September 23, 20223 yr I have a 14 year old son, and we watched Saving Private Ryan together recently. He loved it, and it got me to thinking that there are a whole lot of movies that I think he and I should watch together. Some because they are just great movies, but some that have a truth or lesson in them, especially those that are important for aspiring men. Anyway, here are a few movies that I want to make sure we watch together. Give me some more suggestions. Outlaw Josie Wales Big Lebowski Schindler's List Grand Torino Shawshank Redemption American Beauty Patton A River Runs Through It Full Metal Jacket Life is Beautiful Goodfellas
September 23, 20223 yr Not a movie but Band of Brothers should be in the queue. Separately, surprised American Beauty is on the list, any particular reason there?
September 23, 20223 yr 1 hour ago, Frieda’s Boss said: Not a movie but Band of Brothers should be in the queue. Separately, surprised American Beauty is on the list, any particular reason there? hes either gay or he wants to bang the cheerleader at his sons school
September 23, 20223 yr Why would American beauty be a dad and son movie? That would creep me out.Just a few. Some you’ll want to wait til he’s olderIt’s a Wonderful LifeBattlegroundThe Right StuffBlazing SAddlesYoung FrankensteinOld YellerThe Blue MaxChefBullittEndless SummerHoneysuckle Rose (Texas, Willie, music)2001Dr StrangeloveSchindlers ListThe Godfather I & IIThe SearchersAirplane!HudJunction BoysDAs BootFargoJeremiah JohnsonButch Cassidy and the Sundance KidBernieA lot of Texas based movies. It’s important.
September 23, 20223 yr My son is in sixth grade, about the age I was when I saw Stand By Me. Thinking about watching that with him soon. I’d say a River Runs Through It, but that movie was terrible and my son would fall asleep in the middle of it.
September 23, 20223 yr October Sky, esp if he's a bit of an engineer mind. It's a great engineering movie, plus a great family story.
September 23, 20223 yr Tommy Boy- watched this on a 7" portable DVD player on a boys high school playoff football trip in 2007. It is so engrained in our vernacular and daily exchanges, I think it would qualify as the one thing my wife hated that I ever did with the boys, therefore, it is spectacularly perfect. Napoleon Dynamite- Runner up to Tommy Boy for interjecting lines into our daily lives. Rocky Full Metal Jacket( we watched the boot camp scenes and they didn't watch the Vietnam scenes until later( probably next day when I went to work) The Fugitive Shawshank Redemption My kids hated The Godfather the first time they saw it. They love it now. Not sure 14 is the right-ish age. Depends on the kid, I guess. +1 on October Sky, as both kids were already wired that way. Wheelhouse for them.
September 23, 20223 yr I like a lot of the list above. Didn't see anyone mention: Big Fish and My Life They hit on Father/Son relationships so it might be too direct a message for someone 14. LOL.
September 23, 20223 yr American History X Glory Karate Kid Top Gun & TG - Maverick Back to the Future The last three more for fun than any important deeper life messages. Absolutely would include Band of Brothers in the list. Especially after Ryan.
September 23, 20223 yr 25 minutes ago, deech said: Big Fish I watched that with my parents many years ago, when my dad was somewhere in his 60’s (he’s 78 now). I can count the times on one hand I’ve seen my old man cry in my lifetime, and I could sense that he was getting emotional at the final scene. His dad was a fisherman, and they had a similarly strained relationship. At the end he got up and left the house, and I could hear him audibly weep as he walked out the front door.
September 23, 20223 yr Author Thanks for the suggestions. He’s seen some of these already. I get the question marks in reaction to American Beauty. It’s definitely not a typical man’s movie. He would need to older, maybe even over 18. I think AB serves as a great cautionary tale. It makes the point that following the common, acceptable path and checking all the boxes of the American dream does not necessarily lead to happiness and contentment. He gets one life, and some people spend all of theirs unhappily living a “good life” that society, media, parents, etc... have imprinted on them. If that isn’t where your happiness resides, don’t settle for it, or you’ll regret it at the end. Amazing how few of the movies mentioned have been made in the last 20 years. Have any been made in the last 10?
