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TJEdRefers generally to the concepts presented in the book A Thomas Jefferson Education, written by Dr. Oliver DeMille. We also have an Introduction to Thomas Jefferson Education available elsewhere on this site..org Administrator
The Road Home
Not- The Journey Home, the film is
The Road Home. Excellent
Farr classics
Count of Monte Cristo,
Remember the Titans,
Fiddler on the Roof --discuss in combination with reading "The Chosen" which movie, by the way, I do not recommend.
Reign of Fire,
Best Two Years, absolutely wonderful!
Bourne series, not for kids
Emperor's New Groove,
Nicholas Nickleby,
Scarlet Pimpernel
see Librevox.org for an outstanding read aloud of the book. The movie is actually a combination of two of Orczy's works.
Amazing Grace, beautiful movie fabulous book by Metaxas
Master & Commander,
Pride and Prejudice
Groundhog Day, ( I know, I know, but we love it none the less)
Princess Bride,
Pursuit of Happyness,
The Journey Home, Foreign film,from China--BEAUTIFUL! subtitled-worth reading aloud to younger children.
Cathryn
"A popular Government, without popular information, or the means
of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or,
perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a
people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves
with the power which knowledge gives."
-- James Madison (letter to W.T. Barry, 4 August 1822)
More classics
Lean On Me is very enlightening. I learned a lot. My school experience was not perfect but nothing like what they went through. This is not a movie for young children.
Ratatouille has a very egalitarian moral to it. It gives me hope!
We saw "Hook" and felt that, for those who are inclined to overwork and underplay with their children, it might be classic. Since that's less of a problem in our household, it didn't have a large effect. It's a well-done movie but it lacks... something.
I know these aren't movies, per se, but the Signing Time and Baby Signing Time videos are excellent!
Dune
Mulan
Do Not watch Mulan 2: my children's complaint is that it's totally implausible, makes no sense, and is therefore Non-Canonical. LOL!
I love the music for Disney's The LIttle Mermaid, but she is disobedient, gets her entire family and nation in trouble, and gets what she wants after all, without doing anything repentant. Grrr.
Disney's Beauty and the Beast is excellent; it follows somewhat the plot of a classic book by Robin McKinley titled, _Beauty_. But the second video, "Enchanted Christmas", is terrible and terrifying, not good for small children.
Second Hand Lions is very good.
We finally saw the version of Pride and Prejudice that had Kiera Knightley. It was unique. I found it less fun to look at the costumes and more fun to compare characterizations between it and the Colin Firth version. The father in the Kiera Knightley version is a much wiser man. But generally I think the BBC version with Colin Firth is better, partly because it tracks the book much more closely and cuts out much less.
There is a fairly new (last 10 or 15 years) version of Emma that is classic but painful for me to watch, because sometimes I find myself acting like Emma. It cuts too near the bone for comfort.
Someone mentioned Napoleon Dynamite. My sons wanted very much to watch it, so we did. I thought it was lame and a bit random; it didn't flow very well. Then a week or so ago my ds brought home the movie, "UHF", starring Weird Al Yankovic. UHF is incredibly funny but not for small children (there are a couple scenes of blood and violence--corny but disgusting). Napoleon Dynamite is a cleaned up and doctored version of UHF. The original UHF is immensely more funny and flows much better, has better acting, better sets, better plot, and a better looking hero (it was made in the late 80's when Weird Al was comparatively young). "Supplies!!!" :D
also add
I want to say "Hoosiers"; now I'm not certain of the title but it's about a basketball team in the 40s or 50s that has a controversial coach and a drunk as assistant coach. We found a lot of food for thought in it.
I'm disgusted by the many spin-offs Disney is doing in their princess lines. They're tinkering with plots, characters, hair color (my dd's are disgusted by Cinderella's persistently lightening hair--by the time Disney folds she'll be an albino). The original fairy tales can be good for discussion of plot, characterizations, music, animation styles, cinematic art, but the glaring plot holes and misrepresentations in the later princess films are too distracting for me; they're so implausible as to be worthless.
We saw "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" animated movie. The characters were excellent and the travel to Atlantis well detailed. Then they actually reached Atlantis and the whole movie fell apart. My 16yods said, "Deus ex machina!" and knew what it meant (I had to look it up; it means "having a god or god-like power save the day" and is a bad thing for story plot).
