It figures that after sixty degree weather in NYC last week, we get covered in a blanket of snow for winter break. In between bouts of playing outside, warm up to a great movie that you can actually enjoy with your kids. You know your Pixar movies, and you’ve seen Fantastic Mr. Fox, Coraline, and How to Train Your Dragon, right? Here are five overlooked movies to check out when you’re stuck inside.
I had avoided this one in the theater, I think because the trailer heavily emphasized the military aspect of the movie and not the charming main monsters. We discovered this on video a couple months ago and have watched it so many times that all the funny lines from the movie have worked their way into our daily life.
I’m going to assume a lot of GeekMom readers have seen My Neighbor Totoro and Ponyo, so I’m going to go for a lesser-known Hayao Miyazaki treat. Our hero Kiki turns 13 and sets off for a new life where she learns how to be a witch while making her living delivering packages on her broomstick. If by chance you haven’t seen Totoro or Ponyo, by all means add those to your list as well!
Do your kids like subtitled foreign films? No? Well, they might change their mind with A Town Called Panic. It’s a stop motion film featuring toys and toy sets, and the characters Cowboy, Indian, and Horse. Cowboy and Indian have forgotten Horse’s birthday, and they decide to build him a barbecue leading to events that destroy their collective home. It’s like a hilarious Belgian Toy Story. Note: there is some mild subtitled swearing.
My daughter and I checked out Astro Boy in the theater knowing next to nothing about the character. We enjoyed watching the back story of how Astro Boy came to be (made by a genius, grieving father who lost his son), and what happens when he gets cast out of Metro City. There’s lots of action and environmental messages, but the most appealing thing about it is that kids are the heroes in a world of adults making bad choices.
For kids who are a bit older, check out this adaptation of Cornelia Funke’s wonderful novel. Meggie’s discovers something about her father when strange figures begin appearing. He’s a Silvertongue, which gives him the power to read characters out of their books. There are some great performances in the film by Helen Mirren and Andy Serkis (Gollum!) among others and some beautiful, nightmarish imagery. And, please, check out the book, too!
Of course, you can always do a TV marathon, too. If you watch a whole bunch of SpongeBob SquarePants or Phineas and Ferb back to back, you’ll discover some of the greatest, funniest writing in TV. Or learn something from watching the amazingly beautiful series Life.
What would you add to this cabin fever list?
I would like to add the Oscar nominated animated film: The Secret of Kells http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_of_Kells
Sorry, but the Astro Boy movie is not a patch on the original animation series of Astro Boy (or ‘Science Fiction’ as it was known in Japan).
Studio Ghibli is always a good plan though! We have every single one on DVD, and while some might be a bit too scary for some kids, Totoro, Ponyo and Kiki are always a good bet.
Oh, how I LOVE Ponyo, and Monsters vs. Aliens! I’ll have to watch these others…thanks for the recommends!
I think City of Ember would be a great addition to this list, and I’m always so surprised at how many people I ask have not seen it – a truly fabulous flick.