Time for a new post!
I tended to watch a lot of the same movies over and over when I was a kid, that or whatever happened to be on TV. It wasn’t until I got older that I started to branch off towards other movies and genres. Since I mostly watched animated movies when I was younger, I wanted to focus on what live action movies I adored instead.
Reminder – I was a kid in the 90s and most of the movies are from that decade.
In no particular order:
Jumanji (1995) – Directed by Joe Johnston
When two kids find and play a magical board game, they release a man trapped for decades in it and a host of dangers that can only be stopped by finishing the game.
I absolutely loved this movie as a kid. I thought the concept was so cool; a magical board game that brings animals, people, nature to life and can potentially trap the player it its’ world? Sounds awesome! Plus it has Robin Williams (more on him again later), who nails it as a man who is finally released from the game and uses his know how to help the others playing. Everything is so fun to watch and it leaves you wondering what craziness the game is going to create next. Every dice roll is tense and it all concludes in one mayhem of an ending.
Richie Rich (1994) – Directed by Donald Petrie
A rich young boy finds his family targeted in an inside job and must use his cunning to save them
Macaulay Culkin was a popular lad when I was young, springing up in many kids’ movies. Richie Rich was my favourite to watch by far. I was equally jealous and awed by the stuff Richie owned and could afford in this movie, it all looked so cool. He had his own basketball court, roller coaster, launch pad thing and of course “You have your own McDonalds?!?”. Any kid would dream of having all that stuff, so it was fun to see other kids interact with these things. Behind all that there is a story of poor Richie finding it hard to make real friends his age because of his wealth, a conspiracy for his family to lose his money, an action scene on Mount Rushmore and a pretty cool butler.
Matilda (1996) – Directed by Danny DeVito
Story of a wonderful little girl, who happens to be a genius, and her wonderful teacher vs. the worst parents ever and the worst school principal imaginable.
Matilda was an interesting movie. At one moment things feel very cheery and bright and then suddenly turn dark and gloomy. The movie seemed very kid friendly, but at the same time adult. It is a unique blend that works very well. Ms. Trunchbull definitely scared me a bit as a kid, talk about an imposing woman! While on the other hand, Miss Honey was the sweetest woman ever. It is worth watching this movie alone for a different spin on a kids’ movie, with the light and dark themes. There is a lot of other fun to be had too: Matilda’s magic powers, cake eating scene, breaking into Trunchbull’s house and a great soundtrack!
Small Soldiers (1998) – Directed by Joe Dante
When missile technology is used to enhance toy action figures, the toys soon begin to take their battle programming too seriously.
This movie seemed tailor made for me as a kid. Toys that come to life and are at war with each other?! Sign me up! It was like Toy Story but with a more deadly spin to it. On one side you had the military army toys and on the other you had the monster, nature figures. I haven’t watched this movie in ages, not sure how well it holds up anymore. I remember having so much fun watching this when I was younger and even owned some of the character toy figures! There is one memorable scene with barbie characters too, that is pretty freaky actually.
Hook (1991) – Directed by Steven Speilberg
When Captain Hook kidnaps his children, an adult Peter Pan must return to Neverland and reclaim his youthful spirit in order to challenge his old enemy.
First things first, Steven Spielberg is one of my favourite directors and I am a big fan of a lot of his films. Hook was well loved by me as a kid, definitely something I would watch every year. Peter Pan is a fun story no matter what age, and the twist in this version making Pan an older man (Robin Williams once again) who left Neverland years ago and grew up, only to make a triumphant return! This movie had a great look to it, from the settings and costumes (lost boy stuff especially) and Dustin Hoffman as Hook himself! It was a fun world to be dropped into; I still vividly remember how scary the scorpion scene was for me as a kid. I also need to give a quick shoutout to that lost boys food scene with all the weird coloured grub, and of course, RUFIO!
Heavy Weights (1995) – Directed by Steven Brill
Plump kids are lured into joining a posh fat camp with the promise of quick weight loss and good times, only to find that the facility is a woodland hellhole run by a psycho ex-fitness instructor.
Heavy Weights was a really funny movie, I remember renting it from the convenience store many times. The best part of this movie was Ben Stiller as Tony Perkis, the man in charge of “helping’ the kids lose weight. He is actually insane and over the top in so many ways, he has so many good lines. There are so many funny moments in this movie, and uses the kids’ weight issues in a very tasteful way. It helps that the movie takes place in a camp setting, something most kids want to do themselves or have some interest in. The rivalry the camp has with the bros across the water is fun too, especially when they have a camp competition against each other at the end of the movie. Would be fun to revisit again now that I’m older.
The Mighty Ducks (1992) – Stephen Herek
A self-centered lawyer is sentenced to community service coaching a rag tag youth hockey team.
In reality, I loved all three Mighty Ducks movies (and the animated movie too!). The first entry in the series definitely is the best though, and has the most charm. I played hockey as a kid and it still one of my favourite things ever, so these movies were right up my alley. I really liked how these band of misfits (who each had their respective quirk) were brought together to make a pretty good team and have a bunch of laughs while doing so. I will never forget the likes of the Flying V, the knuckle puck, the bash brothers and of course, QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK!
Trailer *hard to find a good trailer for this surprisingly
Space Jam (1996) – Directed by Joe Pytka
Michael Jordan agrees to help the Looney Toons play a basketball game vs. alien slavers to determine their freedom.
Boy would I have loved to be a fly on the wall when this movie idea was created. Combing Michael Jordan, the NBA, the LOONEY TOONS and a evil alien race. It is such a crazy idea that ends up working so well. The soundtrack for this movie was also better than you would expect, producing some solid tracks. The movie is so random that it’s hard not to love a little bit, and who could forget Bill Murray playing himself?! The actual basketball game between Jordan/Looney Tunes against the aliens (who stole famous NBA players basketball skills) is so fun to watch play out. Also, dat Lola Bunny. Just to clarify, while this movie does have animated characters, for the most part it is live action.
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993) – Directed by Duwayne Dunham
Three pets escape from a California ranch to find their owners in San Francisco.
Homeward Bound was a classic in my home growing up, I remember my whole family having seen it at one time or another. I loved animals as a kid and had two dogs of my own, so the tale of this movie always resonated with me. Three animals who get separated from their family and then go on a crazy adventure to try and find them, all while having their own distinct personalities and dynamic in the family. The movie was funny (the voices by the animals especially), adventurous and very emotional. The last 15 minutes of the movie is a roller coaster of emotions that pays off marvellously. I’m getting chills just thinking about it.
Harriet The Spy (1996) – Directed by Bronwen Hughes
Harriet M. Welsch is a spy. But when Harriet’s friends find her secret notebook the tables are turned on her. Can she win her friends back and still keep on going with the spy business?
My memory is a little foggy on this movie, but I remember watching it very often and always enjoying it. It was a fun movie with some interesting characters (and music). Who doesn’t want to be a spy as a kid and feel like you’re on the cusp of an adventure? This movie does a great job at evoking these day dreams while evoking fun and the importance of friendship. I remember this movie being very colourful at times too, which was pleasing as a kid. I’m thinking now that I probably had a crush on Harriet too.
There you have it! Watched these movies so many times as a kid. Like my picks or have any favourites? Leave a comment and let me know!
Jarthurdoyle 