Plenty of Humor and Thrills: Honey, I Shrunk the Kids

Release Date: June 23rd, 1989
Runtime: 93 min
Rating: PG
Appropriate for Ages: 4 and up

I had a blast watching Honey, I Shrunk the Kids back in the early 90's, and I appreciate it just as much now. Who couldn't have fun watching kids run though a forest of giant grass, ants that you can ride and legos you can sleep in?

Wayne Szalinski, an obsessed scientist, can't seem to get his miniaturization machine to work. He's stumped as to why it only seems to blow things up. Then one day one of the neighbor's kids next door hits a baseball though the attic window and it hits his machine which gets it working.When the kids next door come over to apologize and get their baseball back they get miniaturized along with Wayne's kids. Wayne accidentally sweeps all of them up and takes them out in the garbage. From there it's up to the kids to find their way back home through the now terrifying back yard with giant bugs, hurricane-like sprinklers and the lawn mower...

If for some reason you haven't seen Honey, I Shrunk the Kids yet please do, or please at least show it to your kids. It seems they don't make too many gems like this any more.

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids on IMDB
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Trailer

If you've seen Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and enjoyed it you may also like: Honey, I Blew Up the Kid, Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves, Goonies, The Ant Bully, The Borrowers

Loopy but Enjoyable: National Treasure

Release Date: November 19th, 2004
Runtime: 131 min
Rating: PG for action violence and some scary images
Appropriate for Ages: 4 and up

I'll just come right out and say it, National Treasure was silly. It had one of the most unrealistic plots I've seen in a long time, but I had a blast watching it.

National Treasure is about Ben Gates, a man who comes from a long line of treasure hunters who have all been hunting for the same treasure originally hidden by the founding fathers. The founding fathers apparently left clues as to its whereabouts hidden in plain site all over the county. When Ben finally thinks he's found where it is he finds yet another clue, a map on the back of the Declaration of Independence. Ben then learns that one of his associates plans to steal the Declaration and in order to protect the world's greatest treasure Ben must now steal it himself.

A deep and thought provoking plot? No. A super fun film to watch? Yes. If weak plots don't bother you and you're looking for some good fun filled entertainment for the whole family National Treasure is a very good choice. It's also extremely family friendly.

National Treasure on IMDB
National Treasure Trailer on YouTube

If you've seen National Treasure and enjoyed it you may also like: National Treasure 2 - Book of Secrets, The Da Vinci Code, Lara Croft - Tomb Raider, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

Delightful Classic Fantasy: The Neverending Story

Release Date: July 20th, 1984
Runtime: 102 min
Rating: PG
Appropriate for Ages: 8 and up

The Neverending Story is another film I've watched many times while growing up. It's still fun to watch today as an adult and has only lost some of its magic for me through the years.

The Neverending Story is the tale of a lonely young boy named Bastian who is bullied by several of his classmates. One day when Bastian is running from the bullies he takes refuge in an old book shop. In the shop he is attracted to a strange leather bound novel. The store keeper warns him to keep away from it and that it is dangerous. Unable to resist Bastian "borrows" the book and retreats to an attic where he begins reading the story. The book is about a magical world called Fantasia that is in peril and on the brink of destruction by the storms of "nothingness". The gravely ill childlike princess sends a young warrior named Atreyu to find a way to save the kingdom. As Bastian becomes more and more immersed in the story he realizes that the characters are becoming aware of him and he's being written into the book.

The Neverending Story is an enjoyable ride where we see all sorts of fantasy creatures, strange lands and some unforgettable characters. I'd definitely recommend this for a fun watch to anyone but the wee little ones.

The Neverending Story on IMDB
The Neverending Story Trailer on YouTube

If you've seen The Neverending Story and enjoyed it You may also enjoy: The Princess Bride, Labyrinth, Eragon, The Dark Crystal, The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Spirited Away

Engaging and Honest: Holes

Release date: April 18th, 2003
Runtime: 117 min
Rating: PG for violence, mild language and some thematic events
Appropriate for Ages: 8 and up

One of the things I liked most about Holes was that unlike many other kids flicks out there this one does not insult one's intelligence. It's full of effective metaphors, inspiring dialogue, and witty humor.

