Family friendly movie favorites

Since the Academy Awards are tonight and so many of today's movies are filled with blood, gore, and violence, I thought I'd make a short list of some older great children/family friendly movies I have enjoyed with my family over the years. Some are obvious, some are more obscure. Some are foreign films that may be difficult for very young children. Many are not only entertaining but have deep lessons of tolerance, morality, perseverance and strength. Many have strong female leading characters which I guess was influenced by the fact that I have two daughters.

1. Frog - a 1987 made for TV flick by Wonderworks; Elliott Gould, Shelley Duvall, Scott Grimes, and Paul Williams. Don't confuse this with the sequel "Frogs!"; the original is the best one. The whole family will be singing "That's amore" by the time it's over.

2. Rabbit Proof Fence - 2002 - Rated PG - Excellent for older kids; based on true story of 3 girls making their way back home alone across the Australian outback in 1931.

3. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - 1971- Rated G - might be scary and a bit rough for really young ones, but I think this version is better than Johnny Depp's recent remake. Great music, great acting, great lessons.

4. Whale Rider - 2002 - New Zealand film rated PG-13 - an 11 year old girl believes she is destined to be chief of her Maori family tribe; strong relationship between girl and her grandfather

5. Children of Heaven - 1997 - Rated PG - a poor Iranian boy loses his sister's only pair of shoes, so he and his sister share one pair; (sub-titles)

6. Millions - 2005 - Rated PG - two English boys find millions of dollars; one wants to spend it, one wants to give it away

7. My Dog Skip - 2000 - Rated PG - lonely kid comes out of his shell because of a dog

8. Her Majesty - 2001 - Rated PG - New Zealand film - 13 yr old girl has lifetime dream of meeting the Queen and finds her chance to fulfill it

9. The Man from Snowy River - 1982 - Rated PG - a western the whole family can enjoy; beautiful scenery

10. I Am David - 2003 - Rated PG - 12 yr old boy escapes Communist concentration camp with only a loaf of bread and a letter to deliver to someone in Denmark; another movie about a strong, determined child

11. The Secret of Roan Inish - 1994 - Rated PG - Irish fairy tale; quiet, slow moving, but great story.