Family Movie Review - The World of Richard Scarry Videos

 

 My favorite Richard Scarry video is "Richard Scarry's Best Sing-A-Long Mother Goose Video!"

From Amazon: "A great way to introduce or underscore the value of Mother Goose, this video uses a simple story about Huckle Cat's search for his missing friend Lowly Worm as a platform for enjoying the famous rhymes. While his mother sings lullabies, Huck wishes on a star that he could find Lowly soon, a wish that carries over into his subsequent dream of traveling through Mother Gooseland. There he meets familiar characters--Old King Cole, Little Miss Muffett, Little Bo Peep--who sing their own rhymes. It's Old King Cole who sends Huck directly to Mother Goose for help. This is a good video for assorted ages. Toddlers are easily enchanted by the cadence and rhymes of Mother Goose material, while the 2-to-5-year-old set can enjoy the story, too. The rest of us can appreciate the wonderfully busy animation and the touching tale of a boy's search for his friend." --Tom Keogh

If you can find a copy at a thrift or consignment store, good luck! A USED DVD is $40!!! I wanted to upgrade our VHS, but I think I will wait a bit:)

I found The Best ABC Video and The Best Counting Video DVD's for $1 each at a yard sale this summer.

This clip is from The Best Learning Songs Video by Richard Scarry. I LOVE this song and we had a VHS tape which I re-wound countless times to write the words down and memorize to sing to the children.

Family Movie Review - Prince of Egypt

I love to have the children watch movies that bring the Bible to life in a respectful way.  

The Dreamworks movie Prince of Egypt does just that!

The songs in the movie are top notch..."Through Heaven's Eyes" is one of my favorites, a lively tune sung by Jethro, Moses's soon-to-be father-in-law talking about how we are part of the grand design.

[Jethro]
A single thread in a tapestry
Through its color brightly shine
Can never see its purpose
In the pattern of the grand design

And the stone that sits on the very top
Of the mountain's mighty face
Does it think it's more important
Than the stones that form the base?

So how can you see what your life is worth
Or where your value lies?
You can never see through the eyes of man
You must look at your life

Look at your life through heaven's eyes
Lai-la-lai...

A lake of gold in the desert sand
Is less than a cool fresh spring
And to one lost sheep, a shepherd boy
Is greater than the richest king
If a man lose ev'rything he owns
Has he truly lost his worth?
Or is it the beginning
Of a new and brighter birth?

So how do you measure the worth of a man
In wealth or strength or size?
In how much he gained or how much he gave?
The answer will come
The answer will come to him who tries
To look at his life through heaven's eyes

And that's why we share all we have with you
Though there's little to be found
When all you've got is nothing
There's a lot to go around

No life can escape being blown about
By the winds of change and chance
And though you never know all the steps
You must learn to join the dance
You must learn to join the dance
Lai-la-lai...

So how do you judge what a man is worth
By what he builds or buys?
You can never see with your eyes on earth
Look through heaven's eyes
Look at your life
Look at your life
Look at your life through heaven's eyes

In Egypt, the hieroglyphics come to life, telling part of the story. The plagues are powerfully portrayed and the scene of the Red Sea parting and the Israelites walking through is utterly amazing...lightning flashes and you see the shadow of a whale looming on one side!

The one flaw, as with most Moses stories is the Pharaoh that Moses demands to "let my people go", is called Pharoah Rameses. But he could not have been the Pharaoh of the Exodus. Here is a great article that I found on biblehistory.net. (you should definitely check it out)

So it took about half an hour to explain to the children when we were studying Ancient Egypt and Moses in homeschool at St. George Academy, that it was NOT Rameses, but most likely Amenotep III that was the Pharoah in the Moses story! (Rameses lived over 100 years later)

This is a definite cartoon Bible movie that should be on your family viewing list!

 

Product Description on Amazon

THE RETELLING OF THE STORY OF MOSES. SET IN A BASKET ALONG THE RIVER BY HIS DESPERATE MOTHER, MOSES IS FOUND BY THE QUEEN AND RAISED AS BROTHER TO RAMSES, HEIR TO THE THRONE. BUT WHEN AN ADULT MOSES LEARNS OF HIS HERITAGE, HE FINDS HIMSELF FLEEING FROM THE CITY ONLY TO BE CALLED ON BY GOD TO LEAD HIS PEOPLE. 

Grace (dd9) - "I love the songs and the scene with the burning bush." 

William (ds7) - "It helps me remember the Bible stories."

Family Movie Review - Swiss Family Robinson

 

We had Swiss Family Robinson on VHS, then got the Vault Edition DVD a few years ago. We love to look at the special features on ALL our DVD's. So many hidden gems are within!

