I don’t watch every film that my monkeys do- It is after-all a babysitter of sorts, that they must earn. I do however appreciate a family friendly film with aspects geared towards mature sensibilities. I am not talking about the Hollywood Blockbuster movies with sexual innuendos-a low form of entertainment and humor in my opinion. What I appreciate is cinematography, settings and animations that blow my mind. This summer we have been alternating Family Game and Family Movie nights. Here are two films that are available through Red Box or your local library that we all simply love.
Ponyo is a Japanese animation film about a goldfish that befriends a boy named Sōsuke and wants to become a human girl. The story is an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen story,
The Little Mermaid and is written, directed AND animated by Hayao Miyazaki. Mr. Miyazaki was also inspired by Richard Wagner's opera Die Walküre which is reflected in the music of the film. What totally blew my mind is that the animation for the film was ALL done by hand. Yes- that is over 170,000 separate images, futhermore, many of the regular images were done exclusively by Mr. Miyazaki, for example the waves and sea scenes. This film won five awards in at the Tokyo Anime Awards in 2009, including ‘Anime of the year’. Mr. Miyazaki received the award for best director and best original story.
Coraline is a 3-D fantasy/horror animation done in stop-motion. Stop motion or frame-by-frame is an animation technique where the animation or object is moved in such tiny increments between each frame that it gives the illusion of natural movement. The film's creators used thousands of 3D models, ranging from facial expressions to garden plants which were printed using a matrix systems. This film is reminiscent of work by Tim Burton. It tells the story of Coraline and her discovery into a parallel universe through a cubby hole in her living room. In the Other World, there is an Other Mother and an Other Father, who are very fun, entertaining and attentive- who hasn't wished they had Other Parents!?
This film has played in our house many times and it never ceases to amaze me how precise the details are in each scene.
What is your favorite Family Friendly film?
37 comments:
Oh, I love hearing about great movies! I did love Coraline. Haven't seen Ponyo (yet), but another Miyazaki movie, "My Neighbor Totoro," is a family-film-fave (and utterly charming.) :)
hey! I heard positive opinions about Coraline but I didn't know Miyazaki made Little Mermaid:) I love his Howl's Moving Castle, but it can be too difficult for smaller children:)
hugs
Just
I just put Coraline in my Netflix queue last week. When my daugther was little she LOVED "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers", it was old then but she didn't seem to mind.
Wanting now more than ever to see Ponyo.
Our favorite is Mary Poppins - fantastic fun and great songs!
Also the Swiss Family Robinson and The Sound of Music!
Okay plz don't laugh at me, but Finding Nemo makes me cry every single time. And when I visited my four year old niece I got all swept away in Kung-Fu Panda. For reals.
I also LOVE Anne of Green Gables, Sound of Music and all the Swiss Family Robinson oldies. It really takes me back.
xoxo,
Carrie
I love Ponyo! My kids were too afraid of Coraline (who even knows why - they watch the Harry Potter movies and other scary/eerie fare) so I haven't seen it.
We just watched the old animated version of The Hobbit. That is very good if you haven't seen it.
I have actually really liked all of the Toy Story Movies!
We recently watched Ponyo and I thought it was amazing. The scene in the middle w/the storm was so beautiful. Our fave kid's movies? We love the Scholastic DVD that has the old Really Rosie stuff on it, M. loves Blackbeard's Ghost, Wall E and the 1973 version of Robin Hood. W. loves anything with animals talking and The Yellow Submarine. As a kid, I loved Escape from Witch Mtn., Bad News Bears, Willy Wonka and the Wizard of Oz.
We have no kids but own Coraline on blu ray. Love it. And I have heard really good things about Ponyo, I will have to pick it up.
I really like Miyazaki's world... and Coraline... But, with the kids we like Corpse bride, by Tim Burton...
ANything Neil Gaiman or Anime is the way to go!
But I have had Ponyo sitting in it's shiny wrapping for over 2 years now and haven't found the time to watch it... poor me =(
Love all Miyazaki movies although some can be scary for little ones. Coraline was good but ya'll can laugh it sort of scared me (I really am an adult).
These lists sure take me back to my childhood though. Movies we watched on TV; Treasure Island, The Pirates of Penzance, Anne of Green Gables, Swiss Family Robinson, and all those The Magical World of Disney Sunday night movies.
