Want to find the best international, classic or unusual movies for kids? We've carefully assembled a list of films on DVD that have played the New York Int'l Children's Film Festival, as well as some of our own favorites! Even better: Every DVD you buy through this site helps make us rich. Not Bill Gates rich. Just “not-in-spiraling-amounts-of-debt” rich. Ka-ching!
Tales of the Night
Age Recommendation: 8+ Director: Michel Ocelot
From the imagination of internationally renowned animator Michel Ocelot (Kirikou and the Sorceress, Azur & Asmar) comes a magical and visually stunning new film, delighting kids, families and animation fans of all ages. Silhouetted characters are set off against exquisitely detailed...
From the imagination of internationally renowned animator Michel Ocelot (Kirikou and the Sorceress, Azur & Asmar) comes a magical and visually stunning new film, delighting kids, families and animation fans of all ages. Silhouetted characters are set off against exquisitely detailed Day-Glo backgrounds bursting with color and kaleidoscopic patterns, as the film weaves together six exotic fables each unfolding in a unique locale, from Tibet, to medieval Europe, and even the Land of the Dead. In Ocelot's celebrated storytelling, history blends with fairytale as viewers are whisked off to visit enchanted lands full of dragons, shape-shifting werewolves, captive princesses, and enormous talking bees - and each fable ends with its own ironic twist.
"Michel Ocelot's ravishing animation and magical storytelling are a delight from start to finish!" - Empire
Age Recommendation: 6 to Adult Director: Michel Ocelot
Azur & Asmar is a poetic, fairytale-like story set within a shimmering landscape of incomparable brilliance and beauty. Audiences and critics have been unanimous in their outpouring of praise for the film...
Azur & Asmar is a poetic, fairytale-like story set within a shimmering landscape of incomparable brilliance and beauty. Audiences and critics have been unanimous in their outpouring of praise for the film: "Quite simply, it's a visual masterpiece that combines cutouts with CGI and the mesmeric beauty of Islamic art to create a magical world, in which scarlet lions with blues claws and birds with rainbow wings stand between the blonde Azur and Asmar, the estranged Arab friend of his childhood." Empire Magazine, "Beautiful!" New York Times, "Mesmerizing! Dazzling! A Feast for the Eyes!" Seattle Times, "Five Stars! Absolutely gorgeous!" Time Out New York, "Impossibly Gorgeous! The year's most beautiful animated film!" Salon, "Sheer Dazzlement! Cinema whose every frame could be hung on an art gallery wall!" Financial Times, "Is it too early to announce the most beautiful film of 2009? It's hard to imagine a more transporting cinematic experience coming our way than this animated feature from the French writer-director Michel Ocelot." Chicago Tribune.
Academy Award Nominee - Best Animated Feature! Magic, fantasy, and Celtic mythology come together in a riot of color and detail that dazzle the eyes, in a sweeping story about the power of imagination and faith to carry humanity through dark times...
Academy Award Nominee - Best Animated Feature! Magic, fantasy, and Celtic mythology come together in a riot of color and detail that dazzle the eyes, in a sweeping story about the power of imagination and faith to carry humanity through dark times. Young Brendan lives in a remote medieval outpost under siege from barbarian raids. But a new life of adventure beckons when a celebrated master illuminator arrives from foreign lands carrying an ancient but unfinished book, brimming with secret wisdom and powers. To help complete the magical book, Brendan has to overcome his deepest fears and venture into the enchanted forest where mythical creatures hide. It is here that he meets the fairy Aisling, a mysterious young wolf-girl, who helps him fulfill his dangerous quest.
"A magical adventure unlike anything we've seen before."- USA Today "Critics Pick! Extraordinary!" - AO Scott, New York Times "Four Stars! Ravishing! Magical! Glorious!” - Kenneth Turan, LA Times "One of the most beautiful works of animation ever!" - NY Press
Age Recommendation: 9 to Adult Director: Nina Paley
"100% Fresh!" (Rotten Tomatoes) Tragedy, comedy and musical collide in this gloriously animated festival favorite film from New York’s own "One Woman Pixar" (Wired). Sita is a goddess separated from her beloved Lord and husband Rama. Nina is an animator whose husband moves to India, then dumps her by email. Three bickering shadow puppets act as comic narrators as these old and new stories are interwoven in a post-modern retelling of the ancient Indian epic Ramayana, animated in a dazzling mix of traditional and collage animation styles.
"100% Fresh!" (Rotten Tomatoes) Tragedy, comedy and musical collide in this gloriously animated festival favorite film from New York’s own "One Woman Pixar" (Wired). Sita is a goddess separated from her beloved Lord and husband Rama. Nina is an animator whose husband moves to India, then dumps her by email. Three bickering shadow puppets act as comic narrators as these old and new stories are interwoven in a post-modern retelling of the ancient Indian epic Ramayana, animated in a dazzling mix of traditional and collage animation styles.
Sita Sings the Blues follows in the line of Triplets of Bellville and Spirited Away to exemplify animation as a "serious" art form -- which does not stop it from being laugh-out-loud funny! A panoply of monsters, gods, goddesses, warriors, sages, and winged eyeballs fill the screen with vivid color from start to finish, while the narrators’ improvisational debates over the Rama legend join the filmmaker’s own tragicomic story to layer a modern feminist commentary on the ancient tale. The result is a subtly subversive, visually stunning, highly original work that is as enjoyable for children as it is for adults.
Age Recommendation: 8+ Director: Jean-Loup Felicioli/Alain Gagnol
Dino is a cat that leads a double life. By day he lives with Zoe, a little girl whose mother is a detective in the Parisian police force. But at night Dino sneaks out the window to work with Nico - a slinky cat burglar with a big heart, whose fluid movements are poetry in motion as he evades...
Dino is a cat that leads a double life. By day he lives with Zoe, a little girl whose mother is a detective in the Parisian police force. But at night Dino sneaks out the window to work with Nico - a slinky cat burglar with a big heart, whose fluid movements are poetry in motion as he evades captors and slips and swishes from rooftop to rooftop across the Paris skyline. Rife with film references (from Reservoir Dogs to Goodfellas to The Night of the Hunter) A CAT IN PARIS is a warm and richly humorous love letter to classic noir and American gangster films, with jazz soundtrack featuring Billie Holiday and a thrilling climax on top of Notre Dame cathedral.
"Take kids on the adventure of a lifetime!" - San Francisco Chronicle
Age Recommendation: 5 to 12 (In English) Director: Arthur Qwak/Guillaume Ivernel
This action-packed, lusciously animated adventure from France is set in a fantastic kingdom in the sky, a decaying world of floating, interconnected islands suspended in midair. Lord Hector fears the impending awakening of the World Gobbler, a monstrous dragon...
This action-packed, lusciously animated adventure from France is set in a fantastic kingdom in the sky, a decaying world of floating, interconnected islands suspended in midair. Lord Hector fears the impending awakening of the World Gobbler, a monstrous dragon who will bring apocalyptic destruction with him. Hector’s niece, the brave and adorable Zoé, dreams of being a legendary dragon-dueling knight like the kinds she reads about in her books, but all her uncle wants to do is send her off to the Crooked Teeth Convent for a safe and proper upbringing.
Zoé gets her chance to escape this dull fate when two third-rate warriors show up at the castle doors. Gargantuan and kindhearted Lian-Chu (voiced by Forest Whitaker) and his wily, money-hungry partner Gwizdo seek a job that will finally pay the bills and allow them to buy the small, relaxing farm of their dreams — and because they are two of the few living warriors remaining, they are quickly drafted by Hector to destroy the World Gobbler. Zoé sneaks off to join the duo, and together they set off on the path towards the End of the World, finding new friends and plenty of danger along the way. Dragon Hunters is set apart by its heartfelt characters (Lian- Chu and Gwizdo reference Lenny and George from Of Mice and Men) and an imaginative world, filled with intricate backgrounds, unpredictable physics and exotic monsters, such as the Red Cloud, a creature formed from thousands of individual bats, and the skeletal monstrosity that is the World Gobbler himself.
Age Recommendation: All Ages Director: Andrew Stanton
One of the best films of the year, Wall-E combines beautiful animation with brilliant slapstick comedy and a stirring environmental message...
One of the best films of the year, Wall-E combines beautiful animation with brilliant slapstick comedy and a stirring environmental message. Wall-E is an industrial robot charged with cleaning up the planet Earth, which humans (and a massive WalMart-esque conglomerate) destroyed with skyscraper-high piles of garbage. Joined by his faithful cockroach friend, Wall-E spends his days sorting through the trash and watching Hello Dolly!, until the introduction of the lovely robot EVE takes him to the humans' spaceship and an even bigger adventure. The first 30 minutes are some of the best in all of cinema, with Wall-E channeling the genius of silent comedy legends like Chaplin or Keaton in a daringly avant garde performance that still left the all-ages audience in stitches. And although the rest of the movie doesn't hit quite the same lofty heights (few things can), it's still one of those rare movies that reveals more depth and enjoyment with every viewing. Technophiles looking to show off their high-def televisions are pointed towards the pixel-perfect Blu-ray edition (which needs a Blu-ray player). Also, both the DVD and Blu-ray versions include an interesting full-length documentary on the Pixar animation studio.
