6. Lawrence Of Arabia (1962)
How awesome would it be for any adult, let alone child, to be able to sit through David Leans almost 4-hour masterpiece in one go! Lawrence of Arabia would be one of those rare occasions when you would have to screen a film to the kids over a series of days. Prolonged viewing troubles aside oh how joyous it will be to see the awe of adventure swell up in your offspring, as they watch Peter OToole cross the vast plains of desert in glorious HD. There may be plenty of camp performances and overly dramatic dialogues between characters, but there are also sword fights, planes, bombs, mysterious Arabs and thought-provoking voyages to be seen along the way. Lawrence of Arabia is the sort of film that would have once inspired children to dress and play make-believe in the street. Cardboard boxes would become tents, broom handles; rifles and dressing gowns; cloaks. Now is the time to bring that back.
Parental Benefits: One is hardly going to discuss the films poetic use of semiotics with an infant, but there would be no harm is exploring the effect Leans visuals have on your childrens appreciation for film. At the very least, it could pave the way for a family trip to Morocco or Jordan, and the kids can have their very first visit to a film location.