Here I briefly review films that my family has enjoyed and that I think are great for kids.
Coco, Disney+, disk (paid link)
Coco is a strange but wonderful film that draws on traditions surrounding the Day of the Dead. The mythic background is that, after people die, they enjoy an afterlife so long as people living still remember them. Our hero is a young boy who, wanting to explore his love of music, visits this land of the dead in search of an ancestor who was a great musician. But things are not as they seem, and the boy must race against time to put right past wrongs. The film explores the value of family and the importance of doing what you love. The animation is amazing; my five-year-old was enthralled.
Mary Poppins, 1964, Disney+, disk (paid link)
This is one of the absolute all-time great musicals and children’s films. Although I also enjoyed the sequel, to my mind nothing can match the magic of the original film, led by the amazing Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. The story is a simple one of a father learning to relax a bit and enjoy time with his children. The songs and performances are excellent, and animation blends perfectly with the live action.
Pete’s Dragon, 1977, Disney+, disk (paid link)
I rewatched this film with my five-year-old and had forgotten how violent it is! It shows threats of child torture and enslavement, child abuse (a teacher beats a child in class), and public drunkenness. It also has some wonderful songs and a great story about friendship and family. The basic story is that Pete, having run away from a brutal family that had enslaved him, finds a new home with a kind woman who runs a lighthouse. Oh, and Pete has befriended a dragon that can turn invisible. When a snake-oil salesman comes to town, he sets his sights on capturing the dragon. We paused the film a few times to discuss child abuse, drunkenness, and snake-oil products.
I’ll add more entries here over time.
Image: Dejan Krsmanovic