Age Recommendation: 10 to Adult Director: Mamoru Hosoda
In 2007, NYICFF presented the US Premiere of Mamoru Hosodo's first feature - a lush and beautifully drawn animation with a sci-fi twist from the future creator of Summer Wars.
In 2007, NYICFF presented the US Premiere of Mamoru Hosodo's first feature - a lush and beautifully drawn animation with a sci-fi twist from the future creator of Summer Wars.
Tokyo teenager Mokoto Konno prefers to play baseball with the boys than gossip with the other girls. Stuck in a midpoint between child and adult and with graduation approaching, she's not too sure of what she'd like to do with the rest of her life—that is, until a mysterious accident in the science lab gives Mokoto the ability to leap (literally) back in time. Once she recognizes the life-changing potential of her newfound power, Mokoto's life becomes increasingly chaotic. In a series of breathtaking freeze-frame sequences, she plunges repeatedly into the past in an attempt to manipulate fate in her favor; yet, it soon becomes painfully clear that she cannot avert the inevitable.
More than just a visually stunning anime adventure, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a metaphorical tale of teenage angst: Mokoto's manic time-leaping reflects her deeper fear of growing up—a denial of creeping adulthood, of uncomfortable romantic feelings, uncertainty about her future, and a growing nostalgia for her simple high school life circumscribed by the baseball diamond and her two best friends.
The DVD includes both the English language version and original Japanese version with English subtitles.
Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends: The Complete First Season
Age Recommendation: 5+ Director: Various
From the subversive mind of Jay Ward comes the complete first season of this Cold War era classic. Rediscover Rocket J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle J. Moose as they race to create a rocket fuel recipe while evading the very evil...
From the subversive mind of Jay Ward comes the complete first season of this Cold War era classic. Rediscover Rocket J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle J. Moose as they race to create a rocket fuel recipe while evading the very evil Boris Badenov and the femme fatale, Bonnie-to-his-Clyde, Natasha. Laced with equal parts wit and satire, this collection includes baby-boomer favorites "Fractured Fairy Tales," Fearless Leader, Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties, and much more.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (Remastered Deluxe Edition)
Age Recommendation: All Ages Director: Bill Melendez
The Peanuts gang returns in this classic holiday story of Charlie Brown and his efforts to find the true meaning of Christmas. When he is chosen to direct the school's Christmas pageant, Charlie Brown is elated. He enlists his best friend, Linus, to help him pick a tree. But when he returns to check on Lucy and the rest of the cast, they are not rehearsing their lines! Charlie Brown flees as they mercilessly taunt his choice of the smallest, sickliest tree. As he approaches Snoopy's doghouse - decked out in hoards of lights and decorations - he is relieved to find that his beloved beagle has, in fact, embraced the Christmas spirit. But Snoopy is simply trying to win money in a decorating contest! Good grief.
The Peanuts gang returns in this classic holiday story of Charlie Brown and his efforts to find the true meaning of Christmas. When he is chosen to direct the school's Christmas pageant, Charlie Brown is elated. He enlists his best friend, Linus, to help him pick a tree. But when he returns to check on Lucy and the rest of the cast, they are not rehearsing their lines! Charlie Brown flees as they mercilessly taunt his choice of the smallest, sickliest tree. As he approaches Snoopy's doghouse - decked out in hoards of lights and decorations - he is relieved to find that his beloved beagle has, in fact, embraced the Christmas spirit. But Snoopy is simply trying to win money in a decorating contest! Good grief. Can the gang come together to save Charlie Brown's ailing tree, the pageant and learn the true meaning of Christmas?
Age Recommendation: 5 to 12 (In English) Director: Isao Takahata
The first animated feature to be submitted for the Oscar for Foreign Language Film, Isao Takahata's Pom Poko is a true Japanese folk tale. The lives of the tanuki raccoons of the Tama Hills are in danger as human developers begin to turn their rural homeland into suburban sprawl. Under the leadership of the tribal elders, the raccoons will stop at nothing to protect their community.
The first animated feature to be submitted for the Oscar for Foreign Language Film, Isao Takahata's Pom Poko is a true Japanese folk tale. The lives of the tanuki raccoons of the Tama Hills are in danger as human developers begin to turn their rural homeland into suburban sprawl. Under the leadership of the tribal elders, the raccoons will stop at nothing to protect their community.
Unlike Takahata's earlier environmental heart-wrenchers, the lavish illustrations in this survival story are packed with hilariously adorable hijinks as the raccoons use their ability to shape-shift into humans to defer the developers.
Age Recommendation: 3 to 8 (In English) Director: Ernits/Poldma
Lotte From Gadgetville is a sweet and gentle-spirited crowd-pleaser, full of wacky contraptions, silly/happy songs, and a refreshingly un-cynical sense of humor. Lotte is a cheerful girl-dog who lives in the seaside town of Gadgetville, a village crazy about inventing. Every year there is a competition to show...
Lotte From Gadgetville is a sweet and gentle-spirited crowd-pleaser, full of wacky contraptions, silly/happy songs, and a refreshingly un-cynical sense of humor. Lotte is a cheerful girl-dog who lives in the seaside town of Gadgetville, a village crazy about inventing. Every year there is a competition to show off the best homemade Rube Goldberg-esque machines, which Lotte's father Oscar always wins. But at this year's competition, the town is abuzz about the Japanese bee Susumu, who introduces Gadgetville to the concept of judo. After the town becomes obsessed with the sport, Lotte and her three friends try to help Susumu get back to Japan, where they plan to test their new skills in an international judo contest.
This first feature-length animated film from Estonia was enormously popular in its home country, besting The Incredibles at the box office, winning the prize for best animation, and becoming something of a national treasure - the Estonian government even issued a Lotte postage stamp!
Age Recommendation: 11+ Director: Richard "Golly" Goleszowski
Richard "Golly" Goleszowski's Rex the Runt is the most delirious animated comedy series ever created. With his doggy chums Wendy, Bad Bob and Vince (who suffers from Random Pavarotti Disease), the wobbly, bobbly, dribbly, squiggly Rex deadpans his way through adventures veering between the surreal and the banal.
Richard "Golly" Goleszowski's Rex the Runt is the most delirious animated comedy series ever created. With his doggy chums Wendy, Bad Bob and Vince (who suffers from Random Pavarotti Disease), the wobbly, bobbly, dribbly, squiggly Rex deadpans his way through adventures veering between the surreal and the banal. Each episode is a tightly scripted, claymation hallucination--an endless flood of ideas confined within structured madness. Cities are kept as pets, dogs fall in love with vacuum cleaners and have puppies, and our beloved canine hero is transformed into a wet pile of talking noodles. Don't blink!
(Note: Some episodes contain mild profanity and drunkeness.)
In 1988, Katsuhiro Otomo took the worlds of anime and science-fiction by storm with his post-apocalyptic cyberpunk adventure Akira. The film set a new standard for the genre and helped launch the global phenomenon of Japanese animation. His long-awaited follow up, Steamboy, is the most expensive Japanese animation ever made and an unparalleled feat of animation, imagination and non-stop action...
In 1988, Katsuhiro Otomo took the worlds of anime and science-fiction by storm with his post-apocalyptic cyberpunk adventure Akira. The film set a new standard for the genre and helped launch the global phenomenon of Japanese animation. His long-awaited follow up, Steamboy, is the most expensive Japanese animation ever made and an unparalleled feat of animation, imagination and non-stop action. The story, set in an 1860s steampunk England, centers on Ray, the latest genius in a family of scientist inventors. One day Ray receives a mysterious metal ball from his grandfather. The "steam ball" is in fact a source of unimaginable nuclear-like power, and the heart of the ominous Steam Tower. Soon Ray finds himself thrust into the center of a vicious power struggle with no one to trust.
(Note: This film contains levels of sci-fi animated violence equal to a typical PG-13 action/adventure film.)
What Others Say...
"Consistent in its graphic invention from first to last, it's a sensationally designed piece of work" - J. Hoberman, Village Voice
Age Recommendation: 11+ Director: Anders Ronnow Klarlund
A virtuoso feat of puppeteering, this amazing film combines the dark elegance of the Quay Brothers with the epic scope and irony-free sincerity of The Lord of the Rings. These puppets are not stand-ins for people but instead represent a carved wooden race of beings who are connected to the infinite by the strings which hold their bodies aloft...