A boy named Stanley Yelnats, wrongfully convicted of stealing, is sent to 'Camp Green Lake' a detention camp located in a dry lake bed in the middle of the desert. At this camp the mysterious warden and her cohorts force the camp-mates to dig holes every day to supposedly "build character". Stanley eventually musters up the courage to escape the camp with a fellow inmate and he stumbles across  a secret that will finally expose whats really been going on.

This film is probably best suited for older children starting with those around the middle school ages. So if your looking for something to enjoy with your (older) kids this is definitely a must see.

Holes on IMDB
Holes Trailer on Traileraddict

If you've seen Holes and enjoyed it you may also like: Hoot, How to Eat Fried Worms, Bridge to Terabithia

Full of Family Values: Disney-Pixar's Finding Nemo

Release Date: May 30th, 2003
Runtime: 100 min
Rating: G
Appropriate for Ages: All ages

Finding Nemo is a father-son underwater adventure story that is sure to be enjoyed by the entire family. The Graphics are absolutely stunning, the story is fun and imaginative and it's stuffed with family values.

Finding Nemo follows a overprotective clownish father named Marlin on his journey to save his son Nemo after he gets taken by a scuba diver on his first day of school. Together with Dori, a forgetful blue tang, he ventures beyond the Great Barrier Reef into dangerous water filled with all sorts of friendly and not-so friendly marine life. Meanwhile, Nemo and his companions, who are being held in a fish tank in a doctor's office in Sydney Harbor, plan escape from their captives to get back to the harbor and live free once again.

Finding Nemo is an incredibly fun watch. It's funny and smart and just plain good natured. The animation is phenomenal as well, with the bright vivid chorals and plant and animal life. This really is a film that the whole family can sit down together and enjoy.

Finding Nemo on IMDB
Finding Nemo Trailer on YouTube

If you've seen Finding Nemo and enjoyed it you may also like: Bee Movie, Shark Tale , Ice Age, Monsters, Inc., Antz, Shrek, Wall-E

Never a Dull Moment: Home Alone

Release Date: November 16th, 1990
Runtime: 103 min
Rating: PG
Appropriate for Ages: 4 and up

I grew up watching Home Alone. I loved this when I was a kid and I still appreciate it now. The plot is completely ridiculous and unbelievable but incredibly fun to watch.

Home alone is about an 8 year old boy named Kevin MacAllister who gets forgotten and left behind when his whole family heads to France for their Christmas vacation. At first he has a blast living on his own. With no adult supervision he is free to eat junk food, order pizza, jump on his parents bed, and watch TV programs he otherwise would not have been allowed to watch. Everything seems to be going great until he finds out the criminal team called the "Wet Bandits" plans on breaking into his house and rob it on Christmas Eve. Kevin acts quickly and sets up a very elaborate maze of booby traps to avert the bandits and bring them to justice. Ultimately Kevin ends up learning about the importance of family.

Home Alone is definitely full of a ton of laughs for the whole family so long as you don't take it seriously.

Home Alone on IMDB
Home Alone Trailer on YouTube

If you've seen Home Alone and enjoyed it you may also like: Home Alone 2, The Santa Clause, A Christmas Story, Richie Rich

Simple and Sophisticated: Shrek

Release Date: May 18th, 2001
Runtime: 90 min
Rating: PG for mild language and some crude humor
Appropriate for Ages: 4 and up

Let me just start off by saying I love this movie. I've Shrek several times and it just never gets boring. The plot is easy for kids to follow and enjoy, but what makes Shrek stand out so much is its also smart and quick with jokes that go right over kid's heads. Some of the best parts of this move were actually aimed at an adult audience.

Shrek is set in a colorful fairytale land populated by dragons and ogres, princess and princesses, and many notable fairytale characters. When Lord Farquaad, the ruler of Duloc, banishes all of the fairytale beings to the woods, Shrek looses the privacy he had in his nice quiet swamp. Shrek then sets out with a loud-mouth donkey at his side to find Lord Farquaad and get him to take the fairytale beings back. When Shrek gets there Faquaad accepts on the condition that Shrek must rescue Princess Fiona who is to become Faguaad's bride. On their quest Shrek and Donkey run into all sorts of interesting characters and situations.

If you haven't seen Shrek yet you absolutely must. Even people who don't usually like movies that fall into this genre will probably get a good laugh or two out of it.