September 23, 20223 yr Cool Hand Luke The Sting The Great Gatsby (both versions) Tombstone Perfect Storm just to add a few
September 23, 20223 yr Boogie Nights Smokey and the Bandit Caddyshack Weird Science Private School Porky's Ferris Bueller's Day Off
September 23, 20223 yr 46 minutes ago, Goredho said: Thanks for the suggestions. He’s seen some of these already. I get the question marks in reaction to American Beauty. It’s definitely not a typical man’s movie. He would need to older, maybe even over 18. I think AB serves as a great cautionary tale. It makes the point that following the common, acceptable path and checking all the boxes of the American dream does not necessarily lead to happiness and contentment. He gets one life, and some people spend all of theirs unhappily living a “good life” that society, media, parents, etc... have imprinted on them. If that isn’t where your happiness resides, don’t settle for it, or you’ll regret it at the end. Amazing how few of the movies mentioned have been made in the last 20 years. Have any been made in the last 10? I loved American Beauty as a grown ass man recognizing so many of the depictions calling out real life tales of depravity and/or bad marriages. It was dark AF and I loved it because of it. Never once thought, "Oh my boys would love this movie." Same goes for American History X. Great movie. Not sure it would be cool for a 14 YO. The reason most of my suggestions are a bit older is a function of when my own boys were that age. I was thinking about more flicks and would include stuff like: The Martian Almost any Bond flick Finding Forrester Good Morning Vietnam- my sons were very interested when I informed them Robin Williams was in it, and they knew he had voiced the genie in Aladdin. Master and Commander Good Will Hunting Stand and Deliver a shit ton of sports movies
September 23, 20223 yr Author Yeah, like I said, American Beauty is for when he’s older. These aren’t all movies that I think I should watch with him at 14. More like things with messages he should receive/consider between now and when he’s out on his own.
September 23, 20223 yr Add Fatal Attraction to the list then...#sarcasm Edited September 23, 20223 yr by slorch
September 23, 20223 yr Breaking Away. Could be considered as much a movie about a father and son as much as a buddy movie IMO. Happiness is relative is a good message to learn.
September 23, 20223 yr Author I know Glory was mentioned, but it seems like given the times, perhaps some movies concerning the American Revolution and the Civil War might be in order. I'm not sure if I could have made it through the Ken Burns docuseries when I was a young man.
September 23, 20223 yr 10 minutes ago, Goredho said: I know Glory was mentioned, but it seems like given the times, perhaps some movies concerning the American Revolution and the Civil War might be in order. I'm not sure if I could have made it through the Ken Burns docuseries when I was a young man. The Crossing with Jeff Daniels cast as George Washington. While not in the 10 star category it's not bad and I'm always rather pleased with anything Daniels does. He's a good actor. Movie title says it all.
September 23, 20223 yr My son's also 14 and we watch tons of movies together. He loves scary/horror movies the most, but here are some of our faves across genres, not including many of the ones y'all have already listed. Get Out The Goonies Stand by Me It (I know, I know, but in between the horror is a great coming-of-age story) The Shawshank Redemption Ready or Not Dead Poets Society Others we haven't seen together but that are on the list: The Green Mile Good Will Hunting True Grit
September 23, 20223 yr 1 hour ago, slorch said: a shit ton of sports movies Field of Dreams is a must if he has even a passing interest in baseball
September 23, 20223 yr Author 11 minutes ago, baboso said: Secondhand Lions. Since you indicated a military movie bent, American Sniper. He's seen seconhand lions already. I actually haven't seen American Sniper, so that might be a good one for both of us. I had a passing thought of Lone Survivor, too. 1 minute ago, Chuckie Finster said: Field of Dreams is a must if he has even a passing interest in baseball Neither one of us are into baseball.
