Every time a children's film comes out (Shrek, Monster, Inc., Spy Kids, etc.) all the critics say "a children's film adults can enjoy". This very rarely turns out to be true. There are some though-
The Neverending Story- Loved it as a kid, love it now. Probably th best fantasy film until LOTR.
Labrynth- A great film, as long as you exclude David Bowie's "package".
The Lion King and Aladdin- Remember when Disney's animated summer flicks were well-written and engaging?
The Care Bears Movie 2- That's right! I enjoy it and I'm not ashamed. I probably should be.
And two anomolies-
The Nightmare Before Christmas and Pee Wee's Big Adventure- I'm not quite sure whether these were meant for children or adults.
For me, that would include "The Secret of NIMH"--it might actually be a bit too intense for really little ones in places, what with all the abdominal injections, painful mutations, graphic throat-slashing, old-man-crushing, fire, child-drownings, and heroine-slashing-and-burning. And yikes! That f***ing cat!
"The Last Unicorn," featuring a once-in-a-millenia voice-cast (Tammy Grimes! Alan Arkin! Paul Frees! Mia Farrow and she's GOOD! Jeff Bridg...uh...hmm. Paul Frees again!) and a soliloquy that constitutes Christopher Lee's best performance...EVER. Lotsa stuff in there kids won't even get. Have a taco.
"The Emperor's New Groove" is what "Looney Tunes" would be like under Disney. It reeks in most of the few seconds that it takes itself seriously--you'll recognize these scenes because they look like they're about to turn the movie into a tale of romantic gay bestiality--but 99% of the time, it's freaking hilarious. David Spade and John Goodman are excellent; Patrick "The Tick" Warburton and Eartha Kitt are stellar.
I'd also include "Watership Down," but (a) it's not really a children's film at all, and (b) compared to the novel, it sucks the chocolate chips out of a bunny's butt. (I understand there was a short-lived British telly series that was far worse! Scary.) General Woundwort was pretty stomach-churning to look upon, though...
"We can no longer live as rats...we know too much."
--social commentary from Nicodemus, "The Secret of NIMH"
I went to school with a guy who looks like David Bowie in Labrynth. Just makes the flick that much more enjoyable for me.
I also like The Princess Bride.
Buzz Lightyear of Star command.
....I like it! It has a fun, easy going attitude. Hey, it works for me.
....And, Disney's Alice in Wonderland. Great classic voice actors, and a weirdness that stands up to occasional reviewing.
....Thats all for now....Hummm........
I agree with a lot of your ones. I also liked Shrek, but I just have always had a demented sense of humour. The Dark Crystal is another I liked as a kid and now, (though I'm 16 so I could still be classed a kid.)
I have yet to see what's so hilarious about Shrek.
I second Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, which just might get my vote for Most Perfect Movie of All Time.
Time Bandits is a good one, too; also the Wizard of Speed and Time, though that might be more of a grown-up film that kids can enjoy.
Ah ha! Knew i'd remember...
....Chicken run! And i like Shrek too. And Time Bandits.
Some picks from an older guy here.
"Mary Poppins" One of Disney's best live action movies ever. Great songs and great casting.
"Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" Lots of bits of dark humor to keep the adults interested as well as kids.
I liked "Dark Crystal" as well. Haven't seen it in years.
Some of these films named ARE very grey-area, ie: I think that some were made more for adults than kids, but I'm shocked that while Chicken Run (GREAT flick!) got a vote, nobody said diddly about the Wallace & Gromit trilogy. These were very definitely made for the British childrens' market, but had soooo much in them (The directly ripped-off Alfred Hitchcock cinematograpy in The Wrong Trousers, for but one example) that only cognoscenti adults would get.
Anyway, I like a lot of the other films named too, but just love the Wallace & Gromit stuff.
I would say also, The Red Balloon, Gulliver's Travels(1938, Fleischer Studios), Hoppity Goes to Town(ditto), Tales of the Brothers Grimm, Jack the Giant Killer (The uncut '60's British version, without the added musical numbers!!), The Railway Children, A Bug's Life, Seal Morning, Ring of Bright Water, The Muppett Movie, and Sleeping Beauty (Looove that dragon!). Actually, I could probably think of some more -- I don't think the phenomena of a childrens' film also entertaining adults is as rare as we may think.
peter j.
You already hit a number of mine, but here goes.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Iron Giant
The Dark Crystal
The NeverEnding Story
The Lion King
Labyrinth
Any number of Japanese giant monster and robot films.
So, many of us think that Nightmare Before Christmas counts as a childrens' picture, eh? I'm not so sure. I did love the film very much, but really can't see it as a kid's flick any more than Edward Scissorhands: Made with kid-flick conventions, but definitely composed more with adults in mind.
I can't believe we forgot this one!!! "Benji"! Classic. Nothing objectional for kids and not to stupid for adults. A movie all can enjoy. Ditto on "Mary Poppins" and "Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory".
Willy Wonka, The Muppet Movie
I think Watership Down was definitely a kids' movie. Aside from the obvious "Cartoon About Rabbits" aspect, I thought its' message and story line were very basic, the characters (especially the young and unsure of himself Fiver as the character to identify with and Kee-Har as comic relief) were clearly directed at kids. The violence -- which actually takes up very little screen time -- is all that would make this NOT a little-little kids' movie, and frankly I think our society underestimates a kid's ability to understand and deal with it. And YES, I thought it was thoroughly enjoyable for adults as well. Now not that authorial intent necessarily matters, but idn't Richard Adams write the book based on stories he made up for his kids on long car rides?
