I love a good movie. Whether it's a kid flick on a family movie night or a romantic comedy that Jen and I can enjoy after the kids go to bed, I'm always willing to pop some corn and spend 100 minutes engaging in a good story. But the sad thing is that I haven't seen too many of those lately.
The last few "family" movies we have chosen have been just stupid. And the recent "for parents only" flicks Jen and I have tried have been void of anything that would resemble redeeming value. I'm starting to wonder if Hollywood has any clue what many Americans are looking for in entertainment.
Let me be clear on something: I'm not a legalistic prude when it comes to film and story. I am willing to endure some distasteful content if it serves a higher purpose. Plus, I have my trusty Clearplay DVD Player if I want to appreciate a movie without being bombarded by profanity or skin. But I just haven't seen much recently that I can truly say: "Now that was two hours well spent!"
So I need your help...
Please use the comments section below to suggest "good movies for families" and good movies for parents." Let me know what you have seen in recent days that your family really enjoyed...and why. I'll sort through your responses and post ones that I agree with. ;-) Feel free to include both recent releases and timeless classics.
I'll offer the first comment and give a few of my favorites. Thanks for your help!
Some of my family's favorites include:
*That Thing You Do - Tom Hanks' directed this fun film about a rock band in the 60's.
*The Princess Bride - Though the "fire swamp" freaked the kids out when they were younger.
*The National Treasure Movies - Yeah, they are a bit silly, but they are fun.
*Flywheel - The first movie by the Kendrick Brothers of "Fireproof" fame. Made for $15,000 but fun to watch.
For Parents:
*Return to Me - A sweet love story even my teen girls enjoyed.
*Kate and Leopold - An enjoyable chick flick.
*Bella - Beautiful Film with a powerful pro-life bent.
*In America - This one draws you in and won't let go.
Posted by: Barrett Johnson | 10/26/2009 at 03:10 PM
Have you seen Miss Potter? Wonderful flick-- I guess I would call it adult, however it's about the life of Beatrix Potter the childrens author.
Posted by: Ashley | 10/26/2009 at 04:37 PM
For Parents:
The Proposal - Sandra Bullock is a high powered 5th Avenue businesswoman who gets "engaged" to a man she hardly knows then spends the rest of the movie trying to figure out how to get out of her lie. Funny script & characters. PG(?)
Posted by: Judy Beard | 10/26/2009 at 05:15 PM
Tina and I watched "The Bucket list" a few weeks ago and it was a great movie. It had a few good belly laugh moments in it, had some faith based conversations (questioning Jack on his). If there was any profanity in it I can not remember, which means there "might" be one but I am not sure, it is a pretty safe movie.
Posted by: Andrew Savasuk | 10/26/2009 at 08:21 PM
Parents
Fireproof
Gone with the Wind
Sad to say I can't think of many parent/couple movies I would go back to a second time!
Family
My dog Skip - older elementary/middle and up
Because of Winn Dixie
Madacasgar
Over the Hedge- totally silly but fun!
White Christmas
Narnia
Polar Express
Charlie Brown - Halloween & Christmas
We have enjoyed going back to the old black and white Disney movies on Netflix...Dean Jones and Fred MacMurray seem to be in most of them : )
Posted by: Linda Wilkinson | 10/26/2009 at 10:08 PM
This is a fun project! Ricky and I are big movie-watchers!
"Life Is Beautiful" is my very favorite movie, and a good movie for parents or for teenage kids.
"Big Fish"
"Elf"
"A League of Their Own" may have some shady parts (it's been a really long time), but it's a good one.
"The Newsies" is a throw-back, but has always been a favorite family movie.
"Finding Nemo"
"Hook"
"Homeward Bound" This one's a tear-jerker!
"Meet the Robinsons" This movie is HILLARIOUS! Ricky and I probably laugh more at this movie than most kids. It took us about 45 minutes to get into it, but now it's one of our favorite movies.
"A Walk to Remember" Cute chick-flick
"Win a Date with Tad Hamilton" is a fun date movie (if the boys can hang in there :)
"You've Got Mail"
We also really like the old classics, so we love "Singin in the Rain", "Casablanca", "That's Entertainment"
"Horton Hears a Who"
"The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe"
"Millions" (again, it's been a really long time, so I can't remember all the details, but we liked it a lot)
"Spy Kids"
It's a lot more difficult to think of good (mostly clean) adult movies. Forgive me if any of these are more inappopriate than I remember! Some that come to mind are "IQ", "Far & Away", and "The Majestic."
