Kids' Movies I Could Watch 1,000 Times

By Martha Brockenbrough
MSN Cinemama

Before I had kids, I used to fantasize about life on a desert island. If I could only eat certain foods and watch certain flicks, what would I take? And how would I stave off boredom and scurvy?

After I had children, the desert island fantasy turned into something else entirely.

No longer do I think about palm trees and vitamin deficiencies that cause bleeding, spongy gums. Rather, I dream of being locked in a jail cell where no one can ask me if I've seen their shoes or what we're having for dinner. It's a prison fantasy. That's totally normal, right?

Don't answer that.

The real reason I've swapped fantasies is because living with kids sometimes feels a bit like being marooned on a desert island.

At any given time, there are only three books I'm allowed to read to the kids, only two foods they'll eat and only one movie they'll watch -- repeatedly -- until every line of dialogue, every swell of music and every hideously mirthful cartoon giggle has beaten itself into my brain. Even the carpet feels sandy when it has a lot of crumbs in it.

Why do little kids go through these phases? I don't know. But I do know the key to survival is making sure the kids have enough stuff from which to choose.

If, for example, you're so careless as to leave "Barbie: Fairytopia" or its sequel, "Barbie: Mermaidia," within eyeshot of a small girl, then you deserve to listen to the painfully merry chatter of "happy trolls" and a furry sort of bug thing named Bibble.

Fortunately, there are certain movies that parents of young children can watch again and again. These movies pass the 1,000-times test. Forget chicken soup. They're citrus for the scurvied parent's soul.

To make this list, I surveyed several moms from across the country who have children through elementary-school age. Although there's no such thing as a kids' movie every parent can watch 1,000 times, these movies come pretty darned close. What they have in common are adventure, charm, compelling characterization and complexity: the perfect recipe for durability.

'Finding Nemo' (2003)

I literally have watched this movie 1,000 times. I saw it twice in the theater, answered the question, "What happened to Nemo?" repeatedly for weeks and finally broke down and bought the DVD.

It hits all the required notes for a film on the heavy-rotation list: There's an epic journey to reunite father and son. Both encounter obstacles that are funny and scary. And, just as important, the characters' shtick never grows old.

Albert Brooks, whose poster I might hang in my prison cell in honor of his performance in "Defending Your Life," makes for a great dad character. To me, neurosis is infinitely more believable and attractive than manliness. You could actually imagine Marlin putting the toilet seat down, if clown fish indeed used indoor plumbing.

The real highlight, though, is Ellen DeGeneres, who is hands (or fins) down the best female comic working today -- and maybe even ever. It's a huge relief to see her in kids' movies, instead of miscast in adult fare such as "Mr. Wrong" or "The Love Letter."

'The Iron Giant' (1999)

Before he made the also repeatedly viewable "The Incredibles" (don't miss the DVD extras, especially the Jack-Jack Attack scenes), Brad Bird made "The Iron Giant."

It's based on a children's book by Ted Hughes, the late poet laureate of England, and -- more to the point for mothers who went through a "Bell Jar" phase in high school -- the husband of Sylvia Plath, subject of the 2003 Gwyneth Paltrow film, "Sylvia." Daniel Craig, the new James Bond, played Hughes there -- something I tell you only so that you can have the image of a man in a tuxedo handing you a martini should you not enjoy "The Iron Giant" as much as I did.

But I can't imagine that happening. The movie tells the story of a misunderstood, metal-eating robot from outer space that is persecuted by the government, but protected by a boy and a hot-as-cartoon-dudes-get sculptor (Harry Connick Jr). The always lovable Jennifer Aniston plays the boy's mother, which should have been proof enough to Brad Pitt that she was maternal.

'Shrek' (2001) but Not 'Shrek 2' (2004)

Though I loved both movies in the theater, "Shrek 2" doesn't weather as well as the first because it's missing the epic journey component. As good as Antonio Banderas is as Puss in Boots, it's more fun watching Shrek and Fiona fall in love as they travel to Duloc than it is watching Shrek fight his in-laws.

This is probably inevitable. If you didn't prefer the early days of your own romance with your spouse to dinner with your mother-in-law, either you were wooed badly, or your mother-in-law is an exceptional cook.

"Shrek" has what all re-viewable movies have: layers. Like an onion or a parfait, it has enough slices that you can focus on something different each time you watch it.

'Ice Age' (2002)

Another film with layers is "Ice Age" (though again, its sequel, "Ice Age: The Meltdown," lacks the durability of the first). The basic plot is similar to "Nemo," in that a father and son must be reunited.

In "Ice Age," though, the focus is on the mismatched trio of adult animals, punctuated with interludes featuring a proto-squirrel with a serious nut problem.

Each character has a well-developed backstory, which makes this film work. They're more than filling the "cute," "naughty" and "noble" roles; they have reasons why they are the way they are. Whereas the surface-level roles might satisfy kids, shallow characterization is a big turnoff for grown-ups.

The movie is also full of small jokes, which gives adults something new to find each viewing.

'Babe' (1995) but Not 'Babe: Pig in the City' (1998)

Although the talking animal lips in "Babe" are no longer state-of-the-art, this remains a totally charming story -- a "Charlotte's Web" tale for a pig who, in the absence of a literate spider, must save himself by learning to herd sheep.

What makes this film eminently watchable are the human performances, particularly James Cromwell as Farmer Hoggett. He's subtle and restrained throughout, which is what makes the scene where he dances for Babe one of the most heart-lifting scenes ever.

Another bit I only noticed after a few viewings is probably an unnecessary scene, but it's so revealing. It's the expression Farmer Hoggett gets when his granddaughter rejects the dollhouse he built for her. After seeing his reaction, you'd really like to clock her with the dollhouse, but that would only destroy all that loving work. Sigh.

The second movie in the series, directed by George Miller instead of Chris Noonan, is a bit creepy whereas the first one charmed. If there's one quality that immediately makes a kids' movie less appealing to watch more than once, it's unintended creepiness.

We can get that sort of thing with our thirsty-two-ounce slushy at the neighborhood minimart, thank you very much. Come to think of it, we can get a lot of extra creepiness in prison, too. So perhaps I'll stick with my present life, after all. Popcorn, anyone?

More Durable Kids' Movies

"The Little Mermaid" (1989) and "Beauty and the Beast" (1991) (mainly because of the music)
"The Wizard of Oz" (1939)
"Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" (1971) (the original, not the remake)
"Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Kids" (2003 TV movie)
"Chicken Run" (2000)
"Toy Story" (1995)
"Monsters, Inc." (2001)

What kids' movies stand up to repeated viewings? Write us at heymsn@microsoft.com

Martha Brockenbrough is author of "It Could Happen to You: Diary of a Pregnancy and Beyond." She's also founder of SPOGG, the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar. And she writes an educational humor column for Encarta. Check out her Web site.

the movies listed are really good movies for kids that i can watch. another one is 'the neverending story'

i totally agree with the comments on shrek 1 and 2 ... i saw one and loved it ... it is my all time kids type thing cus .... it is for adults and for kids like no other movie ... in my opinion !!!

shrek 2 was like ... (never could watch the whole thing thru again!)

i never liked "finding nemo" but i loved chicken little ....

Ice Age, and Monsters Inc is kinda the same for me ... saw em like 2 x .... enuf ....

Ice Age & Shrek, I can do without. The rest are good. I also like

The Incredibles
ANy of the Wallace and Gromits
I think Spirited Away should be required viewing too.

superspaceboy said:

interesting that most of the kids movies these days are computer generated

purplerein said:

Most animation these days is generated by computer.

superspaceboy said:

i'll give a big ol' co-sign to ALL of those.