Movies I recommend...

I thought I'd share my review of some movies I've seen lately. We have Netflix (I highly recommend) so we get 2 movies at a time. One for the kids and one for Jim and I. It's great because you can get any TV show, Mini Series, History Channel episode, Movie or what-have-you. So you're not stuck with the usualy CRAP at the movie store. I've been exposing my kids to all the great oldies (as well as some not-so-great movies from the 80's that I remembered as being a WHOLE LOT BETTER than they actually are, think... SpaceCamp & Short Circuit--ugh!)

Anyway, the kids absolutely love anything Shirley Temple, which is adorable and we have a rule that if a movie is based on a book they have to read the book before they can see the movie. I do that so they can use their imaginations and the words on the page to enjoy the book prior to erasing it all with the images from the movie. Eragon was a good example of this. My girls LOVED the book and the sequel, Eldest. They liked the movie too, but were dissapointed in the departures from the book and some other stuff. They thought Chronicles of Narnia was a huge hit though. It really stuck to the text and brought the story to life. Well done there. Great underlying messages too.

So anyway, here are my recommendations for both kids and grown ups: (kids in blue, grown ups in red)

• Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium --the kids loved, I loved it. Great story, well done.
• Evelyn --true story about a father in Ireland and his kids. Very well done.
• I Am David--sad, but good story. WWII-era. Jim Cavezeil has a small, but powerful part.
• Stardust --not one for the kids.
• Dan in Real Life --ditto. I liked it better than Jane Austen Book Club, though.
• Amazing Grace --Highly Recommend this movie! It's a true story about the movement to abolish the slave trade in England. Great movie.
• Evan Almighty --cute, fun.
• We Are Marshall --True story. Good flick.
• Waking Ned Devine --Quirky and hilarious. I loved this movie.
• The Island --Ewan McGregor. It has a very interesting premise. Enjoyable flick.
• Premonition --This one will mess with your head. but I liked it.
• Breach -- True story of a spy in the CIA. Well done.
• Love Comes Softly --I really liked these books and I enjoyed the movies. Very inspirational story and just wholesome movies. Little kids would be bored, but my older girls like them. There is a series of 4 or 5 of these.
  
• The Waterhorse --The kids love this one. Good special effects, engaging story. Wholesome.
• Stranger Than Fiction --Great story. Quirky and engaging.
• Flyboys --story of the very first fighter pilots in WWI. Good story, a bit low budget, but good.
• The Lake House--good date night movie. Mess with your head kind of story, but good.
• The Greatest Game Ever Played --good golf movie. I really liked it and I don't much care for golf movies--or golf, for that matter. Nothing inappropriate for kids, just wouldn't be too interesting to them.
• Something The Lord Made --good story. I seem to remember the doctor having a bit of a foul mouth, though. Nothing horrible, obviously or I wouldn't be recommending it. ;)
• Because of Winn Dixie --sweet kid/dog movie. More of a thinker, than a regular kid movie.
  
• Summer Magic--wonderful classic from my childhood. I love this one and so did my girls.
• Finding Neverland --great movie. I really liked it. Not so much a kids movie, though.
• My Dog Skip --We loved this kid/dog movie. Really a sweet story.
• The Music Man --Classic musical every one should see at least once. The old Robert Preston version, of course.
• U571--great action, WWII submarine movie.
  
• Enchanted --very cute new release--girl chick flick. The girls and I really liked it alot.
• A Bear Named Winnie --sweet story. for the older kids. Younger kids got a bit upset.
  
• Night Crossing --great family film to help kids understand the evils of communism. This one stuck with me as a kid and sparked some great discussions with our kids.
• National Velvet--wonderful classic horse/girl movie. oldie but goodie.
• Nannie McPhee--I love this movie. went out and bought it after we rented it. The kids love it, too. It's a must see.
• Follow Me Boys-- another must see classic movie. Perfect for parents of boys.
• Shiloh --another great dog/kid movie.
  
• Curly Top--one of the all-time best Shirley Temple movies.
• Newsies--another one I love and had to purchase.
• Dreamer-- a wonderful horse movie. We bought this one too and love it every time.
• Two Brothers--about a couple of lions. Live action, not a cartoon. great story.
• Iron Will --good boy/dog, survival, endurance story. The kids loved it.
• In Search of The Castaways --Great old movie with hokie special effects, but the kids still loved it.

So, you're probably thinking what a colossal waste of time the above list represents. And you're probably right. Just remember, these movies were watched one at a time on weekends over the course of years. And I left off all the crappy ones.

Don't you judge me! Anyway, have fun.