This summer Caroline and I are going to spend some time watching films and movies that we can count toward our homeschooling time/credits. I have some in mind, but I thought I would crowd source some ideas from all of you. Feel free to share all your favorites since they will probably be new to someone either reading now or reading at some point in the future when she finds this post.
I’m especially looking for ideas that cover certain topics which I’ll highlight below, but I’m interested in anything good. Nothing gory, nothing really depressing, and nothing with a sad ending. We’re not going to watch things like “Schindler’s List”. Those are not possible in our home.
Classic Books Made Into Films
We can kill two birds with one stone if there are good films I can overlap with books. What are some of your favorites?
Shakespeare
I confess I’m not a big Shakespeare person. I read quite a few in high school and saw three live productions at Stratford (Canada) so I’ve experienced it both in written and live format. I’d like Caroline to become familiar with some of the most important plays in order to understand the influence on our language and such, but I highly doubt we’re going to spend months reading through multiple plays in the original language. Which film adaptations are your favorites? Bonus if they are easier to understand for kids with processing challenges.
History and Biographies
These can definitely fit into our plans so which ones are your favorites? Bonus points if they fit into periods of history that fewer films and movies cover.
I look forward to hearing what you recommend!
Morning Hope – Psalm 71
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Hi Sallie,
May I recommend Mel Gibson in Hamlet. Thoroughly comprehensive.
Hi Thomas,
Thank you! Hamlet is one I would like to cover with her so that’s a great recommendation.
Sallie
Cheers
Sallie, I would be wary of the Mel Gibson production of Hamlet. The adult members of our household have enjoyed the movie in the past, and while the acting is excellent, it does contain a scene in which Hamlet mimes having s*xual relations with his mother. I found it very distasteful and a huge turn-off for me personally. If that scene could be skipped, then I would recommend it unreservedly.
In the past we liked Gods and Generals for Civil War era history.
If Caroline is a horse lover, Black Beauty by Anna Sewell was made into a lovely film that is quite moving, and the soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful. Warning – you will cry. I also love the Megan Follows adaptation of Anne of Green Gables and its sequel. I am hard pressed to think of many movies based on classic literature that do not stray very far from the original stories. I know many people love the Jane Austen films but I’ve never been a fan – of the books or the movies. The Lord of the Rings trilogy of books has been one of my favorites since I first read them at the age of fourteen many moons ago, and I think they did an admirable job with the films, though the actor chosen for Aragorn sorely disappointed me. On the other hand, The Hobbit is another old favorite that they totally destroyed, sadly. My daughter and I both feel as though books should be left to themselves most of the time because they inevitably get “ruined” in translation! She just mentioned the Narnia series which we have enjoyed as films (the newest ones) but of course they did not remain very faithful to the originals either and we think they should have made The Magician’s Nephew first. You can tell that we like fantasy! 🙂 If I think of any others, I will let you know!
Sally,
You asked if anyone could recommend movies based on Shakespeare’s plays, so I thought it over and came up with this list:
Joss Whedon’s adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing and Michael Hoffman’s version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream are a couple of very good Movies based on Shakespeare’s plays.
I’ve heard that Julie Taymoor’s adaptations of Titus Andronicus and The Tempest are excellent as well, though I have never seen them.
Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet was widely lauded. It is also very long.
Kiss Me Kate, based on Cole Porter’s 1948 musical, is a charming adaptation of All’s Well That Ends Well.
10 things I hate about you is a teen comedy based on the Taming of the Shrew.
Hopefully something on that list is palatable.
Here are a few movies you and Caroline might enjoy; Pollyanna,the original Parent trap starring Hayley Mills, Jane of Lantern Hill,The Singing Nun,Sound Of Music,any Shirley Temple movie,Anne Of Green Gables, All of the Jane Austen movies.the Waltons specials,Toby Tyler starring Kevin Corcoran,Yous,Mine and Ours starring Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda,Cheaper By The Dozen, With Six You Get Egg roll and Please Don’t Eat The Daisy starring Doris Day.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
I have a whole blog post on my favorite Shakespeare adaptations: https://ticiamessing.com/good-shakespeare-movies/
Okay, now I need to actually read the rest of your post, but my mind is boggling at not liking Shakespeare, I LOVE Shakespeare.
Hi Ticia,
I read for three reasons. One, to escape to happy places (not read about people’s trauma in novels). Two, to learn about God and my faith. Three, to learn about a topic that I’m very interested in.
At the risk of sounding so common, Shakespeare is just too much work. LOL!
Sallie
Okay, now I’m back having actually paid attention to what I was reading. I have a lot of suggestions on this. We do a lot of movieschooling, so here goes:
American Revolution (in particular I recommend Johnny Tremian, which is also a book, and John Adams (though there is brief male nudity in the beginning with a tar and feather scene): https://ticiamessing.com/family-friendly-american-revolution-movies/
World War 1 (in particular I recommend 1917, though it is violent): https://ticiamessing.com/world-war-1-movies/
Great Depression (Cinderella Man is a good one for this time period): https://ticiamessing.com/movies-to-learn-about-the-great-depression/
World War 2 (there are hundreds, it really would depend on what you’re trying to go for with this): https://ticiamessing.com/movies-for-world-war-2/
Books made into movies (I broke them down by grade level, and there are a lot of great ones you could watch/read, I know you said classics, but even that is a broad category): https://ticiamessing.com/50-books-and-movies/
Time periods I don’t have posts for yet:
Luther- really good overview of his life
Newsies- the newsboy strike of 1898ish
Glory- mini-series for the Civil War
That’s all I’m thinking of offhand.
Hi Ticia,
Thank you for this list. I’ll be revisiting it in the months ahead and hope other readers find it helpful!
Sallie