Posted by: Eden Hutchins | 10/26/2009 at 11:25 PM
How can you possibly go wrong with Oh Brother Where Art Thou.
For parents-The Brothers Bloom - a quirky comedy/caper type movie about two con men. There's definitely language but it's a fun movie.
Another for parents is Moon. Definitely language. This is about a man who is stationed on the moon to harvest resources to send back to earth for power and his struggles as he realizes who he is.
Posted by: Aleeya | 10/27/2009 at 08:26 AM
"Facing the Giants" is a great Kendrick Brothers movie that is safe for the whole family. A great example of how having complete faith in the Lord is the only way to go! The message is outstanding and I have to be honest, it's hard to keep a dry eye! It's a clean, tasteful version of Varsity Blues that has a much bigger message!
Posted by: Jason De Lucca | 10/27/2009 at 08:40 AM
Two of my favorite old Disney family films are "Chips the War Dog" and "Miracle at Midnight." The latter has a very strong Christian worldview. Both stories are set in WW2, but are kid-safe with a great message.
Speaking of war films, one of my all time favorite movies is the old Gary Cooper "Sergeant York." Again, a very strong Christian message. I guess I just like war movies, because "The Patriot" is another of my favorites, but only appropriate for adults/older teens because of the war violence (this is the only reason for its rating).
A newer film (2006?) is "The Ultimate Gift"--as clean as a Hallmark movie, but much better story and acting! GREAT family film.
Posted by: Jennifer Quackenbush | 10/27/2009 at 08:52 AM
Hmmm...I guess most of these are no-brainers. But this is what I'd recomend to folks.
For Parents:
Casablanca
Braveheart
Hotel Rwanda
Groundhog Day
The Usual Suspects
Rear Window
For Families:
Back to The Future Trilogy
Indiana Jones Trilogy
Star Wars
Wizard of Oz
The Iron Giant
Finding Neverland
Posted by: Jonathan Rhoades | 10/27/2009 at 10:01 AM
One I do not see is on here is "Remember the Titans". A little violent on the football scenes but many different story lines with good moral character lessons. Also "The Rookie" is good for the whole family. Staying along the sports theme, "The Greatest Game Ever Played" is very inspirational about a kid from nowhere winning the US Open. All these are based on true stories.
Posted by: Will Angus | 10/28/2009 at 01:07 PM
A great movie is "The Ultimate Gift." Not for younger kids but great for pre-teens and up...wonderful family movie with great room for discussions and setting life priorities that matter.
"Serendipity"-a great romantic comedy for parents to enjoy watching together.
Posted by: Amy Conrod | 10/28/2009 at 02:53 PM
We are big into movies and this is not inclusive of all our favorites and yes we have most of the lines memorized in these movies:
Hitch
Oceans 11-13
All the Bourne's
Ratoutille
Sweet Home Alabama
Miss Congeniality
Gone in 60 Seconds
The Italian Job
James Bond Movies (Pat's favorites)
The Incredibles
Monsters Inc
National Treasure (both)
The Pursuit of Happyness
Two Weeks Notice
Legally Blonde
Posted by: Alissa Verzone | 10/29/2009 at 02:43 PM
Mr. Johnson
All of mine are ones that are great for the whole family. One thing that I also want to add is that TV guardian as well as ClearPlay has been one of the greatest things for my family.
"Iron Will" - A great story about perseverance and finishing strong.
"Searching for Bobby Ficsher" - A great story about a young chess player
"Rudy" - Good sports movie
"Amazing Grace" - The story of William Willberforce and the abolition of the slave trade.
"Saving Sarah Cain" - Great story about family and faith
These are some my favorites movies. I hope you get to see them and enjoy them as much as I do.
Posted by: Christian Maiocco | 10/29/2009 at 09:56 PM
For parents:
Life Is Beautiful
O Brother Where Art Thou
Groundhog Day
Little Big Man
Never Cry Wolf
Babette's Feast
Amelie
The Bicycle Thief
Das Boot
Glory
A Man For All Seasons
Luther
For the family:
Napoleon Dynamite
Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Babe
Father Goose
Surf's Up
Chariots of Fire
Hook
The Gods Must Be Crazy
The Bear
Enchanted
Posted by: Kevin Whitehead | 11/01/2009 at 07:15 PM
We just saw Blindside tonight. It was an excellent film and very touching too. We had our 8 year old daughter with us. There was one scene that I covered her ears and eyes as it was a little violent. It was a brief scene and did not spoil the movie. I would recommend it highly and it has a very good message too.
Posted by: Bob Nankivell | 11/27/2009 at 09:01 PM