My Top Ten Greatest Kid's Movies

As a dad with three movie-starved children, it has become somewhat of a chore locating top-notch flicks for their viewing enjoyment. It really is a shooting match with my trio as to how they'll react to certain movies over others. For instance, when it comes to Disney films, they're really not that into the animated ones, but rather the live-action type, and that's fine. They thoroughly love any movie in which a child or many children fight and or create traps to excise themselves from sticky situations. And that's fine, too, just so long as the violence isn't too heavy and no one bleeds all over the place. Sci-Fi is also great as long as no one is eaten by a giant alien or hacked into chunks by some kind of space bounty hunter. So, basically, they have a pretty tried and true basis on which all of their favorites need adhere. The following ten films or series have become the most widely watched batch of movies in our house. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've seen each and every one of these more frequently than my own favorites. Oh, parenthood, is there a more compromising situation? I submit that there is not.

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10) The Original Star Wars Trilogy

Easily my eldest son's (Charlie, 6) favorite series of films of all time. OK, all time is a bit broad since he's not even 10 yet, but you get my meaning. Not too much to dislike about any of these films in the trilogy aside from some creepy aliens (if your kids are squeamish) and, of course, Darth Vader is pretty dark and twisted. Other than that, though, classics all the way around and definitely a great watch even dad can love.

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9) Horton Hears a Who

I have to tell you, for a kid's rated-G flick, this thing is really, REALLY funny. If you so desire, head over to penguincomics.blogspot.com to read my review, and you'll get a better idea of what I mean. Such a cute, faithful film that, once again, parents will truly get a kick out of, as well. The voice acting is second to none, and even the story -seriously expanded to fit an 80 minute movie- is well worth the price of admission.

8) Beethoven (1-3)

I'm not a huge fan of giant dog moves... or any dog movies, for that matter, but this isn't a list about what I like. My kids get a real kick out of all the messes and mayhem the big beast gets himself into and the laugh through the whole thing. And, speaking of things I could do without, Charles Grodin is in it and, I guess, he's tolerable. Sort of.

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7) Mary Poppins

Now I'll be the first to admit that this is most definitely one of my all-time favorite classic Disney films. First and foremost, Julie Andrews is a stone-cold fox and her appearance in staunch, stately nanny clothes makes her all the more so. Dick Vandyke is also a joy as Burt and his accent, in all its Cockney glory, is spot on and seriously adds to his light and silly demeanor. Great film, catchy tunes, and cool animation mixed with human actors. Love it.

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6) Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Rumor has it that, as Dick Vandyke was filming this for Ian Fleming (yes, the Bond guy) he said that, "This movie will out-Disney Disney" and managed to get himself banished from said films for six years after the quote was heard. Funny stuff there. Anyway, quite the lengthy film for kids with a low tolerance for anything over about 90 minutes, but it does hold them pretty well during the musical scores and the cool car effects. Good stuff and really nice backdrops and scenery as well.

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5) The Land Before Time

The master Don Bluth, former Disney slave, combined powers with Lucas and Spielberg to bring audiences on the first true great look into prehistory. Following the antics and heartwarming experiences of Littlefoot, Sara, Ducky, Petrie, and Spike as they learn lessons and match wits with the environment, each other, and a towering T-Rex, The Land Before Time is rich with enough goings on to keep any kids, not to mention my own, enthralled for the full feature.

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4) Yellowstone Cubs

Ah, the long-gone days of Sunday Night's Wonderful World of Disney -long before The Disney Chanel- brought us such wonderful family favorites as Charlie the Lonesome Cougar and, of course, this film. I love this movie and it even features many people who provided voices for early Disney animated works getting into sticky situations with the cubs. A fun movie all around with great narration and excellent scenery.

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3) Honey I Shrunk the Kids

Yeah, I know, another Disney movie. I can't help it, it's what the kids like! Anyway, basically what goes on in this film is Rick Moranis shrinks his children accidentally, via a mishandled baseball, and spends the rest of the movie trying to find them. Meanwhile, the foursome, now roughly the size of small ants, traverse the backyard, fend off rogue scorpions, avoid pitfalls that would otherwise be nothing to full-sized people, and make their journey across the backyard. Fun effects, cute story, and hey, Rick Moranis! Am I right?

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2) 3 Ninjas (1 & 2)

My youngest boy (Simon, 5), loves the first one of this actual 4-feature collection, but we've decided parts 3 and 4 are rather vapid and lame, so he'll only (ad nauseum, by the way) watch the first 2. Anyway, quite full of fighting, but never for the sake of fighting, so it has lessons, we follow Rocky, Colt, and Tum Tum as they defend themselves after (in par 1) a botched kidnapping, and (in part 2) a trip to Japan with their Uncle. Pretty fun, pretty cute, and nothing particularly offensive for wary parents.

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1) Home Alone (1-3)

By far the most requested series of movies by all three of my kids, daughter (Addison, 2) included, Home Alone 1-3 are all pretty inventive and fun. Kevin McAllister, and later in the third, a kid named Alex, set up and release ingenious traps on the bad guys. In parts one and two, the bumbling duo of thieves are played to hilarious perfection by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern as Harry and marve, respectively... classic and honestly the funniest characters in the films. In the third, we get four fiends none of which have done much else, so their names escape me. Anyway, each takes place during Christmas, so they make great holiday films. But, if your kids are anything like mine, they'll want these movies on ALL THE TIME.