Have to add
We really liked The Prince of Egypt, but after a couple times through I had to balance it with some cheerful music. It's a great tale, well-done and very insightful into possible relationships, but the music is mournful. I know it's intended to be Hebrew, but the effect is depressing if listened to for very long.
What effect has this mournful scale had on Hebrew music, culture, and point of view?
Another
The Gods Must Be Crazy
I was asked out on a date to see this movie, and since I'm very religious I was nervous about watching it. My roommate said, "You'll like it." I did enjoy the movie very much, and liked the guy even better--now he's my husband of 17 years.
The movie is a comedy and a comment on "civilization".
There is a sequel which has good reviews on Amazon but says there's brief nudity. How brief? Is this something my younger children would be able to watch at all?
The Gods Must Be Crazy
Both 1 and 2 are family favorites at our house. The "nudity" spoken of in #2 is not total nudity. There is a part where a woman is sliding down out of a tree (wearing a dress and high heels), and her dress gets caught on the tree. She keeps coming down and the dress gets pulled above her head for a couple of seconds and you see her in her panties and bra. She quickly covers herself back up. Now that you know that, you could easily just do a quick skip of those few seconds. The movie is at least as good as the first one.
Thank you.
I was hoping it would be short and only incidental, as you describe. I will still preview before showing it to my children.
Re: movie classics
Definitely The Secret Garden - the 1993 version executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola. It is cinematically exquisite and so well acted. Maggie Smith is in it, and I could watch her paint walls, she's so amazing. The kids are all wonderful, as well.
Little Women - either version - Katharine Hepburn or Winona Ryder/Susan Sarandon - is very worthwhile, as well. Very inspirational, and a great book, needless to say, as is The Secret Garden.
Re: movie classics
The absolute "must-haves" for me include:
Anne of Green Gables and the Sequel
Pride and Prejudice (the new one)
Sense and Sensability
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
Pollyanna
Mary Poppins
Cheaper By the Dozen (old version)
Belles on their Toes (Cheaper's sequel)
Cinderella (Disney)
Margie (out of print)
Harvey
National Velvet
Napoleon Dynamite (sorry...)
Summer Magic
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Goodby, Mr. Chips
The Bishop's Wife
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Hello Dolly
What's Up Doc
Arsenic and Old Lace
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Re: movie classics
We love The Incredibles,
Finding Nemo
Cars
Ella Enchanted is very good but I did not find it classic.
My son found Iron Will very good.
For young children, Red Boots for Christmas is excellent, with a hymn which I love, by Martin Luther
We watched Fahrenheit 451 a couple weeks ago. It was a solemn occasion; everyone sat and watched and thought, and afterwards we discussed for hours while doing chores and meals. Most of the children did not want to see it again. My 16yods went online to find lists of banned books and read some of them, as a result.
Re: movie classics
I would add to the list a few of my favorites that I see missing:
The Count Of Monte Cristo (the one with the guy from "The passion") This is a case where I liked the movie much better than the book. You may want to preview it first though, because there is a suggestive scene in it.
The Secret Garden, I think it was the Hallmark version (the one where she marries Colin in the end...yes I know that isn't in the book, not the other one where they do secret fire meetings in the garden, that disturbed me).
I liked "The Time Machine", I know it isn't much like the book, but it was pretty scary and cool. Much more for grown people. My older boys like to take it out and watch it at Halloween time, because it's so spooky.
I would add an Amen to the A & E versions of Emma and Pride and Prejudice, and Sense and sensibility. I am a sucker for Jane Austen! Can't help it.
I like any of the Shakespeare plays that you can find. The stage versions are usually the best. I like to watch those with the kids, before we pick our characters and read it. Even then my boys seem to have a hard time following it, as well as hubby. Daughter and I can't understand why!
I would also agree with the recommendations of Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea, and The Princess Bride.
A good one for discussion is National Treasure. Would you break the law to protect a valuable document like the Declaration of Independence? This could really strike up some great discussions.
Debbi
Re: movie classics
Okay, I'm coming into this discussion way late, but I wanted to add my two bits to it.
I LOVED National Treasure. That will be a classic in our family for sure.
