Finding good movie role models for teenage boys in dating relationships is not easy. There is so much emphasis on the strict adherence to guy rules (which are bad for emotionally intimate relationships), the overly romanticized characterizations of boys and girls who don’t expect much from their boyfriends. Here are some movies with better guy role models. Pretty in Pink …
Family Time Movie Theater: The Silence of Space
In honor of the Perseid meteor shower that is making it’s spectacular, yearly apperance this month, these movies have a space theme. While there are LOTS of films with this theme, the focus of this list is on (mostly) what humans (or movie characters) have accomplished through bravery, sacrifice and perseverance (because why miss an opportunity to model the nobility …
Family Time Movie Theater: Saving Grace of Character
The Saving Grace of character counteracts greed, cruelty, selfishness and theft. Here are some movies that show the power of a saving grace and some that show the devastation (both personal and social) of being a person of low character. Saving Grace The Firm (R) An idealistic law school graduate takes a lucrative job offer in a secretive …
The Ole Swimmin Hole
Growing up in Louisiana (the land of bayous, rivers and lakes), my brother, sister and I spent every day of summer in the water. Our fingers and toes would sometimes bleed from how shriveled and tender they became from all that time in the water. While I don’t recommend this level of water obsession to everyone, summers are made for …
Family Time Movie Theater-Swimming
When you are considering movies for family movie night, you might consider ones in which swimming is an important element. They can be terrorizing (Jaws), campy (Bathing Beauty with Esther Williams) or, like the ones described below, inspirational. Swimming Upstream (PG-13) Australian swimmer Tony Fingleton rose above his deeply troubled home life in order to become a national champion in …
Family Time Movie Theater: Leadership
Finding portrayals of leadership in film is a challenge unless you want a male military commander or coach as the model. Good luck finding many women portrayed in true leadership roles. Here are some examples of male and female leaders as portrayed in film and television you can watch with your kids to see good leadership in action. Chicken …
Blackberry Pickin’
My grandmother LOVED blackberries. Every summer she would have us out with our buckets in the blackberry patch under a blazing Louisiana sun picking juicy berries until we were worn out. Then there was the baking of the blackberry cobbler! If you are looking for something to do as a family that is unique and tasty, blackberry pickin’ can be …
Celebrate Summer on the Summer Solstice!
June is the month when summer officially begins. The Summer Solstice brings the Longest day of the year. It is when our hemisphere tilts toward the sun bringing longer and brighter days. It occurs between June 20 and 22, depending on the year. Wake everyone up to go out and greet the sunrise! Do something special! What better reason could …
Family Time Movie Theater: Smoking cigarettes and cancer
It is surprisingly difficult to find movies that deal specifically with lung cancer. Not sure why that would be. Wonder if there is a group of large, wealthy, multinational corporations who are influencing the decisions (and funding) for movie making? Anyway, here are a couple of films that address it (kind of). Brian’s Song is such a great film that …
Family Time Movie Theater: Suicide and Suicide Attempts
When it comes to family movie time don’t shy away from films that have serious issues like those that have suicide or suicide attempts in the story line. Watch them WITH your kid so you can talk about the issues involved and find out what they think (and how they feel) about stress, disappointment and despair. Most will be somewhat …