Shrek on IMDB
Shrek Trailer on YouTube

If you've seen Shrek and you enjoyed it you may also like: Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, Stardust, The Princess Bride, Madagascar

Computer Generated Slapstick Comedy: Night at the Museum

Release Date: December 22nd, 2006
Runtime: 108 min
Rating: PG for mild action, language and brief rude humor
Appropriate for Ages: 4 and up


I saw Night at the Museum a couple of years ago when it first came out. It's not one of my favorites, but I'm listing it here because it is still a fun watch if you don't expect too much out of it. It's also very kid friendly.


Night at the Museum is the story of a down-on-his luck divorced father named Larry who just can't seem to hold a job. When Larry finally lands a job as a night guard at The Museum of Natural History he gains some hope. One thing that the night guards who hired him failed to mention however was that the entire museum comes to life when the museum closes. The next thing Larry knows hes facing tiny armies of cowboys and romans, Egyptian mummies, a T-Rex skeleton and a monkey who taunts him to the breaking point. With the help of Teddy Roosevelt Larry must learn to get the museum under control so that ultimately he can save it.


Night at the Museum is often more silly than it is funny and seems to fall a bit short of it's potential. The premise of everything in the museum coming to life after dark is just amazing but the execution was kind of weak. Kids will probably enjoy watching this while parents can probably take it or leave it.


Night at the Museum on IMDB
Night at the Museum Trailer on YouTube


If you've seen Night at the Museum and liked it I'd recommend seeing: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Jumanji, National Treasure, The Indian in the Cupboard, Zathura

Intelligent, Funny and Insightful: The Truman Show

Release Date: June 5th, 1998
Runtime: 103 min
Rating: PG for thematic events and mild language
Appropriate for Ages: 4 and up


I really enjoyed The Truman Show. This is another movie that I've watched multiple times. The story is just out of this world and super fun to watch. It was witty, humorous, and insightful.


Truman Burbank is a happy go lucky guy with a pleasant life. He has a an ordinary job, an ordinal friend, an ordinary wife, and even an ordinary neighbor.   What he doesn't know is that his entire life has been on film since the day he was born. Everything around him is fake, the people are actors, his job doesn't actually serve a real purpose, product placements are slapped all around him, even the sky isn't real. One day Truman becomes suspicious and begins to question the world around him. 


The whole prospect of someones entire life being broadcast on a reality TV show back when this originally came out was pretty wild. Now with this incredible reality TV boom we seem to be in it makes one wonder if this is the direction we could be heading in. The Truman Show is a movie that I'd recommend for the whole family minus the wee little ones. 


The Truman Show on IMDB
The Truman Show Trailer on YouTube


If you've seen The Truman Show and liked it you may also like: Lemony Snicket's a Series of Unfortunate Events, Pleasantville, Bruce Almighty

Classic Tale of Good vs. Evil: Willow

Release Date: May 20th, 1988

Runtime: 126 min
Rating: PG
Appropriate for Ages: 4 and up

Willow is one of my all time favorite fantasy adventure movies. I don't even know how many times I've seen Willow, but I'm sure it could fill two hands. The fun story, likable characters, and nice visuals will definitely make this worth your time.

Willow stars Val Kilmer as Madmartigan the self proclaimed worlds greatest swordsman and Warwick Davis as Willow Ufgood a peaceful farmer and wannabe sorcerer from a small village of little folk called Nelwyn. When the evil Queen Bavmorda begins looking for the infant child that is prophesied to take her throne the child is sent down a river and found by Willow. On his way to return the baby to her own kind Willow meets up with Madmartigan and together they set out on a journey through a mystical land of magic and monsters to protect the baby from evil and fulfill the prophecy.

Willow is an excellent choice for children who have outgrown the Disney variety of film and want something with a little more edge. It has some mystery, action, comedy, a small bit of romance and of course the moral lesson of good overcoming evil. Although the technology used to make this is clearly outdated, it is an amazing piece of work that should be watched and re-watched.

Willow on IMDB

Willow Trailer on YouTube

If you've seen Willow and enjoyed it I would also recommend seeing: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Dragonheart, The Neverending Story, Legend

Pure Magic: Toy Story

Release Date: November 22nd, 1995

Runtime: 80 min
Rating: G
Appropriate for Ages: All Ages


I don't think I've ever met someone who didn't enjoy Toy Story. This movie marked the beginning of the 3-D computer animation era. Not only does it wow with its fun colors and graphics but it's got a solid story and clever dialogue as well.  Toy Story really does offer something for people of all age groups and from many different walks of life.