One movie I didn't see here that was great for kids and auls s "Bad News Bears." One sign - to me - that it is a kid movie that is good for adults is that when I saw it as a kid I loved it, and when I saw it as an adult I loved it for a whole assortment of new reasons. Hilarious movie.
I thought SHREK was more for adults--I mean, an adult film that kids could watch.
I remember my sister being terrified of WATERSHIP DOWN. I would say it isn't a children's film just because the book on which it was based isn't a children's book.
"Watership Down" features graphic depictions of rabbits being gassed to death, killed with a bulldozer, run over by a train, savagely biting and clawing each other (one is shown not only being permanently mutilated by fellow rabbits, but ultimately having his throat torn out), and ends with an astonishingly bloody dog attack with multiple fatalities. No way was this intended as "kiddie" fare. (I've not read nor seen "The Plague Dogs," the animated version of which is reportedly equally violent, without any of "Down"s redeeming qualities.) Sure, some kids can deal with it, but as someone who sat through multiple showings of "The Secret of NIMH"--various scenes of which completely terrified some youngsters--I can testify that some can't...and God help their parents when the movie gets 'red. '
I still remember seeing "Charlotte's Web" as a tad. Look, it's a fine ending in terms of literary value, but I WILL ALWAYS HATE IT, even decades later. This is why kids take to sugary crap like "The Care Bears;" they don't want to leave the theatre bawling their eyes out.
Thanks, Peter! I'd forgotten "Wallace and Gromit!" I actually have the set on order right now. Cracking!
Not really a movie, but does anyone remember the show "Eek the Cat?" It aired Saturday mornings in the early 90s, but it had many truly clever parodies and gags. Their takeoff on A Clockwork Orange (where the miscreant is given "Nice-O-Vision") still remains as one of the funniest things I've ever seen.
K-Sonic wrote:
>
> Willy Wonka, The Muppet Movie
The muppets do Willy Wonka? I don't know whether to be scared or intrigued by such a flick
Not really a movie, but does anyone remember the show "Eek the Cat?"
"It never hurts to help!"
Yup, loved that cartoon
Also the Terrible Thunder Lizards it was usually paired with
"When does the hurting stop?"
"Yes, I would definately say that falls in the 'bad things' category!"
D'oh! Should have mentioned Wallace and Gromit! Love those flicks. Nick Park is a god!
....Saw a collection of Short films by Arrdman studios. As good a use of clay since Will Vinton.
jmc wrote: I thought SHREK was more for adults--I mean, an adult film that kids could watch.
Interestingly, I polled my two nieces (under 10) and a group of their friends and it was unanymous: The preferred Monsters Inc. by FAR and some of them didn't even like Shrek. Maybe they went for the adult audience a little too hard?
I can't say since I didn't see it. Monsters Inc. was an amusing flick.
What happened to Savage Steve Holland? Eek! was a great show. Remember the one where he took the place of the supposedly dead Melvis?
Thinking back, having Melvis eating handfuls of pills from bowls stationed at regular intervals in his mansion was kinda dark for a kids' show...
Also, the more I think about it, the more I appreciate the Squishy Bears-- something like Fuzzy, Squishy, Wuz-Wuz, (who all spoke in lovable cartoon voices) and Pierre (who had an angry French accent and couldn't tolerate the others).... And the Lord of the Flies parody with the penguins ("Why do they call you Piggie?" "Well... I rather fancy wearing this mask.")... Dammit, where's our Eek DVD?!
Good lord, no, I never even heard of this Eek the Cat business, but the name of Savage Steve Holland immediately clicks as the writer/director of one of my most favorite modern screwball comedies: Better Off Dead.
A high school with a snow-ski team with a snow covered mountain behind it, and a beach with a swim/surfing team in front of it. It gets stranger from there . . .
peter j.
Savage Steve Holland (http://us.imdb.com/Name?Holland,+Savage+Steve)'s theatrical film career consists of two highly-successful comedies ("Better Off Dead" and "One Crazy Summer") and a virtually-unknown flop with the Dullest Title Ever ("How I Got Into College"). Titles were never his strong point... Since then, it's been TV work, and most of that on the Disney Channel. Hopefully, one day his lunatic genius will be "rediscovered."
We now return you to your regularly-scheduled topic.
If anyone here ever was into LSD, look for the children's japanimation film MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO. Then either a] take some tabs and watch it, proceeding to LOSE ALL SEMBLANCE OF SANITY FOR TWO HOURS, or b] watch it and just imagine the experience on psychoactive drugs.
-DeathSwede
One of Savage Steve Holland's Disney production was Safety Patrol, a really weird children's movie with Curtis Hansen (Booger from Revenge Of The Nerds and the voice of Eek! The Cat), and it ended with a climactic chase on a giant balloon in the image of Weird Al.
Actually, IIRC, Eek was voiced by Bill Kopp. Curtis played the psychotic-yet-lovable caveman, Scooter (and was also Cusack's Jello-snorting buddy in Better Off Dead).
I'd have to say my favorite childrens movies would have to be
The Labrynth
Secret of Nimh
The Dark Crystal
The Muppet Movie
Transformers: The Movie
G.I. Joe: The Movie (Minus the whole Cobra LA crap)
>What happened to Savage Steve Holland?
He also created a short-lived Encyclopedia Brown series for HBO back in 1989.
>Safety Patrol, a really weird children's movie with Curtis Hansen (Booger from >Revenge Of The Nerds
I think you mean Curtis Armstrong. I liked Safety Patrol.
Yes, I mean Curtis Armstrong. Curtis Hansen directed L.A. Confidential. I guess the Curtis file in my brain is all messed up. :)