I saw this movie today for the first time in...oh, ten years. It's amazing how much children's movies generally suck.

Anyone remember this?

The Pagemaster

I owned it. I also had the SNES game.

Today I bought The Witches, starring Anjelica Huston. Jim Henson made those witches look scary. The human-to-mouse transformation was creepy too.

Rocky 3 was on TV today. I got a little teary-eyed.

Wow. I used to love that movie. I remember watching it at my grandparents' house.

The majority of the movies I remember watching from my childhood are Disney flicks. I mostly watched TV, so my love for Nickelodeon (at least the Nick that was existent when I was younger) is overwhelming. But, even back then, I was really into scary movies. Are You Afraid of the Dark? was my favorite Nick show, and I tried to watch as many horror movies on TV as I could.

I found the book in my closet the other day and reread it. It was still good.

rachel, you stole the words from me mouth: put that movie away and go read the roald dahl book. and read "the bfg" while you're at it.

(Edited by smee at 10:21 am on Apr. 4, 2004)

Return to Oz rocked me as a child. Dorothy returns from her journey to Oz only to have Uncle Henry and Auntie Em think she's gone crazy and order her to undergo shock treatment. Brilliant. This movie frightened and fascinated me as a young child.

Troop Beverly Hills ruled, too.

i loved the bfg, but the witches was my favorite book and movie when i was a kid. it scared the shit out of me and i loved it.
related note: i almost stepped on a dead mouse on friday.

Good God that's creepy. I am watching Return to Oz right now! Well, it's actually on pause, but nevertheless. My favorite part is when they are on the Gnome King's Mountain and Tick Tock says, "Mmmmm, the Gnome King." And then for no reason, he falls over.
More great children's movies are Labyrinth, the Dark Crystal, the Ewok movies. No, not the Return of the Jedi, but The Ewok Adventure and it's sequel Ewoks:The Battle for Endor starring Wilford Brimley. I won't go into how great these movies are, but if you want endless hours of entertainment, you need to watch these.
There was also a movie about those lovable guys from Topps Trading cards The Garbage Pail Kids Movie starring Anthony Newley and Mackenzine Astin (yep, Sean "Goonie" Astin's little brother who was on the Facts of Life). Now that's a flick for all times. Has anyone seen this movie? I will be shocked if anyone else has.

"Stick it up ya."

come on guys, you are forgetting the best one of all. The Neverending Story. Atreyu used to be my hero

I've watched that more times than I might care to admit. My sister and I used to watch that and the movie where Tony Danza is a father and he has two daughters. The oldest gets rid of her braces, glasses, etc and becomes amazingly cute. Yeah, I saw that a lot.

(Edited by richarddawson at 3:00 pm on Apr. 4, 2004)

Don't worry, I can almost guarantee that I've seen Troop Beverly Hills more times than you have. I can quote large parts of it. I saw it recently actually.

Oh yeah the Tony Danza movie..."She's Out of Control." I saw that a lot, too. At least the guy who played Bobby in Twin Peaks was on it. That makes it cooler, right?

There is no way in hell I could forget that movie. But the sequels are terrible. I saw the third one the other day and Jack Black playing one of the "Meanies" with the unibrow going on had me howling. But poor Jonathan Brandis in the second one! At least he gave one hell of a performance in It. Barret Oliver, where are you now?

"Is he a nutcase?"

Let's not forget Jonathan Brandis's best role though, the karate kid with asthma in Sidekicks. Man when I was like 11 Chuck Norris kicked ass.

Don't forget that the girl who "becomes" cute in She's Out of Control is none other than Mickey "Monkee" Dolenz's daughter Ami. Her movie credits include one of my favorites, Can't Buy Me Love (Give it up for Patrick Dempsey) and Demolition University with Corey Haim which I believe was a straight to video release.

"It's the African Ant-Eater Ritual!"

Are you forgetting Ladybugs with Rodney Dangerfield and Stepfather 2? It wouldn't shock me if you did forget.

"Dream, dream, dream."

