Top 5

Re:Top 5 films from your childhood

leeroy711 — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:28:59 GMT

Tmoney mention The Peanut Butter Solution.... Good call, that's my #1

2. The Never-Ending Story

3. Something Wicked This Way Comes

4. Ernest Goes To Camp

5. Beetlejuice

Re:Top 5 films from your childhood

stacey042 — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:54:17 GMT

This is so hard; they're are so many it seems. Here goes:

Dirty Dancing

"Nobody puts baby in the corner." This was a super favorite movie of mine growing up. I loved this movie and would watch it every single day around the time when our laserdisc player was breaking. I'd ask my parents to watch it everyday until my mom hid the movie from me and lied to me saying that my uncle took it with him when he moved. I continued to believe this lie until my high school years, which was when my mom told me that we had it the whole time.

Drop Dead Fred

Also a favorite. I'd watch this over and over again, and it even made me wish I had an imaginary friend like Fred growing up.

The Princess Bride

I remember watching this all the time when I was really young. Despite my crazy fear of some old lady in the movie (I associated that characted as being a scary witch), I still liked watching this.

Superman II

Let's just say that I watched this movie religiously -- everyday after I'd come home from elementary school until the VCR broke. I was so bummed.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze

Nothing like the teenage mutant ninja turtles facing against Shredder and a mutant dog and turtle. Oh yeah and the random role of Vanilla Ice in one of the scenes. TMNT were cool growing up. I even played the video game. "Aw, shell-shocked!"

Re:Top 5 films from your childhood

filmgal81 — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:36:18 GMT

There are so many to choose from! So many that shaped who I am and that I enjoyed ( some of them I still do).

So, in no particular order, here are my Top5:

1) Annie starring Albert Finney, and the ever brillant Carol Burnett. It never ceases to amaze me just how optimistic I used to be.

2) The Christmas Toy - this a Jim Henson film and was one of my favorite Christmas movies when I was a kid (along with Mickey's Christmas Carol). It is the story of a magic playroom that comes to life when no one's around. One of the toys, Rugby Tiger, tried to figure out how to put himself inside that year's Christmas toy box so the little girl that owned him won't have a new favorite toy for Christmas. He wanted to continue to be special in her eyes, which leads to some comedic and poignant results ending with the whole toy room learning about the spirit of Christmas.

3) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory- the Johnny Depp/ Tim Burton version was complete crap, I'm sorry to say, in comparison with this version. Gene Wilder was prefect for this role, lending just the right amount of dark humor to the very mysterious and benevolent candyman. My favorite scene was when he would warn Charlie, who now owns his chocolate factory, to remember what happened to the boy who suddenly got everything he asked for. Charlie, looking worried, asked what happened. Wonka smiles and says " He lived ahppily ever after."

Priceless.

4) The Parent Trap- I was a bit of a Haley Mills freak. I was a big fan of Pollyanna too.

5) Beaches- Barbara Hershey, Bette Midler. For the life of me, I couldn't tell you why I loved it so much.

josephkuzma:

Obviously this one will span many an era depending on how old you are. I'm not going to ask for a certain type of film either.

Re: Top 5 films from your childhood

joem18b — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 06:56:17 GMT

1. alice in wonderland (disney)

2. any allan rocky lane movie

3. any bowery boys movie

4. by the light of the silvery moon

5. the thing

Re: Top 5 films from your childhood

Ravie13 — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:55:20 GMT

pippin06:

indieabby88:
What's the barrier for "young?" I draw the line at around age 11, and I know I saw the Star Wars movies well before that. I think I was eight or nine when I watched the remastered "Return of the Jedi" in theaters, and that was probably the third time I'd watched the movie.

In rereading this convo again, I have to belatedly agree with abby. All of the films I listed were released and watched when I was 10 or younger. I saw the *original* Return of the Jedi on my 6th birthday. And there are others, like The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, that I completely forgot about. The Star Wars trilogy, I think, can be films of both childhood and youth as well as adulthood, since they're kind of timeless.

