With the year four and year five lists out of the way, I'm ready to move on to six-year-old fare. As my daughter approaches the four-and-a-half year mark, I think she may already be ready for some of the stuff on this list. As I've mentioned, the age ratings at Common Sense Media that I'm using to group these lists seem conservative, and I plan to show her The Wizard of Oz once we finish reading the adaptation of that story we've borrowed from the local library.
As we hit this list, it finally stops being all cartoons. It's also the last list in which I spam classic Disney fare. I'll certainly refer back to this list as Lia gets older and make sure that I haven't missed anything important.
- The Wizard of Oz - I have a feeling that Lia will be seeing this one before age six. The witch and the flying monkeys may be scary, but I think she can handle it.
- The Flight of Dragons - This one may have to wait until at least age six. I recall some stabbing and death, which might be a bit much for her, but I loved this one when I was a kid.
- Toy Story 3 - My daughter has seen it, and I have not. We own the movie, so I guess I should watch it sometime.
- The Music Man - After the success of other musicals, I'm hoping that Lia will enjoy this, as it's the only musical I can think of that I really like.
- The Rescuers / The Rescuers Down Under - The Rescuers was probably my first movie theater experience. I remember loving it, although I was really scared of the water-filled black pit at the end. Afterwards, I owned the vinyl/storybook combo, and listened to it many times.
- Fantasia - The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Introduction to orchestra. All good stuff. I can see why waiting until age six might be good. Not because it's scary or mature, but because younger kids might get bored.
- Dumbo - I'm not sure that I've ever seen the entire movie start-to-finish.
- The Lion King - Lia owns a picture-book version of The Lion King, and we've read it more than once. I guess she might see this one before age six.
- The Fox and the Hound - Here's another one that Lia might see earlier than age six.
- The Absent-Minded Professor / Son of Flubber - Forget the fact that it's black and white, I loved the flubber movies when I was younger. It's no cartoon, so age six is probably the earliest I'd want her to see it, but see it she will.
- The Sound of Music - Lia has already seen The Sound of Music more than once. She doesn't know a thing about Nazis, as is appropriate for a four-year-old, but she loves the music.
- The Great Race - If I've ever seen this movie, it was a long time ago. It does seem like a fun family movie.
- The Shaggy Dog / The Shaggy D.A. - Old Disney fare. It's not a cartoon, and I'm not even sure that it's color. That's why it's not on an earlier list. But it's Fred McMurray, and I love his old stuff.
- Pee Wee's Big Adventure - Sure, Pee Wee Herman is a bit stupid. But it's hard not to love inane antics.
- Singing in the Rain - Parts of this may be boring for a six-year-old, but this is a total classic, and Lia loves musicals. The "Make 'Em Laugh" sketch is amazing even after all these years.
- Aladdin - We've tried showing Aladdin to Lia a few times before, but she hasn't had much interest. Maybe she'll like it in a couple years.
- Shrek - It's listed at age six, but our daughter has seen all the Shrek movies.
- Mary Poppins - A whimsical singing nanny and Dick Van Dyke. I haven't seen it in years, but age six sounds right to me.
- Ice Age - I've seen bits and pieces of this cartoon.
- The Love Bug / Herbie Rides Again / Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo / Herbie Goes Bananas - When Disney aired Sunday night specials back in the eighties, I always loved watching the Herbie movies. There are like a bazillion of them now.
- Honey, I Shrunk the Kids - They made somewhere around fifty sequels, and I can only imagine that they soon got stale, but the first one is the one I remember seeing. It was a fun kid adventure movie.
- The Parent Trap - The original or the remake? Another movie that empowers the kids.
- Freaky Friday - Parent/kid switcheroo flick. Fun.
- Pinnochio - Not sure about Pinnochio - this one might fall off the bottom of my list. It's classic Disney, but I recall not liking it much.