GregHowley.com

Movie List, Age 9

October 24, 2011 - -

Age nine is a rough list. Some of these movies don't hold up as well as I'd like despite being cult classics, and the list overall is very short. But there are a couple in here that hold a special place in my heart.

  • Back to the Future Trilogy - At least there's one set of strong movies at the top. The original just screams eighties, and the second movie's bizarre vision of 2015 is a bit laughable. Why is the future always about flying cars?
  • It's a Wonderful Life - I can only imagine that Lia will first see this movie over a relative's house while visiting for Christmas. That's just fine. I've seen it over a dozen times myself, and it never seems to get old.
  • 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - I'm talking about the 1954 Disney version with Kirk Douglas, James Mason, and Peter Lorre. I grew up watching and re-watching a fuzzy VHS copy that we'd recorded from the Disney channel on SLP. Great film.
  • The Last Unicorn - I think the last time I saw this movie was in December 1993. It's strange that I remember so specifically when I last saw it and yet don't remember much about the movie itself. Something about a big scary flaming bull killing all the unicorns. I can only imagine that this would terrify a four-year-old, so we'll wait for this one.
  • Rad! - This BMX movie made a huge impact on me after I saw it as a kid. I effing loved it. I think there's a good chance that a screening at home will totally flop, but I may at some point give it a try.
  • Legend - An eighties classic. Scary at times for kids, which is I suppose why it's on the 9-year-old list.
  • Time Bandits - Bizarre? Yes. But classic. I always forget that the movie has Sean Connery and John Cleese. After watching this movie as a kid, I found a scrap of canvas and made my own "map".
  • Rudy - A feel-good movie. It's rare that I like a sports picture, but this one was good.
  • Midnight Madness - I actually own Midnight Madness. Just a crazy Disney scavenger hunt movie - inane but fun.
  • The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe - Linda and I saw the movie a few years back and I distinctly remember having a very "meh" reaction. I've got a boxed set of the books for when Lia is old enough, and the movies are likely a take-it-or-leave-it thing.
  • Inner Space - Can you tell that I'm struggling to pad out this overly short 9-year-old list? Inner Space wasn't exactly a standout, but it's entertaining.
  • Gremlins - More for the pop culture of it than anything else.
Comments on Movie List, Age 9
 
Comment Mon, October 24 - 2:07 PM by Frank
The Last Unicorn is probably one of Cam's top 5 movies, we watch it together pretty often. The Red Bull isn't really that scary, and he doesn't kill any unicorns, he just runs them off.

The rest of your list will probably look so old and busted by her 9 year old movie standards I'll be surprised if you can get her to sit through them. My 12 year old has been spoiled by Avatar effects, so now I just feel old when I watch this kind of stuff.
 
Comment Mon, October 24 - 2:22 PM by Greg
Gremlins has been on the "old and busted" list for quite some time, but hopefully Back to the Future and Legend hold up. I know that It's a Wonderful Life holds up.

20,000 Leagues may be largely nostalgia for me, but I loved the movie when I was a kid and it was already three decades old. Maybe that's a hopeful sign.