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There are a virtually endless amount of brilliant and not-so-brilliant children’s movies that have been made over the years. Some, we probably have very fond memories of, and others we flat-out hate.
There are some movies, however, which have the power to stick with us throughout our lives in the lessons they teach us. It’s those movies that you want to make sure your child sees.
Here are three classic kids movies with life-changing messages that you should show to your child immediately if you haven’t already.
The Neverending Story
The Neverending Story tells the tale of a young hero, Bastian, who feels anything but heroic. As an ordinary kid with ordinary kid concerns, Bastian finds himself in possession of a magical book describing the amazing saga of a world called Fantasia, where magic creatures abound and where the very world itself seems threatened by an evil force of nothingness that destroys Fantasia and its inhabitants bit by bit.
Throughout the course of the film, Bastian comes to the amazing realisation that his own imagination can shape the course of the tale and save the world of Fantasia from its imminent doom.
This film isn’t just a great fantasy adventure for kids, it’s also an invaluable lesson of the power of a healthy imagination. Sometimes in life, things will seem dark and circumstances will get you down. In times like these, it’s essential to remember that a burst of imagination can not only bring colour and life back to a seemingly grey and dying world, but can also free us from our predicaments and see us on to future glories and happiness.
Image via Flickr
The Karate Kid
The Karate Kid begins as the story of a young teenage boy moving with his mother to a new home and a new life, and finding it difficult to adapt. Our protagonist’s struggles see him fall afoul of the local bullies and get savagely beaten, and his happiness and self-esteem — not to mention his mother’s — hit an all-time low.
It’s at this point that our protagonist Daniel meets Mr Miyagi, a Japanese expat living next door, who just so happens to be a karate master. Mr Miyagi begins training Daniel, and not only teaches him how to defend himself, but teaches him lessons about responsibility, wisdom, and compassion, which are easily as important.
The Karate Kid has many great lessons to teach. Ranging from the simple, “there’s light at the end of the tunnel”, to deeper, more philosophical lessons about the responsible use of power and finding harmony in life.
FernGully the Last Rainforest
FernGully the Last Rainforest introduces us to a forest kingdom filled with fairies, talking creatures, and other magical creatures, living their lives in bliss and harmony, right up until the moment a logging operation comes to destroy their home.
Through a magical mishap, one of the loggers is shrunk down to fairy-size, falls in love, and has his eyes opened to the wondrous world he had never been able to see before. With his newfound vision, he fights to save the forest.
FernGully teaches that there is very often more to life than meets the eye. It reminds us of the power and beauty of nature, and the importance of respecting it. That no matter the artificial grass benefits of our local astroturf, there is something truly magical in the great outdoors.