A virtuoso feat of puppeteering, this amazing film combines the dark elegance of the Quay Brothers with the epic scope and irony-free sincerity of The Lord of the Rings. These puppets are not stand-ins for people but instead represent a carved wooden race of beings who are connected to the infinite by the strings which hold their bodies aloft. The film sets forth an entire mythology based on strings as the life force: newborns are carved from wood by their parents and the translucent filaments are attached at the start of life, and in battle a severed string means instant death. On his death bed, the old emperor of Hebelon writes a letter to his son Hal, imploring him to make peace with Hebelon's historical enemy, the Zeriths. But as deception and folk tale intrigue begin to cloud events, Hal starts his perilous quest.
Age Recommendation: 14+ Director: Reynolds/Goldberger
In this animated vision of a futuristic sci-fi dystopia, humans are kept as pets by the super-advanced race of blue aliens known as Draags. They treat their human pets, known as Oms, with disdain, pitting them in fights to the death and occasionally gassing the wild population as a means of pest control...
In this animated vision of a futuristic sci-fi dystopia, humans are kept as pets by the super-advanced race of blue aliens known as Draags. They treat their human pets, known as Oms, with disdain, pitting them in fights to the death and occasionally gassing the wild population as a means of pest control. A young Om named Terr manages to escape with a Draag education device, which he uses to teach a wild Om society to become civilized and start a revolution against the Draags.
An amazing combination of minds resulted in this remarkably unique film. Famous counter-cultural illustrator Rene Laloux outlined the work for the acclaimed Prague animation studio Jiri Trnka. The story is a sharp Swiftian critique of political and social oppression, but the allegory is routinely outdone by the fantastic visuals, a mix of psychedelic organic forms and futuristic technology.
(Note: The women in the film, being treated like animals, are presented fully naked, and there are scenes of mild violence.)
The 1949 manga by industry legend Osamu Tezuka (itself inspired by the silent film masterpiece from Fritz Lang) is re-imagined in this beautiful and thoughtful anime film. Taking the epic setting of Lang's film--a futuristic metropolis of extreme polarities...
The 1949 manga by industry legend Osamu Tezuka (itself inspired by the silent film masterpiece from Fritz Lang) is re-imagined in this beautiful and thoughtful anime film. Taking the epic setting of Lang's film--a futuristic metropolis of extreme polarities between the wealthy rulers with their Eden-esque playgrounds and the grimy underground city full of millions of workers--this Metropolis adds further tension between the humans and the advanced robots built to replace them.
The blend of traditional 2D animation with state-of-the-art CGI makes Metropolis a visual force, and the limitless possibilities of animation allow the film to ponder the importance of identity, memory and the soul through set pieces of the most epic scale. Consider this a slightly slower but no less enthralling antidote to the relentless action and flashing colors of much of the anime that has achieved popularity in the American mainstream.
(Note: The film received a PG-13 rating for several scenes of violence, including rioting.)
What Others Say...
"A film of staggering technical and visual virtuosity, filled with utterly amazing images, that's also entertaining and engaging for children and adults on several levels" - Chicago Tribune
"One of the most beautiful animated films ever produced" - Patrick Peters, Empire Magazine
"Otomo's typically sophisticated script ensures slick pacing, combining humour, terror and pathos, particularly in the final scenes" - Derek Adams, Time Out
Studio Ghibli's The Cat Returns was the top-grossing film of 2002 at the Japanese box office. In this unofficial sequel to 1992's Whisper of the Heart, a quiet suburban schoolgirl, Haru, is pitched into a fantastical but dangerous world (of cats!) and must find her inner strength to make her way back home...
Studio Ghibli's The Cat Returns was the top-grossing film of 2002 at the Japanese box office. In this unofficial sequel to 1992's Whisper of the Heart, a quiet suburban schoolgirl, Haru, is pitched into a fantastical but dangerous world (of cats!) and must find her inner strength to make her way back home. Walking with her friend after a dreary day at school, Haru eyes a cat with a small gift box in his mouth attempting to cross the busy street. The cat fumbles with the package in the middle of the street, and Haru rescues him from oncoming traffic. To her amazement, the cat then gets up on its hind legs, brushes itself off, and thanks her politely. Strange behavior indeed, but this is nothing compared to what happens later that evening when the King of Cats shows up with a feline motorcade. In a show of gratitude for saving his son's life, the cat king showers Haru with gifts, and decrees that she shall marry the cat prince and come live in the secret Kingdom of Cats.
In a world of pointy-headed people obsessed with making pointy objects, it's hard for a boy born with a round head to fit in! Banished along with his faithful dog Arrow, Oblio must prove that nobody is "pointless"...
In a world of pointy-headed people obsessed with making pointy objects, it's hard for a boy born with a round head to fit in! Banished along with his faithful dog Arrow, Oblio must prove that nobody is "pointless." Based on a Harry Nilsson soundtrack, which includes the hit song "Me and My Arrow," The Point also features narration by ex-Beatle Ringo Starr, making it great throwback entertainment for any family looking for something groovy with a good message.
Age Recommendation: All Ages Director: George Dunning
As one of the best animated films based around one of the best bands in the world, Yellow Submarine is a beautiful psychedelic ode to the music of the Fab Four...
As one of the best animated films based around one of the best bands in the world, Yellow Submarine is a beautiful psychedelic ode to the music of the Fab Four. What was supposed to be a contract-fulfilling cash-in, so piddling that the band didn't bother providing the voiceovers for their own characters, turned into something remarkable. When the Blue Meanies begin to attack the world inhabited by Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, a lone survivor is sent to our universe in a yellow submarine to track down the only four chaps who could help. Striking imagery is backed by a soundtrack including "When I'm 64," "Nowhere Man," "Eleanor Rigby," and of course, the memorable title track.
The DVD release, which introduced a restored picture and newly-created 5.1 surround sound for the tunes, has since gone out-of-print, but there are numerous copies available used through Amazon. Or you could just wait patiently for the eventual re-release...
Age Recommendation: All Ages Director: Osamu Tezuka
How much do you love Astro Boy, the groundbreaking anime series about a robot boy who combats evil? If you said, "A whole lot," then you just might be the target market for the amazing 11-disc box set put together by Right Stuf, featuring over 20 hours from the show's original 1963-64 run!
How much do you love Astro Boy, the groundbreaking anime series about a robot boy who combats evil? If you said, "A whole lot," then you just might be the target market for the amazing 11-disc box set put together by Right Stuf, featuring over 20 hours from the show's original 1963-64 run! Even more impressive is the restoration and treasure-hunting work done to try and restore what's available of the original English TV dubs.
And if you really, really love Astro Boy, then you'll want to complete the original black-and-white series by picking up the second Ultra Collector's Edition box set, which features the remaining 20+ hours of action!
A wonderful collection of shorts from the studio that redefined CGI-animated films, this new compilation brings together the shorts that have previously been seen before their feature-length films and at the NYICFF Pixar Shorts retrospective. Spanning the entire history of their company, from the days...
A wonderful collection of shorts from the studio that redefined CGI-animated films, this new compilation brings together the shorts that have previously been seen before their feature-length films and at the NYICFF Pixar Shorts retrospective. Spanning the entire history of their company, from the days of early computer-generated graphics to today's realistic marvels, these shorts demonstrate the studio's unique storytelling and sense of humor.
One of Miyazaki's most famous films is this sometimes-violent ode to the bond between Man and Nature. A prince is infected with an incurable disease by a possessed boar god. He is to die unless he can find a cure, but when he seeks the help of the deer god in the far east, he finds himself in the middle of a war between the forest inhabitants and an iron mining town that is exploiting and killing the forest. Leading the animals in a war against the humans is Princess Mononoke, a human raised by wolves.
One of Miyazaki's most famous films is this sometimes-violent ode to the bond between Man and Nature. A prince is infected with an incurable disease by a possessed boar god. He is to die unless he can find a cure, but when he seeks the help of the deer god in the far east, he finds himself in the middle of a war between the forest inhabitants and an iron mining town that is exploiting and killing the forest. Leading the animals in a war against the humans is Princess Mononoke, a human raised by wolves.
What Others Say...
"It's a dazzling movie, gorgeous to look at, involving on both emotional and intellectual levels, and often thrilling" - William Arnold, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
"It's just right for the 9-year-old looking to while away a long afternoon in escapist storytelling" - Michael Booth, Denver Post
"Built on a scale so ambitious it makes North American animated features seem puny... The imagery, ranging from sublime mountain-smashing power to firefly delicacy (individual waterdrops splashing on a rock) is exuberant and intoxicating... a considerable achievement as a work of art" - Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
Hayao Miyazaki's Ocar-winning masterpiece, Spirited Away tells the story of Chihiro, a young girl forced to find her way through a world of spirits when her parents are mysteriously transformed by a witch. Featuring memorable character design and art direction, this film is essential viewing.
Hayao Miyazaki's Ocar-winning masterpiece, Spirited Away tells the story of Chihiro, a young girl forced to find her way through a world of spirits when her parents are mysteriously transformed by a witch. Featuring memorable character design and art direction, this film is essential viewing.
What Others Say...
