[slyfink]

So we have a big fat movie thread, and a little monkeys thread. I'm hoping we could start a new thread mashing the two up!

I'm looking for good movies to watch with my 11 y.o. son. We've watched plenty of fantasy/action movies (e.g. the Star Wars series and all the MCU stuff). But I'm bored of those, and would really like to introduce him to the world of good movies. Movies that are expertly crafted, but also take on subjects that aren't easy. Not necessarily full-fledged documentaries (I don't want to bore him to tears), but movies that would expose him to difficult topics and lead to discussions down the road, but would still be entertaining to watch.

I was scrolling through my google TV thing the other day and came across Lord of War. I can't quite remember how graphic or rude that particular film was, but that's sort of what I'm thinking of. It delves into the corruption, global inequality, lack of morals. As entertaining as the MCU stuff is, it sort of infantilizes and glorifies violence. I feel it also absolves people of facing up to the role they play in the suffering of others.

Doesn't have to be about negative things either. Can be feel good movies too!

All that said, post up here for any suggestions of good movies to watch with growing children who are beginning to discover the world...

 

[SkaredShtles]

Spaceballs

 

[canadmos]

October Sky is a good one, if they are into that sort of thing. Its not the most thrilling movie so may require some patience.

 

[canadmos]

Spaceballs

BARF

 

[Changleen]

Princess Mononoke (sp?): Humans, expansion, nature, or not, as it were.

 

[jdcamb]

I forget the name of the Movie. Gianna Michaels stars in it.

 

[stevew]

where the red fern grows....original.

pink panther movies

its a mad mad mad mad mad world

gumball rally....original

bad news bears....original

smokey and the bandit....

 

[dump]

Any of the Studio Ghibli films. They were all just put on Netflix. Favs for that age group might be: Spirited Away, Nausica And The Valley of the Wind, From Up on Poppy Hill.

 

[sunringlerider]

James Bond films are not too serious and somewhat humorous. The early ones are quite funny imo.

Thought some more. The Band of Brothers pretty awesome. A little gory in a couple spots but overall decent.

 

[jonKranked]

I enjoy all the old Godzilla movies.

Also anything from Akira Kurosawa.

 

[Nick]

The Pursuit of Happyness
Free Solo
A Serbian Film
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Forest Gump

 

[SkaredShtles]

LOTR

 

[jstuhlman]

Any of the Studio Ghibli films. They were all just put on Netflix. Favs for that age group might be: Spirited Away, Nausica And The Valley of the Wind, From Up on Poppy Hill.

our 11yo really liked spirited away...and we liked the others (totoro, kiki's delivery, etc. when they were younger). he liked ferris bueller last year...LOTR could be good.

lemme think some more...

 

[6thElement]

Don't recall LOW having anything too bad in it. Been a while since I watched it though.

Original Ghostbusters 1,2

I don't think there's anything too bad in the Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns for an 11yr old.
Good, bad and ugly
Fistful
Few dollars more

 

[Jm_]

Dr. Strangelove

 

[maxyedor]

Is 11 too young for Monty Python?

I’d throw most Mel Brooks movies in there too, he won’t understand the jokes an 11 year old shouldn’t hear so it’s all good. Blazing Saddles may have to wait though

 

[jstuhlman]

stand by me?

 

[dump]

What’s your take on the old epics from the 60s? Things like:
Ben Hur
Dr. Zhivago

wore out those vhs as kids.

 

[jonKranked]

original blade runner

 

[Toshi]

My kids like the new Dune a lot. Elder kid read the novel, too.

 

[CBJ]

The Goonies, Back to the Future. Comando for some best of the 80s

 

[SkaredShtles]

Conan the Barbarian.

 

[mantispf2000]

Going to date myself.........

Original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

 

[Jm_]

original blade runner

That's a hard watch for a kid.

 

[eric strt6]

Walkabout

walkabout - Google Search

 

[Jm_]

Crocodile Dundee

 

[eric strt6]

Akira Kurosawa's Dersu Ursala

dersu uzala - Google Search

 

[jonKranked]

That's a hard watch for a kid.

Depends on the kid. Around that age is when I first saw Alien.

 

[Pesqueeb]

Is 11 too young for Monty Python?

I’d throw most Mel Brooks movies in there too, he won’t understand the jokes an 11 year old shouldn’t hear so it’s all good. Blazing Saddles may have to wait though

Ours was about 11 the first time she saw Holy Grail. We did skip over Castle Anthrax.


I would definitely give Blazing Saddles a skip until they are old enough to have a awareness/conversation on race.

Back to the Future, all of them.
Indiana Jones, all 3.

Star Wars, obviously.

 

[canadmos]

That's a hard watch for a kid.

Could be worse; my dad let me watch The Fly at too young of an age. Have had nightmares of naked Jeff Goldblum ever since.

 

[jonKranked]

Could be worse; my dad let me watch The Fly at too young of an age. Have had wet dreams of naked Jeff Goldblum ever since.

i too watched the fly at probably too young of an age. poltergeist was the one that messed me up though.

 

[Pesqueeb]

poltergeist was the one that messed me up though.

Heh.... My wife has a story about a babysitter putting that on for her. Scarred her for life.

The movie that did me in as a kid was Gremlins.

 

[jonKranked]

Heh.... My wife has a story about a babysitter putting that on for her. Scarred her for life.

The movie that did me in as a kid was Gremlins.

gremlins? really?

 

[Pesqueeb]

gremlins? really?

I was 6. Can't explain it, but the bar scene absolutely freaked little me out.

Also possibly explains my early infatuation with Phoebe Cates.

 

[jonKranked]

I was 6. Can't explain it, but the bar scene absolutely freaked little me out.

Also possibly explains my early infatuation with Phoebe Cates.

ok, gremlins at 6 i get why that would mess you up.

i think i was like 9 or 10 when i saw critters.

 

[jstuhlman]

a friend took a group of us to see the twilight zone movie for his 6th or 7th birthday. scared the crap outta all the kids.

 

[SkaredShtles]

a friend took a group of us to see the twilight zone movie for his 6th or 7th birthday. scared the crap outta all the kids.

Jeezus. That sketch with John Lithgow and the little demon on the wing of the plane.

 

[Pesqueeb]

Jeezus. That sketch with John Lithgow and the little demon on the wing of the plane.

It's a Gremlin.

 

[jonKranked]

i'm starting to see why a lot of us are the way we are.

i remember catching part of cat's eye. the part of the movie with the wall troll that would steal people's breath. that gave me nightmares for years.

toxic avenger i liked.

 

[SkaredShtles]

i'm starting to see why a lot of us are the way we are.

i remember catching part of cat's eye. the part of the movie with the wall troll that would steal people's breath. that gave me nightmares for years.

toxic avenger i liked.

Holy shit... for some reason I'm reminded of this horror from my childhood: