Monday, August 29, 2011

Guilty of Liking Kids Movies

I'm guilty. I admit it. These days I seem to prefer movies that are "made for kids". You'll notice the quotation marks. That's because the really good "kids" movies have a lot of stuff in there for the "used-to-be-kids" like me. There is so much crap out there that passes itself off as entertainment, but it all tends to look like sex, violence, and dirty jokes. What's left after you throw those into the bin are some pretty good kids films that entertain me every time I watch. I'd like to list a few for you here.

Cats Don't Dance: I included this one first for the sole reason that I watched it again yesterday. Anyone who has any knowledge of the heyday of Hollywood and the old MGM musicals will love this. Scott Bakula does the speaking and singing voice of Danny, the "song and dance cat". He is paired up with Jasmine Guy, who does the speaking voice of his love interest / antagonist Sawyer, and Natalie Cole does the singing voice. Interestingly, the dance routines relied on a very special technical adviser: Gene Kelly in the last bit of work he did before he died. This is just a joyful and fun movie that people should give a chance. I never get tired of it.

Flushed Away: Not going to go into as much detail on this one. Let's just say Hugh Jackman as a rat (watch for him deciding if he should wear a Wolverine costume at the beginning...HA!) who gets flushed down the toilet...hence the title. Toads, puns galore, and singing slugs. What more could you ask?

Others to watch without my detailed reviews:

The Emperor's New Groove
MegaMind
Cars
Shrek

Nonanimated

Support Your Local Sheriff
(James Garner could do comedy...that's for sure)

There are certainly more to add...but it's Monday, and I don't have a lot of time. I may amend this list in the comments section, and readers (all 2 of you, I think), are welcome to add your own ideas.

6 comments:

Angelina Fishy said...

To your list I will add:

How to Train Your Dragon
Wall-e
Lilo & Stitch
Despicable Me
The Incredibles
Monsters, Inc.
Up

All favorites of mine, several of which I have watched many, many times.
I'd be interested to see 'Cats Dont Dance', especially with the connection to ever-fabulous Gene Kelly.
I just lol'd at the memory of the singing slugs. ;-)

Adam said...

Well, you're entitled. From that list, I would personally remove Wall-e (booooring), Despicable Me (uninteresting in so many ways), and Up (just not entertaining enough for my taste).

How to Train Your Dragon was surprisingly good. I didn't think I would like it, but I really did.

Lilo and Stitch...it's up there. Maybe not at the top, but still good.

The Incredibles is great, but I can't watch it as frequently as I do some of the others. Same goes with Monsters, Inc.

Still...everyone is entitled to like what they like!

Angelina Fishy said...

It was the minions that got me in Despicable Me. I totally want some minions.
I actually have a talking Stitch doll. I'll have to get it out and bring it the next time I'm invited to your place. It's pretty darn funny.

Asia said...

I love kid's movies! Cats Don't Dance is one I've been meaning to rewatch. I <3 Gene Kelly forever! I don't remember much of what happens, but I know it really affected my drawing style growing up. The Emperor's New Groove is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I sort of forgot about Flushed Away! I love those slugs.

To your and angie's lists i will add:

Alice in Wonderland (1998 TV version. Wildly annoying, love it anyway)

James and the Giant Peach

Tangled

The Iron Giant

Toy Story

A Little Princess

Adam said...

To make personal comments on your list:

Alice...pass
James...double pass...
Tangled....meh
Iron Giant...great, but not on my personal fave list
Toy Story...great, but again...
A Little Princess...for real??????

Asia said...

I have impeccable taste, Adam. It is all accounted for.

Anyway, I'm adding the Lorax, almost entirely because of that one song in the middle. How ba-a-a-a-ad can I be?