Plan a movie night with the kids

Families often have more downtime than usual during the week between Christmas and New Year's, when children are off of school. It's a perfect opportunity to plan a family movie night. We asked Stephanie Curtis, the "movie maven" for Minnesota Public Radio, to talk about movies and kids and what her own family will be watching during the holidays.Q: What are the characteristics of a good family movie?

A: A great family movie is not just for kids. It doesn't need to have an important message. The best ones have elements that will appeal to kids and entertain them, but also keep parents engaged. The Pixar films are a great example. Movies like "Toy Story" and "Ratatouille" really pay attention to the script and the story.

It can be tricky to find a movie that appeals to all ages. You can find something that little kids will like, but teenagers will be bored. Or you can find something that adults and kids older than 10 might like, but that isn't for younger kids.

Q: What are some of your recommendations?

A: For young children, "My Neighbor Totoro," a Japanese animated film, is on my list of one of the top 10 movies of all time. It's about two little girls and a gentle monster. It's really, really magical. "The Red Balloon" is very magical for kids, too. There's a little bit of sadness, but that's OK.

For elementary-school age, "Into the West" is great. It's about two boys and a horse trying to get away from bad guys. Simple, but a really good story. "The Great Escape" with Steve McQueen is one of my all-time favorites -- it's a good choice for older kids and teenagers. Comedies from the 1940s, like "To Be or Not to Be" and "Bringing Up Baby" are also good for this age group. They are funny and quick-paced with rat-a-tat-tat dialogue.

If you're thinking about going to the theater, "The Muppets" is very sweet. They didn't update it or change the tone and I liked it a lot. "Puss in Boots" is good. "Hugo" has some beautiful shots, but to be honest, it didn't keep the kids entertained. The movie I'm most looking forward to seeing is "War Horse," directed by Steven Spielberg.

A: Well, parents might have more time on their hands, kids have more time and the sun goes down at 4:30 p.m.! The idea of a family movie night can be pretty appealing.

I love watching movies with my kids, who are 3 and 6. We'll get together on the couch, pull on a comforter and have a great time. We just watched "Annie" for the first time and my 6-year-old daughter was so into it -- she would lean forward every time Annie was in peril.

Q: What were your favorite movies when you were growing up?

A: My mom and I watched a lot of movies together -- we loved musicals like "Singin' in the Rain." When I think about my favorite holiday movies, those are films like "The Shop Around the Corner" and "Meet Me in St. Louis."

Q: How can parents help children develop good movie-watching habits, whether they are watching at home or in the theater?

If you're watching at home, try to do it with as few interruptions as possible. Don't stop and start the film -- you lose some of the magic when you do that. Movies are made to be watched all the way through; when you start a movie one night and finish it the next, it really changes the experience.