My favorite Christmas movie of all time: It's a Wonderful Life.
Hit 'em with any version of "A Christmas Carol.' Preferrably the old B&W version from the U.K. (Black and white film- quite the unnatural concept for them.) But the one with George C. Scott from about 20 years ago isn't too shabby. Or- Non-Christmas Dept.- Disney's old live-action weeper 'Old Yeller.' Watch them stop doing Imitation Macho when the old mutt gives up the ghost....
My kids always enjoyed "The Buttercream Gang" and there's absolutely nothing objectionable in it.
Does it have to be a "Christmas" movie? Personally, I love A Christmas Story, but I agree: it's probably a bit much for a six-year-old.
How about Scrooged? Oh, wait. There's the whole kama sutra bit, so scratch that.
The version of A Christmas Carol with Patrick Stewart as Scrooge is MAGNIFICENT, but I think it was a television product, not a theatrical release.
There's Home Alone. Personally, I don't care for these films, but kids seem to love 'em.
If you're open to movies in general, and not just Christmas movies, then . . .
I cannot recommend THE SECRET OF ROAN INISH highly enough. My kids love this movie. Me, the adult, LOVES, LOVES, LOVES this movie. There's no profanity, no nudity, no violence, and it is a film that hails the necessity of family and one little girl's refusal to give up. (It's also a VERY pro-Catholic movie.) There are two scenes in this movie that still make me cry like a baby. THE SECRET OF ROAN INISH!!! This movie is a classic.
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I also recommend THE IRON GIANT. Great, great, great movie that has a lot to say about friendship, loyalty, and doing good to those that hate you.
My five-year-old thinks that THE LORD OF THE RINGS films are the coolest things ever, but they might be a bit intense for some children. Depends on the child.
How about "A Box of Delights", made by some English TV network in about 1978 and based on a children's book by John Madefield?
The initial set-up of the story is rather pagan (and you can see where Susan Cooper ripped off the opening to her Dark Is Rising series) but then it segues into a true Christmas story.
General plot: A young boy is assigned a task by a mysterious stranger: to make sure that the traditional carol service is heard in the village church on Christmas Eve, with the help of a "box of delights" of many powers.
It seems to enchant both boys and girls; the villains just the right mixture of comic and frightening; and I think the set - it's rather long - is probably available through the internet somewhere! (Sorry I can't be more helpful about the background info.)
Mark S., I loved "Roan Innish" too, great film. But you let your 5 year-old watch Lord of the Rings? Yikes!
Sorry. That's "John Masefield".
Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Spy Kids
Muppet's Christmas Carol. Believe it or not, the little ones are entertained, but they GET it. My four year old said, "He's mean.....you shouldn't be mean on Christmas!" How can you have Christmas without Dickens?
Babes in Toyland, Jason & the Argonauts, Beauty & the Beast, Indeania Jones....
The standard Catholic rebuttal to Masonry is William Whalen, CHRISTIANITY AND AMERICAN FREEMASONRY, back in print from Ignatius.
The old Brit CHRISTMAS CAROL with Alastir Sim is the greatest but the George C Scott is also good and has higher production values.
The Popes were Masons, eh?
That reminds me of Ambrose Bierce's definition of Freemasonry in "The Devil's Dictionary": "An order with secret rites, grotesque ceremonies and fantastic costumes, which, originating in the reign of Charles II, among working artisans of London, has been joined successively by the dead of past centuries in unbroken retrogression until now it embraces all the generations of man on the hither side of Adam and is drumming up distinguished recruits among the pre-Creational inhabitants of Chaos and Formless Void."
Whatever you show, don't show, "Santa Claus"! What a lousy film!
Michelle K wrote: "But you let your 5 year-old watch Lord of the Rings? Yikes!"
Yep! In fact (you'll be really aghast at this), my three-year old girl also LOVES it.
Why is that so Yikesy?
If it has to be a Christmas movie: "It's a Wonderful Life". Everybody says it's corny, and then watches it and cries every year.
If it needn't be a Christmas movie: I canvassed my sons, and they recommend the first (real) Star Wars movie. I'd say "Casablanca" if the boys were older, but little boys won't really take it in.
Mike S.- what is so yikes? The orcs (sp?)! As a kid, I would've had nightmares for years! I've got three girls 4-7 and I know they would have been scared witless by that movie.
The original (1934?) version of Miracle on 34th Street was great, but I don't know if quick paced enough for Cub Scouts. Also can't beat The Little Drummer Boy (is it even on TV anymore?). If non Christmas theme is ok, Spirited Away was interesting.
Also, there is an animated version of LOTR that might not be so nightmarish.
Not much comes to mind
-The Nightmare Before Christmas
-Spiderman
-The old Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Cartoon, or the original Grinch cartoon.
-Lord of the Rings
I loved Roan Inish, too.