So many more now I want to watch them all ;)
Ponyo sounds SOO cute. And I can't believe your neighbor gets cases or redbull!! I'd be screwed too. I've had it with vodka before but last night was the first time without it and I felt I could see myself drinking it often...which is bad!
We watched Ponyo only the other week. Now I cant get the Ponyo song off my mind (which has become a bit annoying I must say!) but fantastic film and a breath of fresh air from the usual pixar stuff. As for Coraline - wow! - I felt as though I'd died and gone to heaven the first time I saw it in the cinema - especially the scenes downstairs with the elderly actresses. I re - watch the first half often it's so magical but once the scary stuff really begins I switch off. Can't help feeling the magic is lost to horror then :)
I totally want to see these now! And I really don't care for most movies out there also. Sometimes PG-13 movies are a bit too much for my mature mind.
I really loved the Triplets of Belleville, the animation and the music blew my mind! And I know it's cheesy but Alladin made me laugh so hard, Robin Williams was brilliant as the voice of the genie!
XO
Lenore
for some reasons i hv yet to watch the ponyo movie, but i really liked the theme song! i hv enjoyed all the other miyasaki movies, one of them is spirited away - except i found it a bit spooky...for me if i were a kid.. :P hehe..
LOVE!
I have been loving "UP" latley! So cute!
I doo have a trip planned to cinque terre for a few days!
Coraline was amazing - I loved it! I haven't seen Ponyo yet but it's definitely on my list.
Kid friendly films that are my favorite? Just about everything Pixar!
I love your movie reviews! Finally, there is something I have seen! I also loved Coraline! And I really liked Alice in Wonderland... even though I've heard lots of people didn't like it.
Great reviews! Need to watch these with my own crew of monkeys...I happen to love UP, (and I even cried!)
The Princess Bride. Hands down.
Also: Mulan, Karate Kid, The Sandlot...
OK. Gotta stop. This could go on for a while.
Will have to find! I recently saw 'Penelope' (2006) and thought it sort of for the family... fairytale story, entertaining, funny and nothing controversial.
I loved Coraline (the book too!) but I think my favorite family-friendly film has been the fox and the child. Wouldn't suit all children as there is not a lot of action, but it is beautiful!
I loved Coraline. What a great film.
Thanks for your comment on our blog! I love yours, it's very interesting and fun to read!
Unfortunately, we are about 2-3 years away from family films. At the moment, Little L loves Penelope: http://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/images/2070511286/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=301061&s=books
I don't even know what Penelope is, I guess a Koala?
Love the movies you've chosen. xx
Haha, we just did a bit of completely parallel commenting. How random is that???
I hear you on having your book's characters indulge in recreational drugs. I am having the same problem. I can't leave it out, it would take away the edge.
i loved up and nemo. and all those pixar films!
I'm beginning to enjoy all the 3D technology now! Enjoy your weekend with your cute monkeys~
xo
I love Coraline! My daughter is only 4 and I have discovered that a lot of things that weren't actually made for a preschooler are a bit too much for her right now. So we watch a lot of Charlie and Lola. It's not a movie but the animation is so charming, I don't mind watching it over and over. I really love The Secret Garden and A Little Princess (the versions from the 90's). They are both so beautiful.
Good thing there are now a fairly wide choice of all types of movies and there are many kids' movies out there too... It feels like even 5 years ago the situation was different!
Dearest Ren, these two are my all time favorites!! I can't stop watching them over and over again while i work in my little studio! So happy to know you love them too. Have a lovely merry happy day and love to yoU!
haha i remember my friend and i went to see Coraline when it was in theaters in 3D ;p
we were probably the only two teenagers in the whole theater.
I did really like the movie though. I liked how 'rough' the animation was. It wasnt the disney stuff like with all curvy edges. I liked the book too, I remeber reading it in third grade though and getting rather freaked out.
As for Ponyo, i cant say enough good things about Hayao Miyazkai. WHile this one was little kiddish, it was a good little kid film that older people can enjoy too. i LOVE the rest of his movies and Joe Hiashi's soundtracks add so much to the movies. My favorite HM movies are Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle and Princess Mononoke. Gorgeous films, i hope he does at least one more masterpeice before he (i think he's pretty old) dies.
Ooh I haven't seen either of these - though my daughter is only 2 so maybe these will be a bit old for her? We're just loving Mr magorium's wonder emporium. It's just so watchable for all ages and doesn't send any questionable messages which is nice for a change!!
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