The one movie I highly recommend hasn't been mentioned yet. "Perfect Harmony" is an excellent movie. It is the story of two boys, one white and one black. It portrays the gulf between them, and how they bridge that gulf through music (one grew up with classical music, and the other grew up with Blues) and become good friends. It also shows the prejudice they had to deal with as their friendship blossomed, but how at the end they overcame that and brought acceptance and understanding into their community. It's a really great movie, and I am trying to get my hands on a copy right now so I can show it to my kids. I watched it as a kid, and I loved it.
Re: movie classics
Nobody has mentioned yet one of my very favorites: Enchanted April. I love the whole feeling of the movie and the message that love can help people blossom.
We saw Finding Neverland last week for the first time. It definitely made me think. His insistence on spending time with a woman other than his wife bothered me (for those who haven't seen it, nothing immoral happens, but his wife is not happy nonetheless), but it's a beautifully made movie.
We also just saw a hilarious old movie, made in the 1940s, called Hail the Conquering Hero. It's about a man who enlists in the Marines during WWII but is discharged for medical reasons. He's so embarrassed that he stays away from home and writes his mom that he's still in the Marines and going overseas. After a while he meets up with some real Marines who decide to escort him home and pretend that he's been wounded overseas and sent back. The "little lie" escalates into a huge pretense that involves his whole small town, despite the man's efforts to stop it. At the end, of course, the truth comes out. It's a great movie for discussing how much better it is to tell the truth in the first place, and how a lie can grow beyond our imagining.
Re: movie classics
Blueknitter, I've seen two or three versions of the Scarlet Pimpernel. The original black and white I'd love to see restored; as it is my DVD can't make it clear enough. My favorite is the one that was on TV in the 80s. I've seen it online at some video site, but I can't remember who the performers were.
My dh and I watched Star Wars III recently. I consider it a classic, but recommend seeing it yourself before bringing children. We are reading it aloud as a family, so we can discuss it. I know we will get the DVD eventually, and that all my children will see it eventually, but we're going to discuss and pray and discuss, first. The book I consider a classic, also.
Re: movie classics
Was it the one with Jane Seymour? That is my favorite version of it. I have not seen the black and white one, but didn't like the other modern version...to many swear words for me.
Debbi
Re: movie classics
The 1980's version of the Scarlet Pimpernel stars Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymore and Ian McClellan. That DVD can be hard to find. They did re-release it and I got it at Amazon.
Re: movie classics
I would love to research and discuss period costuming, since the costuming in the different versions also varies. I loved the costumes in the 80's version, very dashing. The original black-and-white seemed to have stiff costumes, but it may have been stiff acting; maybe because sound recording was new? I loved watching "Singing in the Rain" and learning about the difficulties and opportunities of sound recording with movies.
Re: movie classics
North and South:
This is the current watch over and over again movie. Being a single girl, the end scene at the station makes me swoon. Watch it you will know what I mean. The girls at the office and I are in a current debate about whether Mister Thornton is better than Mister Darcy. I will remain true to Mister Darcy never fear, but the debate is fierce and Mister Thornton is a worthy contender.
Along the same vein:
A&E Pride and Prejudice
NOT the new one. While entertaining the emphasis put at the end was a sad insight into Hollywood's view of marriage.
Wives and Daughters
The book is by the same woman who wrote North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell
In another vein:
What's up Doc
The best movie Barbara ever made. So funny!
and another:
The Scarlet and the Black
I would consider this an absolute classic. The end moral about forgiveness and true Christ like service can't be beat. The fact that it is a true story increases its power.
and the best for last:
Lagaan
It is a foreign film with subtitles. But everyone will love it! If you have never experienced the beauty that is Bollywood this is a great introduction. As we like to say "Buvhan is a Statesman" and he is! It is not an american movie so be prepared for the differences. Yes the cricket game at the end lasts an hour and a half but it is the most suspenseful cricket game I have ever seen, so it is the only one I have ever seen but still!
Happy movie watching. If I think of more I will post again.
Carrie
Re: movie classics
You said A&E Pride and Prejudice. You object to the ending of which one? The BBC one with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle? (I think that's the BBC version--two DVDs with a review of the purposes of marriage in the double wedding ceremony at the end.) I thought the review of the purposes of marriage was spot-on, more blunt than is commonly spoken at weddings, but true nonetheless. I also liked the way it pointed out examples. Moralistic, yes. Pedantic, a touch so, yes. Easy for my children to understand, yes. We listened and discussed and listened and discussed and analyzed the characters and talked about social mores and faux pas. We just about described it to death, if that were possible... because we wanted to.