For a Christmas flick, how about the original Miracle on 34th Street?
I also recall an older movie I enjoyed as a child, called The Happy Years with Dean Stockwell (waaaay before Quantum Leap, he was still a wee lad). It's about a troublemaking boy sent to a boarding school. Not sure if it's on video, though.
two words: Princess Bride
it has everything!
I was also thinking of classic Christmas movies. I've wondered if they're too "girlish" for boy scouts. "Bells of St. Mary's" however, which takes place at a school, does have among its story lines a situation where one boy gets beat up by another. Ingrid B tells him not to fight, but secretly teaches him to defend himself boxing. It's pretty good. There's a funny scene of younger children putting on the Christmas play. I think it's a great film, maybe more accessible to boys than "It's a Wonderful Life." "34th St" is good too, not too girlish, I suppose, even though the child is a girl.
Ingrid teaches the second boy to fight the bully, I mean...
"Miracle on 34th Street" is a good story and quite well filmed as well (and has a few jokes for the adults, too).
I am a huge fan of "The Secret of Roan Inish," too. And, yes, it shows Catholic devotion when such was not considered as an indication of oppression. Quite nice. Beautifully photographed.
The Alistair Sim "Christmas Carol" is very well done, but I have a liking for the Albert Finney version, "Scrooge".
I think kids like movies with kids in them, and (although my own [non-existent] offspring would be different 
) they don't like B&W movies much.
Some of my fellow GenXers are still traumatized over Willy Wonka, so be careful with that one. I found Nightmare before Christmas very Un-christian. Left the theatre furious.
Speaking of GenXers: All those wonderful Rankin Bass cartoons are widely available (Don't forget Twas the Night Before Christmas one...)
Charlie Brown's christmas may be too slow for today's kids, but it contains the only piece of scripture my non-Christian friends know by heart.
Michelle K wrote: "what is so yikes? The orcs (sp?)! As a kid, I would've had nightmares for years! I've got three girls 4-7 and I know they would have been scared witless by that movie."
It most definitely depends on the child. While my three- and five-year-olds love it, the oldest (now ten) can barely watch Honey, I Shunk the Kids. You just have to judge these things on a case-by-case basis.
Some kids actually like to be scared. My three-year-olds favorite parts of the LotR films are the Black Riders. Just depends on the child.
oh look: rankin bass made a hobbit movie too.
http://www.misfittoys.net/rankinbass.htm
Man somebody take away my credit card; I think i need a hermey mug...
I'd second Princess Bride. How about one of the baseball movies from the '90s like Rookie of the Year? I haven't seen it in a while but I don't remember anything objectionable. Or any of the Pixar movies, they're so well written that most kids dig them. I saw Treasure Planet & it very good - none of the New Age junk in some of Disney's other movies. Am I thinking these fellas are younger than they are? How about an old screwball comedy? I haven't seen it but that animated Sinbad was supposed to be decent with no objectionable parts.
Sheesh, I guess there aren't that many recently.
One more: is Time Bandits too... something?
The Bells of Saint Mary's?
Not to pick a fight, but I agree with Kathy about the thumbs-down response to both Willy Wonka and Nightmare Before Christmas.
I was one of those kids (though not a Gen-Xer who was quite traumatized by Willy Wonka. I still hate Gene what-his-name to this very day.
As for Nightmare - I totally agree. I think the ugliness of the animated characters in that movie is indicative of something very wrong.
My two cents.
PS: never heard of Roan Inish; I'll have to find that one.
"Lilies of the Field" is a great film.
Brian,
I gave some reasons. As long as folks were throwing out Christmas movies that were wholesome, that was an idea I had. I would not think a boy would like "34th St." There are lots of boys in StM. I guess I could be wrong. What do I know, as a girl w/4 sisters and 1 brother, no sons. There were some obviously more interesting non-Christmas boy movies offered by others.
Veggie Tales has their "Star of Christmas" video.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
I wasn't traumatized by Willy Wonka so I'll recommend it.
Babe (the pig movie) is a really good movie.
I'd steer clear of Time Bandits - remember that the kid's parents are blown up when he finally gets back. Strange ending to what I remember being an otherwise pretty good movie. In the area of old movies - what about Boys Town? It's not set during Christmas, I don't think, but it's a great one!
The original Grinch (not the anti-Grinch) and the Charlie Brown Christmas are pretty good, too.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever?
I don't know if it's available on video, but I saw a good adaptation of it on TV, with Loretta Swit as the narrator's mother...
Princess Bride!!!
I can't get enthusiastic about "A Christmas Carol", as least as presented in film: not because of anything offensive in it, but because its vision is basically non-religious: it's a humanitarian Christmas without Christ.
As for Masonry, I doubt that even corrupt Renaissance Popes lined up for the opportunity to go through Masonic rituals. More likely, they would consider them somewhere between ridiculous and blasphemous.
