I TOLD you you'd like it!!
There's no better example of 'mother knows best' than when choosing films.
When I suggest a film to The Boy I'm met with howls of disapproval. "Your films are rubbish, they didn't even have colour when you were little!"
I usually sigh and let him get on with choosing one, until I'm presented with a choice of Jimmy Neutron or The Cat in the Hat, at which point I pull rank and put one of 'my' films on anyway. There's only so much of this newfangled rubbish a person of my age can sit through.
The following are some of the best children's films ever. Try putting some of them on for your kids. We loved them in our day (oh yes we did!) and they will too.
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Three orphaned, refugee kids discover that the woman they're staying with is, would you believe it, a student witch. Off they go on an adventure to find the last spell to complete her training.
The Boy is part of the Toy Story Generation, so you'd think he'd be pretty underwhelmed with this mix of cartoon and film, but he's completely absorbed by it.
You'll be humming the songs and reciting the immortal words "Treguna, Makoidees, Trecorum, Sadis Dee" for weeks.
Little Shop of Horrors
Kids can watch it, it's a PG, honest! Although the murder, violence and dismemberment of human corpses may impinge on the under 3's enjoyment of the film.
Princess Bride
The man from Saw goes on a magical quest to be reunited with his true love. It's worth it for Billy Crystal's performance alone. (And it's got Andre the Giant in it.)
Hoppity Goes to Town
A grasshopper saves his town from 'the human ones'. What could be better than that? Absolute, best film of all time!! I love this one, but you know what? It's never on! I've even checked the listings for channel 5, and nothing! If anyone knows when it's showing, tell me!
Krull
Say what you like. It's brilliant. There's a princess, Cyclopsis, a man who can change shape, lots of magic and monsters, and a very young Mark Fowler travelling with a bunch of freedom fighters. Plus I might be wrong, but I'm sure Ashley's dad from Emmerdale is in there too.
Garfield's Halloween Special
I love anything Garfield, but this one in particular is TV gold. Garfield is one of those cartoons that you find new things to laugh at the older you get, especially if you've got a dry sense of humour.
Back to the Future
'nuff said.
The Goonies
If you were a kid in the 80s, and you haven't watched the Goonies since you turned 20, watch it now. You'll be amazed at the references to drugs, sex and violence that went over your head. It's funny, and scary and brilliant and your kids are gonna love it as much as you did.
The Last Starfighter
I remember my big brother Paul liked this, and as a rule he doesn't like anything. That alone is a recommendation in itself.
Return to Oz & The Wizard of Oz
I was talking about these films with my friend Jamez just the other day; can you believe the original film was made before the second world war? Also, I recently read the book and can report that the Ruby slippers were actually silver and the Emerald City wasn't actually Green. Who knew?
I bet you forgot about some of them. They're well worth hunting down and watching at some point over the next few days, especially with the pants weather we've been forecast.
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Laura Yates - Brummie mum Laura Yates is a 27 year old mother of two from Kings Heath. She gives her take on family life in the city.
The Last Starfighter was good... but not in the same league as The Goonies!
Other observations... wasn't return to Oz a turkey? I agree with Hoppity though considering you had it on *constantly* prior to He-Man hitting the scene i'm surprised you could stand it ever again!
And what happened to Ghostbusters??
Return to Oz was ace. The wheelers were the all-time scariest baddies from a film.
I could watch hoppity all day long.. and I forgot about Ghostbusters! Apparently they are making a Ghostbusters III too!
Bless you for your attempts at going w a y back in time - but who are you kidding?!! What about Polyanna, Whistle down the wind, The Incredible Journey, Famous Five, Swalllows and Amazons, Lord of the flies...ah so many good old films...hey! Thank Goodness the sun's come out...everyone out into the garden...
You also forgot about Neverending Story!!
And Short Circuit