A Non-Political Post! Your Essential Movie Library
So it occurred to me that my wee children had never seen a John Wayne movie, or for that matter a western at all. In fact, there's a whole host of genres they've never seen at all. They've seen some of the classic actors spoofed in Looney Tunes of course, but they have no context for the satire. I saw one where Veronica Lake was getting spoofed, had to stop the cartoon to explain who she was, then made them watch Sullivan's Travels (apparently I Married A Witch is out of print at the moment).
So what movies are in your mandatory viewing library? What movies should we show our kids before they hit age 16 and stop listening to us?
Some of my nominations:
Wag the Dog, The Haunting, Gone With the Wind, Ben Hur, Star Trek II, Arsenic and Old Lace, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, It's A Wonderful Life, Casablanca, The Godfather, Wizard of Oz, Lawrence of Arabia, Maltese Falcon, To Kill A Mockingbird, To Catch A Thief, Jaws, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Shawshank Redemption, Dracula, Frankenstein, A Night At the Opera
I'd add more, but time is limited. Have fun with this. We need to talk about something besides the election for a while.
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Feb '12
Re: A Non-Political Post! Your Essential Movie Library
Missing some Mel Brooks ... The Producers, Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, Space Balls, and History of the World.
Obviously, to understand those movies, they also need in addition to your list: 2001, Star Wars, Song of the South (may have to import this one), and undoubtably more that I simply haven't seen and so didn't catch the references myself.
Also, everyone needs to know that there is a book called Metamorphosis by Kafka that features a man turning into a giant cockroach. I swear, this is the go-go joke when you want slightly more high-brow humor ... it's in The Producers, Space Balls*, and Flushed Away, and that's just what I remember off the top of my head.
*On his director's commentary, Mel hears that joke ("Ready for metamorphosis?" "Ready Kafka!") and says "Why did I put that joke in there? Intellectuals don't watch my movies!"
Aug '11
Re: A Non-Political Post! Your Essential Movie Library
The trick is to introduce old movies to kids before they get too old and jaded for that sort of thing. Start giving them an appreciation of the "old stuff" so they don't automatically dismiss it when they become sulky teens.
I showed my kids (7 and 8) "Bringing up Baby" and they thought it was hilarious. A screwball comedy works well for young kids. They've shown some interest in Marx Brothers movies, too.
Jun '11
Re: A Non-Political Post! Your Essential Movie Library
You did well to show them Sullivan's Travels IMHO. I made my kids watch every Preston Sturges comedy-- they loved them. To this day they still quote whole sections of Hail The Conquering Hero.
By the way, I Married A Witch is available on Youtube. At least it was recently when I watched it while trying to avoid work.
Aug '11
Re: A Non-Political Post! Your Essential Movie Library
I don't have any type of list of movies I would show my kids. I don't have kids. I'm only 26. It's hard to do these lists. It's hard to seperate "what's important or historical" vs "what's good to watch."
What to watch?
Apocalypse Now, Leone/Eastwood "Man with No Name" movies, Black Hawk Down, Saving Private Ryan, Akira, Princess Mononokee, Castle of Cagliostro, Ghost in the Shell, Batman (Burton), Nightmare Before Christmas, Nolan Batman Trilogy, Matrix Trilogy, Samurai Fiction, 7 Samurai, Drunken Master, Ninja Scroll, Escaflowne
No movie was listed for any reason other than that I liked it. There is no Star Wars on here because I didn't like it that much. I'm not writing this for movie historians. These are excellent movies that you can watch. There are a lot of great, and awesome movies that didn't make the cut. Some movies aren't on this because they may require you to have seen the TV series (Evangelion) or because the movies only make sense if you watch them all.
May '10
Re: A Non-Political Post! Your Essential Movie Library
Ahem. The Princess Bride.