"The most wondrous and mysterious of animated films" - David Ansen, Newsweek
"Miyazaki is the Pied Piper -- see Spirited Away and you'll follow him anywhere" - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
"Spirited Away is a trip, in the literal, metaphorical and indeed lysergic senses of that word" - Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com
"Miyazaki floods the screen with beautiful scenes and enough fascinating creatures to put Pokemon to shame" - Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
Hayao Miyazaki's new film continues the director's tradition of combining simple folk tale story setups with ambitiously beautiful imagery. Sophie, a quiet girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. The vain and vengeful Witch of the Waste, jealous of their friendship, puts a spell on Sophie. In a life-changing adventure, Sophie climbs aboard Howl's magnificent flying castle and enters a magical world on a quest to break the spell.
Hayao Miyazaki's new film continues the director's tradition of combining simple folk tale story setups with ambitiously beautiful imagery. Sophie, a quiet girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. The vain and vengeful Witch of the Waste, jealous of their friendship, puts a spell on Sophie. In a life-changing adventure, Sophie climbs aboard Howl's magnificent flying castle and enters a magical world on a quest to break the spell.
What Others Say...
"Miyazaki seems to be one of those artists (and there aren't many) who just can't fail to make magic. Howl's Moving Castle has the logic of a dream: behind every door lie multiple realities, one more astonishing than the next." - David Ansen, Newsweek
"There is giggling, belly-laughing, and gasping to be done watching Howl's Moving Castle. Miyazaki teaches his viewers more valuable lessons: that cultivating a kind of meditative dreaminess is important, that logic is fallible and often benefits from surrendering to instinct, that hushed visual beauty is a treasure unto itself..." - Ken Tucker, New York Magazine
Before joining Pixar, director Brad Bird showed his talent for incredibly touching but non-syrupy storytelling in this tale of a boy and his behemoth robot. When young Hogarth discovers the hulking robot at the height of Cold War paranoia, they become fast friends, but Hogarth...
Before joining Pixar, director Brad Bird showed his talent for incredibly touching but non-syrupy storytelling in this tale of a boy and his behemoth robot. When young Hogarth discovers the hulking robot at the height of Cold War paranoia, they become fast friends, but Hogarth has an increasingly difficult time hiding the robot's existence from his mother and a nosy government.
What Others Say...
"A cool, unique-looking animated feature (the Ike-era design elements make for great eye candy), director Brad Bird's tale of a small-town boy and his outer-space robot is hip and entertaining without pandering, or condescending, to the kiddie set" - Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
"As entertaining as it is intelligent!" - Wally Hammond, Time Out
"An unalloyed success!" - Variety
"Animated films excel in conjuring up colorful fantasy worlds, but few evoke an actual time and place as vividly -- and playfully -- as The Iron Giant does" - Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune
"Remarkably unassuming, genuinely playful, and superbly executed, The Iron Giant towers over the cartoon landscape" - J. Hoberman, Village Voice
Age Recommendation: All Ages Director: Hayao Miyazaki
This is one of the most acclaimed animated films of all time, created by legendary animation director Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. A resourceful young witch uses her broom to create a delivery service...
This is one of the most acclaimed animated films of all time, created by legendary animation director Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. A resourceful young witch uses her broom to create a delivery service, only to lose her gift of flight in a moment of self doubt. We had the honor of screening this as the opening film of the 1999 New York International Children's Film Festival.
A young girl with a mysterious crystal pendant falls out of the sky and into the arms--and life--of young Pazu. Together they search for a floating island in the sky, site of a long-dead civilization promising enormous wealth and power to...
A young girl with a mysterious crystal pendant falls out of the sky and into the arms--and life--of young Pazu. Together they search for a floating island in the sky, the site of a long-dead civilization promising enormous wealth and power to those who can unlock its secrets.
Age Recommendation: All Ages Director: Michel Ocelot
An exquisitely animated African tale of Kirikou, a small boy with extraordinary abilities. When he discovers that his village is cursed by the terrifying sorceress Karaba, Kirikou sets off on an adventure to rid the village of Karaba's curse by understanding what has made her so angry. Kirikou and the Sorceress is one of the most stunningly beautiful, poetic and entertaining films for children in a great many years.
An exquisitely animated African tale of Kirikou, a small boy with extraordinary abilities. When he discovers that his village is cursed by the terrifying sorceress Karaba, Kirikou sets off on an adventure to rid the village of Karaba's curse by understanding what has made her so angry. Kirikou and the Sorceress is one of the most stunningly beautiful, poetic and entertaining films for children in a great many years.
NOTE: Film contains ethnographic nudity (villagers with bare breasts) similar to what's found in National Geographic.
What Others Say...
"A marvel for eye and ear!" - Ted Shen, Chicago Reader
"A sunny spot in the mire of frenetic, violent and often dopey cartoon films produced by Hollywood" - Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle
"Ingenious, comical and beautifully original" - Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
Hayao Miyazaki, "the Kurosawa of animation," is behind this story about a young princess in a devastated future world where warring human outposts contend with giant insects and atmospheric poisons. Beautifully rendered with awe-inspiring animations and transcendent filmic moments, Nausicaa...
Hayao Miyazaki, "the Kurosawa of animation," is behind this story about a young princess in a devastated future world where warring human outposts contend with giant insects and atmospheric poisons. Beautifully rendered with awe-inspiring animations and transcendent filmic moments, Nausicaa also carries an important environmental subtext.
Age Recommendation: All Ages Director: Hayao Miyazaki
In one of anime master Hayao Miyazaki's best-known works, two sisters move into a new home in the countryside with their father. There they discover a family of Totoros--huge, furry raccoon-esque animals--and a host of other unbelievable creatures...
In one of anime master Hayao Miyazaki's best-known works, two sisters move into a new home in the countryside with their father, while their mother stays for treatment at the local hospital.
Undeterred by their mother's illness, the young girls remain optimistic and adventurous, exploring every dusty nook and cranny of their house and traveling deep into the local forest. There they discover a family of Totoros--huge, furry raccoon-esque animals--and a host of other unbelievable creatures!
This classic family film is uplifting and full of the wonders of nature and the power of the imagination, all without seeming the least bit sappy. And try naming a creature more adorable than a Totoro. You just can't, except maybe a Cat Bus! (Oh, and this deluxe two-disc DVD set is the first time viewers have been given the option of the original Japanese audio with subtitles, in addition to a star-studded English voiceover option.)
"Whenever I watch it, I smile, and smile, and smile... I'm afraid that in praising the virtues of My Neighbor Totoro I have made it sound merely good for you, but it would never have won its worldwide audience just because of its warm heart. It is awe-inspiring and enchanting..." - Roger Ebert, Great Movies Selection
Set in a mid-war Italy swept by fascism, this film from Hayao Miyazaki follows the life of Marco, a world-weary flying ace turned bounty hunter. Somewhere along the way a curse has transformed Marco's head into that of a pig, reflecting his loss of faith in humanity. Marco meets...
Set in a mid-war Italy swept by fascism, this film from Hayao Miyazaki follows the life of Marco, a world-weary flying ace turned bounty hunter. Somewhere along the way a curse has transformed Marco's head into that of a pig, reflecting his loss of faith in humanity. Marco meets his polar opposite in the innocent and energetic 17-year-old Fio, an aspiring airplane designer, and the two are thrown into an airborne adventure, pursued by air pirates, the Italian army, and an egotistical American flying ace.
Audiences around the world continue to enjoy the lovable comic duo of the eccentric cheese-loving inventor Wallace and his faithful dog Gromit. Their short films, winners of numerous awards (including Oscars and NYICFF Grand Prizes), pack great verbal puns...
Audiences around the world continue to enjoy the lovable comic duo of the eccentric cheese-loving inventor Wallace and his faithful dog Gromit. Their short films, winners of numerous awards (including Oscars and NYICFF Grand Prizes), pack great verbal puns, wacky inventions and hand-crafted claymation into stories that are affectionate spoofs of popular movie genres. This new DVD set gathers all four short films, including the most recent Oscar-nominee A Matter of Loaf and Death, and it's a wonderful way to be introduced to two of Aardman Studio's most endearing characters. (The same films are also available on high-definition Blu-Ray.)
Through luscious-looking hand-drawn animation and a unique character design that's both cute and gritty, this Oscar-nominated French gem manages to tell its tale almost entirely without words. When Madame Souza's grandson Champion, who has been training since birth for the Tour de France, suddenly goes missing...
Through luscious-looking hand-drawn animation and a unique character design that's both cute and gritty, this Oscar-nominated French gem manages to tell its tale almost entirely without words. When Madame Souza's grandson Champion, who has been training since birth for the Tour de France, suddenly goes missing right before the event, she and her faithful dog are determined to find out what happened to him. What ensues is a hilarious, unbelievable journey through the town of Belleville, headquarters of the French mafia, where she meets three ancient women who used to be prize-winning singers in their youth and has numerous adventures before discovering who kidnapped her grandson.
