Okay, so my oldest is ten, going on 20. He's been moody and rebellious. He is about ready to hit that next stage in his life. So I am wondering, what are those flicks that a tweener should see? What were the instrumental movies of your just-about-to-go-to-middle-school-life? I keep looking for lists, but anything out there seems towards the idea of keeping kids sheltered rather than giving them the stories they can relate to as they start to grow up.
So what have you got for me?
_________________ Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons because, to them, you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
Napolean Dynamite Better off Dead Ferris Buellar Holy Grail To Kill a Mockingbird Wayne's World Raider's Adventures in Babysitting The Karate Kid Rocky Jaws Planet of the Apes The Princess Bride Dracula Frankenstein Wolf Man
I want to recommend a movie I saw at about that age, but it's highly inappropriate for that age group.
A Clockwork Orange.
If for nothing else, the style of it. It was probably the first movie that made me believe that classic music could be really cool. While I don't have any real love for classic music beyond a few pieces, it was probably responsible for me thinking of it as being something more than stuffy old music for old people.
But I'm not sure how I would have reacted to it if my dad had sat me down and made me watch it. Part of the fun was watching it with my older brother late at night, while my parents were likely ignorant of the fact.
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I think that's about the age where a child should be allowed to explore more adult content. I wouldn't make them watch anything, but given them nearly unfettered access to the world of R-rated movies and maybe tossing out the odd "you should check out The Godfather" suggestion.
They may not be ready or interested in all of it, but it's time to start encouraging more adult fair in their entertainment. Give them the keys to the DVD cabinet and encourage them to explore.
_________________ I reserve the right to be spectacularly wrong.
My father "made" me see The Godfather in the theater at the age of 11. He wanted me to know that real criminals existed in this world (not just the corny fake ones on TV).
I think I was about 11 when my dad started inviting me along to whatever movie he wanted to see. I put up a fight not to watch Raiders Of The Lost Ark, loved it, and I think I always said yes after that. I was always happy when there was nudity in them, which, sadly, was rare.
_________________ I reserve the right to be spectacularly wrong.
A Few Good Men We Were Soldiers (violent) Rudy LOTR Uncle Buck Raiders The Dark Knight 310 to Yuma (the recent one, not the Glenn Campbell one) True Grit (the recent one with Jeff Bridges) Catch Me if You Can
When I was 10, I saw my first two "non kids" movies. They were "What's Up Doc?" & "Young Frankenstein".
One of the first movies I saw at the theater was Airport '75 (which came out in 1974, oddly enough). They showed a trailer for What's Up Doc when we where there (I don't know, maybe it was a rerelease or something, I don't know). I was convinced that Bugs Bunny was somehow involved.
I think that's about the age where a child should be allowed to explore more adult content. I wouldn't make them watch anything, but given them nearly unfettered access to the world of R-rated movies and maybe tossing out the odd "you should check out The Godfather" suggestion.
They may not be ready or interested in all of it, but it's time to start encouraging more adult fair in their entertainment. Give them the keys to the DVD cabinet and encourage them to explore.
I have to disagree 10 is too young for "R" rated fare. No need to go rushing forward so fast. I waited until my son was 14 before he saw some of the Moore adult PG13 stuff, and R at 16.
Ten is about where I started exploring them behind my parent's backs. It would be another couple of years before my dad was taking me to R-rated movies.
But we had HBO and my dad didn't exactly police that too carefully. I don't think he encouraged to watch Porky's, but at the age of 12 or 13, I most certainly did. He did get me reading Stephen King novels at the age of 13.
_________________ I reserve the right to be spectacularly wrong.
Well, he's moody and rebellious and I'm imagining you want him to see some "what it means to be a MAN" type movies? I'm going to assume he's seen some of the more fantastic fare that has good messages like Spider-Man (great power, great responsibility) and Iron Man (more to life than bitches and money)... hmm.
It's tough for me to get a good feel for what would be good for that age that's got enough mature elements to be a change from comic book fantasy and space adventure type stuff without being too much for a ten year old (and not neccessarily even 'adult' content, just stuff that would either be boring or go over their heads a little).
Would Shawshank Redemption be appropriate for that age? I think it's a great tale of friendship and perseverance with an important uncurrent of "authority is to be respected but not blindly trusted". If you think the war scenes aren't too intense, I think Saving Private Ryan could be a good one... Unforgiven has a lot of really good "man" messages in it, as does the recent True Grit. To Kill a Mockingbird is pretty solid but it might fall in the "old balls" category for him since it's in black and white.
Obviously, Braveheart is a classic choice. I also thought Cinderella Man was highly unerrated and is a wonderful tale of perservering for your family (I need to rewatch that one again soon)... and since we're talking boxing, the first three Rocky films are great fun. I'm not sure what his attention span is like, so the first two might be a bit slow, but you can always hook him with Rocky III, since it's got a bit more of an "action movie" approach in pacing.
Oh, and Mystic River is pretty damn great. A Beautiful Mind is a good story about overcoming illness to still go on and be great... can't go wrong with The Blind Side either. Actually, a lot of sports films are pretty solid -- you've got Rudy, Invincible, The Natural, Field of Dreams, Million Dollar Baby, Karate Kid... plus, Teen Wolf. Who doesn't love Teen Wolf? (Assholes, that's who.)
Also, and it might seem fruity to guys who haven't seen it here, but I watched a movie that just came to DVD recently called Mao's Last Dancer, about this dancer who grew up in China and defected to the US. I got it from Redbbox for Diana since she loves dance but it's a really powerful look at how people in China live and should give him an appreciation for being in the US. After being given lavish gifts by the dance director, he says, "My father worked so hard just to make $50 in one year... here, you waste more than $100 in one afternoon." Also, Hotel Rwanda is good for that as well (although it's pretty disturbing to think about).
Anyway, out of the ones I recommended, start with Teen Wolf. "These waves are MINE." Epic.
Also, you should randomly play Rocky's speech to his son from Rocky Balboa from time to time while making direct and uncomfortable eye contact with him.
Or you could just memorize it and act like you made it all up in your head, on the spot.
Rocky Balboa wrote:
Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life.
But it ain't about how hard you hit.
It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward.
That's how winning is done!
Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody.
Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that.
I'm always gonna love you, no matter what. No matter what happens. You're my son, you're my blood. You're the best thing in my life. But until you start believing in yourself, you ain't gonna have a life.
I was also about 10 the first time I discovered A Clockwork Orange. I turned out fine, but I think I will leave that as one for Cam to find as his own just as I did. LOL
_________________ Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons because, to them, you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
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