top ten movies with animals, great suggestions for movie parties

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Top Ten Movies Starring Animals...Or Almost!

May 19 '06

 

The Bottom Line Fun and entertaining movies for the entire family!

 

We all love animals and sometimes the animal(s) are the subject or

thus the star of the movie. I thought I'd do something a little

different and present a list of Top Ten Favorite Animal Flicks. These

are all G rated (if rated) and great movies to entertain the kids

over the summer. Oh, one more thing, they are not in any particular

order. Hope you enjoy!

 

BECAUSE OF WINN DIXIE

 

A young girl who was abandoned by her mother at age 3 lives with her

father who is an evangelist. He gets a new job and they move to

Florida where she sets out to make new friends. Most of the kids are

snobby and she just doesn't fit in very well. While running an errand

to the local Winn Dixie Supermarket, she encounters a stray dog who

had stormed through the store knocking down displays and causing

havoc. She adopts him on the spot and names him Winn Dixie. The story

is captivating and also has a few morals to the story. Lots of

laughter and entertainment from this 2005 film. Good for all ages!

 

Starring: Anna Sophia Robb, Jeff Daniels, and Cicely Tyson.

 

PAULIE

 

Paulie debuted on the big screen in 1988. It is a great family film

and kids of all ages will fall in love with Paulie, the Blue Crown

Parrot. Paulie, is given to a little girl who has a speech problem.

She falls in love with the beautiful creature who she discovers can

talk. Paulie helps the child learn to speak without stuttering

overtime but is taken away when her father decides the child is

having a problem with reality vs. fantasy.

 

Starring: Gena Rowlands as Ivy, Tony Shalhoub as Misha Vilyenkov,

Cheech Marin as Ignacio, and Bruce Davison as Dr. Reingold.

 

AIR BUD

 

This movie was a popular hit in 1997. It told the story of a 12 year

old boy (Josh) who has recently lost his father. The family moves to

a new town and he is faced with making new friends and going to a new

school. He loves to play basketball and discovers a runaway dog, a

golden retriever, Buddy. Buddy begins to show off his skills on the

court and the two become close buds. Josh decides to try out for the

school team and makes it. Buddy becomes the team mascot until his

previous owner gets wind of his stardom.

 

Starring: Michael Jeter, Kevin Zegers, Wendy Makkena, Bill Cobbs, and

Eric Christmas.

 

OLD YELLER

 

This 1957 classic is a favorite among young and old. It's a

heartwarming tale of the Coates' family. When Dad leaves on a cattle

drive, he leaves his oldest son, Travis in charge to care for the

family. A dog suddenly appears and adopts the family. Travis' love

for the dog grows each day and he develops a special relationship

with Ol' Yeller as he has come to be named. **Warning: Due to the

sensitive nature (ending) do not let young children watch this one

alone!

 

Starring: Dorothy McGuire, Fess Parker, Jeff York, Chuck Conners,

Tommy Kirk, and Kevin Corcoran.

 

THE YEARLING

 

This is another oldie but goodie! It is a 1947 classic set in post

Civil War time. It is the story of a Rebel soldier who takes his

family (wife and son) to Florida to start a new life farming. They

have lost the other children and the wife is having a hard time

dealing with this and very distant. The son wanting a pet badly was

heartbroken when his mom wouldn't give in to this. However, his dad

was struck by a rattlesnake, killed a deer to use the organs to pull

out the poison from the snakebite. The deer just happened to be a doe

with a fawn who quickly becomes the new pet. A strong attachment and

bond is formed which makes for a tough decision when the fawn grows

up and starts to be a nuisance in the fields eating and trampling the

crops.

 

Starring: Gregory Peck, Jane Wyman, Claude Jarman, Jr., Chill Wills,

and Clem Bevans.

 

THE SILVER STALLION

 

This is a 1993 movie set in the high country mountains in Australia.

There are wild stallions running wild here, and knows as " brumbies "

in Aussieland. This movie is exciting and has outstanding and

gorgeous scenery. If you are a horselover, you will love this movie.

The plot takes you back and forth from a mother's writing which she

translates into a story to tell her daughter, Indi, on a stormy

night. It is about a beautiful silver stallion who births an

exceptional cream colored foal with a silver mane and tail.

Enter " The Man " who wants to capture the gorgeous silver stallion and

a war begins between man and stallion. The plot takes you back and

forth between the real lives and this continuing story of the silver

stallion.

 

Starring: Russell Crowe (The Man), Caroline Goodall, Amiel Daemion,

and Johnny Raaen.

 

BEETHOVEN

 

Who could forget the huge St. Bernard, Beethoven, in 1992? The

Newton's decide they have something missing in their lives and fill

the void with a new a puppy. He is named Beethoven and quickly grows

up, into a huge St. Bernard. He is loved by all in the family but Dad

is not yet totally won over. Beethoven's vet is not a man of good

character and wants to use Beethoven in his " experiments " . Will he be

saved?

 

Starring: Charles Grodin, Bonnie Hunt, Dean Jones, Nicholle Tom,

Christopher Castile and Sarah Rose Karr.

 

ADVENTURES OF MILO AND OTIS

 

Cute 1989 adventure film of Milo the curious cat, who gets in a box

and floats down the creek and Milo, the adorable pug who follows

along on shore. They are separated and begin the long search to find

the other once again. Lots of excitement and beautiful scenery.

 

Narrated by: Dudley Moore

 

THE RETURN OF RIN TIN TIN

 

Another classic from 1945. Story about a war orphaned boy who is sent

to live in a mission in California. An escaped dog, Rin Tin Tin shows

up and becomes friendly with the boy, drawing him out of seclusion

and depression. Then, the dog's owners come on the scene....the boy

and dog manage to stay together and become friends for life.

 

Starring: Robert Blake, Donald Woods, Steve Pendleton and Rin Tin Tin

III.

 

THE PAINTED HILLS

 

1951 marked the year of Lassie's last movies, The Painted Hills.

Beautiful mountain scenery mixed with adventure makes this an

entertaining film. Jonathan finally hits the jackpot and strikes

gold. He finds that his partner has died and left his son, Tommy all

alone. He leaves Shep, (Lassie) with Tommy to keep him company.

Meanwhile, he finds a new partner, Lin who turns out to be greedy and

wants all the gold for himself. He plots to kill Jonathon and Shep.

However, Shep pulls through and gets his revenge. This one may be a

bit intense for smaller children.

 

Starring: Paul Kelly, Bruce Cowling, Gary Gray and Art Smith.

 

I hope you enjoyed reading my list of favorites and this helps to

entertain the kido's over the summer break.