I've definitely seen Ladybugs, Stepfather 2 no. Here's one for you, what about as the teen computer whiz on Seaquest DSV?

all this talk of jonathan brandis is making me teary-eyed. but "ladybugs" would be ranked as one of my favorite childhood flicks.

my absolute favorite was "d2: the mighty ducks." i liked the other two as well. "the sandlot," "the goonies," and "homeward bound" were also pretty high on the list.

Beautiful. Brandis should also be remembered for Ride with the Devil and The Year the Earth Trembled, those movies are right up there with his GUEST appearance on Full House as DJ's boyfriend for at least two episodes.

"You killed my brother George you bastard. Let's see you now. Let's see you now."

i don't know about you guys, but sometimes i just sit around and think "man i know way too much useless shit"

I think that too, but what the hell. It's very entertaining. I think Return to Oz has been paused too long. Time to go get creeped out by Jean Marsh as Mombee(she always plays convincing bitches-Willow for example as Queen Bavmorda).
Oh and one more Jonathan Brandis thing. He is one of my heroes for always playing the kid with asthma, oh wait, wait, wait, he didn't have asthma in It. My bad. Since I have asthma, I am always on the look out for asthmatics in the movies and tv.

"Nothing like a good pull on the old lung sucker."

I've been trying to think of my favorite childhood movies, and I keep drawing a blank. "Return to Oz' is definitely one, though. I may even rent it sometime soon since it has now been so long.

I loved Neverending Story, especially the theme song. Land Before Time was a fave too.

Speaking of the Neverending Story, we finally figured out what Bastian names the Childlike Empress at the end and it just doesn't sound right. According to the "script" and other countless resources I have delved through, he names her "Moonchild." It just doesn't sound like that is what he is saying though.
"Nothing matters." "That's not true, if it didn't really matter you would tell me."

(Edited by BittersweetMe at 8:07 pm on Apr. 18, 2004)

i watched the sandlot the other day on channel 35, all the way through. definitely a favorite.
my other favorites include an american tale and the original parent trap.

annie herman, boy-yo-yoing.

"I coupon clipped your way through law school, so that you could make a difference in this world...not become Nefler the muffler man!!!"

(Edited by etcetera at 8:27 pm on Apr. 4, 2004)

Yes, that's been kind of bothering me lately. I feel like I know a little about a lot, but not a whole lot about one specific thing. I could be wrong. oh well

Now that is a great movie. I used to rent it and bring it to my grandma's house when I would go and visit. I always found the washing machine debacle hilarious.

This is one of my favorite topics.

I loved Withces so much that when my local video store went out of business a long time ago, I bought it from them and still have the copy. I also bought Return to Oz from the same store. Return to Oz was one of my favorite childhood movies. The Wheelers are terrifying. I always wished lunch pail trees existed.

Other favorite childhood films:

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Marry Poppins, Freaky Friday, Parent Trap, Neverending Story, Wizard of Oz, Labyrinth, Dark Crystal, Strawberry Shortcake in Big Apple City, Rainbow Brite and the Starstealer, Hugga Bunch, Pete's Dragon, Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass (1985), etc...

I also used to watch some movies the typical 4-5 year old didn't watch, such as Gone with the Wind, White Christmas, Till the Clouds Roll By, The Music Man, Sound of Music, and basically any other musical.

(Edited by Sexy Sadie at 11:07 am on Apr. 5, 2004)

I watched Neverending Story today and I forgot how great it was. The theme song is fantastic. I'll have to go and find that now. Another great one that I found is Lucas. I am finding movies to show my students this week. We have already seen Willy Wonka (BEST EVER), The Princess Bride(another classic), and Willow (AMAZING). Any more ideas. Star Wars was actually shut down. Stupid kids. When will they learn?

Um...what do you teach again? Film criticism? Didn't you say you taught 7th graders?

Just kidding. I am a teacher too and am so feeling the end of year slump/bug/whatever at this point. My drive to finish our current lit. crit./ "research" paper is forever punctuated by my drive to just analyze Edward Scissorhands for a week and been done with it.

I feel like a kid teaching kids sometimes!