Also belatedly agreeing. I LOVE LOVE LOVE The Little Mermaid but that didn't come out until I was 11 so I didn't count it.

Re: Top 5 films from your childhood

Ravie13 — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:47:02 GMT

GradysGhost:

Murder By Death - Loved the mystery. Loved the comedy. My first Neil Simon.

Krull - Anybody? ... Anybody? ... No?

Yes! KRULL!!

Re:Top 5 films from your childhood

Ravie13 — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:43:28 GMT

1) Nine to Five - I watched it over and over again. I didn't understand what "maui wowie" was but Lily Tomlin became Snow White! And this forever cultivated in me a love for Dolly Parton.

2) Robin Hood - the animated Disney movie - again, I watched it on repeat over and over again.

3) Grease - I think it was every little girl's favorite. And it's a classic. Each time I watch it there's a joke I didn't get before because I was too young the last time I saw it.

4) The NeverEnding Story - OMG! I lived for it to air on HBO.

5) The Worst Witch - a little known made for cable BAAAAD movie starring Faruiza Balk and Tim Curry. To this day I must watch it every Halloween season to get me in the mood.

Re:Top 5 films from your childhood

benthams_head — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:16:16 GMT

1. Back to the Future - Anyone who has seen "Son of Rambow" knows the impact that a movie character can have on an impressionable youth (especially one with an over-active imagination). For a brief period in 1985-86, I WAS Marty McFly. I actually had designs on riding my skateboard to school every day by tailgating cars. Then (in typical 1980s fashion) there was a story about some kid who died trying the same thing. Back to the Future (1985)).

2. Rocky IV - This one embodied every cliche about bad 80s cinema: synth-driven montage scenes, cold war paranoia, Reagan-era hyper-patriotism, and a bizarre obsession with the titilating possibilities of robotic technology. I ate up every morsel of it. Heck, I probably had every line of dialogue memorized for awhile.Rocky IV (1985)

3. Down and Out in Beverly Hills/Ruthless People- For awhile there in the mid-80s, I couldn't get enough of the Bette Midler screwball comedies. My best friend's mom is befuddled to this day that I grew up to be straight.Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986) Ruthless People (1986)

4. Superman II - One of my first moviegoing memories. To this day, Terrence Stamp scares the living sh** out of me.Superman II (1980)

5. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom - This one also belongs on my personal "having divorced parents is not without benefits" list. My mom adamently refused to take me to this movie; citing its violence and demonic themes. My dad was none the wiser and even bought me the vintage hat and whip toy set after we saw it. You can imagine the heated phone call that ensued. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

Re: Top 5 films from your childhood

pippin06 — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:24:19 GMT

indieabby88:
What's the barrier for "young?" I draw the line at around age 11, and I know I saw the Star Wars movies well before that. I think I was eight or nine when I watched the remastered "Return of the Jedi" in theaters, and that was probably the third time I'd watched the movie.

In rereading this convo again, I have to belatedly agree with abby. All of the films I listed were released and watched when I was 10 or younger. I saw the *original* Return of the Jedi on my 6th birthday. And there are others, like The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, that I completely forgot about. The Star Wars trilogy, I think, can be films of both childhood and youth as well as adulthood, since they're kind of timeless.

Re: Top 5 films from your childhood

revedroom — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:30:40 GMT

1. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids - it was on TV so often I couldn't help watching.

2. Home Alone I and II - I remember laughing so hard about that whole "Operation Ho Ho Ho" thing

3. The Little Mermaid - one of the first movies I recall watching in a movie theater and not at home.

4. Free Willy - meh

5. Big

Re: Top 5 films from your childhood

indieabby88 — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 16:59:20 GMT

What's the barrier for "young?" I draw the line at around age 11, and I know I saw the Star Wars movies well before that. I think I was eight or nine when I watched the remastered "Return of the Jedi" in theaters, and that was probably the third time I'd watched the movie.

