April Film Club Reviews

I know as a Mum that there seems to be a new film at our local cinema twice a week, but often our favourite family films are classics that I remember watching when I was young.

This month, we invited our Tots100 Film Club bloggers to check out some classic children’s movies and tell us what they thought of them second time around. Did the kids get absorbed in the stories, or find the films too slow-paced?

If you’d like the chance to win a copy of all four of the films reviewed by the Tots100 Film club this month, check out the question at the end of this post….

First up is The NeverEnding Story, the tale of a bullied schoolboy who is chased into a bookshop, and discovers a magical book. Absorbed into an imaginary world where imagination itself is being wiped out, Bastian must find a way to save the day – and find his way home.

This film, re-issued on DVD and Blu-Ray, was a huge hit with all of our reviewers. Cass from Frugal Family watched with her two kids, who reported that the film was “Awesomely awesome!” 

Despite only being 3 and 4, the children in the Being a Mummy household were similarly charmed, while Claire loved the 80s soundtrack. There’s never a bad time for a bit of Limahl, right?

Qwerty Mum points out that the 1980s animatronics and special effects can seem a bit clunky to a 2012 audience, but the quality of the acting and story give this film real charm.

Finally, Susan K Mann tells us that NeverEnding Story is the kind of classic you come back to again and again for years to come.

Our second classic movie this month is The Secret Garden, the tale of a young girl who is sent from India to live with crusty old relatives and a sick cousin. Together the children discover a secret garden that they bring back to life.

Mummy Musings says the story is quite involved, so perhaps suited to slightly older children, and The Secret Garden was substantially more popular with the female members of her household! But in some families, under 5s loved the film, too – hardly surprising, who can resist a bit of Maggie Smith? Anyway, Right from the Start says that The Secret Garden is a bona fide classic, and kept even a three-year-old interested from start to finish.

It’s an old story but a new film next. If you have older children, you might be interested in The Green Lantern, a superhero story with plenty of action, some great stunts and Ryan Reynolds in a green suit. This may get a mention (or two) on Mammasaurus’ review.  The eye candy also got a mention by Jenny from the Gingerbread House – who says women don’t like sci fi? Over at Mary Poppins, Mary was a bit less keen on the violence, and advises this one isn’t suitable for younger children.

Want something a bit more heart-warming? How about Black Beauty – the tale of a horse and its owner. This one is emotional, and has quite an involved story that means it’s more suited to older children, according to What Me and the Boys Say. Yes, it’s a chick flick, and yes the men in the house may roll their eyes, but who cares, asks Mama Syder? It’s a wonderful film for anyone who loves horses – and you’ll almost certainly cry.

Thanks to all this month’s reviewers and to Warner Bros for providing them with copies of the films to review – do go and check out their recommendations in more detail. But it’s not just our reviewers who get all the fun.

Would you like to win a copy of all the films reviewed by the Tots100 Film Club this month?  Just tell us, in the comments below, who sang the theme song to The NeverEnding Story?

(Entry only open to UK-based, Tots100 registered bloggers. The winner will be selected from all correct entries received before 5pm on Monday 9th April, 2012)

About Sally

Sally Whittle is founder of the Tots100, Foodies100, BlogSummit and the MAD Blog Awards. When she's not working, she can be found blogging at Who's the Mummy, or having fun with her 7 year old daughter, Flea.