appreciate the skill of puppetry as opposed to CGI blobs.
6. STAND BY ME (1986)
Rob Reiner’s charming and impactful adaptation of the Stephen King novella, with four boys going on a hike to find a dead body. On paper it seems morbid, and it speaks to pre-teen boys more than girls, but STAND BY ME hits the chords of those boys who spend their summers off on adventures in the woods with their best friends. The kicker comes at the end, with the narrator (Richard Dreyfuss), remarking that he never had friends again like he did when he was twelve; something to think about for those woods-stomping boys.
5. STAR WARS (1977)
George Lucas’ world-changing sci-fi/fantasy adventure that is a lock to blow away the minds of unsuspecting kids. Colorful, fun, and populated with sharply-drawn characters such as a farmer, a wizard, a pirate, a princess, and a bad-guy that wears black which are relatable even for the smallest of minds, STAR WARS will draw more than one “wow!”, and in the long run teaches kids about the art of long-form storytelling that dominates blockbuster films today. And if they love STAR WARS, parents can then have the joy of telling them, wait until you see what happens next!
4. INSIDE OUT (2015)
The only “modern” film on the list, but it’s a biggie. Pixar’s mind-blowing story mostly taking place in the inner-workings of a young girl…with her five emotions (Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust), the main characters. The film had an immediate impact, with child-psychologists using it as the basis for treatment, and parents can easily ask their kids which emotion is at the controls at any given time; a simple way to get through to them.
3. THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
Young Dorothy Gale and her little dog gets whisked away to the wonderful land of Oz, where she befriends a scarecrow, a lion, and a tin man…and makes enemies with a wicked witch in this timeless fantasy that has been entertaining families for over 80 years. While films like STAND BY ME and STAR WARS teach us that leaving home can lead to amazing things, OZ goes the opposite way and expresses the comfort and family warmth that only home can provide; parents can feel free to warn their kids not to wander too far from the back yard…lest a witch behind the tree get them! OZ also carries timeless musical numbers and eye-popping visuals that impress to this day.
2. WATERSHIP DOWN (1978)
The film that shocked this Blogger into a new level of consciousness in the 1970’s. An animated adaptation of the beloved Richard Adams novel where a group of rabbits seek refuge from incoming danger. While colorful and with plenty of fluff, WATERSHIP DOWN goes dark; rabbits fight by clawing each other to death, and the crimson color of blood that appears on screen can be a shock to see. Kids may hate it out of fear, but facing fear comes along sooner or later…so an animated world, a place of comfort…is the perfect place to have that introduction. And besides that, it can prepare kids for the darkness that TOY STORY 3 (2010), flirted with. And if a primer is needed before WATERSHIP, there’s THE SECRET OF NIMH (1982), which will accomplish the same thing in a lighter touch.
1. THE GOONIES (1985)
Directed by Richard Donner of SUPERMAN fame and produced by Steven Spielberg of all-kinds-of-fame, THE GOONIES clicks all the boxes for childhood entertainment. A group of kids head out on an adventure in search of rich stuff in an effort to save their homes from demolition. The goal is simple, easy to understand, and relatable for any young mind. Similar to STAR WARS, the sharply-drawn characters (nerds, wise-asses, cheerleaders, jocks), can be like looking into a mirror and can put any kid right into the film. The adventure is a thrill as the group runs from bad guys, escape booty traps, and hunt down pirate treasure. It is cut from the same cloth as STAND BY ME, only this time the girls are an elemental part of the group…showing that anyone can be a Goonie.
Special thanks to Jennie Perey Saxe, friend of Reel Speak, for suggesting this topic.
REEL SPEAK'S TOP 10 FILMS EVERY KID UNDER 13 SHOULD SEE
- THE GOONIES
- WATERSHIP DOWN
- THE WIZARD OF OZ
- INSIDE OUT
- STAR WARS
- STAND BY ME
- THE NEVERENDING STORY
- MARY POPPINS
- E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL
- BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
No comments:
Post a Comment
A few rules:
1. Personal attacks not tolerated.
2. Haters welcome, if you can justify it.
3. Swearing is goddamn OK.