Our current movie to watch repeatedly and discuss is The Princess Diaries. The original, not the second movie. My 14yods and 13yodd are finding it enlightening. They are homeschooled, and have not seriously set foot in a public or private school for years, so they are sheltered somewhat (not totally) from the kind of defenseless torment Mia went through. I remember being at the mercy of other students (fortunately never badly injured). I also remember my epiphany, when I discovered that I could change myself, with God's help, and become better than the other students' image of me.
I read the book, _The Princess Diaries_, by Meg Cabot, and hated it so much I threw it away. In this case the movie is much, much nicer than the book. The book people are seriously dysfunctional.
Re: movie classics
No I meant the new one (2005) with Kiera Knightly. I love the one with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. Sorry I will make myself more clear next time.
Carrie
P.S. If you love Princess Diaries I am sure you have seen Ella Enchanted. It is just a delightful movie. If you haven't, when they get tired of Princess Diaries, check that one out.
Re: movie classics
Any of you seen, "Scarlet Pimpernal"? And just forgot to list that one? Awesome movie!! A GREAT one on the French revolution, not to mention a great romance!
Re: movie classics
Oh! I haven't seen Finding Neverland, I'll have to check that out.
I love several of the movies that have been listed, so I won't take the time to list those again, but I do have a favorite that I didn't see on the lists.
Swing Kids. . .it is historical fiction, set in the WWII area. It is very thought provoking. A must see!
Leslie
Re: movie classics
Mine are repeats of a lot of yours:
Star Wars (all of them),
Citizen Kane,
Singin' in the Rain,
It's a Wonderful Life,
Casablanca,
Rocky,
The Ten Commandments,
Ben Hur,
Wizard of Oz,
Tootsie,
The Sound of Music,
The Princess Bride,
Swiss Family Robinson,
Sense and Sensibility (Ang Lee, director, Emma Thompson),
Pride and Prejudice (A&E production--I think this has Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle),
Mary Poppins,
Finding Nemo,
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves,
Willy Wonka,
Prince of Egypt,
Old Yeller,
7 Brides for 7 Brothers,
Apollo 13
I have Father's Little Dividend, a really old movie with Elizabeth Taylor as a very young woman. It's hilarious. We discuss actors and actresses frequently. Elizabeth Taylor is one of those we admire for her ability to perform but are disgusted by her private life.
Some of our favorites (I say our because I almost never watch things that my children don't also see and discuss ad nauseum):
Cleopatra (Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Rex Harrison)
The Taming of the Shrew (Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton)
The King and I (Yul Brynner)
Anna and the King of Siam (the newer one)
Camelot (Richard Burton)
My Fair Lady
Cinderella (Matthew Broderick - Fairy Tale Theater)
Cinderella (Brandi, Whoopi Goldberg)
The Slipper and the Rose (Cinderella musical with Richard Chamberlain as the prince)
Star Trek 2, 3, 4, 6, Generations, Insurrection
Mulan
The Swan Princess (just the first one; the sequels are good but not classics)
The Hobbit (70's animation)
The Last Unicorn (70's animation)
Gulliver's Travels (old cartoon with Gabby)
1001 Arabian Nights (old cartoon with Mr. Magoo)
Rocky and Bullwinkle (we lean heavily towards humor, and we learn a lot just from figuring out why Rocky and Bullwinkle is funny!)
Veggietales (all of them; my favorites are Esther, Jonah, The Sumo of the Opera)
Mr. Krueger's Christmas
The Last Leaf
Fiddler on the Roof
Squanto A Warrior's Tale
Lady Jane
Galaxy Quest
Dead Poets Society
Schindler's List (do NOT show this to anyone under about 16yo)
How Green Was My Valley
The Nun's Story
The Buttercream Gang
Annie (Carol Burnett and Albert Finney)
Angel and the Badman (John Wayne)
Muppet Classic Theater
Down Periscope (preview this one before showing to children)
South Pacific
The Last Starfighter
Pocahontas (the Disney cartoon. The sequel is also good, possibly classic. They both bear a lot of discussion, since they are products of their times. In other words, we discuss them not only as bearing on the time they portray but also on our society, the times we live in that produced this point of view.)
