Best non-animated family films. - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

Indyphantom · 04-21-2002, 02:46 PM

All this talk about Watership Down got me thinking, there are a lot of great animated family films...but most people have a harder time coming up with a list of non-animated films (I sort of consider Babe in the animated category, at least partially)

Here are some I really like, and all of them have outstanding cinematography and are very beautiful to look at:

A Little Princess
The Black Stallion
The Straight Story (honestly it's my least favorite Lynch film, but it is certainly great family entertainment)
The Bear

I've heard good things about The Sandlot , The Secret of Roan Inish , The Journey of Natty Gann and a few others, but I haven't seen these ones yet.

Anybody have any recommendations of these or others?

***Wirehed*** · 04-21-2002, 04:01 PM

Willy Wonka

Pyrosecht · 04-21-2002, 04:54 PM

I think most Disney movies qualify.

AnonomusBob15 · 04-21-2002, 05:06 PM

Honey I Shrunk the Kids has always been a favorite of mine, but beware of the sequels......

elwood731 · 04-21-2002, 05:37 PM

The Parent Trap is great, and so is Babe. I wouldn't consider it animated, personally.

***Wirehed*** · 04-21-2002, 05:48 PM

Don't forget about all the Muppet movies. I don't consider those animated.

Nexus 6 · 04-21-2002, 08:17 PM

I just saw The Rookie the other day; that was an excellent family movie. Intelligent, thoughtful, and just an all-around good flick. Can't wait for the DVD (as long as there's a widescreen version

)

Also, The Princess Bride is always good.

"No more rhymes, now I mean it!"
"Anybody want a peanut?"
"Daaaaaaaaagh!"

SolidSnakeASS · 04-21-2002, 08:29 PM

Time Bandits. It's kind of dark, but it was one of my all time favourite childhood films. Appeals to both children and adults, and is very visually pleasing and witty.

fuddo · 04-21-2002, 09:20 PM

The Princess Bride

wulliedreep · 04-21-2002, 11:20 PM

I may get a little backlash for this, but Dennis The Menace is actually a favourite of mine. I just found it to be the funniest movie, and depicted children so well

LBPound23 · 04-22-2002, 12:29 AM

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Home Alone
Man of the House
Cheetah (coming to DVD 5/21)
Jungle 2 Jungle
The Santa Clause
Wild America
Angels in the Outfield
Tom and Huck
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Houseguest (not really a family film, but family-friendly)
What About Bob? (same as Houseguest)
The Straight Story (again, not a kids film, but definitely acceptable content-wise and an outstanding film)
Andre
Sister Act & Sister Act II
Jumanji
The Princess Bride

LBPound23 · 04-22-2002, 12:30 AM

Oh yes, and The Muppet Christmas Carol and The Muppet Movie. (Muppets Take Manhattan is good as well.)

and Remember the Titans

interfxrence · 04-22-2002, 02:05 AM

Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory.
that may be my only non-animated family film... but one of my favourites: Problem Child.

duffman · 04-22-2002, 06:25 AM

Time Bandits was my all time fav. as a kid( thank you Criterion).
Also loved the Sandlot.

Prancer · 04-22-2002, 12:17 PM

All the movies mentioned by the other members are excellent. I also like these:

Swiss Family Robinson (Disney's version from the 60's I beleive)
Babe in Toyland (Disney)
The Sound of Music
Pee Wee's Big Adventure
Mary Poppins
Short Circuit
The Gods Must Be Crazy
The Indian in the Cupboard
The Man from Snowy River

Rogue · 04-22-2002, 12:41 PM

Heckalaska · 04-22-2002, 12:53 PM

Swiss Family Robinson!

***Istagi*** · 04-22-2002, 01:55 PM

The Dark Crystal.... come on I can not beleive that the membership of this forum forgot about the Gelflings and Skeksis?

"Wings?"
"How come I do not have wings?"
"Because you are a boy."

FilmFan16 · 04-22-2002, 02:16 PM

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
The Wizard of Oz
Prancer
Labryrinth
Pollyanna

Dustin
DVD collection: http://www.themovieboy.com/directlinks/dvd.htm

Nexus 6 · 04-22-2002, 04:48 PM

Quote:

originally posted by Istagi:

The Dark Crystal.... come on I can not beleive that the membership of this forum forgot about the Gelflings and Skeksis?

Whoops! And that's one of my all-time favorite movies, too. Great film.

Draysoth · 04-22-2002, 07:47 PM

Iron Will is quite good...

Sandlot is a must see as well.

dvds'r'us · 04-22-2002, 07:48 PM

Newsies
Wild America
It Takes Two
3 Ninjas
Look Who's Talking
Look Who's Talking Too
Look Who's Talking Now

Does Mary Poppins count? It is somewhat animated in the part where after the chalk outlines.

Jerm · 04-22-2002, 08:07 PM

The Muppets have already been mentioned

So has The Dark Crystal

What about the Godfather? That was all about family

Seriously though, one of my favorite family movies is The Kid, with Bruce Willis and Spencer Breslin.

