Once upon a silver screen... Review on Five Best Hollywood Children's Films

First off, there are too many great kids' flicks out there for me to stick to the top five - so I am going to include five more. Be warned that these are not teen flicks or coming of age flicks. these are purely childrens' movies in the narrowest sense of the phrase.

DISCLAIMER:

These are movies I have personally watched, and they therefore are the best amongst what I have watched. There may be many more and many better, but to these I cannot testify.

The numbers do not signify any particular ranking, they are all good.

And lots of them...okay, almost all of them are animated. So sue me.

1. The Lion King

For entertainment and pathos, and love and courage, and all the fine things in life.

For the loveliest, most uplifting musical score, and the nicest cartoon characters in a coupla decades.

For Timon, Pumbaa and Simba - and ESPECIALLY for Timon;

A toast to the Lion King.

1. Hakuna Matata - Lion King III

Brilliant characterization, a slapstick take on the venerable Lion King, and an all out comedy. This one is dammit funny, do watch it.

Here I'd like to say, please avoid Simba's Pride - Lion King II, it is amazingly boring, really.

1. Finding Nemo.

Because Nemo was small and adorable, and his dad was an amazingly familiar type. ( Appa are you reading?)

Because the animation was mind blowing, and the characterization was perfect.

But mostly because of Dorrie, she was the best part of the movie!!

Her dialogues were perfect, and she was a wonderful friend....

1. The Parent Trap

Yes, I can almost hear you groaning. I know its the same old tired twins-separated-get-back-together story. I know its ghisa - pita. I know.

But I still include this movie, because of the following reasons:

1. Once upon an ancient time, Lindsay Lohan was appealing.

   
   




2. I'm a sucker for happy endings.

   
   

But mostly because I'm a sucker for happy endings!

1. Shrek

Because of Donkey. Oh that Eddie Murphy!

Because I loved its sad background score when Shrek thought Fiona hated him for being an ogre.

Because of the general story, it was out-of-the-box.

And because of Shrek, really.

Sometimes in life we all feel unwanted and ugly. At some point or the other, we are all Shrek.

1. Shrek 2

I know I'm fairly alone on this one, not many people liked this saucy continuation to a, in their opinions, neatly and perfectly sewn up love story.

But I thought it was perfect, like the masala on plain dahi chaat!

Like the chilli flakes on a margharita pizza!

Like pepper papad with curd rice.......

I loved the movie because:

1. Of the deliciously evil Fairy Godmother - who woulda thought of one like her?

   
   




2. of the wierd take on the traditional fairy tale characters - did you know Pinochhio wears thongs??

   
   




3. Of Fiona's dad. I despised him till the end, until he revealed his secret.

   
   




4. Home Alone 1, 2 and 3. And 4.

   
   

I rest my case. I dare any of you to find me someone who hasnt heard of these!

home Alone 1 is perfect, Home Alone 2 was brilliant too, Home Alone 3 was slightly stale, and Home Alone 4 was something else again - I was getting sorta tired of Macaulay Culkin.

The only thing I find not so great is the constant burning of hair and the stepping on OUCH! sharp stuff, and ironing of faces......

1. Why the Grinch Stole Christmas.

I used to watch this classic every Christmas, right from when I was 3 to 7, and watch, unbelievingly, and the evil Grinch wrapped up all the toys in his evil little bag, with an evil little grin, and slink quietly and evilly out of windows.......

An innocent and lovely Christmas story.

1. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.

I love this 1940s Disney classic because of its wonderfully drawn, evocative, gentle and so appealingly drawn characters. For the happy songs and the irresistible Grumpy dwarf :D

1. And yours?