Another great response this week to the call for movies that celebrate childhood, with some solid choices – some of which I expected, and some I found pretty surprising, to be honest.
To recap, this Quick Read was written in the run-up to the NSPCC’s first national Childhood Day on June 11. It’s an event set up to celebrate the importance of play for the mental and emotional wellbeing of children and young people, and there are details here on how to take part and here on a great drive-in movie festival taking place on June 11/12/13.
And now, here’s a list of films you think represent or celebrate childhood!
- How Green Was My Valley
- Shane
- The Goonies
- Road To Perdition
- A.I. Artificial Intelligence
- My Neighbour Totoro
- E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
- Flight Of The Navigator
- Home Alone
- The 400 Blows
- The Karate Kid
- Teen Wolf
- UHF
- Stand By Me
- The NeverEnding Story
- Bugsy Malone
- Boyhood
- Inside Out
- Eighth Grade
- The Railway Children
- Super 8
- Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
- Bridge To Terabithia
- Jaws
- Beetlejuice
- The Addams Family
Yes, there’s plenty of nostalgia (as I’ve said before, it’s a hell of a drug). I fully expected The Goonies to make a pretty prominent appearance and though I’ve never actually seen Super 8, I understand it’s a love letter to the Amblin output of the 80s, so that makes perfect sense too.
I think some of the films here were chosen because they represent a reader’s favourite memory from being a kid, rather than a film that explores what it’s like to be a child (especially you, Jaws), but there’s nothing wrong with that, and it’s resulted in another pretty great list.
As always, if you weighed in with some suggestions, I’m hugely grateful. If you’ve got any suggestions for future Friday Quick Reads, I’d love to hear them – just get in touch on Twitter, Facebook or in the comments section!
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