Nov '10
Re: A Non-Political Post! Your Essential Movie Library
My top 3 movies of all time 1) Star Wars (the original, of course) 2)The Bridge Over The River Kwai 3) Excalibur (an odd choice, I know, but I just love that movie)
Mar '11
Re: A Non-Political Post! Your Essential Movie Library
Red River and The Fountainhead
Mar '12
Re: A Non-Political Post! Your Essential Movie Library
The Best Years of Our Lives
Winner of seven Academy Awards, including best picture, director, actor, and screenplay, William Wyler's brilliant drama about domestic life after World War II remains one of the all-time classics of American cinema. Inspired by a pictorial article about returning soldiers in Life magazine, the story focuses on three war veterans (Fredric March, Dana Andrews, and Harold Russell in unforgettable roles) and their rocky readjustment to civilian life in their Midwestern town of Boone City.
You Can't Take it with You
Lionel Barrymore, who played such a bad guy eight years later in Capra's It's a Wonderful Life, is the wonderful Grandpa Vanderhof, who addresses God during the dinner prayer as "sir" and speaks plainly and beautifully of why it's good to be alive.
May '12
Re: A Non-Political Post! Your Essential Movie Library
We can't watch them every night, but I can watch the Indiana Jones movies in repeat, as well as LOTR. I am also a sucker for Independence Day.
I may have watched the better Eastwood movies a little too often, but I could go back for more.
Jun '12
Re: A Non-Political Post! Your Essential Movie Library
Definitely The Princess Bride. Also, The Goonies. Cocoon. Splash. Big. The Gods Must Be Crazy. Quigley, Down Under. The Man From Snowy River.
By your list, you are not asking for "wholesome" entertainment, but Feature Films For Families has a nice collection of films that our kids enjoyed.
Newer films would include Up, Despicable Me, The Blind Side, Here Comes The Boom.
Mar '11
Re: A Non-Political Post! Your Essential Movie Library
All comers are welcome. "Good to Watch" need be the only criteria.
Jul '12
Re: A Non-Political Post! Your Essential Movie Library
"The men were sullen and morose"
Jun '10
Re: A Non-Political Post! Your Essential Movie Library
It's a Wonderful Life needs to be seen every Christmas season. We also watch The Quiet Man on St. Patrick's Day.
Eventually, The Matrix and The Dark Knight Rises are terrific depictions of control and evil.
Apr '11
Re: A Non-Political Post! Your Essential Movie Library
A Man for All Seasons
Miracle on 34th Street
Singing in the Rain
Sanjuro and Yojimbo
True Grit (The new one)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
Patton
Conan the Barbarian (With Arnold)
Zombie Land
North By North West.
Rear Window.
Dec '10
Re: A Non-Political Post! Your Essential Movie Library
Some of these do not look like movies for young 'uns
Aug '11
Re: A Non-Political Post! Your Essential Movie Library
I would agree.
Mar '11
Re: A Non-Political Post! Your Essential Movie Library
Foxman and Drew,
My eldest is now 12. I'm not necessarily looking for movies that all the family can sit down and watch, but also films that they should know as they get older. Sort of a required viewing list of good films.
Jul '12
Re: A Non-Political Post! Your Essential Movie Library
Life With Father
Psycho (I'd show it to a kid under 16 because it loses effect with a jaded older kid)
Lion in Winter
Holiday Inn
The Searchers
The Alamo
Gettysburg
The Longest Day
The Great Escape
Moby Dick (Gregory Peck version)
Journey to the Center of the Earth (original)
War of the Worlds (original)
The Canterville Ghost
Beau Geste (Gary Cooper version)
Sgt. York
High Noon
always close with Cooper
Edited on November 8, 2012 at 7:14pmAug '11
Re: A Non-Political Post! Your Essential Movie Library
I found This Book at our local library, and thought it was an excellent starting place for introducing "the classics" to kids. It has great lists for young children, the "tween" years, and teenagers.
Mar '11
Re: A Non-Political Post! Your Essential Movie Library
Thanks, I'll see if I can peruse a copy.