Little Bear (the Nickelodeon cartoon series)
White Bear's Secret (animated)
Blue's Clues (classic for its target audience. No, it's not aimed at adults.)
Barney (the purple dinosaur. Again, classic for its target audience.)
The Indian in the Cupboard
The Lion King
Simon the Lamb
Office Space (classic for adults on work environment. My dh says it is no satire; it is life in business. Do not show to children; language and sexual themes.)
Overboard (Kurt ..., Goldie Hawn)
Tron
This is not a complete list (of course), but it's a major part of what is shaping our lives right now. We keep the only TV in the living room, so everyone sees what is on. In this way we can limit what is seen and when. We also do not have cable or even rabbit ears, since 90 percent of TV is a waste of time. We spend more than enough of our lives just watching movies and videos. Thanks for making me think about this some more!
Re: movie classics
Just a note about the Movie Camelot. Richard Harris stars in the movie NOT Richard Burton. Richard Burton began the role of Arthur in the origional production of Camelot on broadway with Julie Andrews. Richard Harris finished the broadway run and did the movie with Vanessa Redgrave.
Re: movie classics
Really? He sings very well. He also looks very much like Richard Burton.
Re: movie classics
I love Finding Neverland as well. I think that one is a definite classic. I learned so much from it. These are the other ones I love:
Loves Enduring Promise
Love Comes Softly
Anne of Green Gables (all 3)
Willy Wonka
Sound of Music
Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Radio (edit a few bad words)
Rigolito
Cheaper by the dozen
Prince of Egypt
Left Behind
Joseph King of Dreams
It's a wonderful Life
The Judgement
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Old Yeller
Those are just few that I like
Kathy
Re: movie classics
It sounds like I need to rent "Finding Neverland!"
You had some great suggestions. I've thought a little about ours:
STAR WARS Triology
Ben Hur
Ten Commandments
7 Brides for 7 Brothers
Ever After
Swiss Family Robinson
Miracle
Apollo 13
Father of the Bride 2
Princess Bride
Anne of Green Gables
Sound of Music
??????
Re: movie classics
Oooooh!! I just say "Finding Neverland" and just fell in LOVE with it!!! Definitely a great one!
Re: movie classics
When I was in college, I took a Film Art class (I was a theatre major) and we watched and studied certain "classic" movies. Some of them, I did not enjoy, but I can see why most of them were considered to be "industry-changing," or had effected society. I can elaborate on each, if you like, but I think it might get a bit boring... ;-D So here's just SOME from that list: (The ones with a ^, I didn't enjoy, and though they may have changed the movie art form or industry, I might not consider them "classics." So just keep in mind, I am not recommending you watch all of these! I liked the ones with a +. )
Jaws^
Star Wars: A New Hope (Episode 4)+
Citizen Kane+
*My Girl Friday+
Out of Africa
Psycho^
Bridge over the River Kwai
Some Like it Hot^
*Singin' in the Rain+
*It's a Wonderful Life+
Casablanca
On the Waterfront
Rocky
Chariots of Fire+
The Ten Commandments+
Ben Hur+
E.T.+
Raiders of the Lost Ark+
2001:A Space Odyssey
Back to the Future
Gone With the Wind+
Gandhi+
*To Kill a Mockingbird+
Tootsie^
Driving Miss Daisy+
Wizard of Oz+
The Black Stallion+
As for my personal preferences, there are movies I own and watch occasionally. I am big movie person, but here are some I consider "classics":
*The Secret of Roan Inish (obscure, but VERY good)
*The Sound of Music
*The Quiet Man
The Princess Bride
*The Other Side of Heaven
Swiss Family Robinson
Peter Pan (the new, live-action one is my favorite)
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
*Sense and Sensibility (Ang Lee, director)
*Pride and Prejudice (A&E production)
*Emma (A&E production)
*Mary Poppins
Nicholas Nickleby (the newest version)
*Persuasion (BBC version)
October Sky
The Alamo (John Wayne)
*My Neighbor Totoro (Miyasaki is a genius!)
Castle in the Sky (ditto)
*Spirited Away (him again)
The Incredibles
Finding Nemo
*Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
Bambi
Finding Neverland
How's that for a list?! ;-D BTW, on both lists, I put a * by my all-time, MOST favorites. Thanks for giving me the chance to recommend some!
Post Edited (04-20-05 23:00)