To any kid raised on a diet of modern Disney and CGI, this brilliantly inventive and beautifully animated film will provide a stimulation overload with its old-fashioned attention to quality and detail. If you haven't had the chance to show your family this movie, it's currently available for cheap from Amazon!
(Note: This animated film gets a PG-13 rating for a brief scene of a burlesque dancer dancing topless, in a nightclub scene imitating the famous routine of Josephine Baker.)
What Others Say...
"An animated feature of appalling originality and scary charm" - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
"Impossible to describe, impossible to forget" - C.W. Nevius, San Francisco Chronicle
"Packs staggering levels of craft and imagination into every last frame" - Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News
"Right down to faux black-and-white film stock and scratchy gramophones, Triplets resurrects Flesicher's world of music, debauchery, inspired illogic and crude showbiz parody" - Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
Having shown great talent on the practice fields and in pick up games in the park, Jess dreams of playing professional soccer like her idol, David Beckham. Her very traditional Indian family disapproves of the sport, and forbids her from playing...
Having shown great talent on the practice fields and in pick up games in the park, Jess dreams of playing professional soccer like her idol, David Beckham. Her very traditional Indian family disapproves of the sport, and forbids her from playing, but when Jess meets her new friend Juliet (the now-famous Keira Knightley), who plays soccer for a teen team, she decides to go against her parents' wishes and play anyway. Sharing this secret and other outlandish adventures, Jess and Juliet become fast friends, but as they drive their team to a new level of success, Jess finds it hard to keep her playing a secret, and competition may drive a wedge in their friendship.
Becoming an indie sensation when it was introduced to America, Bend It Like Beckham is a coming-of-age comedy that portrays teenage life with an honesty and wit lacking in many made-for-teen movies. Director Gurinda Chadha became critically known for her stirring documentaries and dramas dealing with the life of Indian immigrants in Britain, and even in this seemingly light comedy, the film benefits immensely from her experience capturing the ups and downs of immigrant family life.
In this stunning drama about the clash between ancient customs and changing attitudes towards gender, 12-year-old Pai would be the future leader of her village--if she wasn't a girl. Despite the disapproval of her family, Pai is determined to prove...
In this stunning drama about the clash between ancient customs and changing attitudes towards gender, 12-year-old Pai would be the future leader of her village--if she wasn't a girl. Her brother's death in childbirth leaves her the sole offspring of her father, the current chief of New Zealand's Maori tribe, and challenges the tribe's tradition of passing down leadership to the first-born male in the line. Despite the disapproval of her family, Pai is determined to prove that she can become a strong leader of the people and a rightful heir in this amazing story that accurately captures family tensions in the midst of great change.
Beautiful cinematography and a largely tribal-influenced soundtrack capture the majesty of the New Zealand landscape (better known as the location of the epic Middle Earth battlegrounds in The Lord of the Rings) and the changing lives of the Maori tribe who have lived there for centuries. Niki Caro's feel-good movie became a surprise hit, winning approval from audiences and critics alike as well as an Oscar nomination.
Hard-hitting economic realities collide with the happily escapist illusions created by the movie industry in Salaam Bombay!, a festival favorite that launched the career of director Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding, The Namesake). Eleven-year-old Krishna has lived on the streets since...
Hard-hitting economic realities collide with the happily escapist illusions created by the movie industry in Salaam Bombay!, a festival favorite that launched the career of director Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding, The Namesake). Eleven-year-old Krishna has lived on the streets most of her life, mingling with the homeless, drug addicts, thieves and prostitutes, but he keeps his hopes up, inspired by the Bollywood movie posters and music all around him. He's been trying to earn enough money to return home, but when his best friend steals his savings, Krishna is pushed into a life of petty crime.
Like the Italian neorealists, Salaam Bombay has an almost entirely non-professional cast, using real street kids to act out their lives, and shooting on location. These techniques paid off in an incredibly moving look at life on the streets and won Nair the prestigious Camera d'Or prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
Fifty years before Disney got to it, poet/director Jean Cocteau created this masterpiece, a film that fully embraced its fairy tale roots with delightfully surreal imagery and a heartbreaking romance between the finely-coiffed Beast and the Beauty...
Fifty years before Disney got to it, poet/director Jean Cocteau created this masterpiece, a film that fully embraced its fairy tale roots with delightfully surreal imagery and a heartbreaking romance between the finely-coiffed Beast and the Beauty who becomes his reluctant prisoner to save her father's life. What the film lacks in musical numbers it makes up for with unbridled imagination and an awesome belief in the magic of fairy tales, creating a true classic that has retained its power over time.
When 11-year-old Billy Elliot quits boxing and takes up ballet, his decision doesn't sit well with his gruff father. Billy keeps it a secret from his classmates and friends, fearing they'll mock him...
When 11-year-old Billy Elliot quits boxing and takes up ballet, his decision doesn't sit well with his gruff father. Billy keeps it a secret from his classmates and friends, fearing they'll mock him for such an effeminate activity. But he seems to have a knack for dancing, and as he improves, he's encouraged to try out for the Royal Ballet, a public audition that would reveal his secret to the world, but also might earn him the respect and admiration of his father. Set against the backdrop of the volatile 1984 miners' strike, Billy Elliot is a heart-warming drama/comedy that embraces the regional flavor of its north England working class setting while challenging gender stereotypes.
(Note: This film is rated R for language and brief violence during a strike scene.)
This compelling documentary follows a successful New York after-school program that teaches kids from a variety of backgrounds how to ballroom dance. Although initially reluctant, the groups of 11-year-olds soon become fierce competitors...
This compelling documentary follows a successful New York after-school program that teaches kids from a variety of backgrounds how to ballroom dance. Although initially reluctant, the groups of 11-year-olds soon become fierce competitors as they learn the foxtrot, tango and swing, among others, leading up to the city-wide dance competition in the dramatic finale. In one of those cases where real life makes for the perfect cinematic narrative, Mad Hot Ballroom makes a great argument for the importance of these programs without feeling didactic.
Seven-year-old Ludovic is a boy who decides he should have been born a girl, and begins to sweetly experiment, trying on dresses and lipstick, and taking the female lead of Snow White in the school play...
Seven-year-old Ludovic is a boy who decides he should have been born a girl, and begins to sweetly experiment, trying on dresses and lipstick, and taking the female lead of Snow White in the school play. Although this brings him great joy, he earns the ire and insults of his family, classmates and neighbors, stirring up the fear of difference in his usually calm neighborhood. He finds a new friend and soul mate, though, when he discovers a classmate who thinks she should have been born a boy... (Sound familiar?)
Director Alain Berliner cuts through the tough issues of sexual politics and intolerance with the innocence and humorous outlook of children, creating a classic coming-of-age story as funny as it is touching.
(Note: This film received an R rating for a subtitle translation that include a few uses of the "F-word," even though the actual translation is debatable.)
This inspired, fabulously quirky documentary from the multi-award winning director of Cane Toads says as much about the odd behavior of humans as it does about chickens. Meet Valerie, a frozen-solid hen who receives emergency "mouth-to-beak" resuscitation (and lives to tell an animal communicator about her near-death experience); the pampered Cotton, who watches TV, bathes with her owner, and wears rooster panties around the house; and of course, the amazing Miracle Mike, who lived for two and a half years without a head...
This inspired, fabulously quirky documentary from the multi-award winning director of Cane Toads says as much about the odd behavior of humans as it does about chickens. Meet Valerie, a frozen-solid hen who receives emergency "mouth-to-beak" resuscitation (and lives to tell an animal communicator about her near-death experience); the pampered Cotton, who watches TV, bathes with her owner, and wears rooster panties around the house; and of course, the amazing Miracle Mike, who lived for two and a half years without a head...
What Others Say...
"A goofy gem!" - Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle
Age Recommendation: All Ages Director: Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud
A fantastic and beautiful documentary about the migration of birds features nature footage you'd swear was computer-generated. From the co-director of nature doc Microcosmos comes this touching true account of the extraordinary journeys undertaken every year by the most ordinary animals.
A fantastic and beautiful documentary about the migration of birds features nature footage you'd swear was computer-generated. From the co-director of nature doc Microcosmos comes this touching true account of the extraordinary journeys undertaken every year by the most ordinary animals.
What Others Say...
"Whether we're seeing a startled flock taking sudden flight or zapping into a mountain lake to catch fish, our eye is constantly bedazzled" - Richard Schickel, TIME
"There's not a single special effect, and yet the visuals are spectacular" - Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
"Arguably the most beautiful documentary ever made, Winged Migration has a 'wow!' factor that is off the charts" - Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
"This film by French director Jacques Perrin is to most nature documentaries what King Kong is to monster movies: It towers over them" - Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
Age Recommendation: All Ages Director: Jacques Perrin and Kristin Scott Thomas
From the creators of Winged Migration comes this documentary of insect life in meadows and ponds, using incredible close-ups, slow motion, and time-lapse photography. It includes bees collecting nectar, ladybugs eating mites, snails mating, spiders wrapping their catch, a scarab beetle relentlessly pushing its ball of dung uphill, endless lines of caterpillars, an underwater spider creating an air bubble to live in, and a mosquito hatching.