What happens when children leave their toys alone? They come to life of course! "Woody" the pull-string cowboy doll is Andy's favorite toy. When Andy leaves his room Woody and friends come to life and Woody is basically the leader of Andy's toys. All is fine until Andy's birthday comes around and he receives a new toy called "Buzz Lightyear". Buzz is a fancy spaceman action figure all full of fancy gadgets and gizmo's who is convinced he is a space ranger. Buzz quickly becomes Andy's new favorite toy and Woody becomes laden with jealousy. When Woody is accused of pushing Buzz out a window he has to go out into the world to find him so that they can both return safely home. With their newly formed truce Buzz and Woody have to overcome some incredible odds together if they ever want to see Andy and home again.

Toy Story is basically a flawless piece of work. It's smart, funny and some great eye candy. While other movies fade into some dark forgotten movie realm Toy Story will undoubtedly remain a timeless classic. If for some crazy reason you haven't seen this yet, please do. 

Toy Story on IMDB

Toy Story Trailer on metacafe

If you've seen Toy Story (and you probably have) and liked it I would also recommend: Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3, A Bug's Life, Shrek, Monsters, Inc.

Quirky, Inventive and Nostalgic: Cars

Release Date: June 9th, 2006

Runtime: 117 min
Rating: G
Appropriate for Ages: All Ages

I had a blast watching Cars, and not just because I watched it in a car at the drive in. It was a colorful and spunky movie. Cars is by no means deep in any manner, its just pure lighthearted entertainment.

Cars is the story of a hotshot talking car named Lightning McQueen who is on route through the country to the big Piston Cup Championship. On his way there he runs across a small town called Radiator Springs and accidentally tears up some of their road. To make up for this he is sentenced to community service and cannot leave the town. At first all he can think about is getting back to his fancy life of corporate sponsorships, but eventually the residents of the town start to grow on him. Through it all Lightning McQueen learns some valuable life lessons about friendship, respect, love and what it takes to be a real winner.

This is bound to be a fun watch for the whole family.

Cars on IMDB
Cars Trailer on YouTube

If you enjoyed Cars you might also enjoy: Over the Hedge, Finding Nemo, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc.

Fresh, Funny and Witty: Sky High

Release Date: July 29th, 2005
Runtime: 100 min
Rating: PG for action violence and some mild language
Appropriate for Ages: 4 and up

This was another fun watch. Sky High was clearly aimed toward pleasing the teen crowd but was very enjoyable for adults as well. (I watched it with my mother who was quite entertained by it.)

Sky High is set in a world where superheroes are not exactly something out of the ordinary. The film follows Will, the son of two of the worlds greatest superheroes Commander and Jetstream. Will is starting at an elite school in the clouds called Sky High for children with super powers. The problem is, Will apparently doesn't have any and doesn't want his parents to find out. Will seems destined to have to be a mere sidekick. When an old villain returns Will has to battle the odds with his sidekick friends to save his school, his family, as well as the entire planet.

Sky High is without a doubt a good-spirited, fun and feel good movie. So grab your cloak and tights and some popcorn and enjoy!

Sky High on IMDB
Sky High Trailer on YouTube

If you've seen Sky High and enjoyed it I think you may enjoy: The Incredibles, Fantastic Four, Galaxy Quest

Dark, yet Charming: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

Release Date: December 17th, 2004
Runtime: 108 min
Rating: PG for thematic events, scary situations and brief language
Appropriate for Ages: 8 and up

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is another film that caught my eye while working at the movie theater. I saw bits and pieces and I just had to see the whole thing. It was definitely a unique film.

This film follows the three Baudelaire orphans, Violet, Klaus and Sunny. The children are in search of a new home since their home and parents were taken in a fire. The orphans are sent to live with a series of very odd relatives beginning with the wicked Count Olaf who is out to steal their inherited fortune. The children are passed from relative to relative as they are eliminated one by one by Count Olaf.

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is a gloomy tale that proves that strong and savvy children can adapt and overcome. I'd recommend it to anyone. This movie really did have it all, it was visually entertaining while having a great story and plenty of comedy and character thrown in.

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events on IMDB
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Trailer of YouTube

If you have seen Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events you may also enjoy: Tim Burton's Corpse Bride, Mirrormask, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Bridge to Terabithia

Fun, Funny and Very Original: Lilo & Stitch

Release Date: June 21st, 2002
Runtime: 85 min
Rating: PG for mild sci-fi action
Appropriate for Ages: 4 and up

I watched Lilo & Stitch in the theater after work one day. I had seen a couple of snips from it while peeking through the booth window upstairs while it was playing. The unique looking setting and brief scenes I glimpsed had me interested in seeing more.