Anyway, my top five movies from childhood (before age 11) are:

1. James and the Giant Peach-It's still among my favorite movies. I saw this movie for the first time when I was seven (I think) and I've loved it ever since. It's one of those movies where I watched it as a kid and thought one thing, then watched it again later and saw something totally different. Stop-action animation never goes out of style.

2. The Secret Garden-I used to hate this movie, actually. I saw it for the first time when I was six, and thought it was awful. I hated Maggie Smith's character. But after a couple of years, the movie really grew on me, and became one of my favorites. I think I threatened to beat up one of my friends when we were watching it, and she started laughing in all the wrong places (to be fair, she was being really annoying).

3. Time Bandits-I know, I know, it's kind of a weird choice. But I was a weird child. I saw this for the first time at my cousin's house, thought it was awesome, and begged and pleaded with my parents to rent it so I could watch it again. "Time Bandits" was my introduction to Terry Gilliam. It is one of the reasons I became a movie nut.

4. The Princess Bride-The only reason this movie is ranked a little lower is because I've watched it so many times I'm very nearly sick of it. I once decided I was going to watch that movie over and over every day until I'd memorized all the lines. I was young and stupid then, and I realize this was the biggest waste of time I could ever have taken part in. I do, however, have 90% of the lines down pat.

5. Labyrinth-Every child should be raised watching three movies: The Princess Bride, Time Bandits and Labyrinth. The Dark Crystal is an optional fourth movie. I believe this is a requirement to raising a well-rounded kid knowledgable in all forms of pop culture. 'Nuff said, I think.

Re: Top 5 films from your childhood

tmoney — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:13:47 GMT

Star wars films seem to be more of films from our "youth" and not exactly from our "childhood" but I don't know. maybe you watched some of these films as a "child", but when I think of children's films, I think of stuff in the family section at blockbuster. kids movies. are some of us putting in films that we watched when we were young or when we were children?

Re: Top 5 films from your childhood

raydanger — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:02:25 GMT

More redundancy:

1) Star Wars

2) The Empire Strikes Back

3) Return Of The Jedi

4) E.T. The Extra Terrestrial

5) The Neverending Story

Re: Top 5 films from your childhood

tmoney — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:42:06 GMT

marincat:

Lady And The Tramp - Just couldn't get enough of those puppies

Yes! My sisters would watch this all the time and I would have nightmares about the siamese cats. That song "we are siamese if you please. we are siamese if you don't please" still gives me the shivers!

Re: Top 5 films from your childhood

marincat — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 01:55:44 GMT

This old gal will sway the movie lot to the ancient arena.

The Wizard of Oz - I have to admit that this movie always scared the heck out of me. I would climb up on the back of the sofa and hide behind my mother.
Mary Poppins - Yep, just sang along year after year.
Lady And The Tramp - Just couldn't get enough of those puppies.
Lassie Come Home - Yet another dog movie.
The Sound of Music - Is there a theme here?

Please note that I didn't see most of these when they were first released!

Re: Top 5 films from your childhood

JEllen — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 09:16:52 GMT

GradysGhost:
Murder By Death - Loved the mystery. Loved the comedy. My first Neil Simon.

I loved Murder By Death Too, but didn't see it till I was grown up.

Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back were the big ones from my childhood. Sorry to be repetitive, but they really did influence a lot of kids. Before those came out I didn't take much interest in films, although I do remember Sleeping Beauty and Bambi, both of which scared me a little bit.

Re: Top 5 films from your childhood

GradysGhost — Sat, 19 May 2007 02:50:03 GMT

Murder By Death - Loved the mystery. Loved the comedy. My first Neil Simon.

Krull - Anybody? ... Anybody? ... No?

Re: Top 5 films from your childhood

pippin06 — Tue, 15 May 2007 19:07:56 GMT

How could I not have responded to this convo yet?!?! Excellent topic. I refuse to relinquish my childhood completely anyway. As such, this will be tough for me, but here goes:

1. Star Wars / Empire / Jedi - They may be obvious choices, but as we are embarking upon the 30th anniversary of Star Wars/New Hope, and as we are embarking on the 30th year of...something else...I have to say that I've never known a world without these movies, they're still my favorite, I still watch them, and I watched them a gajillion times when I was a kid. And poo on those prequels, which are so inferior despite their fancy CGI special effects.

