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May 28, 2004
Well, Shrek 2 is out. Any suggestions?
I was going to take my family to see Shrek 2 this weekend, but decided not to based on Steven Greydanus' review of the movie. This was the paragraph of the review that sealed the decision for my wife and I:
"Suffice to say that children young enough to be the target audience for Disney’s Pinocchio don’t need to see a spoof that implies that Pinocchio likes wearing women’s underwear. And that’s only one of a number of cross-dressing jokes, which also include a throwaway line about the big bad wolf in Grandma’s nightgown being “gender-confused,” and an inexplicable sight gag involving a deep-voiced male bartender in wicked-stepsister drag (Larry King — yes, that Larry King). If all of this is the price we must pay for this sequel’s reduced level of flatulence and body-function humor, I’d have preferred more flatulence."
I made the mistake of letting the kids in on the fact that we were considering going to see this movie, and they are really disappointed that they can't see it. I told them that I would see if there is anything else currently in the theater that may be good family viewing.
Any suggestions on movies currently in the theater that will be safe for family vieiwing?
Posted by Tom at May 28, 2004 10:10 AM
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I've got 5 kids too Tom and we RARELY if ever go to the movies. I've gotten some really good ones from the library recently. My kids are 14-4 and they loved these movies- your mileage, as they say, may vary!
Yours, Mine and Ours - with Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball- ALL of the kids liked that one.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. The oldest two liked that one and if they can hang with it long enough it really gets good at the end. Jimmy Stewart stars.
At the kids interested in something a little on the creepy side? We watched Whatever Happened to Baby Jane with Betty Davis and Joan Crawford. A little intense for the 6 and 4 year old although they covered their eyes when I told them and made it through OK.
The Trouble with Harry - directed by Alfred Hitchcock. All the kids liked that one too. The adult humor was very subtle and went over their heads but the story really caught them.
And lastly 12 Angry Men. I got the remake with Jack Lemon and George C. Scott and it was still very good. The older two really got into and I couldn't believe how much my 11- year-old got out of it.
Those are my home movie picks of them month!!
Posted by: elena at May 28, 2004 4:10 PM
I love it! We also get movies from the library many of the ones you listed are on our list too. We also like the original Cheaper by the Dozen, The Song of Bernadette, The Sound of Music and Fiddler on the Roof.
Nicole
Posted by: Nicole at May 28, 2004 4:19 PM
We rarely get to the movies as a family as well. We took the kids to see Finding Nemo at the theater and had a ball. I also took them to see Lord of the Rings, Two Towers. That's it on taking the family to the movies.
Fiddler on the Roof, nice suggestion. I haven't seen that one in ages, and the kids have never seen it.
Posted by: goodform at May 28, 2004 9:27 PM
Our oldest two, now 7 and 5, have been to a theater once, with their aunt and uncle to see that Veggie Tales movie. I can see taking them individually when they're older to see something we're interested in, otherwise the logistics and slim pickings keep us at home to watch videos and DVDs occasionally.
Posted by: Bill White at May 29, 2004 7:56 AM
Goodform, your kids may love the music as well. After we watched it, we checked out the soundtrack from the library and listened to it in the car for a while.
Nicole
Posted by: Nicole at May 29, 2004 8:58 AM
Tom,
Good for you that you did your homework, unlike my DH and me. We took the whole family to the drive-in last night for Shrek 2 and it was nowhere near as funny or endearing as the first Shrek movie. Fortunately for us, I think any of the cross-dressing and gender-bending portrayed in the movie went over their heads.
I agree with the reviewer...I'd have preferred more flatulence as well.
The kids and I just watched the Wonderworks version of Gene Stratton Porter's "A Girl of the Limberlost." I've never read the book, but I think we may choose this as a read aloud after seeing the movie. It was also a library loan...gotta love it!
Posted by: Valerie at May 30, 2004 10:01 AM