Lilo & Stitch is the story of a little Hawaiian girl named Lilo who lives with her older sister Nani, who takes care of her. Stitch is a small blue alien originally called experiment 626 who loves chaos and destruction. He escapes his evil creator and ends up on earth posing as a dog in a dog pound. Lilo adopts the alien and names him Stitch. Although the alien is quite dangerous, on earth Stitch can't really cause much harm as he is too heavy to swim and Hawaii is surrounded by water. At first Stitch only cares about self-preservation but as the movie progresses Lilo teaches him a thing or two about the meaning of family and friendship.

I really enjoyed watching Lilo & Stitch. The animation is 2D in the classic Disney style and very colorful and brilliant. It had a fun and pretty different story as far as Disney films go. It also got across a great message.

Lilo & Stitch on IMDB
Lilo & Stitch Trailer on YouTube

If you've seen Lilo & Stitch and liked it you may also enjoy: A Bug's Life, Ice Age, Monsters, Inc.

A Visual Masterpiece: MirrorMask

Release Date: October 28th, 2005

Runtime: 101 min
Rating: PG for some mild thematic elements and scary images
Appropriate for Ages: 8 and up

MirrorMask was definitely a movie worth a watch. Although it's not one of my favorite movies I do recommend seeing it. What MirrorMask has going for it the most is without a doubt its absolutely wondrous visuals.

MirrorMask follows a young girl named Helena who works at her family's circus. Helena is unhappy with her life  and wishes that she could run away from her mother and father to join "real life". When her mother falls ill, on the eve of her surgery Helena enters a dream world full of bizarre and masked creatures and giants. In the dreamworld she is tasked with having to find the "mirrormask" to wake the good queen from her sleep and defeat the forces of darkness.

While MirrorMask was a very fun bit of eye candy, I did feel that it was a bit lacking as far as the story went. Even so, if you haven't seen it yet everyone should see this at least once. 

MirrorMask on IMDB

MirrorMask Trailer on YouTube

If you've seen MirrorMask and liked it you would probably also like: Stardust, The Neverending Story, Lemony Snicket's a Series of Unfortunate Events, City of Ember

Touching and Bittersweet: Up

Release Date: May 29th, 2009

Runtime: 96 min
Rating: PG for some peril and action
Appropriate for Ages: 4 and up

It's been a while since any movie has made me cry. Up did just that. This is a bittersweet story of love, loss, adventure, and making your dreams come true.

Up is about a man named Carl who ties thousands of balloons to his home in order to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America. What he doesn't realize when he takes off is that he has a stowaway on board: an overly cheerful 8 year old Wilderness Explorer. Together they embark on a great adventure where they encounter talking dogs, a huge bird named Kevin, and an evil villain.

Up is absolutely a must see for the whole family. The visuals are exciting, the jokes are memorable, and its thoughtful and clever at the same time. When you watch this though, make sure you bring some tissues...

Up on IMDB
Up Trailer on YouTube

If you have already seen Up and enjoyed it I would also recommend: The Incredibles, Toy Story, Bee Movie, James and the Giant Peach

An Animated Classic: The Last Unicorn

Release Date: November 19th, 1982

Runtime: 92 min

Rating: G
Appropriate for Ages: All Ages

The Last Unicorn is one of those movies what I saw as a kid and just sort of forgot about it until a couple of years ago when someone brought it up in a conversation. I couldn't remember much about it, all I seemed to remember was that I didn't dislike it. I re-watched it again as an adult and I have to say it was definitely quite good. It has a different feel to it than many other child-oriented films. Although it was fantasy it was certainly no fairy-tale.

The Last Unicorn is the story of a unicorn named Amalthea who believes she is the last of her kind. In a quest to find the truth Amalthea joins up with a barmaid and a magician who transforms her into a human so that she can go unnoticed amongst humankind. They set out on a journey together to find the mysterious Red Bull who is rumored to capture and imprison unicorns.

The Last Unicorn was a wonderful tale of Love and Loss with some deep elements that adults can appreciate as well as children. If you haven't seen it yet or you watched it 20 years ago, it's certainly worth a watch again.

