Five Things on Friday - Family Movie Night Edition

Every once in while, we pop popcorn, make Kool-Ade, and all four of us climb into my bed and watch a movie. I call it Family Movie Night. Brynna calls it playing theatre. I don't get to wear my pajamas to the theatre or put the movie on pause to use the bathroom, so I think this is even better.

Except for one thing: the actual movies. Before I had kids, I loved kids' movies. All of them, even the cheesy ones. Now that I watch approximately 700 hours of children's programming a day, I could do without them. I mean, have you seen that Curious George movie? Seriously. I have a headache just thinking about it.

Therefore, I try to talk my kids into what I call Kid-Friendly-Adult-Movies. We've watched Pirates of the Caribbean about 17 times. I tried Ghostbusters but that wasn't as kid friendly as I remembered. Sometimes I wonder about the adults in my life.

I've been thinking a lot about this lately, though. Mostly, I've been thinking about the movies I loved when I was that age. We've got a stay-cation coming up and I'd like to do at least one game night and one movie night over our week of being trapped with one another. Here are

Five Movies I Think We Can All Agree On:

Plus: The HAIR!!!!

1. Labyrinth - For those who lived under a rock in the '80's, Labyrinth is the story of a young girl (Jennifer Connelly) who is left home alone to babysit. While "storytelling" she accidentally conjures a real Goblin King (David Bowie FTW) to come and kidnap her baby brother. The rest of the movie is the confusing and surreal tale of her struggle through a fantasy world to get to the Goblin Palace and steal back her brother before midnight (when the spell becomes final and her parents get home)! In truth, the story is so secondary to the joy that is Jim Henson and David Bowie collaborating. It is simultaneously, a great movie for kidlets who love fantasy and creatures and flatulence jokes, and an acid trip on film on par with The Wall. Actually, better than the wall because I am still having nightmares about the part where he shaves off his nipples.

And the best part is clearly Falcor.

2. The Never Ending Story - In The Never Ending Story, Bastion is a bookish kid who is constantly getting bullied. He hides in a bookstore where he is introduced to a "dangerous" book. When he borrows the book and takes it to the school attic to read, he is swept away to a fantasy land (sensing a theme yet?) where he must become a hero and save the mythical world from destruction. TNES is a movie made for kids, full of "lessons" and "morals" but also managing to not seem preachy because it's so bizarre. If you've seen Shark Boy and Lava Girl, imagine how great that movie would have been if it weren't so preachy. Also, if there were no George Lopez.

You should be warned,
Tim Curry is freakin' scary.

3. Legend - Despite the fact that Legend boasts a pretty all-star cast (Tom Cruise, Mia Sara and Tim Curry) it is probably the one you are least likely to have seen. Although I don't know how you missed it. It seems like it was on cable every Saturday of my childhood. I would like to explain the plot to you, but it would take almost as long as watching the movie. Basically, a very, very young Tom Cruise has to save his fiance from the Lord of Darkness and partners up with all sorts of magical creatures along the way. The whole movie is a delight to watch, as it is just beautifully done. There's some sort of something about virginity, which I ignored as a kid and I hope my kids can too, but otherwise, it's as fun for kids as adults. Basically, Legend  is like crack for me. I've never turned down an opportunity to watch it and every time I see it I enjoy it as much as the first.

Mmmm....

4. The Princess Bride - I'm not even going to tell you what The Princess Bride is about because if you haven't seen it then you clearly hate all things good in the world. I do not feel that that is at all an exaggeration. In any case, I've been trying to get the girls to watch this for literally years, to no avail. If Brynna would just give it a chance, I know she'd love it. As Grandpa says, "Are you kidding? Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles..." How true, Grandpa. May I add, Cary Elwes at his most drool-worthy?


5. Savannah Smiles - SS is the story of the very young daughter of a politician who runs away and is sort of accidentally kidnapped by some not-so-bright crooks. Savannah is so charming, however, that she makes their lives brighter. They are even sort of parenty. It's not the world's best movie, but I was truly captivated by it as a kid. There is something magical about watching the criminals come around. Okay, so you probably won't like it, but I do. And it's my movie night anyway.

So, what about you? What movies to you watch with the kids when you think that one more repeat of the Map Song is going to send you over the edge of a cliff?