Top Five G-rated Films
Despite the increase of violence and innuendo in today’s films, the Motion Picture Association of America (MCAA) can usually pass anything off as PG-13. Many conservative parents believe that PG-13 is the new R, and therefore PG has become the new G. Many of the PG rated films released today have little violence, hardly any reference to sex, and, with the exception of a few sprinkles of the d-word and the h-word, no profanity. Therefore, anything that the MCAA dares to label with the G-rating would probably need to be no violence, no sex, no profanity, and (unfortunately) no audience.
Fortunately, G-rated movies are still being made, because movie factories know there is a large audience full of kids, as well as parents who do not want their children to be exposed to any objectionable material. Since these G-rated films are so targeted, watching a G-rated film may be fun for a child, but torture to an adult. However, I have discovered five great films that both the children and the adults can enjoy, and are completely G-rated.
1. Toy Story (1995)
Anytime a new medium is created, the first attempt is usually awkward at best. However, the very first foray into 3-D, computer generated animation managed to produce one of the best films of all time, and launched a new age of CG filmmaking that is here to stay. Not only is this film a colorful, visual delight, but its story would have worked no matter what medium. After all, what child doesn’t believe that toys have their own little world that begins every time he or she leaves the room? Not only that, there is an excellent, and non-preachy moral about overcoming jealousy. Woody, the main character learns to rise above his envy over Buzz Lightyear in order to do the right thing and embrace friendship. Disney/Pixar recently released a 10th anniversary edition of this DVD, but it will no doubt be re-released again and again.
2. The Muppet Movie (1979)
This film is one of the few times in which a television show successfully makes a leap to the big screen, especially when the film is completely different from the show. In this case, the most famous puppet variety show turns into a hilarious road movie about how the Muppets got together. Kermit stars as the frog who follows a dream of making “millions of people happy,” and hits the road to Hollywood where he meets Fozzie, Gonzo, Rolf, and love interest Miss Piggy. I’m not certain why the songs from this film are not as remembered as those from other musicals, but “Moving Right Along”, “Can You Picture That”, and “The Rainbow Connection” simply won’t leave my head. The Muppets have switched owners more than a used car, but they are back in Disney’s care, who has recently re-released this classic on DVD.
3. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Even though this film is over a half-century old, I am very glad that no one has ever decided to remake this timeless classic. After all, it isn’t broke, so why try to fix it? In this case, this film is darn near perfect even though the special effects look lousy and the dialogue is ridiculous. Yet the adventures of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion will be watched by your children’s children. This film is so much of classic that practically every moment is immortalized, from the black and white beginnings in Kansas, to the Munchkins, to the Yellow Brick Road, to the Emerald City, to the Great and Powerful Oz, to the Wicked Witch of the West. Not only that, all of the songs are golden, and its message of “there’s no place like home” equally timeless. I believed that MGM was responsible for this film back in 1939, but Warner Brothers is responsible for putting the DVD in the stores.
4. The Lion King (1994)
Passing the torch, acceptance of responsibility and fortune favors the brave are just a few of the many themes of this masterpiece. Humor and drama combine to create a colorful, wonderful story about how young Simba must face his past and embrace his future as his evil uncle tries to take the kingdom away. This film embraces very dark themes generally swept aside by most “kid’s films”, not shying away from showing the pain of the death of a loved one. This film also took a bold step by introducing the concept of “The Circle of Life”, and theme that seems to fit no matter what you believe. Even though no human is in this cast, there is something that speaks to all of humanity in one of Disney’s last great 2-D animated films. This film was recently re-released onto DVD for the first time as a special edition a few years ago.
5. Chicken Run (2000)
There have been very few claymation films that have been up to the quality of Peter Lord and Nick Park’s feature-length film. The premise is the same as the famed WWII films such as “The Great Escape” and “Stalag 17”, but the cast is all chickens. Ginger the hen envisions freedom for her friends from a death camp ran by the evil Tweedys . Hiliarity ensues as she puts her trust in a rooster named Rocky, a fraud tries to teach them to fly out. A word of warning to parents: this film does not hold back at showing the horrors of an Auschwitz-style prison. However, the film shows what happens when hope sprouts wings, and this film becomes quite a delight, probably more to parents than kids. This film should be available wherever you buy DVDs.