The Last Unicorn on IMDB

The Last Unicorn Trailer on YouTube

If you've seen The Last Unicorn and enjoyed it I would also recommend you watch: My Neighbor Totoro, Grave of the Fireflies, Spirited Away

Amazing Animation and a Great Story: How to Train Your Dragon 2010

Release Date: March 26th, 2010

Runtime: 98 min

Rating: PG for sequences of intense action and some scary images, and brief mild language.
Appropriate for Ages: 8 and up

I was pleasantly surprised with this film. Before I watched How to Train Your Dragon I had expected excellent graphics but had no idea what I was in for as far as the story went. Well after seeing it I can say with certainty that its worth a watch. The story is solid and told in an imaginative and heartfelt manor.

How to Train Your Dragon is an action-comedy that takes places in a mythical world of vikings and dragons. The main character is a teenager named Hiccup who doesn't quite fit in with his clan's deep-rooted tradition of mighty dragon slayers. Hiccup is a small and clumsy boy, but also very smart and inventive and wishes to join the great dragon hunt. In in effort to capture and kill a dragon with one of his inventions he stumbles upon one of the most feared dragons known to man called the Night Fury. Soon everything Hiccup has ever know about dragons begins to change as he realizes that his people greatly misjudged the species.

How to Train Your Dragon worked on so many levels. Definitely high quality entertainment for adults and children.

How to Train Your Dragon on IMDB

Trailer on YouTube

If you've already seen How to Train Your Dragon and liked it I would also recommend: The Flight of Dragons, Eragon, Shrek

A Very Enjoyable Anime: Spirited Away

Release Date: July 20th, 2001

Runtime: 125 Min

Rating: PG for some scary moments
Appropriate for Ages: 4 and up

Wow, just wow. I loved this film. Spirited Away was recommended to me by one of my co-workers at one of the movie theaters I worked at. We were discussing some recent films we'd seen and she praised this up and down. She said it was "different" and that I just had to see it. So naturally I did and I fell in love.

Spirited Away follows a 10 year old girl named Chihiro who is in the process of moving with her family to the countryside. On the way to their new home her father decides to take a short cut down a mysterious path which leads to what looks like an abandoned theme park. Her parents eagerly walk though the gate and into what looks like an abandoned town where they find an unmanned booth filled with freshly cooked meats and many other indulgences. While her parents gorge themselves Chihiro wanders off and meets a boy named Haku who warns her to leave with her parents. When she returns to her parents she finds two large pigs eating in their place and the way back has been blocked by a huge river. At this point night has fallen and spirits begin to appear. Haku then finds Chihiro and leads her to a bathhouse where she will then have to work to help get her parents back and escape.

If you've never heard of Spirited Away before it probably sounds a bit odd, and believe me it was. I think thats what i liked most about it. I honestly had no idea what was going to happen next. Aside from those very young, I'd definitely recommend Spirited Away for the whole family.

Spirited Away on IMDB

Trailer on YouTube

If you've already seen Spirited Away and liked it I would also recommend: Howl's Moving Castle, Kiki's Delivery Service, Castle in the Sky, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

All Hail Chunk and Sloth in: The Goonies

Release Date: June 7th, 1985

Runtime: 114 min

Rating: PG
Appropriate for Ages: 8 and up

Where do I even start with The Goonies? The Goonies is one of my favorite childhood films. I first watched this movie when I was probably about 8 or 9 years old. I remember being filled with such fascination and wonder as I watched this fun filled pirate adventure unfold. Even today as an adult I can still sit down and watch The Goonies with just as much excitement as when I first encountered it. It's funny though, the cast of The Goonies seem to get younger and younger every time I watch it.

In this film Mikey Walsh and his friends live in a small Oregon town and their homes are in danger if being demolished to make way for a golf course. While Mikey and and friends are trying to come up with a way to save their homes they stumble across an old pirate map that supposedly leads to "One Eyed Willy's" treasure. With the map in hand the boys set out on an epic adventure that leads them trough all sorts of trials and tribulations including booby-traps and a family of criminals who are racing up on their tails along the route to find the treasure.

If you're looking for a fun family film that will keep everybody entertained I'd definitely recommend The Goonies. It's rated PG by the MPAA so unfortunately this is probably not optimal for the wee little ones.

The Goonies on IMDB

Trailer on YouTube

If you've already seen The Goonies and liked it I also recommend: Hook, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl