Old Movies With Kids: 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea

Over the weekend we showed the kids the classic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I hadn't seen this one before and I wasn't particularly excited about it, but I'm happy to say I think we finally found one that my son likes!

This is the first Kirk Douglas movie I've ever seen, but I think we can all agree that Peter Lorre is the best part of this movie. I mean, isn't he the best part of any movie he's in? Yes. Nonetheless, all the characters were interesting and the story was exciting and kept everyone's attention.

Also, this is basically the second Pirates of the Caribbean movie. There's a boozy, kind of obnoxious sailor with a theme song, an island with cannibals, and, most importantly, a rockin' captain who clearly has deeply buried emotional issues and dramatically plays the organ instead of expressing his feelings. (My husband would like me to mention that the organ from this movie is currently in the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland. So ... there ya go.)

From the kids

3 stars - It was a little weird. Not my favorite movie. Not enough girls in it. - 10 year old girl

3 stars - 5 year old girl

4 stars. Good. - 8 year old boy

Kids' favorite moments:

The giant squid fight was a favorite across the board!

Explosions and fighting, specifically when Peter Lorre and Kirk Douglas were punching each other in the face. Hilarious!

Kirk Douglas's turtle guitar, especially when he stuffed jewelry in it. I have no recollection of this part!

New Rear Window Board Game Coming This Summer!

We play a lot of games in our house. As previously mentioned, we've really been enjoying this Willy Wonka Golden Ticket game with the kids. My husband is more into games than I am, BUT I got pretty excited when I heard that there's going to be a new game based on Rear Window coming out this summer!

We have a number of movie-based games, but this is the first one based on a really good classic film and it looks awesome. Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly are even on the front of the box! It's a cooperative game where you play as the characters in the film to solve a possible murder. Here's the official description:

Experience Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece Rear Window in this game of deduction and suspense. Carefully observe strange clues and ominous patterns in the things going on in the apartments across the way. There are parties, knives, a saw, bickering, laughing, music ... and a mysterious trunk. Do you detect a murder? Or is the secret, private world of the neighbors planting frightening ideas in your mind?

Everyone needs to buy this so that they keep making more!

Here are some of the other movie-based games we like:

Ravensburger Universal Back to The Future Game Strategy Game. My husband loves Back to The Future and I suppose it's getting close to classic movie status. I really enjoy this game. It's a little harder for our younger kids. There is another Back to The Future game, but we haven't tried that one.

Villianous. We kind of love this game even though it's probably more complicated than it needs to be. Pick a villian and do your worst. There are a bunch of expansions so you really have many options. Ursula is my favorite but I played as Cruelle DeVille the other day and she was pretty great too!

The Haunted Mansion - Call of The Spirits. Ok, maybe this isn't based on a movie, but it's a good one so I'm including it!

Happy gaming!

 

 

My Top 5 Spirit Characters

After watching Yours, Mine, and Ours last week and relating a little too closely to incessantly hungry Susan Beardsley, it got me thinking about my other spirit characters. Spoiler alert: they are not the leading ladies. I'm just not leading lady material.

Here are my top 5, though I'm sure there are many more!

1. Eulalie Mackechnie Shinn in The Music Man - The first time I laid eyes on this woman I knew she was everything I wanted to be in life. Honorable mention for Mayor Shinn who I also can't help but love. I mean,

Mrs. Shinn: Now, George!

Mayor Shinn: Not one poop out of you, Madame!

Mrs. Shinn: I think he means "peep"

Mayor Shinn: Yes!

2. Susan Beardsley from Yours, Mine, and Ours - As the inspiration for this list, it's only right that she's at the top. This girl does not miss an opportunity to stuff her face full of food. She's the best.

3. Miss Torso in Rear Window - 

    Ways she is NOT like me: She's fit enough to prance around baring her torso. She has an entourage of men courting her.

    Ways she IS like me: She's eating in every scene she's in. She ends up with the nice, nerdy fellow.

4. Agnes Smith from Meet Me In St. Louis - This is the often-overlooked second youngest daughter in the Smith family. She has a taste for chaos but nobody notices because they're too focused on Tootie being a drama queen.

5. Marjorie Main in Judy Garland movies (The Harvey Girls, Summer Stock, Meet Me in St. Louis) - I'm grouping these together since they're basically all the same character. She's a no-nonsense lady who accepts the fact that she's always a servant and likes to mess with everyone.

Who are your spirit characters?