Three suggestions, in order of merit:
1) The original "Grinch", with another cartoon as a "chaser"
2) "Home Alone" (my daughter loves it!)
3) "A Charlie Brown Christmas", with another cartoon as a "chaser"
Any of the "standards" like "Miracle on 34th Street" or "It's a Wonderful Life" go over the heads of most kids; they're really targeted at adults, with their slower pace and heavier reliance on dialogue.
Mike S, I don't think I'd risk putting those kinds of images in any kid's head whether they liked them or not. I don't think the impressionable psyche of a 3 or 5 year old is ready for stuff like that.
On another note, what about Herbie the Love Bug? My kids all loved that and its still fun! Dean Jones, Michele what's her name from Knot's Landing & the guy from Mary Poppins (not Dick Van Dyke, the other one.)
OMG.. Has everyone seen Roan Innish? I love haat movie but one thingabout nudity, the littlest man Jaimie(jimmy whathavyou) he is in fact "without a stitch". Hes about 3 though and you cant see anything.. Ohh I so wanted the soundtrack but its a but costly for just a few songs.
I am aghast at those of you dissing Willy Wonka. My six-year old has learned more about virtue from that film than any other he has seen.
Yeah, I love Willy Wonka, too, as do my kids. It's so un-PC it'd never get made today. Can you imagine if they tried to re-make it?..
"What do you do when your kid is too...
...forced to forego gym classes in underfunded public schools and eat too much McDonalds because they advertise untruthfully that you can eat it three times a day without side effects..."
Not that any more suggestions are really needed at this point, but I thought I'd offer my two cents.
As much as I love It's a Wonderful Life, I don't think young kids will "get it." Especially because it's a "talkie" and not "action." If the movie doesn't have to be Christmassy, how about The Wizard of Oz or Toy Story (either the original or sequel)?
If it does have to be Christmassy, I've always loved the Charlie Brown Christmas special but it's a bit short for such a special occasion. You could use it as an "opener" to one of the other suggestions though.
... or as a "closer" to the intensity of The Wizard of Oz might also be a good idea.
Bells of St. Mary's --- Love it.
Masons:
http://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSW...WERS/
BACAFM.htm
http://www.catholicculture.org/d...cfm?
recnum=5135
http://www.catholicculture.org/d...cfm?
recnum=1243
http://www.cin.org/mateo/m931010b.html
http://www.ewtn.com/library/ISSU...ES/
MAKECASE.TXT
Movies:
I don't recommend Christmas Story without good parental supervision and a TV Guardian (http://www.tvguardian.com/ ). Since "Wonderful Life" starts out with George Bailey as a kid it isn't too bad but I think "34 St" and "Bells" are the best of the movie versions. Honorable mention would be "The Bishop's Wife" with Cary Grant which does have some child scenes.
If you can show DVDs instead of films I have some more suggestions. While the Alistar Sim "Christmas Carol" (BTW catch the young Jacob Marley, it is no other than Patrick Macnee) is the best, I think the color version with George C. Scott (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087056/ )is the best of the recent versions and kids like color. Anot
Is it true that the Legion of Decency condemned "Miracle on 34th Street" because the mother was divorced, or is that a legend started by anti-Catholics and/or liberal Catholics?
The recent remake of Miracle on 34th Street with Elizabeth Perkins as the mother is entertaining and chaste Christmas fare.
Non-Christmas -
Princess Bride - although when Mr. Montoya is pierced by the six-fingered man at the end could be too intense for some kids.
The Rookie - rated G (with positive Catholic elements) - Dennis Quaid baseball movie.
Michelle K. wrote: "I don't think I'd risk putting those kinds of images in any kid's head whether they liked them or not. I don't think the impressionable psyche of a 3 or 5 year old is ready for stuff like that."
This totally and completely depends on the child. Each child is different and some kids can take things that others can't.
But I completely disagree that 3 and year olds are only suited for a candy-cane and lollipop view of the world. It's a false impression. The world can be an ugly, violent, and evil place, and to pretend that it isn't is a lie. I'm all for films or books or any kind of media that promotes things like heroism, virtue, loyalty, sacrifice, and love --- and the Lord of the Rings certainly does that.
Not all kids can handle the intensity of the story, but some can and should.
I have a book recommendation for you:
Killing Monsters Why Children Need Fantasy, Super Heroes, and Make-Believe Violence
by Gerard Jones
Does it have to be a Christmas movie? If not, how about something like the Black Stallion? Or (along the horse theme) Natinal Velvet. Or Miracle on 32nd St. Maybe E.T. (I don't know if that is too advanced for 6 year olds).
Say, something weird. There appear to be no comments anywhere on this blog. There are perhaps hundreds of items of varying interest, yet no comments. It feels like the Twilight Zone or something. Isn't anyone out there? What's up?
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