Ten Best Family Films

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Ten Best Family Films

Ten films that no DVD collection should be without. This is not so much of a top ten best of the best list, but rather it is a list of ten great films that never seem to make it onto top ten lists and should never be left out of your child's personal DVD library.

These are ten of the best, often forgotten and overlooked, cult classic children's films that have stood the test of time and are as wonderful today as they were when they first came out.

All movies listed here are rated G or PG and were made for the age 5 to 16 age groups, but are loved by everyone young and old.

P.S.

When I got done building this lens, I found that I somehow ended up with eleven movies listed here instead of ten!

Family Films

Films The Whole Family Can Watch Together

 

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Labyrinth

Amazon Spotlight: Labyrinth 

Labyrinth (Anniversary Edition)

Amazon Price: $19.49 (as of 11/22/2009)Buy Now
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Relive the magic! This newly restored, 2-disc anniversary edition of Jim Henson's Labyrinth contains an all-new commentary and bonus features that are guaranteed to captivate as never before. David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly invite you into a magical universe where nothing is what it seems! Babysitting infant stepbrother Toby on a weekend night isn't young Sarah's (Connelly) idea of fun. Frustrated by his crying, she secretly imagines the Goblins from her favorite book, Labyrinth, carrying Toby away. When her fantasy comes true, a distraught Sarah must enter a maze of illusion to bring Toby back from a kingdom inhabited by mystical creatures and governed by the wicked Goblin King (Bowie).

Release Date: 08/14/2007

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Labyrinth Movie Trailer 

The Labyrinth trailer

Long trailer for the amazing film The Labyrinth with David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly

Runtime: 1:21
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The Dark Crystal

Amazon Spotlight: The Dark Crystal 

The Dark Crystal (25th Anniversary Edition)

Amazon Price: $19.49 (as of 11/22/2009)Buy Now
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Enjoy incredible footage from the Henson archives in this 2-disc 25th Anniversary Edition of The Dark Crystal. Travel back in time to the faraway planet of Thra. Cheer on the Mystics as they fight to overthrow the evil Skeksis and take back control of their planet! When Jen, a member of the Gelfling tribe, sets out to find the crystal's missing shard, his dangerous journey brings him face to face with monsters at every turn. Determined to restore peace to their planet, Jen will not back down! From the brilliant imagination of Jim Henson, this masterpiece of animation recounts the timeless tale of good vs. evil and has become a cult favorite of children and grown-ups alike!

Release Date: 08/14/2007

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The Dark Crystal Movie Trailer 

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The Key to Time

Amazon Spotlight: The Key to Time 

The Key to Time: The Complete Adventure encompasses one of the more ambitious chapters in the history of the long-running BBC television series Doctor Who, and its landmark status, combined with the presence of the well-loved Tom Baker in the title role, should make this six-disc boxed set irresistible to Who fans. The 26-episode series was conceived by producer Graham Williams, who was intrigued by the idea of a season-long story arc, and after several setbacks he finally achieved it in 1978-79 for the program's 16th season.

In The Key to Time, the Doctor and his new companion, the elegant and sharp-witted Time Lady Romana (Mary Tamm) are dispatched by the White Guardian to recover the six segments of the Key of Time, a powerful device with the ability to stop time. The Doctor and Romana must travel the universe to find the hidden segments before the nefarious Black Guardian discovers them. Their adventures bring them in contact with a host of unusual personalities and, in a time-honored Doctor Who tradition, a number of terrifying monsters.

Unlike the other Doctor Who DVDs from BBC America, The Key to Time: The Complete Adventure is debuting in North America rather than the United Kingdom, the reason being that the Baker serials have proven more popular with American audiences. And while offering somewhat fewer supplemental features than the previous releases, the boxed set is a rare opportunity to own an entire season of Doctor Who at one time. For fans of the series and Baker in particular, The Key to Time: The Complete Adventure is a must-have. --Paul Gaita



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Doctor Who - The Key to Time Collection

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The longest running Sci-Fi program in the history of this universe. The Doctor is a Time Lord who travels the universe for kicks because his planet is the dullest in the universe and Earth is much more fun. Million of fans continue to enjoy this series on many levels, from the fantasy and sci-fi to the tongue in cheek humor.