I would love to teach Film Criticism but I teach seventh graders. We are having the CRCT next week and cannot teach any curriculum, so everyone is showing movies. Edward Scissorhands sounds great but I think it's rated PG 13. I have to keep it clean. What do you teach?

English (9th grade honors) and remedial reading. They're trying to keep me away from the average kids, I guess.

I recently purchased The Witches and yet another variation of Wind in the Willow. I can't get enough of that Mr. Toad.

favorite films as a kid:

all the john hughes movies (especially "sixteen candles" and "pretty in pink")
"g.i. joe: the movie"
"clue"
"the neverending story"
"help!"
"spaceballs"

The Never ending story was just the best I remember I had a crush on Sebastian. lol We used to sit in the pods at Howard Elem. and watch those movies. I used to wish I had a huge flying dog man those were the days.

"Time Bandits" man, "Time Bandits".

um, youre too old to be in this conversation

that piehole of yours? Shut it... TIme Bandits rules

I remember watching the never ending story at Howard Elem. It was great. Has anybody ever watched the christmas toy? its a jim henson movie Here


Or check it out
.here

That was my fav christmas movie, but i dont know of anyone who has ever seen it

(Edited by martyne13 at 4:39 pm on Apr. 23, 2004)

you went to Howard too? weird. that's at least four members of this board that did.

That one always sort of freaked me out.

I remember seeing it when it originally aired, and I've wanted to see it again, but I never have.

HA! youre old too!!!

I thought that was a given....

grrrr


(Edited by Peace Frog at 8:28 pm on Apr. 23, 2004)

I totally remember that movie! I remember watching it when I sprained my ankle as a kid. I used to try to sneak into my room so I could catch my stuffed animals talking like in the movie.

I still have yet to watch The Witches but I loved the book as a child. I was also very pissed when I found out that my county had banned the books from the shelves of the public library. This was my first taste of religious fervor and ignorance leading to assanine outcomes.

seen it .....i own it!

That's wonderful. What ever happened to Mackenzie Astin or that girl who played Tangerine?

favorite childhood films would inculde the following

willow
spaceballs
dark crystal
legend
labrynth
wizard of oz
return to oz
the monster squad
singing in the rain
princess bride
alice in wonderland
the little spies (does anyone remember this one?)
not quite human
short circuit
batteries not included
indiana jones trilogy
the goonies

and of course Star Wars

YES! You have no idea how many times I've wanted to reference that movie, but couldn't because nobody would know what I was talking about. I absolutely must make a Wendell joke next time I see you.

"My mom made it."
-Wendell



In searching for this on imdb I found another movie that I used to watch a lot called Konrad. It was about sort of prefabricated child. Good stuff.

(Edited by damon at 9:27 am on May. 19, 2004)

Damon is the authority of childhood movies and the only person that I can quote Heavyweights to. I read the other day that Jason Schwartzman is a fan of this fine film as well. We are in good company.

personally, i am a big fan of pippy long stockings. i think i had the 1985 TV version. i watched that movie about everyday. its wonderful.

Pippy Longstockings is choice. I always wanted to play the game where your feet can't touch the ground. Gold coins are nice too.

I always wanted to strap those scrub brushes to my feet and skate around while helping my mom clean. Having a horse would have been cool, too.

I once had a birthday party where we all went to see Pippy. Can't be bothered to even remember what year that was.

Has anybody else seen Condorman...'cause that was a nice childhood flick for me. And I use the term 'nice' rather loosely.

I really liked that Pippy Longstocking movie. Remember when the kids went swimming in the lake in their knickers? I am showing my students "Little Monsters" with America's treaure, Howie Mandel. Whatever happened to him?

"Boy wanted to play with him."
"Why doesn't Boy just play with himself?"

I see your husband's influence is starting to take effect.

I used to have about half of that movie on vhs. I think I ran out of tape, which sucked. Come to think of it, I own bit and pieces of several movies. Needless to say, it sucks to sit down and start watching something only to have it end part of the way through.

He said he hasn't seen it, but maybe you have since it's Disney and all.