From the creators of Winged Migration comes this documentary of insect life in meadows and ponds, using incredible close-ups, slow motion, and time-lapse photography. It includes bees collecting nectar, ladybugs eating mites, snails mating, spiders wrapping their catch, a scarab beetle relentlessly pushing its ball of dung uphill, endless lines of caterpillars, an underwater spider creating an air bubble to live in, and a mosquito hatching.
What Others Say...
"Amazing! The movie is a work of art and whimsy as much as one of science" - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
"Photographed with terrific patience and agility, this quick, captivating film offers a taste of the exotic to viewers of any stripe (or spot). And it's a breathtaking reminder that Mother Nature remains the greatest special effects wizard of all" - Janet Maslin, New York Times
Age Recommendation: 8+ Director: Luigi Falorni and Byambasuren Davaa
Set in the Gobi Desert, this film about a family of nomadic herders blends documentary and fiction into a uniquely affecting experience. After a difficult delivery, the mother camel refuses to look after her new colt. The Mongolian shepherds become concerned for the colt's health, and send two of their sons on a journey to the next village, looking for a musician who can help perform an ancient musical ceremony...
Set in the Gobi Desert, this film about a family of nomadic herders blends documentary and fiction into a uniquely affecting experience. After a difficult delivery, the mother camel refuses to look after her new colt. The Mongolian shepherds become concerned for the colt's health, and send two of their sons on a journey to the next village, looking for a musician who can help perform an ancient musical ceremony that will unite the mother camel with her young. Finding beauty in the everyday rhythms of life in an area few of us have seen, the directors linger on the herding and family life as a peaceful counterpoint to our own often harried existence.
What Others Say...
"A film of simple rigor and heartfelt emotion" - Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
"Joyous!" - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
"A simple tale of animal estrangement and reconciliation that in its own quiet way manages to be soothing, hypnotic, even magical" - Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
Age Recommendation: 11+ Director: Steve James, Frederick Marx and Peter Gilbert
Two ordinary inner-city kids dare to dream the impossible - professional basketball glory - in this epic chronicle of hope and faith. Filmed over a five-year period, Hoop Dreams follows young Arthur Agee and William Gates as they navigate the complex, competitive world of...
Two ordinary inner-city kids dare to dream the impossible - professional basketball glory - in this epic chronicle of hope and faith. Filmed over a five-year period, Hoop Dreams follows young Arthur Agee and William Gates as they navigate the complex, competitive world of scholastic athletics while striving to overcome the intense pressures of family life and the realities of their Chicago streets. This landmark documentary chronicling two remarkable families who challenge the American dream has received a DVD release from the Criterion Collection, one of the best companies in home video.
What Others Say...
"The most powerful movie about sports ever made" - Hal Hinson, Washington Post
"A prodigious achievement that conveys the fabric of modern American life, aspirations and incidentally, sports, in close-up and at length, Hoop Dreams is a documentary slam dunk" - Todd McCarthy, Variety
In this Academy Award-nominated musical comedy, The Beatles--who had recently been made an American sensation with their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show--offer a satirical look at a day in the life of the band...
In this Academy Award-nominated musical comedy, The Beatles--who had recently been made an American sensation with their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show--offer a satirical look at a day in the life of the band, avoiding screaming throngs of girls and singing a series of memorable tunes, including "Can't Buy Me Love," "She Loves You," "And I Love Her," not to mention the ubiquitous title track. The source of countless parodies, you'll find that The Beatles' music and high-energy antics transcend generations.
What Others Say...
"Still feels brand spanking new, and way cool!" - Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
"No movie of the 1960s catches that era's irreverent joy and exuberance as much as director Richard Lester's Beatlemania saga" - Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
"A comedy classic that cross- pollinated Jean-Luc Godard with the four Marx brothers" - John Anderson, Newsday
"Pure, infectious joy!" - Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
This sequel to A Hard Day's Night reunites director Richard Lester with the Fab Four, but adds color and a wackier kind of surreal slapstick comedy. In this spoof of The Beatles' universal popularity, an Eastern religious cult declares the ring on Ringo's finger is a powerful artifact...
This sequel to A Hard Day's Night reunites director Richard Lester with the Fab Four, but adds color and a wackier kind of surreal slapstick comedy. In this spoof of The Beatles' universal popularity, an Eastern religious cult declares the ring on Ringo's finger is a powerful artifact, and they won't stop until they have it. The worldwide travels are joined by a great Beatles soundtrack, including "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away," "Ticket To Ride," and "Help!", which help keep the film afloat if the slapstick humor ever misses the mark.
The concept of "so bad it's good" seems to have been invented for the films of Ed Wood, a director, writer, producer and occasional star who fully embraced his B-movie budgets and utter lack of technical skill. In Plan 9, his magnum opus about aliens who try to conquer earth with zombies, a hit list of cinematic ineptitudes doesn't sink the film so much as make it pure sci-fi comedy gold...
The concept of "so bad it's good" seems to have been invented for the films of Ed Wood, a director, writer, producer and occasional star who fully embraced his B-movie budgets and utter lack of technical skill. In Plan 9, his magnum opus about aliens who try to conquer earth with zombies, a hit list of cinematic ineptitudes (like paper plates trying to pass as flying saucers, and a man with a cape over his mouth trying to substitute for the film's star, who had recently died) doesn't sink the film so much as make it pure sci-fi comedy gold. The whole thing comes off as delightfully stupid, and kids are sure to enjoy seeing Hollywood gone this bad, but the movie really succeeds because it looks like a lot of fun. Like the early home movies of budding filmmakers, Plan 9 may be a technical disaster, but there's a heart and energy to the film that makes it hard to begrudge Ed Wood his career masterpiece.
Age Recommendation: 8+ Director: Ernest B. Schoedsack
Like the giant ape for which it's named, King Kong is a movie that is larger than life. It's been remade multiple times (including a CGI-infused, mega-costly version from Peter Jackson in 2005) but never topped. The movie effectively follows a "more is more" strategy...
Like the giant ape for which it's named, King Kong is a movie that is larger than life. It's been remade multiple times (including a CGI-infused, mega-costly version from Peter Jackson in 2005) but never topped. The movie effectively follows a "more is more" strategy, packing a foggy island full of hostile tribesmen, dinosaurs and the stop-motion Kong into a brief running time, ensuring a brisk pace and plenty of action. If you're looking to introduce older kids to classic movies, this is a fantastic place to start, especially since the new DVD release adds a restored picture and several interesting documentaries on how the film was made.
From Iranian director Majid Majidi (Children of Heaven) comes a powerful drama about life in modern Tehran for Mohammad, a blind eight-year-old boy. Kind-hearted and full of spirit, Mohammad is loved by everyone who meets him--except his father, who is ashamed of the boy and worried...
From Iranian director Majid Majidi (Children of Heaven) comes a powerful drama about life in modern Tehran for Mohammad, a blind eight-year-old boy. Kind-hearted and full of spirit, Mohammad is loved by everyone who meets him--except his father, who is ashamed of the boy and worried that his son's handicap will ruin his chance to remarry. In an effort to get rid of him, he sends Mohammad to apprentice with a carpenter far away, who gladly takes him in and treats him like a son. But Mohammad begins to wonder if there is anything that will bring his father around.
Like Children of Heaven, Majidi shows his great skill working with young actors, drawing believable performances and creating a sympathetic character without overly dwelling on his handicap. Beautiful cinematography and sound design (bringing out the subtleties of Mohammad's advanced hearing) make this an engaging example of Iran's growing place in world cinema.
What Others Say...
"Stunningly beautiful and nothing less than extraordinary... yet another gem to spring from one of the world's most vital national cinemas!" - A.O. Scott, New York Times
"Made with delicacy and beauty... Because they do not condescend to young audiences, Majidi's films of course are absorbing for adults as well, and there is a lesson here: Any family film not good enough for grownups is certainly not good enough for children" - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
This Oscar-nominated drama from Iran illustrates the resilience and resourcefulness of young children in a sweet, heart-wrenching story that is part fairy tale, part family drama. When Ali loses his sister Zahra's only pair of shoes, they know their family is too poor...
This Oscar-nominated drama from Iran illustrates the resilience and resourcefulness of young children in a sweet, heart-wrenching story that is part fairy tale, part family drama. When Ali loses his sister Zahra's only pair of shoes, they know their family is too poor to afford another pair, and they don't want to let them know about the loss. So instead, they take turns with Ali's pair of shoes, trading back and forth as they rush to school and play around the city. But when Ali learns about the school foot race, where the prize is a new pair of shoes, he knows it is a contest he simply has to win...
Although it sounds overly sentimental, this simple set up is an ideal frame on which to hang great child performances, beautiful cinematography and delicate family scenes that eschew melodrama and sentimentality for sweetly-tinged realism.