After you have seen the movie close to 20 times, it is great to watch it with the commentary. You will learn so many new things about the movie, characters, and the making of it.

Swiss Family Robinson is an exciting adventure that has no scary parts for young viewers.

The boys are real boys, and the girls are girls.

It shows how resourceful they are when learning to live off the land.

The older brothers get in a few scuffles. Over what?...a girl.

If you haven't seen this movie in a while, it's time to pick it up for your next Family Movie Night!

"One of Disney's biggest and most fondly remembered hits, the spectacular screen version of the literary classic SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON is full of breathtaking South Seas scenery, hundreds of exotic animals, and treacherous pirates. This heroic tale chronicles the courageous exploits of the Robinson family after they are shipwrecked on a deserted island. Using teamwork and ingenuity, they skillfully overcome the obstacles of nature and transform their new home into a "civilized" community. But the ultimate challenge lies ahead when a band of cutthroat pirates threaten to destroy the Robinson's Makeshift paradise. Capture the thrills, romance, and fun of this unforgettable Disney film!"

I mean, what child wouldn't love to live in a tree house?

Grace (dd9) - Favorite scenes: when they are having the Christmas dance and the part at the end with the pirates and the coconut bombs! Ka -BOOM!

William (ds7) - Favorite scenes: living in the tree house and when they are swinging from the vines!

Family Movie Review - Darby O'Gill and the Little People

 This is one of our all-time favorite family movies!

The 50's were some of the best Disney live-action movies we have ever seen. 

Darby O'Gill and the Little People debuted in 1959.

Pictures from Started by a Mouse

"The Wishing Song" has spurred many fun rants in our house, and this is a St. Patrick's Day must-have. (even if it is just to watch the "Fox Chase" fiddle rant by Darby while you are dancing around the coffee table and doing an Irish jig!)

Pictures from Started by a Mouse

  There are a few intense scenes for younger viewers with a banshee and the Costa Bower (the death coach) coming for someone who is dying. But they are surrounded by so much fun and liveliness it is soon forgotten.

You will be amazed at the visual effects of the leprechauns, and make sure you see the special features...one of Walt's favorites!

Here is the description found on Amazon.com and on the back of the DVD:

"Take a wee bit of ancient folklore, mix in some spectacular special effects and a magical cast (including Sean Connery) -- and you've got one of the most enchanting fantasies of all time! A frisky old storyteller named Darby O'Gill is desperately seeking the proverbial pot of gold. There's just one tiny thing standing in his way: a 21-inch leprechaun named King Brian. In order to get the gold, Darby must match his wits against the shrewd little trickster -- which proves no small task, indeed! Fall under the spell of DARBY O'GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE for a fun-filled evening of magic, mirth, and nonstop shenanigans" 

Grace (dd9) - "It makes me happy, it's funny, and it has adventure. I REALLY love it!"

William (ds7) - "Yea, I like it. It's funny and it's neat. I like the "Fox Chase" the best!"

I will leave you with a song sung by Sean Connery in the movie:

Oh, she is my dear, my darlin' one / Her eyes so sparklin', full of fun / No other, no other / Can match the likes of her. 

She's my dear, my darlin' one / My smilin' and beguilin' one / I love the ground she walks upon / My pretty Irish girl.

Family Movie Review - The Storykeepers

 

Are you absolutely sick of the filth that is being produced for our children to watch and fill their minds with these days?

Philippians 4:8 (King James Version)

" ⁸Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

What can you do as a parent to encourage your children to "think on these things"?

Finding good programs to watch can be difficult. We are very particular when it comes to mind entertainment, and the kids have a "scissors club" that Daddy has started recently (more on that later).

Every week I will be featuring a video from our collection. 

This week it is The Storykeepers by Focus on the Family.(Zonderkidz and Goodtimes DVD)

This 13 DVD collection is one that you can watch over and over. Each individual DVD is 30 minutes long and will help the stories of Jesus and the early church come alive in your child's mind and heart.

"The year is A.D. 64, and in Rome, the church faces fierce persecution. Driven into hiding, Christians gather wherever it is safe, and together they brave the Emperor Nero's fury. At secret meetings they learn about Jesus of Nazareth...And their faith prospers, thanks to Helena, and their family of young orphans: Anna, Zakkai the Zealot, Justin, Marcus, and Cyrus, a young street juggler, keep the stories of Jesus alive in ...the Storykeepers" 

This collection would also be a helpful resource if you are learning about Rome or the early Christians as well.

Let me know if you have this collection and what you think of it - any other questions, please feel free to ask!

(I am linking this article to A Silly Little Sparrow)