LBPound23 · 04-22-2002, 09:18 PM

I really liked The Kid upon my first viewing. But listening to the commentary and watching it again actually made me like it less. Its cutesiness just kind of annoyed me a bit. Still, a good movie though...just a little heavy on the cute factor.

I preferred "North", which was critically panned, but Bruce Willis is great in it and so is little Elijah Wood.

And another great one I forgot is "Cool Runnings." Great feel-good family film!

artood2 · 04-22-2002, 09:25 PM

bad news bears - any of the series but esp the 1st (pg content)
the champ
the karate kid
the black hole

Wurms · 04-23-2002, 05:09 AM

A CHRISTMAS STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Waa! Can't believe nobody mentioned that. That has to be the best family film ever made.

Beware_the_Creeper · 04-23-2002, 06:53 PM

Nobody mentioned GOONIES!!!

Morticia · 04-23-2002, 11:10 PM

I'll have to agree with all of the above (esp. Princess Bride, Willy Wonka, Black Stallion, Babe)...but I'd like to add "National Velvet."

04-21-2002, 02:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
Indyphantom Forum Lothario Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: the black lodge...	Best non-animated family films. All this talk about Watership Down got me thinking, there are a lot of great animated family films...but most people have a harder time coming up with a list of non-animated films (I sort of consider Babe in the animated category, at least partially) Here are some I really like, and all of them have outstanding cinematography and are very beautiful to look at: A Little Princess The Black Stallion The Straight Story (honestly it's my least favorite Lynch film, but it is certainly great family entertainment) The Bear I've heard good things about The Sandlot , The Secret of Roan Inish , The Journey of Natty Gann and a few others, but I haven't seen these ones yet. Anybody have any recommendations of these or others? __________________ My DVD List at DVD Aficionado

04-21-2002, 04:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
*Wirehed* Producer/Admin NSFW Off 'the list' Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Sacto, Ca --Near Galt, home of LeVar Burton	Willy Wonka __________________ The Order of the Zombie. The world's greatest zombie culture website. "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wagn'nagl dominos" In his house in R'lyeh, dead Cthulhu waits for the pizza delivery guy.

04-21-2002, 05:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
AnonomusBob15 Actor for over 4 years now! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Auburn University	Honey I Shrunk the Kids has always been a favorite of mine, but beware of the sequels...... __________________ The Revised DVD Collection

04-21-2002, 05:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
elwood731 Moderator Emeritus On a mission from God Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Kentucky	The Parent Trap is great, and so is Babe. I wouldn't consider it animated, personally. __________________ "Stupid people surround themselves with smart people. Smart people surround themselves with smart people who disagree with them." - Sports Night "You may not be a maniac, but neither should to remain an impotent!" - Damian

04-21-2002, 05:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
*Wirehed* Producer/Admin NSFW Off 'the list' Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Sacto, Ca --Near Galt, home of LeVar Burton	Don't forget about all the Muppet movies. I don't consider those animated. __________________ The Order of the Zombie. The world's greatest zombie culture website. "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wagn'nagl dominos" In his house in R'lyeh, dead Cthulhu waits for the pizza delivery guy.

04-21-2002, 04:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
Pyrosecht Do not trade with this user Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Columbus, GA	I think most Disney movies qualify.

04-21-2002, 08:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
Nexus 6 Actor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Anaheim, CA	I just saw The Rookie the other day; that was an excellent family movie. Intelligent, thoughtful, and just an all-around good flick. Can't wait for the DVD (as long as there's a widescreen version ) Also, The Princess Bride is always good. "No more rhymes, now I mean it!" "Anybody want a peanut?" "Daaaaaaaaagh!" __________________ --"It's a condition of mental divergence. I find myself on the planet Ogo, part of an intellectual elite, preparing to subjugate the barbarian hordes on Pluto."

04-21-2002, 08:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
SolidSnakeASS Actor Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Winterpeg, Manitobaugh, Canada	Time Bandits. It's kind of dark, but it was one of my all time favourite childhood films. Appeals to both children and adults, and is very visually pleasing and witty.

04-21-2002, 09:20 PM	#9 (permalink)
fuddo Actor Join Date: Dec 2001	The Princess Bride

04-21-2002, 11:20 PM	#10 (permalink)
wulliedreep Actor Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: AB, Canada	I may get a little backlash for this, but Dennis The Menace is actually a favourite of mine. I just found it to be the funniest movie, and depicted children so well __________________ wullie \|dvdorkism.com - reviews/contests \| My DVD Collection

04-22-2002, 12:29 AM	#11 (permalink)
LBPound23 Actor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: New York, USA	Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Home Alone Man of the House Cheetah (coming to DVD 5/21) Jungle 2 Jungle The Santa Clause Wild America Angels in the Outfield Tom and Huck Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Houseguest (not really a family film, but family-friendly) What About Bob? (same as Houseguest) The Straight Story (again, not a kids film, but definitely acceptable content-wise and an outstanding film) Andre Sister Act & Sister Act II Jumanji The Princess Bride __________________ UltimateDisney.com: The Ultimate Guide to Disney DVD - News and views on all of Disney's movies.

