Ten Epic Movies: Animal Films: Horses

Another movie list! I had this period from around 5th grade to 7th that I was absolutely, head-over-heels, in love with... horses. I went around telling people that I was a horse. Seriously, no joke. Naturally, I still own a ton of horse DVDs and have a seen a ridiculous amount of horse-related movies, so picking ten will be easy:

10. Moondance Alexander (2007): This movie, while really well-made, is quite a cliche. A troubled man finds himself haunted by his past when an eccentric teenager shows up. He overcomes his personal troubles to help her achiever her dreams. There is a spectacular ending, which is why this film is even on the list.

9. Misty (1961): The movie had the real Misty in it: awesome! She didn't play herself, though. The movie is a film adaptation of Marguerite Henry's book about a pony on a Virginian island, Chincoteague Island, titled Misty of Chincoteague.The actual Misty has something like 80 descendents still living on Chincoteague!

8. Two Bits And Pepper (1995): This is more of a film for horse-people, particularly horsey kids. It's about two girls and two ponies who act incredibly brave when faced by some very bad criminals.

7. War Horse (2011): I actually haven't seen this whole movie. Didn't get to watch the last half hour or so, but the beginning and middle were definitely amazing. The book was awesome, and the film was a Spielberg film, practically guaranteeing awesome-ness.

6. Secretariat (2010): As a horse-racing film, it was dramatic and suspenseful and pretty much awesome, but it still doesn't trump Seabiscuit (2003).

5. Breaking Free (A Leap Of Faith) (1995): I personally am absolutely in love with this film because it combines my two loves: horse-jumping and gymnastics. The blind gymnast's story is inspirational and awesome, even though the origin of her blindness gave me nightmares about a particular balance beam dismount for weeks.

4. Black Beauty (1994): Because it's such a beloved story, there are naturally something like six film adaptations. My favorite, however, is the one from 1994, I think. I can't be sure because 1. The internet provides poor descriptions of them and 2. I have no idea where my personal copies of the various versions are.

3. Dreamer (2005): While Dreamer at first seemed like a Seabiscuit copycat, it was far from being so. The horse of Dreamer overcame his own obstacles. The movie showed a heartwarming bond between a horse and his person, a relationship every equine-obsessed kid craves.

2. Seabiscuit (2003): Seabiscuit, the horse, the book, and the movie, are three American legends (haha, get it? Probably not). The horse was it's own 1930's racing star, the book that chronicled its life inspired and continues to inspire mounds of jockeys and trainers to be, and the movie was the pioneer of horse-racing films.

1. Flicka (2006): Seriously, just watch this movie. It's got everything: family and horses. What else could you need?

I get that not everyone likes watching multi-ton, smelly animals lumber around chewing hay. But I think each action (except for cleansing their bodies of waste) of the horse is majestic and beautiful, even tasks as simple as eating. Obviously, the above movies do more than show horses eat. They highlight the things that make horses amazing even to those not completely in love. The ones made in 2003 and on are the best for a wider range of audiences, but they really are all great!

Ten Epic Movies: Animated: Disney Classics

First in a bunch of movie lists. 'Cause movies are almost as awesome as books. I defined, as Disney Classics, pre-Disney Renaissance animated movies. So before I get beheaded for neglecting The Lion King and The Little Mermaid, let me just explain that these are all older than 1989.

10. Sleeping Beauty (1959): Out of all the Disney princesses, I think Aurora's probably the prettiest. However, the movie freaked 6 year-old me out. The scene with Maleficient the evil fairy lady making Aurora prick her finger on the spinning wheel was just weird. 

9. Pinocchio (1940): While Walt Disney's ingenious classics teach us lessons on pretty much every basic moral a kid should have, they also instilled false hopes. Exhibit 1: there's no Prince Charming. Exhibit 2: there's no Pleasure Island. Ah, well, at least Pinocchio was finally a real boy.

8. Lady and the Tramp (1955): I frequently confuse this story with The Fox and the Hound from 1981 just because of the animals. This doggy love story is endearing, and who doesn't love a good meatball scene?

7. Bambi (1942): Seriously, this and Fantasia are probably the movies of the last three generations' childhoods. I can't even begin to count how many times at after school programs or sleepovers or summer camps I watched this. And the iconic death of Bambi's mother, embedded in our 1st grade memories forever.

6. One Hundred and One Dalmations (1961): Talk about another great animal movie. That mean lady Cruella de Vil was just creepy. Poor doggies!

5. Cinderella (1950): This movie was just enchanting. Period. The carriage, the glass slipper, Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo, and the birds flying in arcs around the princess as they fashioned here ball gown simply capture the attention of audience of any age. If I asked, my mom and grandmother would probably sit down with my 2 year old sister and I to watch this movie tomorrow. 

4. Peter Pan (1953): Wendy and Peter and all the Lost Boys capture your heart as they fight off Captain Hook. And there is Tinker Bell, of course, teaching children everywhere to believe in fairies, because everytime you don't, a fairy somewhere dies. A bit odd, really, but isn't that what animated movies are about?

3. Alice in Wonderland (1951): Lewis Carroll was a genius. Walt Disney was a genius. Put the two together and out come's one of the best movies the world of animation has ever seen. From the Cheshire Cat to the Dormouse to Alice's iconic bright yellow locks, Alice in Wonderland is a movie you can't tire of watching.

2. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937): This movie is older than my grandmother. This movie is the first full-length animation in history, and just proves Walt Disney's continuously reiterated ingenuity. The seven dwarfs and the pale princess with whom they live are an integral part of every little girl's childhood. It's what puts the idea of a Prince Charming in most of our tiny heads.

1. Fantasia (1940): This movie is my musical background. It's what made me start loving to make music, to enjoy it. I've heard it's done the same for other classically trained students of all sorts of instruments as well. The dancing brooms and the Sorcerer Mickey Mouse are some things that are just so different that it's remarkable.

Wow, a nostalgic teenager. Is that almost a paradox? Oxymoron, anyone? Technically speaking, we're still children. We are until we're 18. However, gone are the days of snuggling under a blanket and watching Cinderella until we fall asleep. These movies were all present and probably extremely prominent in our elementary school and preschool years, and we'll carry with us the memories and experiences watching for the rest of our lives.

Honorable Mentions (a.k.a. the rest of them in order): Dumbo (1941), Saludos Amigos (1942),  The Three Caballeros (1944), Make Mine Music (1946), Fun and Fancy Free (1947), Melody Time (1948), The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949), The Sword in the Stone (1963), The Jungle Book (1967), The Aristocats (1970), Robin Hood (1973), The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977), The Rescuers (1977), The Fox and the Hound (1981), The Black Cauldron (1985), The Great Mouse Detective (1986), Oliver & Company (1988),