One of my favourite podcasts, The Rewatchables, which dissects rewatchable films with a great sense of humour and interesting details, was looking back at Stand By Me the other day.
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The 1986 Rob Reiner classic was based on a Stephen King short story, The Body, and followed four young boys as they went off on a hike to find the dead body of a missing boy.
It starred Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell and River Phoenix; it was nominated for an Academy Award for best adapted screenplay and two Golden Globes.
It was a fabulous film, I remember seeing it in the cinemas (remember those), a look at friendships set in a different time and place. Even Stephen King says it's the best movie based on one of his works.
During the podcast it was mentioned that Stand By Me is one film to be set aside to share with your own children once they're old enough. I agree. And it's remiss of me that I haven't sat my own down to watch it.
It got me to thinking what other films should I put on that list. Here's some to start with.
Princess Bride (1987)
Handsome farmhand Westley heads off to rescue his true love Buttercup from the evil clutches of Prince Humperdink. Along the way there are pirates, sword fighting, giants, witches, cliffs of insanity and a soundtrack from Dire Strait's Mark Knopfler. Who could ask for anything more? The Princess Bride (Reiner was the director here too) is a cult classic for a reason. It's inconceivable that the kids wouldn't love this film.
Babe (1995)
That'll do pig, that'll do. If you weren't crying by this stage you have no soul. This is the story of Babe, a little pig who thinks he's a sheep dog, teaching us all about good manners and love and what really makes a family. The special effects were great, the animals believable and James Cromwell and Madga Szubanski as Arthur and Esme Hoggett were well cast. Sometimes you just need to watch something nice.
ET (1982)
Steven Spielberg's classic is about a boy who befriends an alien he finds in the back shed. Considered to be one of the greatest films of all time, the shot of them riding the bicycle across the full moon is etched into all our hearts. The kids should still love this one, the excitement of the unknown, the exploration of family and friendship, overcoming differences. It's worth watching with them even just to see little Drew Barrymore.
Star Wars (1977)
I'm going with the first one, which became the fourth one, because it set the standard for what was to come over the next four decades. We're introduced to Luke and Leia, R2-D2 and C-3PO, Han and Chewie. We get inside the Death Star with Darth Vader, fly the Millennium Falcon, zip around in X Wings. It was 1977, people, the world had seen nothing like this film. And what a legacy it left. Some of the following films left a little to be desired - Jar Jar Binks anyone? - but if your heart didn't break when Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford were reunited in The Force Awakens then who are you?
Jumanji (1995)
Plenty of board games have been dragged out of the cupboard during COVID so this Robin Williams classic might give the kids something to think about. In 1969 a young boy, Alan Parrish, gets trapped inside the game and years later a couple of kids stumble across it and release him, but then they have to finish the game to set things straight. Mischief ensues. And lots of darkness really when you look at it. You can't help but worry when you hear those drumbeats. I didn't mind the follow-ups starring Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black and Kevin Hart, either.
Matilda (1996)
Based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name, this little sleeper is a beautiful film. Starring Mara Wilson, Danny deVito and Rhea Perlman, it's the story of a bright little girl with some special powers dealing with neglectful parents and the evil Miss Trunchbull, the school principal. There's magic and mayhem and again the discussion of what makes a family at its core. The kids might compare you to the Wormwoods but that's okay.
Jaws (1975)
Would you show this movie to your kids? Teenagers, sure. It will turn them off beach parties in the dark for ever, but pre-teens? Go on, I dare you. Sure, there's blood and gore and drinking and swearing but Jaws is one of the best movies ever made and everyone should see it. Is it really any worse than letting them watch Shark Week on Foxtel? It might be as close as we'll get to a beach holiday for a long time.