What Others Say...
"Very nearly a perfect movie for children, and of course that means adults will like it, too" - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
"Majidi captures the immediacy and essence of kids: proud, emotional, spirited, and disarmingly sincere" - Sean Axmaker, Seattle Weekly
Occupying a landmark as the first film shot in Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein, Turtles Can Fly focuses on the realities of day-to-day existence for kids in the Kurdistan region of the war-torn country...
Occupying a landmark as the first film shot in Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein, Turtles Can Fly focuses on the realities of day-to-day existence for kids in the Kurdistan region of the war-torn country. Thirteen-year-old Soran rallies his fellow orphans in his village to help clear the surrounding minefields and install antennas so they can listen to more news about the war. After hearing that Saddam Hussein has been removed from power, Soran and his friends prepare for the arrival of U.S. troops, but are instead greeted by the beautiful young girl Agri and her brother Henkov, who is armless because of landmines and claims he can predict the future. Soran falls for Agri but is wary of her brother, and how can romance blossom under such dire circumstances?
More than topical, the film mixes emotionally devastating circumstances with humor and courage to depict a particularly childlike view towards an uncertain future. Looking back on the film after several years of continued conflict, it's a prescient but not preachy reminder of the true victims of war.
The funniest film in the Pink Panther series, in which Sellers created his most famous role, the thoroughly inept French detective Inspector Jacques Clouseau...
The funniest film in the Pink Panther series, in which Sellers created his most famous role, the thoroughly inept French detective Inspector Jacques Clouseau. A murder has been committed at the Parisian residence of wealthy Benjamin Ballon and despite all evidence pointing to wide-eyed maid Maria Gambrinelli (Elke Sommer) as the killer, Clouseau is determined to prove her innocence. Sellers' impeccable timing and flair for physical and verbal comedy meshes perfectly with director Blake Edwards' gifts for sight gags and intricate slapstick. Originally shelved by the studio, the film was released a mere three months after The Pink Panther due to the original's unexpected success.
The Marx Bros.' best film is this madcap farce in which Groucho plays Rufus T. Firefly, leader of the imaginary country of Freedonia, who must woo the nation's wealthy benefactor...
The Marx Bros.' best film is this madcap farce in which Groucho plays Rufus T. Firefly, leader of the imaginary country of Freedonia, who must woo the nation's wealthy benefactor Mrs. Teasdale while answering to international provocations that eventually lead to war as only the Marx Bros. could envision it!
Although they are undisputed comedy legends, many of the Marx Bros.' actual films are uneven. Duck Soup hits every comedic note just right, with a wonderful mix of intricate sight gags, rapid-fire verbal exchanges and elaborate song-and-dance parodies. It's the funniest way to introduce your family to these slapstick and vaudeville icons.
Age Recommendation: 11+ Director: Nobuhiro Yamashita
After their lead singer abruptly quits the band, three girls must recruit a new singer and learn some new songs before the big talent contest at their high school. The plot is classic rock n' roll drama, as the girls endure...
After their lead singer abruptly quits the band, three girls must recruit a new singer and learn some new songs before the big talent contest at their high school. The plot is classic rock n' roll drama, as the girls endure the petty, comic cruelties of high school and t. Featuring a searing performance/cover of the Blue Hearts' "Linda Linda," a soundtrack by the Smashing Pumpkins' James Iha, and a cameo by the Ramones, this is a modern Japanese musical sure to resonate with teenage music mavens.
What Others Say...
"If The Beatles were teen girls starring in a John Hughes picture made with a distinctly Japanese attention to the comedy of everyday life, the movie showcasing it all would go something like this" - Ty Burr, Boston Globe
"An extremely well-written, emotionally complex coming-of-age tale that has a John Hughesian respect for teenage angst" - G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle
"Funny, droll, sweetly directed and note-perfect" - Wally Hammond, Time Out New York
Every Sunday, nine-year-old Carlitos gets a call from a pay phone in Los Angeles, where his mother works illegally to provide money for her son back home. After years of promises that she will bring him to the US, Carlitos begins to wonder if he will ever see his mother again...
Every Sunday, nine-year-old Carlitos gets a call from a pay phone in Los Angeles, where his mother works illegally to provide money for her son back home. After years of promises that she will bring him to the US, Carlitos begins to wonder if he will ever see his mother again. So when his grandmother dies and leaves him alone, he decides to cross the border in a daring attempt to reach his mother before she calls on the next Sunday. What follows is a thrilling one-week adventure as Carlitos (played by the wonderfully engaging Adrian Alonso) hooks up with a pair of amateur smugglers (including Ugly Betty's America Ferrera), hitches a ride with famous norteño band Los Tigres Del Norte, takes various odd jobs and encounters numerous setbacks in his quest to see his family reunited. The film's powerful emotions and drama are tempered with moments of joyful comedy, while Carlito's innocence and utterly winning on-screen presence humanize the hot political issue of illegal immigration.
Age Recommendation: 8+ Director: Juan Carlos Cremata Malberti
In this charming coming-of-age film from Cuba, preteens Jorgito and Malú have formed a deep bond, so when they learn Malú's divorced mother plans to remarry and leave the country, taking Malú with her, the two friends go on a quest to prevent their separation. Leaving Havana and traveling on foot and by any available vehicle, the children try to reach Malú's father before he signs papers permitting her to emigrate.
In this charming coming-of-age film from Cuba, preteens Jorgito and Malú have formed a deep bond, so when they learn Malú's divorced mother plans to remarry and leave the country, taking Malú with her, the two friends go on a quest to prevent their separation. Leaving Havana and traveling on foot and by any available vehicle, the children try to reach Malú's father before he signs papers permitting her to emigrate.
Age Recommendation: 8+ Director: Francois Truffaut
François Truffaut's episodic, warmly comic portrayal of life in a rural French village is one of the most charming and realistic films about the pleasures and pain of childhood. Famed critic Pauline Kael called it "that rarity - a poetic comedy that's really funny"...
François Truffaut's episodic, warmly comic portrayal of life in a rural French village is one of the most charming and realistic films about the pleasures and pain of childhood. Famed critic Pauline Kael called it "that rarity - a poetic comedy that's really funny." A young girl announces by megaphone that she's been abandoned, resulting in gifts of food from her neighbors; a boy cracks up trying to tell a dirty joke; a giggling toddler tears apart the house while his mother chats with a neighbor... a mere sampling of the scenes that unfold in this masterful film by Truffaut, director of perhaps the most famous film about childhood, The 400 Blows. The New York Int'l Children's Film Festival was pleased to present a retrospective screening of Small Change at the American Museum of the Moving Image during the 2004 Festival.
(Note: This film contains some mild adult language and very brief partial nudity.)
What Others Say...
"A major work in a minor key" - New York Times
"[Truffaut] recreates childhood, and yet he sees it objectively, too: He remembers not only the funny moments but the painful ones... one of the year's most intensely, warmly, human films." - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Age Recommendation: 8+ Director: Francois Truffaut
Perhaps the most famous film ever made about childhood, French New Wave pioneer Francois Truffaut's stirring debut feels as fresh as the day it premiered...
Perhaps the most famous film ever made about childhood, French New Wave pioneer Francois Truffaut's stirring debut feels as fresh as the day it premiered. Ignored by two warring parents and criticized at his harsh reform school, Antoine begins to rebel against authority, seeking freedom from the people who regulate his life. This portrait of adolescent angst (itself a semi-autobiographical account of Truffaut's younger years) is warm with sympathy to the everyday concerns of kids, and punctuated with plenty of humor.
The DVD, produced by the inimitable Criterion Collection, features a gloriously restored transfer, two audio commentaries and a series of interviews with Truffaut looking back on the film's unexpected global success. The film was long available only in a more expensive box set, but now can be enjoyed by itself for a lower price.
What Others Say...
"Seems forever young" - Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
"Still one of the cinema's most perceptive forays into childhood" - Derek Adams, Time Out
"Distinguished by its intensity of feeling and freewheeling use of the wide-screen frame, the film ranks among Truffaut's best" - Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
"A remarkable confluence of talents are at work here" - Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice
Age Recommendation: All Ages Director: Albert Lamorisse
The Red Balloon is a classic of children's cinema, as the image of the film’s titular balloon, glowing an impossibly dazzling shade of Technicolor red, has seared itself into so many childhood memories. The film’s story is deceptively simple...
The Red Balloon is a classic of children's cinema, as the image of the film’s titular balloon, glowing an impossibly dazzling shade of Technicolor red, has seared itself into so many childhood memories. The film’s story is deceptively simple: a young boy discovers a balloon, which seems to express free will through its movements, and together they go on an adventure through Paris. The movie moves at a languid pace, self-assured of its jokes in the first half and the dramatic chase scene that anchors the second, but it never drags (nor does it really have time to, with a running time of just over half an hour). In something of a scandal, Red Balloon also won the 1956 Oscar for Original Screenplay, despite the film only having a few lines of dialogue. What the Oscar instead symbolizes to me is the film’s great reliance on cinematic technique to tell the story, giving the non-verbal balloon human properties of playfulness and friendship, and setting up jokes as if the balloon were to join Chaplin and Keaton among the masters of silent comedy. The lack of dialogue also means that The Red Balloon’s sense of humor and magical drama can appeal to kids of all ages, even if they can’t yet read the subtitles for the French drama.
