Kids Movies All-Time Classics Review

No matter how hard we try to hide it, there is a kid in all of us. How else can you explain how much we love kid’s movies? Young heroes, first kisses, baseball and adventure are all standard fare, and make us remember when riding bikes with friends was the height of cool.

So many movies these days cross the line from being a film specifically designed for a child to movies that might appeal to a child. Children are an audience, too, and I want the movies designed for the youngster in all of us to get the recognition they deserve.

Unfortunately, there are not many movies designed for younger audiences outside of animated features. Gone are the days of the Goonies and Big, although those are still excellent for audiences today, of course. Animation has all but taken over the field, but as I’ve already picked the top five animated features, I want this list to represent the live action films that greatly appeal to pre-teen audiences.

How to Choose and What to Choose?

As the audience for these films is obviously varied, selecting criteria for evaluation became something of a challenge. Finally, I settled on the following;

  • Plot,
  • Characters,
  • Humor,
  • And wholesome appeal.

I also tried to walk a middle road and avoid movies that had a very specific appeal to a very small niche of viewers, such as movies about young girls shopping in New York.

I found movies with as universal appeal as possibly, specifically designed for a child audience. As stated previously, I avoided animated features in this particular poll, but there is a list of top animated films here.

Using these criteria, I found that Holes is the clear winner. With a story that grabbed hold of so many youngsters, the movie truly did the book justice. The plot is excellent, and the character development required to make the circular story as fascinating as it really is was perfectly acted. With a modern day story running parallel to a story from generations previous, the movie gives the brain a bit of a workout in addition to simply being entertaining. It is terrific for the entire family.
Holes Simply Terrific! - 9.75/10
Conclusions: Holes is as good on screen as it is in the book. Stanley’s story circles back to his grandfather’s in perfect clarity and with great meaning. This is a truly wonderful film for the entire family.
Pros: Amusing ~ thought-provoking ~ well-developed ~ interesting ~ historical ~ family-friendly.
Cons: Certain aspects of the film depict severe racism, and even murder. While handled in the most delicate way possible, these scenes might be too intense for some viewers. Try The Sandlot for a less violent approach to family fun.
Our Top Recommended Kids Movies
Holes 9.75/10
Shipped off to a juvenile work camp on false charges, luckless Stanley Yelnats digs holes as a form of punishment and helps bring his family story full circle.
Plot 10/10
Humor 9/10
Characters 10/10
Wholesome Appeal 10/10
With the movie showcasing the circular plot that made the book such a favorite, Holes is terrific for kids and parents alike. Fun characters, a bit of history (with a few tough elements), and a terrific story make this the best of all the recent kid’s movies.
Overall Simply Terrific! - 9.75/10
 
The Sandlot 9.5/10
A group of young boys play, live and breathe baseball, but when Scotty Smalls hits a ball autographed by Babe Ruth over the wrong fence he and his friends must pull together and rescue it from the monster on the other side.
Plot 10/10
Humor 9/10
Characters 10/10
Wholesome Appeal 9/10
The Sandlot offers up all that is good and right about the American pastime: baseball. Young boys come together with a common goal and have a little summer fun along the way. Wonderful and amusing for the whole family.
Overall A Home-Run! - 9.5/10
 
The Parent Trap 9/10
A modern remake of the 1961 classic, two twins meet for the first time at summer camp and hatch a plan to give the other a chance to meet her missing parent.
Plot 9/10
Humor 9/10
Characters 8/10
Wholesome Appeal 10/10
Completely pure and innocent, The Parent Trap has enough mischief to amuse all audiences, and plenty of good storylines to keep the plot moving and enjoyable.
Overall Wholesome Goodness - 9/10
 
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 9/10
The third movie in the Harry Potter series is full of high adventure, fantastic magical creatures, and the same delightful characters from the previous books and movies.
Plot 10/10
Humor 8/10
Characters 9/10
Wholesome Appeal 9/10
This is arguably the best theatrical version of the popular book series thus far, but is still most appropriate for young viewers, as later movies are not. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban has some of the best plot of the series thus far. Harry, Ron and Hermione brave dangers yet again to make important discoveries and save lives.
Overall 9/10
 
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 8.75/10
In Tim Burton's modern re-imagining of Roald Dahl's timeless classic, young Charlie is given an opportunity to visit Willy Wonka’s fantastic candy factory in hopes of winning the grand prize.
Plot 9/10
Humor 9/10
Characters 8/10
Wholesome Appeal 9/10
While distinctly different from the original screen version, Johnny Depp’s Willy Wonka is amusing and entertaining in a whole new way. Catchy tunes and interesting plot twists make this one a great choice for the whole family.
Overall 8.75/10
 
 
 
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