Release Date: 10/01/2002

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The Key to Time Trailer 

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The Princess Bride

Amazon Spotlight: The Princess Bride 

Screenwriter William Goldman's novel The Princess Bride earned its own loyal audience on the strength of its narrative voice and its gently satirical, hyperbolic spin on swashbuckled adventure that seemed almost purely literary. For all its derring-do and vivid over-the-top characters, the book's joy was dictated as much by the deadpan tone of its narrator and a winking acknowledgement of the clich%uFFFDbeing sent up. Miraculously, director Rob Reiner and Goldman himself managed to visualize this romantic fable while keeping that external voice largely intact: using a storytelling framework, avuncular Grandpa (Peter Falk) gradually seduces his skeptical grandson (Fred Savage) into the absurd, irresistible melodrama of the title story.

And what a story: a lowly stable boy, Westley (Cary Elwes), pledges his love to the beautiful Buttercup (Robin Wright), only to be abducted and reportedly killed by pirates while Buttercup is betrothed to the evil Prince Humperdinck. Even as Buttercup herself is kidnapped by a giant, a scheming criminal mastermind, and a master Spanish swordsman, a mysterious masked pirate (could it be Westley?) follows in pursuit. As they sail toward the Cliffs of Insanity...

The Princess Bride (20th Anniversary Edition)

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The wild and woolly arcs of the story, the sudden twists of fate, and, above all, the cartoon-scaled characters all work because of Goldman's very funny script, Reiner's confident direction, and a terrific cast. Elwes and Wright, both sporting their best English accents, juggle romantic fervor and physical slapstick effortlessly, while supporting roles boast Mandy Patinkin (the swordsman Inigo Montoya), Wallace Shawn (the incredulous schemer Vizzini), and Christopher Guest (evil Count Rugen) with brief but funny cameos from Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, and Peter Cook. --Sam Sutherland

Release Date: 11/13/2007

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The Princess Bride Trailer 

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The Goonies

Amazon Spotlight: The Goonies 

The Goonies

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Following a mysterious treasure map into a spectacular underground realm of twisting passages, outrageous booby-traps and a long-lost pirate ship full of golden dubloons, the kids race to stay one step ahead of a family of bumbling bad guys... and a mild-mannered monster with a face only a mother could love.

Release Date: 08/21/2001

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The Goonies Trailer 

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Amazon Spotlight: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition)

Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 11/22/2009)Buy Now
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Long isolated from his own family, Willy Wonka launches a worldwide contest to select an heir to his candy empire. Five lucky children from around the world, including Charlie Bucket, draw Golden Tickets from Wonka chocolate bars and win a guided tour of the legendary candy making facility that no outsider has seen in 15 years.

Release Date: 11/08/2005

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Trailer 

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The Wizard of OZ

Amazon Spotlight: The Wizard of Oz 

The Wizard of Oz (Three-Disc Collector's Edition)

Amazon Price: (as of 11/22/2009)Buy Now
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When it was released during Hollywood's golden year of 1939, The Wizard of Oz didn't start out as the perennial classic it has since become. The film did respectable business, but it wasn't until its debut on television that this family favorite saw its popularity soar. And while Oz's TV broadcasts are now controlled by media mogul Ted Turner (who owns the rights), the advent of home video has made this lively musical a mainstay in the staple diet of great American films. Young Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland), her dog, Toto, and her three companions on the yellow brick road to Oz--the Tin Man (Jack Haley), the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), and the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger)--have become pop-culture icons and central figures in the legacy of fantasy for children. As the Wicked Witch who covets Dorothy's enchanted ruby slippers, Margaret Hamilton has had the singular honor of scaring the wits out of children for more than six decades. The film's still as fresh, frightening, and funny as it was when first released. It may take some liberal detours from the original story by L. Frank Baum, but it's loyal to the Baum legacy while charting its own course as a spectacular film. Shot in glorious Technicolor, befitting its dynamic production design (Munchkinland alone is a psychedelic explosion of color and decor), The Wizard of Oz may not appeal to every taste as the years go by, but it's required viewing for kids of all ages. --Jeff Shannon

Release Date: 10/25/2005

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The Wizard of Oz Trailer 

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Doctor Dolittle

Amazon Spotlight: Doctor Dolittle 

Doctor Dolittle

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Based (in part) on the magical Hugh Lofting book, it begins in Puddleby-by-the-Marsh, England, from which the world-renowned veterinarian Dolittle (Harrison) begins his quest for a giant pink sea snail. Children should find this enjoyable for its exotic creatures, such as the Pushme-Pullyou. Get ready for the wildest adventure of a lifetime in the most ambitious musical production ever brought to film. Earning a 1967 Academy Award nomination for Best Picture, this dazzling fantasy turns both ordinary and exotic animals into talking, dancing and singing sensations! Rex Harrison is unforgettable in this inspiring adaptation of Hugh Lofting's classic stories. Step into the English country home of the good doctor as he performs remarkable treatments on the wildest variety of patients you could imagine. Discover his secret cures and watch with wide-eyed excitement as he and his four-legged, fine-feathered friends charm their way into your heart!

