Your BasketNext time you’re renting a DVD for the kids, get one from our list and leave the turkeys on the shelf. We’ve selected ten cracking films for children of different ages – and made sure you’ll enjoy them too.
1) Toy Story
Widely acclaimed as the best animated film ever made, Pixar’s brilliant debut thrills kids of all ages – and is hugely enjoyable for adult audiences, too. The action takes place in Andy’s bedroom, where his favourite cowboy toy, Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), magically comes to life when humans aren’t around.
His and the other toys’ happy existence is shattered when Andy gets a Buzz Lightyear action figure. The slick, all-action plot revolves around the pair’s battle to be top toy. Hanks’ vocal talents are just one highlight of this wonderfully inventive romp.
Buy Toy Story
2) The Wizard of Oz
If you’ve never seen it – why on earth not? Consistently voted one of the greatest movies ever made, with a score to die for, it’s a wonderful film. As if you didn’t know, a tornado whisks Dorothy (Judy Garland) and Toto from Kansas to the magical Land of Oz.
While following the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City, our heroine meets a Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion, who help her evade various baddies on her quest. One word of caution – it can be too scary for the youngest viewers.
Buy Wizard of Oz
3) The Jungle Book
Disney’s animated adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s novel has everything – plenty of laughs, great songs, a boy hero to inspire your young adventurers and a host of charismatic characters. Deep in the Indian jungle, Mowgli is raised by a pack of wolves.
When Shere Khan, a man-eating tiger, returns to the jungle, Mowgli must return to the man village. But the mancub gets distracted – not least by feckless bear Baloo – and into a whole heap of trouble. Great stuff – and, unlike most animated features, just gets better with age.
Buy Jungle Book
4) Steamboat Bill Jr
Buster Keaton’s work of silent genius is another one to suit all ages. Keaton plays a ukulele-strumming milksop who returns to Mississippi to find his tough old steamboat captain father. None too impressed by his softie son, Steamboat Bill is slowly won over – but then a cyclone hits town and blows it to smithereens.
Gags aplenty ensue – but the real reason to watch this film is for its jaw-dropping stunts. No CGI in those days – Keaton did it all, including the famous scene when the two-tonne façade of a house crashes around his ears. He performs breathtaking, near-lethal stunt after stunt – keeping that famous deadpan expression throughout.
Buy Steamboat Bill Jr
5) The Incredibles
After a failed train rescue injures hundreds of passengers, the Supers are forced to retire, entering a witness protection-style programme and promising to give up all superhero work. 15 years on, Mr Incredible and Elastigirl are living a suburban existence with their three kids. Superdad hates his dull new life, hates his job for a corrupt insurance company and yearns to use his powers.
When he’s summoned to destroy a robot on a tropical island, Mr Incredible is back – but soon needs rescuing by his uniquely talented family. The sheer pace and boundless imagination will take your breath away, and delight kids from five right up to shaggy teens.
Buy The Incredibles
6) Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Disney’s multibillion-dollar franchise kicked off with this swashbuckling romp starring a host of big names, from Johnny Depp as infamous Captain Jack Sparrow to Keira Knightley as plucky Elizabeth Swann. It’s rollicking good fun, with Depp’s Keith Richards-inspired turn as the barmy buccaneer the undoubted highlight.
Determined to stamp out all pirates, the Royal Navy hunts out the Black Pearl – now manned by a ghostly crew. Jack wants the Pearl back, so embarks on a perilous quest to lift its curse and become captain again. Two words of caution – definitely too scary for littlest ones; and avoid the abominable second sequel like the plague.
Buy Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
7) Ice Age
Few films provide so much pleasure for adults and kids alike. This slick, clever movie is also genuinely funny, starting with the hilarious sequence when a deranged squirrel, Scrat, risks life and limb to rescue his beloved acorn. The three main characters are Sid, an annoying sloth, Manny, a bereaved mammoth, and Diego, a double-crossing sabre tooth tiger.
The trio rescue a human baby and must return him to his tribe – despite the advancing Ice Age and marauding sabre tooths. There are visual gags aplenty for smaller kids, and plenty of non-preachy life lessons for older ones. It’s beautifully animated too – the kind of film DVD was invented for. But most of all, Ice Age is cracking good fun. Break out the popcorn and enjoy.
Buy Ice Age
8) Whale Rider
In a small New Zealand village, the Maori inhabitants believe they are descended from Paikea, the Whale Rider. In every generation for 1000 years, a male heir born to the chief inherits the title. But when chief Koro’s eldest son, Porourangi, fathers twins, the boy and his mother die in childbirth. Grief-stricken, Porourangi leaves the surviving twin, Pai, to be raised by her grandparents.
Although Koro learns to love her, he cannot accept that a girl could be Whale Rider. The story of Pai’s struggle to overturn years of tradition is skilfully told – and resonates deeply with older children. The stunning New Zealand scenery is a joy to behold, and this is one of those subtle little films that everyone seems to love.
Buy Whale Rider
9) Ratatouille
The most ingenious animated feature of the last few years, this visually stunning, charming film is a blast for kids of all ages. Remy the rat lives with his family in a French country home. Inspired by France’s recently deceased top chef, Auguste Gusteau, Remy yearns to cook.
When they’re forced to flee the house, Remy is separated from his family and ends up in Gusteau’s restaurant in Paris. He helps dunderhead young chef Linguini cook like a pro – operating his limbs, puppet-like, by yanking his hair. But can Remy evade evil head chef Skinner and follow his culinary dream?
Buy Ratatouille
10) Babe
This heartstring-tugging Aussie film broke new ground with its clever use of CGI to make the animals talk. Chief among these is Babe, the cute little piglet who yearns to be a sheepdog. When Farmer Hoggett guesses his weight and wins him at the county fair, Babe is adopted by the farmer’s sheepdog, Fly.
And when Fly’s pups are sold she forms an even closer bond with Babe, despite the objections of her cranky mate, Rex. When Babe impresses the farmer by herding first chickens, then sheep, Hoggett trains him up and enters him in the sheepdog trials. Cue happy ending and not a dry eye in the house. Perfect for younger children – and their dads, too.
Buy Babe
Author
Dan Roberts is a feature-writer and columnist with over ten years’ experience of working for The Guardian, The Observer, The Independent, Daily Express and Mail on Sunday, as well as numerous national magazines. His areas of expertise include health, wellbeing, relationships, psychology and parenting. Dan also writes two monthly columns, including Diary of a Single Dad, a humorous but affectionate account of raising his ten-year-old son, Ben. The best of Dan’s work can be found on his website at www.dan-roberts.net
Any more?
Can you think of any other films that both dads and kids will enjoy? Use our comments system below to add your suggestions.
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