04-22-2002, 12:30 AM	#12 (permalink)
LBPound23 Actor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: New York, USA	Oh yes, and The Muppet Christmas Carol and The Muppet Movie. (Muppets Take Manhattan is good as well.) and Remember the Titans __________________ UltimateDisney.com: The Ultimate Guide to Disney DVD - News and views on all of Disney's movies.

04-22-2002, 02:05 AM	#13 (permalink)
interfxrence Actor Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto, Ontario	Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory. that may be my only non-animated family film... but one of my favourites: Problem Child.

04-22-2002, 06:25 AM	#14 (permalink)
duffman Actor Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: San Francisco	Time Bandits was my all time fav. as a kid( thank you Criterion). Also loved the Sandlot. __________________ "Silencio"

04-22-2002, 12:17 PM	#15 (permalink)
Prancer Actor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Baltimore, MD-USA	All the movies mentioned by the other members are excellent. I also like these: Swiss Family Robinson (Disney's version from the 60's I beleive) Babe in Toyland (Disney) The Sound of Music Pee Wee's Big Adventure Mary Poppins Short Circuit The Gods Must Be Crazy The Indian in the Cupboard The Man from Snowy River __________________ "I hope that when the world ends, I can breathe a sigh of relief because there will be so much to look forward to…”

04-23-2002, 11:10 PM	#28 (permalink)
Morticia Administrator Emeritus Film Class Goddess Part-Time PRN Princess Panty Thief Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Devil's Point. Burn baby burn!	I'll have to agree with all of the above (esp. Princess Bride, Willy Wonka, Black Stallion, Babe)...but I'd like to add "National Velvet." __________________ Nope, you really haven't lived until you've fed a naked Fire Dancer a S'more...cooked from her own flaming baton. I reject your reality and substitute my own! "Freeze dried moles. Price as marked." -- Nixon, Suicide Girl

04-22-2002, 12:41 PM	#16 (permalink)
Rogue Actor Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Miami,FL USA	E.T. __________________ All that is gold does not glitter Not all those who wander are lost...

04-22-2002, 12:53 PM	#17 (permalink)
Heckalaska Actor Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Littleport, England	Swiss Family Robinson! __________________ 50,000 battered women and I'm still eating mine plain!?! My Collection

04-22-2002, 01:55 PM	#18 (permalink)
*Istagi* Producer/Admin Speaks for himself Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha	The Dark Crystal.... come on I can not beleive that the membership of this forum forgot about the Gelflings and Skeksis? "Wings?" "How come I do not have wings?" "Because you are a boy." __________________ Chew, if only you could see what I've seen with your eyes Istagi's DVD's DDS 351

04-22-2002, 02:16 PM	#19 (permalink)
FilmFan16 Actor Join Date: Feb 2002	Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory The Wizard of Oz Prancer Labryrinth Pollyanna Dustin DVD collection: http://www.themovieboy.com/directlinks/dvd.htm

04-22-2002, 07:47 PM	#21 (permalink)
Draysoth Actor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Grimsby, Ontario	Iron Will is quite good... Sandlot is a must see as well. __________________ My DVD Collection

04-22-2002, 07:48 PM	#22 (permalink)
dvds'r'us Actor Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: St. Louis Area	Newsies Wild America It Takes Two 3 Ninjas Look Who's Talking Look Who's Talking Too Look Who's Talking Now Does Mary Poppins count? It is somewhat animated in the part where after the chalk outlines. __________________ Dave Matthews Band Forever! 31 Shows And Counting! 20,000 Miles travelled...Shows Seen

04-22-2002, 08:07 PM	#23 (permalink)
Jerm Moderator Emeritus Magical Hall Monitor Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: In my house	The Muppets have already been mentioned So has The Dark Crystal What about the Godfather? That was all about family Seriously though, one of my favorite family movies is The Kid, with Bruce Willis and Spencer Breslin. __________________ "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."

04-22-2002, 09:18 PM	#24 (permalink)
LBPound23 Actor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: New York, USA	I really liked The Kid upon my first viewing. But listening to the commentary and watching it again actually made me like it less. Its cutesiness just kind of annoyed me a bit. Still, a good movie though...just a little heavy on the cute factor. I preferred "North", which was critically panned, but Bruce Willis is great in it and so is little Elijah Wood. And another great one I forgot is "Cool Runnings." Great feel-good family film! __________________ UltimateDisney.com: The Ultimate Guide to Disney DVD - News and views on all of Disney's movies.

04-22-2002, 09:25 PM	#25 (permalink)
artood2 I have a number at the deli Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: invalid city apparently	bad news bears - any of the series but esp the 1st (pg content) the champ the karate kid the black hole __________________ FARSCAPE <- Best show . a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...

04-23-2002, 05:09 AM	#26 (permalink)
Wurms Actor Join Date: Nov 2001	A CHRISTMAS STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Waa! Can't believe nobody mentioned that. That has to be the best family film ever made. __________________ MY DVDS "I don't hustle with people who are dishonest."

04-23-2002, 06:53 PM	#27 (permalink)
Beware_the_Creeper Actor Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: East Longmeadow, MA, USA	Nobody mentioned GOONIES!!!

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