2. The Muppet Movie / The Great Muppet Caper / Muppets Take Manhattan - The three Muppet motion pictures where Jim Henson was still the voice of Kermit. I refuse to watch any of the rest of the series except A Muppet Christmas Carol for that reason. With the exception of Star Wars, no group of characters has made a more delible impression on my life. I am an avid Muppet fan and also collect The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock. I admit it without shame (though I will feel more confident in that not having shame thing when I finally have children...ahem). :-)

3. The Wizard of Oz - I come from the generation when this got played only once a year on TV and only on CBS. The advent of the VCR changed everything. I was scared of the Wicked Witch but still looked forward to this tradition. Now, I have a DVD with crystal clear quality and no commercials.

4. E.T. - I remember seeing this a number of times at the drive-in and at the movies. I cried every time. I still cry every time.

5. The NeverEnding Story - The Gamork and the Nothing were scary for me, but I have never been able to not watch this movie if I've seen it. It's a great fantasy.

Honorable mentions (because it was hard to narrow down): Back to the Future (the original), the Karate Kid, Mary Poppins (still my fave Disney), Bedknobs and Broomsticks (one fave anyway), Stand By Me, the Parent Trap, Ghostbusters, A Christmas Story, and Clue the Movie. Oh, and the Princess Bride. I own all of the above listed except three...and I realize I've dated myself, but that's half the fun of this conversation, isn't it? :-P

Re: Top 5 films from your childhood

Risselada — Tue, 15 May 2007 16:01:19 GMT

Indie:
5. Flight of the Navigator- Kid in kick-ass flying saucer with Pee-Wee Herman loving robot

That actually WAS Paul Reubens doing the voice of the alien ship in Flight of the Navigator.

Re: Top 5 films from your childhood

Indie — Tue, 15 May 2007 12:36:42 GMT

I'll never be able to link these all _at work_: ) but

1. BedKnobs and Broomsticks- Disney witchcraft and nazis awww

2. Escape to Witch Mountain- psychic kids on the run from an old capitalist pig.

3. Return of the Jedi- Ewoks Ewoks Ewoks - and yes I still like them no matter what.

4. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom- the most accesable to children and who could forget GALI MAH!

5. Flight of the Navigator- Kid in kick-ass flying saucer with Pee-Wee Herman loving robot.

Top 5 films from your childhood

chesterfilms — Sun, 13 May 2007 17:10:54 GMT

1. The Empire Strikes Back: It's one of my first movie memories. I remember being afraid that the AT-AT and AT-ST walkers would attack the neighborhood.

2. The Adventures of the Wilderness Family: Probably the movie I watch the most as a kid. I re watched it about a year ago. Let me tell you, It does not hold up.

3. Fun And Fancy Free: For some reason, this was the Disney film that I always wanted to watch. I think it's still great.

4. The Neverending Story: So classic.

5. E.T.: It's still one of my favorite movies.

Re: Top 5 films from your childhood

josephkuzma — Fri, 04 May 2007 08:38:19 GMT

ben_:
Sasquatch: The Legend of Bigfoot (you have to live in the boonies like i do to fully appreciate the effects this one can have on your psyche when you're young)

This reminds me of an Honorable Mention for my own list: Harry and the Hendersons.

lbenschwartz:
The Muppet Movie - Can't wait til my daughter is old enough to watch it.

I couldn't agree more. My daughter is 9 months old and already I'm collecting movies for her to watch later. This is one of them (along with Fraggle Rock).

tmoney:
2. The Flight of the Navigator: A disney movie. I think you can rent it at blockbuster

3. Little Monsters : With Fred Savage and a Monster

Loved both of these. Which reminds me of others for the Honorable Mentions list: Princess Bride and The Monster Squad.

Re: Top 5 films from your childhood

ben_ — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 01:15:04 GMT

ah yeah... porkys reminded me of another ............ Animal House.