September 23, 20223 yr Author Just now, RPM said: Fandango Dancer, Texas Population 81 Fort Apache Ooh, some deep cuts, but good ones.
September 23, 20223 yr 17 minutes ago, Underdog said: The Great Santini The Death of Richie Tank Holy shit. Santini and Tank are like opposite ends of the father / son relationship scale. Excellent choices and bonus points for Shirley Jones as the hot Mom in Tank. Now that I think about it, Blythe Danner was too. Edited September 23, 20223 yr by RPM
September 23, 20223 yr Already mentioned, but Master and Commander is an excellent movie. I'd also suggest Barbarossa with Willie Nelson and Gary Busey; High Plains Drifter and Hang 'Em High. And don't forget Enter the Dragon. Edited September 23, 20223 yr by 83Horn
September 23, 20223 yr 4 hours ago, South Austin said: My son is in sixth grade, about the age I was when I saw Stand By Me. Thinking about watching that with him soon. I’d say a River Runs Through It, but that movie was terrible and my son would fall asleep in the middle of it. I watched Stand By Me with mine during Covid. He would have been in 5th. It was not really much of a hit. I think it's more nostalgic for us old guys.
September 23, 20223 yr The original TMNT movie. Best treatment of the father-son relationship in all of cinema.
September 23, 20223 yr 29 minutes ago, RPM said: Holy shit. Santini and Tank are like opposite ends of the father / son relationship scale. Excellent choices and bonus points for Shirley Jones as the hot Mom in Tank. Now that I think about it, Blythe Danner was too. Not to mention this in Tank...
September 23, 20223 yr Commando Predator Conan the Barbarian Conan the Destoyer Pumping Iron True Lies Terminator Terminator 2 Running Man Twins Total Recall Kindergarten Cop
September 23, 20223 yr It’s a GiftThe Bank DickIt Happened One NightThe aviatorRaiders of the Lost ArkDazed and Confused12 oClock HighNetwork
September 23, 20223 yr Little Women Steel Magnolias Joy Luck Club A League of Their Own Hidden Figures Whale Rider
September 23, 20223 yr The Sandlot (you don’t have to like baseball at all for that one) Boyz N The Hood Apocalypto Interstellar Predator Friday Night Lights American History X Mrs Doubtfire Not a movie but I wish I’d seen Cobra Kai as a kid. Outstanding lessons on self-confidence, balance, and the results of bullying.
September 23, 20223 yr 3 hours ago, Goredho said: Thanks for the suggestions. He’s seen some of these already. I get the question marks in reaction to American Beauty. It’s definitely not a typical man’s movie. He would need to older, maybe even over 18. I think AB serves as a great cautionary tale. It makes the point that following the common, acceptable path and checking all the boxes of the American dream does not necessarily lead to happiness and contentment. He gets one life, and some people spend all of theirs unhappily living a “good life” that society, media, parents, etc... have imprinted on them. If that isn’t where your happiness resides, don’t settle for it, or you’ll regret it at the end. Amazing how few of the movies mentioned have been made in the last 20 years. Have any been made in the last 10? That is not what that movie is about
September 23, 20223 yr Beastmaster needs to be mentioned. Seeing a young nubile Tanya Roberts kickstarted some changes in me. Maybe watch that with him and then give him some alone time.
September 23, 20223 yr 4 minutes ago, Serak The Preparer said: Beastmaster needs to be mentioned. Seeing a young nubile Tanya Roberts kickstarted some changes in me. Maybe watch that with him and then give him some alone time. Its 2022, you think he hasn't seen pornography?
September 23, 20223 yr 1 minute ago, Michael Knight said: Its 2022, you think he hasn't seen pornography? Yeah but this was classy.
September 23, 20223 yr Author 6 minutes ago, Michael Knight said: Its 2022, you think he hasn't seen pornography? So get him an onlyfans gift certificate for his 15th birthday?
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