You wouldn't buy your child a book that was cut off at the margins, and if kids don't get to see the whole picture as the director intended, it becomes much harder for them to learn that filmmakers create meanings with images, the same way that writers create meanings with words. Watching your kids' reaction to movies you love can remind you of discovering them yourself. Encouraging kids to watch a movie from start to finish will allow the film to cast its spell, and I'm convinced that this strengthens kids' concentration. Parents shouldn't make the same mistake with movies. I'm also convinced that adults can enjoy any truly good children's movie without having to turn their brains off.
Good movies are enjoyable in all sorts of unexpected ways.
Your kids may not like all of your favorites, but they might like more than you'd think. Remember the movies that have given you pleasure when searching for tapes to show your kids, and don't be afraid to pick something that may be a bit over their heads. While many people complain that today's movies are infantile, slightly older films can make kids curious about the world of adults, even on the simple level of finding themselves drawn to performers like Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn or Humphrey Bogart. Remember that kids who have grown up accustomed to all sorts of outlandish special effects may not be as easily frightened as we were. Afterward, I saw two mothers who had brought a boy of about 8 and a girl of about 10.