Re: Top 5 films from your childhood

lbenschwartz — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 21:14:56 GMT

1. Star Wars - I was on a family vacation when my father took my sister and I to see it. Myself, and every other five year old on the planet Earth, had their lives changed forever.

2. Tie: Grease/Saturday Night Fever - I have a sister whose about five years older who dragged me to see these two seminal Travolta flicks again and again and again. To this day, Saturday Night Fever is one of my favorite movies.

3. Porkys - First R rated movie I ever saw, or at least the first one with nudity

4. Hair - For some reason, I would make my parents take me to this movie again and again. The first half, at least, still holds up thanks to the great Milos Forman.

5. The Muppet Movie - Can't wait til my daughter is old enough to watch it.

Re: Top 5 films from your childhood

ben_ — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 18:55:31 GMT

To Kill a Mockingbird
Dumbo
Night of the Grizzly
Old Yeller
Sasquatch: The Legend of Bigfoot (you have to live in the boonies like i do to fully appreciate the effects this one can have on your psyche when you're young)

Re: Top 5 films from your childhood

tmoney — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 04:04:46 GMT

1. The Peanut Butter Solution : I have talked about this crazy, disturbing children's film before.

2. The Flight of the Navigator: A disney movie. I think you can rent it at blockbuster

3. Little Monsters : With Fred Savage and a Monster

4. Three Ninjas : Rocky, Tum Tum and the other one.

5. Ernst goes to Camp: The best ernst movie out there. thanks riss for reminding me.

Re: Top 5 films from your childhood

Risselada — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 18:35:12 GMT

josephkuzma:
Of course the Wars' were there - what the hell is wrong with me?

Maybe they are a little too obvious to list. That's what I was thinking when I was putting them up at least.

Re: Top 5 films from your childhood

josephkuzma — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:38:06 GMT

Sweet zombie Jesus I'm a horrible nerd for forgetting the Holy Trinity. Of course the Wars' were there - what the hell is wrong with me?

I like the Ernest flicks though, good choice and I'll definately agree with the Roger Rabbit & Home Alones too.

Re: Top 5 films from your childhood

Risselada — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 19:17:39 GMT

1. Star Wars / The Empire Strikes Back / Return of the Jedi - I was hooked from the start.

2. Ernest Goes to Jail / Ernest Goes to Camp / Ernest Saves Christmas - and all of the rest. I used to be obsessed with this guy. I would cut out ads of his head from ABC Warehouse ads in the newspaper and pin them up on a bulletin board.

3. Who Framed Roger Rabbit - this is probably the one that was one of the best as a kid but is even better when you are older.

4. Home Alone / Home Alone 2 - yeah classic.

5. The Addams Family. Yeah I'll concur with you on that one.

There was a classic era of Disney cartoony stuff that was pretty fantastic too. Robin Hood, Pete's Dragon, Sword in the Stone, Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, Bedknobs and Broomsticks.

Top 5 films from your childhood

josephkuzma — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 10:10:53 GMT

Obviously this one will span many an era depending on how old you are. I'm not going to ask for a certain type of film either.

Mine:

1. The Adventures of Mark Twain. This is forever part of my childhood memories. Love it, love it, love it. If you haven't seen it I'll forgive you so long as you rectify that immediately - it's been on DVD since January 2006, so you can easily get ahold of it now.

2. Labyrinth. Another one permanently imbedded in my memory banks. This, along with Legend, were my first "fantasy" movies and can more-than-likely be blamed for turning me into a nerd.

3. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This was my generation's Pokemon. Everyone had action figures, posters, Halloween costumes, etc. I'll refrain from including #2 but I have the same soft spot for it as well.

4. The Addams Family. I loved this when I was a kid and I still have to watch it when it comes on telelvision.

5. Clerks. Not exactly "childhood" fare but this was my first "grown-up" movie. My sister introduced me to this and Mallrats at the same time and despite Mallrats' potty humor my 12 year-old brain was transfixed by Clerks. This was the genesis of my internal filmmaker.