Wednesday, August 4, 2010

The Value of Movie Night

Movies are a favorite past time in my home.  What we don't buy on DVD we record on DVR. It would appear, at times, that DV consumes our recreational time.

I admit, I'm not the best resource for determining what makes a "family friendly" movie. I am adamantly against my kids seeing excessive nudity and gratuitous sex.  I don't like horror flicks or gore, but I don't require my kids to stick to the movie rating guidelines for their age group.

We have family favorites that we watch OVER and OVER again.  It is not uncommon to hear, "Hey you guys!" as my children walk down the stairs or "Back to school. Back to school, to prove to Dad that I'm not a fool. I got my lunch packed up, my boots tied tight, I hope I don't get in a fight. Ohhhh, back to school. Back to school. Back to school." each year on the first day of school.

Shampoo is better. I go on first and clean the hair. Conditioner is better. I leave the hair silky and smooth. Oh, really, fool? Really.


I remember once, years ago, BFF and I got into a moderately heated discussion about me allowing my children to watch the Austin Powers movies.  She believed that the names alone were inappropriate for my young children to hear.  I, however, was insistent that my kids only knew "Fat Bastard" as a proper noun and certainly NOT a way to describe someone overweight.

Although I have many memories from my childhood relating to movies, my parents aren't in any.  Except for the time my dad came down during a sleepover and insisted on watching Basic Instinct with us...  Talk about uncomfortable..

Anyembarassedteenagedgirls, I think about some of the films that have stuck with me over the years and how much I enjoy watching them with my kids.  The times we've laughed together over things that tickled my funny bone 20 years ago are priceless and dear to my heart.  I also enjoy discovering new favorites and building happy movie memories with my kids.

Do movies illicit memories for you?  What is your favorite movie from the past that you like to share with your kids?  Do you have a family favorite that you never get sick of watching?  No kids? What are your guilty movie pleasures? 

8 comments:

Alicia said...

my stepdad is a HUGE movie buff and i totally inherited that love from him...we LOVE movie nights with the kids...we're pretty strict with what we let them watch, but we still have a good time and it is the cutest thing to hear them quote their favorite movie lines!!

Anonymous said...

I cant wait until my oldest is just a little older so we can watch scary movies together!

My 3 yr old loves to watch Planet 51, over and over and over. And we all seem to love watching the Ice Age movies.

When I was younger I loved watching Dirty Dancing. I would watch it all. the. time!

BigSis said...

It's so funny because we are total TV addicts in my house. And, it's not something my mother approves of. I'm also a reader and have been very disappointed in so many based-on-a-book movies that I've almost given up on movies.

That said, we watch The Princess Bride OVER and OVER together and quote it and just love it!

April said...

I have memories both ways; as a child and with my kids. This will sound kinda wrong, but I particularly remember watching Sweeney Todd on PBS with my mom. I'll have to ask my kids which ones stick out for them.

Felicia said...

I love movie, almost all kinds. The only ones I just can't get into is the slap stick comedies like Austin Powers, Dumb and Dumber and those silly spoof movies Meet the Spartans...

Some movies to illicit an emotional response in me, especially Mary Poppins. It always brings back fond memories.

Not a soccer mom said...

my children are nearly grown now but we are movie buffs... I did not censor movies they could watch but liked it better if they watched R rated with me. We discussed the movie parts as they grew older. It was a great time for open dialog and communication. Now my kids talk to me about everything sex related. (although they are not sexually active yet)


Favorites were all the 80s teen flicks but we have so many other favorites too

Ed said...

I LURVE ne some movies. You name it, I've probably seen it.

Anonymous said...

I'm with you on the censoring movies (and TV) situation. I think that, if it's not gratuitous violence and sex that is hardcore--or the two together--my teenager probably isn't going to be warped by it. She hates the "mushy parts" anyway.

We love the 80s movies AND Austin Powers. We've watched "Better Off Dead" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" over and over again. Plus, we're huge Adam Sandler fans (personal favorite-"Happy Gilmore").

I think that the time spent together and in discussion is perhaps more important than an arbitrary rating system. Some of the thinly-veiled references in Disney movies today are just as bad as the innuendos in the 80s movies! Fun post-thanks.

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