Release Date: 10/31/2000

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The Only Doctor Dolittle Vid on YouTube 

(Not the movie trailer, but rather a song from the movie)

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The Chronicles of Narnia (The Sliver Chair)

Amazon Spotlight: The Chronicles of Narnia 

Fire breathing dragons, sprightly nymphs, talking animals, evil witches, deadly sea monsters, gruesome giants, kings and queens, a group of brave children and a very special wardrobe collide in an epic battle of good versus evil. Welcome to the enchanted world of Narnia, a mystical land sprung from the mind of legendary author C.S. Lewis. Danger and adventure are always close at hand in Narnia, for the future is under constant threat by dark forces. But not for long. Whispers that sail across the land say only one thing -- Aslan, the great lion, is on the move. The BBC and Home Vision Entertainment proudly present all nine hours of this grand series on DVD for the first time.

The Chronicles of Narnia, a seven-volume, Bible-based children's fantasy series written in the 1950s by British theologian C.S. Lewis, draws young readers into the magical, dangerous land of Narnia and plunges them into the age-old battle of good and evil. Lewis envisioned these stories as pictures before he wrote them, so it seems only proper that the books would eventually make it to the small screen. In the late 1980s and early '90s, three adventures in this series--The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (169 minutes), Prince Caspian and the Voyage of the Dawn Treader (168 minutes), and The Silver Chair (168 minutes)--were faithfully adapted into a TV series by the BBC and Home Vision Entertainment, then edited to feature-length productions. All three of these discs (nine hours of viewing!) are included in this boxed set of DVDs, along with interactive trivia games and more.

The Chronicles of Narnia - (3-Disc Set) - (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe/Prince Caspian & The Voyage of the Dawn Treader/The Silver Chair)

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Youngsters expecting special effects like those found in The Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone may miss the subtler charms of these sweet but rather homespun productions, with humans dressed as woodland creatures and patched-in animation. And kids expecting fast-paced action adventures may snooze after a few hours of these relatively slow-moving scripts. But those who want a refresher course in all things Narnia will be thrilled to see these well-loved fantasies come to life in gorgeous snowy landscapes--the good lion Aslan (played by a large, talking stuffed animal), the horrible White Witch (performed with deliciously over-the-top zeal by actress Barbara Kellerman), the four siblings, fauns, dwarves, deadly sea monsters, and all. --Karin Snelson

Release Date: 08/27/2002

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The Chronicles of Narnia Trailer 

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curated content from YouTube

 

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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Amazon Spotlight: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Full Screen Edition)

Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 11/22/2009)Buy Now
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Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls start your engines. You're about to take an incredible ride with one of the most wonderful family films of all time! Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has never looked or sounded better. Dick Van Dyke stars as eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts, who creates an extraordinary car called Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It not only drives but also flies and floats as it leads him, his two children and his beautiful lady friend, Truly Scrumptious (Sally Ann Howes), into a magical world of pirates, castles and endless adventure. The script was cowritten by Roald Dahl and based on the novel by Ian Fleming, best known for his James Bond adventures.

Release Date: 11/10/1998

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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Child Catcher 

(I couldn't find a movie trailer on YouTube, so here's a scene from the movie instead.)

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The Ewok Adventure

Amazon Spotlight: The Ewok Adventure 

Star Wars Ewok Adventures - Caravan of Courage (aka The Ewok Adventure) / The Battle for Endor

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These movies are light-hearted and fun to watch and because their only connection to the "Star Wars" saga happens outside of these two movies these can be watched without any knowledge of the "Star Wars" storyline and still be enjoyed. These movies are pure fun for young and old and great for a family with children to have an evening of entertainment.

Release Date: 11/23/2004

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Battle For Endor Trailer 

Battle For Endor: Star Wars Ewok adventure

This is a trailer for the Ewok movies Caravan of Courage and Battle for Endor

Runtime: 3:02
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curated content from YouTube

 

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