Family Movies– animal edition

Our family has a thing for classic movies. Do we watch modern, current films? Sure. But honestly, most just don’t seem to be worth our time. We generally prefer a good board game, jigsaw puzzle, book, or conversation over a movie full of car chases and cursing– and that goes for Christopher and me, too.

But, as in many areas, we find ourselves in the middle of the road. We’re not anti-film, just as we don’t watch every Hollywood blockbuster that hits the screens. We just tend to be selective and to look for things that the whole family (or at least those who stay up past 7 p.m.) can enjoy together. Thankfully, we live within the boundaries of an amazing library system that gives us droves of options for free. Family friendly movies at no cost? Yes, please!

Movie nights here generally look like a simple dessert (last night it was brownies and ice cream), the lights off, and everyone piled on the couch or floor in a heap around our laptop. If it’s early enough, or if the movie is appealing to the younger set, then small people will be sandwiched here and there, their mouths smeared with whatever treat we’ve cooked up for the festivities. If it’s an 11 and up affair, a light might be kept on somewhere so that I can knit while I view. (Those are my favorite nights, I admit.)

Christopher is usually the one who does the movie picking, and we’ve very rarely found a dud thanks to his high standards. When we do, we simply pop it out and try another. No harm done … and no cringing through things we have to explain later. The kids all know that this is part and parcel of movie night: no matter how anticipated a selection is, if it runs afoul of what our family counts as acceptable, it’s out. Period.

Spurred on by some recent requests for recommendations, our family has compiled a list of our all-time faves. The grand total of films we’ll feature is 31. We’ve broken them up into general content areas, and will post them in a series over the next month. Before we begin, though, a disclaimer: obviously, what our family finds o.k. (like frank discussions about child abuse or the consequences of certain behaviors, for example) might not fit within your family’s culture. And that doesn’t mean that we’re right and you’re wrong, or vice versa. It just means that your family isn’t ours, and ours isn’t yours. If we can all agree to live within that concept as Christians, I think ours would be a much more grace-filled community, don’t you? Please keep that in mind as you look over our list, and let your own family’s compass be your guide.

Our first installment in this series features films that center on animals. For years, this was Mary Hannah’s only genre (I think we wore out our VHS copy of Spirit). This makes us somewhat picky about what constitutes a great animal flick. Read on for our best choices:

A Dog of Flanders (1960)- Apparently there’s an updated version of this story, but we can’t imagine it’s better than the original. Far from being a sappy, “it’s all happy all the time” tale, this story focuses on the very real struggles and losses of Nello, a budding artist, and his dog Patrashe. Finding the soft side in an angry, heathen artist and following his gift, Nello navigates a heartbreaking life with joy and optimism. Uplifting and inspiring.

Greyfriars Bobby (1961)- The true story of a loyal dog and how his brave heart influenced the lives of those around him. This one is especially fun if you follow it up with some research on the real pup (official site here).

Secretariat (2010)- Another story inspired by true events, this film makes it onto our list not just for entertainment value, but for the wealth of conversation spurred by this depiction. So much focus is given to the decade of the 1960s in terms of social upheaval and changing norms. This film does a great job of depicting the 1970s and inviting discussion about the lifestyles and attitudes present.

That Darn Cat (1965)- Ok, I admit it. This would not have made my list. But several family members went to bat for this wacky story of a cat used for FBI surveillance. It’s a cute bit of fluff that entangles you in a mystery with just the slightest bit of edge.

The Horse in the Grey Flannel Suit (1968)- A funny Disney classic that centers on a horse named Aspercel and sponsored by an aspirin company at the behest of an advertising exec. There’s a touch of romance here, and not nearly as much slapstick as you might expect. Still plenty of giggles for even the younger set.

The Ugly Daschund (1966)- A frolicking Great Dane who thinks he’s a Daschund? That can only end badly. Or hilariously. Maybe both. (This movie has a sprinkling of racial sterotypes that you might need to discuss with your kids.)

Misty of Chincateague (1961)- Based on the classic Marguerite Henry novel, this is another true story. The Pony Swim still takes place every year, and is a fun event to research with your family.

 

Next: War movies with family-friendly messages? It could happen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 thoughts on “Family Movies– animal edition

  1. Well, we’ve seen 3 of them. Ugly Dachsund, both versions of That Darn Cat, and Secretariat. :) We own Ugly Dachsund and That Darn Cat (on VHS).

    • These are definitely the most mainstream of the bunch, oddly enough. It’s the category dominated by Disney classics. :-)

  2. This is a great list. I’ve seen a couple of them, but my kids have not. Of course my kids have hardly seen any movies, but we do have movie night around one a month.

    • We tend to do family movies once or twice a month– sometimes more often, sometimes less. Winter in the NW lends itself to more movie evenings than summer, for sure!

Comments are closed.