Pete's Dragon and Neverending Story are my two alltime faves. Well, not alltime. Childhood alltime, you know what I mean. And the He-Man/She-Ra animated movie was bitching, as was the Transformers movie. And the G.I. Joe movie. Hell, I just like big, shiny cartoons is all.

Ooh, something shiny over there, gotta go....

/vanishes

Pete's Dragon was great. Mickey Rooney was drunk the entire time, I think.

"We've got a bill of sale right here that says he belongs to us."
-the Gogans

Yes, I love Pete's Dragon. It's wonderful. I had it on tape right before Alice in Wonderland, and I used to watch them in a row all the time.

I forgot about Pippy Longstockings. I think I probably couldn't bear to watch it now even though I loved it so much then.

(Edited by Sexy Sadie at 2:32 pm on May. 25, 2004)

Which Alice in Wonderland did you have? I have the Disney version and this version that was a series in the 80's with real people like Beau Bridges, Pat Morita, John Stamos, Sally Struthers, Sherman Hemsley etc. Has anyone seen this? It was actually a two-parter, one was Alice in Wonderland and the second part was Alice through the Looking Glass and it had the Jaberwocky in it that scared me to death.

The live action Alice is a very good movie to trip to. I've heard.

I randomly chose words to quote here, but Sexy Sadie and I have discussed this many times. The Jaberwocky was indeed scary.

I loved some of the live-action Disney movies like "Swiss Family Robinson" and "The Parent Trap." "Pete's Dragon" was utterly fantastic.

There was Duck Tales movie with a genie that I loved as well.

Exactly. Ray Davies doesn't like "Swiss Family Robinson", and I have a problem with that. And, of course, The Parent Trap is one of my favorite movies ever...along with Freaky Friday. I think I may have mentioned these already.

Oh, and yes, Bittersweetme... when referring to the tape I have of Pete's Dragon, I have the Disney Alice in Wonderland taped after it. However, I have the 1985 Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass all on one tape that I taped off of TV when it came on. Damon and I started watching it a few weeks ago but didn't get to finish it. You are welcome to watch it with us.

I know you are saying, "How old is this topic?" But anyway, I'm looking for a random kids movie, actually a cartoon from the 80's. It's called "The Fantastic Adventures of Unico." I have it's sequel but have been unable to find it. Anyone heard of it or seen it around? Oh, another wonderful movie for everyone "Lucas."

That's because he's a wanker. I mean, how can you not like that movie? They live in a damn tree house and ride wild animal around. And I don't mind telling you that there was some three way action going on behind the scenes. Four way if the monkey got involved. Anyways, Asian pirates are cool as hell.

i just dont like "swiss family robinson". i can't help it.

I always felt bad for Lucas because I knew he would never score.

Has anybody else seen Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller? That movie was sweet. I recently learned that Rufus Wainwright wrote and performed a song in it. He was gay even in 1988. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

at least he got the standard 80's film round of applause from his fellow students at the end of the film.

He got the round of applause AND finally realized that Rena (Winona Ryder) loved him!!!
"Do you know how wonderful you are?"
"Yeah, but it doesn't turn you on."

man, what a great topic.
I'm kind of weird, and all of the "childhood movies" here, i never watched until i wasn't a child anymore. I saw the witches for the first time like a week ago and it was fucking scary. laberynth scared the hell out of me when I was little so I couldn't appreciate its joy until years later.

my favorite movies as a kid were "footloose" and "girls just want to have fun"

pete's dragon, an american tale, and the land before time all made me cry for hours on end. I refuse to watch any of them to this day.

the disney version of robin hood has always been a favorite of mine.

I guess some of these so-called childhood movies aren't for children after all. Maybe these movies are why I'm so messed up. I mean, the Gremlins scared me to death as a child and I guess that is considered a family film. (My dad caught hell for taking me to see that. I swear to God that after I saw that movie, I imagined that gremlins were everywhere.) There was also a scene in Legend that scared me, when the witch goblin thing jumps out of the water near the end, good God!!!