What Others Say...
"An utterly charming little story" - Bosley Crowther, New York Times
"A beautiful little meditation on childhood, on imagination literally taking flight" - Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
From the director of The Red Balloon comes another award-winning classic short film. This story focuses on White Mane, the rebellious and proud leader of a pack of wild horses, who dodges the herdsmen’s repeated attempts to capture him. After one dangerous escape, he meets the adolescent fisherman Folco...
Another prize-winning short film from Albert Lamorisse, completed several years before his Red Balloon, this film feels darker and more mature, dwelling on the gritty realities of nature, but there’s also the same wonderful exploration of friendship that made his later film so famous. This story focuses on White Mane, the rebellious and proud leader of a pack of wild horses, who dodges the herdsmen’s repeated attempts to capture him. After one dangerous escape, he meets the adolescent fisherman Folco, and although the horse is initially reluctant to trust a human they eventually develop a powerful bond. A possible spoiler: the ending can be depressing depending on how much disbelief you are willing to suspend, although I suspect that unlike other stories that actively pander to such escapist notions, the magical realism of White Mane suggests it really might not be the most unlikely scenario. Although the film is in French, the DVD also includes an optional narration by actor Peter Strauss, which basically involves him reading the subtitles aloud.
What Others Say...
"Beauty in Albert Lamorisse's brand of cinematic poetry stems from a childlike view of the world that sees bliss and sorrow as inseparably bound and equally enchanted" - Fernando Croce, Slant Magazine
Age Recommendation: 11+ Director: Dominique Standaert
Dieudonne and his son Justin are just settling down in front of the tube to watch the World Cup match when a racist neighbor sparks a conflict and father and son find themselves on the run from the police. Dieudonne is caught and deported to the Congo, but Justin manages to slip away and is taken under the wing of an ex-revolutionary and bomb expert. Hop treats the somber issues of immigration and political terrorism with humor, alternating tragic situations with comic details. The result is an exceptionally entertaining movie, full of warmth, humor and suspense.
The "Hop" is said to be a secret technique used by pygmies to capture and control the wild African elephant, but it can be applied to any situation where one person uses ruthless cunning to exert control over another. Justin is a clever student who relies on his ingenuity, wit and charm to bring him success and popularity at school. His father Dieudonne exudes calm pride, with impeccable manners and appearance. Despite their status as illegal African immigrants, they appear to be well integrated into white Belgian society. Father and son are just settling down in front of the tube to watch the World Cup match when a racist neighbor sparks a conflict and the two find themselves on the run from the police. Dieudonne is caught and deported to the Congo, but Justin manages to slip away and is taken under the wing of an ex-revolutionary and bomb expert. Hop treats the somber issues of immigration and political terrorism with humor, alternating tragic situations with comic details. The result is an exceptionally entertaining movie, full of warmth, humor and suspense.
Director Danny Boyle wields a wildly inventive visual style, spinning an atmosphere of playful magical realism punctuated by moments of pure cinematic exuberance. It is the tale of two Liverpudian lads who have just moved into a new house with their dad to begin a new life without their departed mother. Damien is a dreamer, representing all that is naive and unspoiled in the world. So when a duffle bag full of cash literally falls from the sky to Damien's feet, he thinks it's a gift from God and begins searching for poor people to give the money to...
Director Danny Boyle wields a wildly inventive visual style, spinning an atmosphere of playful magical realism punctuated by moments of pure cinematic exuberance. It is the tale of two Liverpudian lads who have just moved into a new house with their dad to begin a new life without their departed mother. Damien is a dreamer, representing all that is naive and unspoiled in the world. So when a duffle bag full of cash literally falls from the sky to Damien's feet, he thinks it's a gift from God and begins searching for poor people to give the money to. Older brother Anthony is more business minded and tries to educate his brother on the practical uses of money. But there's a catch: the boys only have one week to spend the cash before Britain converts to the euro and their money is rendered worthless. Millions is a smart, funny, sensitive and immensely enjoyable film about the difficulty of performing an act of generosity in a cynical world.
What Others Say...
"A family film of limitless imagination and surprising joy" - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
"Leaves you feeling rich -- and richly satisfied" - Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
"Visually arresting, seriously whimsical, and suffused with a dreamy yet sad awareness of where life falls short and imagination has to pick up the slack" - Ty Burr, Boston Globe
"Witty, sweet and charming but never sappy" - Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Age Recommendation: 9 to Adult Director: Darren Ashton
The 2008 Festival opened with the US Premiere of Razzle Dazzle, an Australian mockumentary that skewers the absurdities of the intense competition between kids on the youth dance troupe circuit—and the hyper-involved parents who live through them. A hilarious cross...
The 2008 Festival opened with the US Premiere of Razzle Dazzle, an Australian mockumentary that skewers the absurdities of the intense competition between kids on the youth dance troupe circuit—and the hyper-involved parents who live through them. A hilarious cross between Best in Show and All That Jazz, Razzle Dazzle mixes colorful characters, outrageous costumes, and show-stopping dance numbers (by John "Cha Cha" O'Connell who also choreographed Enchanted, Moulin Rouge and Strictly Ballroom), to deliver an immensely enjoyable film that captures our hearts with equal parts comedy and pathos.
The film centers on Mr. Jonathon, an unconventional dance instructor who teaches his young "Jazzketeers" routines that try to illustrate world issues like animal cruelty, capitalist exploitation and global warming. Even with the help of star student Tenille, these experimental, unintentionally comical performances never manage to top rival Ms. Elizabeth's classical academy, whose dancers train to perfection under their instructor's snide remarks and ritual weigh-ins. But when a freak accident forces another team to forfeit, Mr. Jonathon's team gets the chance to head to the national finals—if they can get past the psychopathic stage moms, suffocation-inducing costumes an an occasional kidnapping...
An audience favorite at the NY Int'l Children's Film Festival! The latest film from director Gabor Csupo (Bridge to Terabithia), with Dakota Blue Richards (The Golden Compass) and Tim Curry, is a fantasy adventure complete with misty castles, a danger-filled forest, a magic pearl necklace, and...
An audience favorite at the NY Int'l Children's Film Festival! The latest film from director Gabor Csupo (Bridge to Terabithia), with Dakota Blue Richards (The Golden Compass) and Tim Curry, is a fantasy adventure complete with misty castles, a danger-filled forest, a magic pearl necklace, and a reluctant city-girl-turned-princess decked out in an ever-growing collection of opulent, Victorian-era dresses.
Newly orphaned Maria Merryweather is forced to leave civilized London and live with her reclusive uncle at Moonacre Manor, the family’s remote and rundown estate in the woods. She soon discovers a secret within the walls of the large and crumbling castle. Long ago, a bitter feud between the Merryweathers and the rival De Noir family placed a curse on the land that only the young Moon Princess can undo. So Maria leaves the safety of Moonacre and enters the forbidden forest, where she comes face to face with a gang of marauding De Noir bandits - though with their black eye-liner and coordinated bowler hats, these smooth-faced young ruffians are about as menacing as an 80’s New Wave boy band. But this is a fairy tale and all is for the best, as soon the head boy-bandit and scion of the De Noir clan has switched sides, defying his father to help Maria find the magic pearls and fulfill her quest.
Age Recommendation: 8 to Adult Director: Marshall Curry
"THE BEST FILM OF THE YEAR! AN INSTANT CLASSIC!" - LA Times. Academy-Award nominee Marshall Curry unearths the world of competitive go-kart racing in this simultaneously intimate and thrilling documentary on the World Karting Association's National Series. Three of the country's most talented drivers vie for the championship title before any of them are even eligible for a driver's license.
"THE BEST FILM OF THE YEAR! AN INSTANT CLASSIC!" - LA Times. Academy-Award nominee Marshall Curry unearths the world of competitive go-kart racing in this simultaneously intimate and thrilling documentary on the World Karting Association's National Series. Three of the country's most talented drivers vie for the championship title before any of them are even eligible for a driver's license. Yet for top racers Annabeth (11), Josh (13) and Brandon (12), scarier than spinning out or losing a race are the perils of school work, family life and first love. As Curry documents the tweens' extraordinary dedication to go after their dreams in a sport where every second can become a life-changing decision, these three must come to terms with who they want to be - both on and off the track.
"Ridiculously engaging! An exciting, poignant tale of growing up fast with adult ambitions." - NY Magazine
"Critics Pick! You leave wishing it was longer!" - NY Times
"Half lean, mean racing saga and half in-depth character study, Racing Dreams is dynamite! - Variety
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