Weird, wacky but wholesome fare for the family

By Joe Weindl
Special to the Saipan Tribune

Looking back on the DVD reviews I’ve written so far, I’ve just noticed that they’ve all been movies strictly for adults. Seeing as how Saipan is big on families, I figured it might be prudent to make a few recommendations for movies that the entire family can enjoy. I won’t waste your time with movies that you’ve already seen, like Toy Story, Harry Potter, and Finding Nemo—all great family movies, of course. Instead, I’m going to try my best to uncover a few that maybe have slipped by you.

WHALE RIDER (2003)

While Whale Rider has all the trappings of a “family” movie, adults might actually enjoy it more. Filmed in New Zealand, it’s one of the best movies of 2003—a real shame that it never made it to our theater. Adapted from the legend of a Maori ancestor who settled his island on the back of a whale, Whale Rider tells the story of a young girl trying to win the approval of her grandfather. When the heir to the chiefdom loses his wife and one of his twins (the boy) during childbirth, he runs away from his pain, moving to the city, leaving the surviving twin (the girl) to be raised by her grandparents. Grandfather loves her very much, but is stilted in tradition, and cannot get over the fact that he no longer has an heir to the throne—girls aren’t eligible.

Whale Rider has been described by many as a girl power movie. I suppose, in some ways, it is, but to leave it at that would be grossly underselling it. The themes of change vs. tradition, and the underdog fighting the system are universal enough to appeal to anybody. More powerful than anything is the pain felt by the granddaughter, Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes), dubbed “useless” by her grandfather. Only eleven years old during production, Castle-Hughes was nominated for an Oscar for best actress, and would’ve been just as worthy a recipient as any of the other nominees.

For those that enjoy it, Whale Rider is full of symbolism. Usually, I don’t think symbolism can do too much to add to a movie, but in this case, it definitely does. During one scene, Pai is helping grandfather start the lawnmower when the rope breaks. While grandfather goes looking for a replacement, Pai simply repairs the one they already have. In that one scene, the ultimate theme of the movie is encapsulated so poignantly. Don’t let this one get past you, folks—put it on your must-see list.

THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993)

Produced by Tim Burton, the same warped mind responsible for Batman, Beetlejuice, and Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas was filmed in stop-motion animation. Jack Skellington is the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown, a place devoted 365 days a year, to making Oct. 31st as frightening as it can be. Having grown tired of making people scream, Jack wanders off into the woods one day, and stumbles upon Christmastown. Enchanted by the cheeriest of holidays, Jack decides he’ll be taking over Christmas this year. The results, of course, are disastrous—he and his Halloweentown denizens only know how to scare.

In the end, what sets Nightmare apart from its competition is the music. More so than most children’s movies, Nightmare is a musical, through and through. The score, written by Danny Elfman (also stars as Jack), was nominated for an Oscar, and really should have won. I’m not sure how many would admit to this, but a good musical is just plain fun to watch. If not, how does Disney make so much darn money with them?

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a showcase of Tim Burton’s imagination at its best. Every character is inventive and memorable, and fits perfectly into their misshapen surroundings (my personal favorite being the literally two-faced mayor). The end result is that we’re transported into an alternate world that can only be described as “magical”. Magic is exactly what a holiday movie should possess, and The Nightmare Before Christmas is abundant with it.

THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY (1984)

Okay, maybe you’ve already seen this one, but your kids probably haven’t. For those that don’t remember, it’s about a Kalahari bushman (played by N!Xau—a real Kalahari bushman) who ventures to the end of the world to throw away a Coke bottle that has brought turmoil to his peaceful home. Along the way, he meets a clumsy scientist and a teacher, and somehow gets caught up in the middle of a civil war. Like Bugs Bunny classics, and The Three Stooges, The Gods Must be Crazy is pure slapstick humor done very, very well. I don’t care how old you are—this stuff is hilarious.

(Comments? Send e-mail to joewatchesmovies@yahoo.com)