Top Ten Best… Everything!

If you’re a parent or spend a ton of time with a child, I don’t need to tell you how annoying it can be to watch movies over and over again. Next time you’re in the market for a kid’s movie that you’ll be forced to watch endlessly, check out these 10 great titles!

10. Toy Story I and II

So, they’re two titles, but how cheap would I be if I put them in two different spots on the countdown? The Toy Story movies are enjoyable, even after viewing number 100. Disney has the subtle adult humor down in these films. From the semi truck that honks, preventing Woody from saying “A** Hole” in the gas station, to Woody calling Buzz “Light Beer” instead of Lightyear, there’s a chuckle or two for adults and children alike.

9.  Cars

The soundtrack makes this movie enjoyable time and time again. In addition, the quick wit and a little more obvious adult humor (such as Larry the Cable Guy’s “Git er done” comment) make this an adult-friendly kid movie.

8. Surf’s Up

This movie is unlike any other kid’s movie out there. It is set up as a documentary of Cody Maverick, played by the ever talented Shia LaBeouf, and provides a feel-good story about pursuing your dreams and making friends. The MTV generation will appreciate the soundtrack that features tunes from Incubus, Green Day, and 311. (Don’t get this movie mixed up with its penguin-movie cousin Happy Feet. In my opinion, Happy Feet was a dark movie with an ulterior motive to guilt parents. But, that’s just me.)

7.  Shrek I, II, and III

Another great series featuring an outstanding cast, great music, and plenty of humor that parents will love. It gets a little raunchy at times, which turns many parents off, but overall these are enjoyable parent-friendly movies. (The second one is by far the best, according to fellow parents!)

6. Bee Movie

Even if you aren’t a fan of Jerry Seinfeld, you’ll enjoy the quick-wit in this movie, and your kids will love the bright colors and happy music.

5. Aladdin

Bring back a bit of your adolescence with this fun flick that has a fun-to-sing soundtrack and lots of Robin Williams humor (his clean humor, of course).

4. High School Musical

Even if your tike is just a toddler, they’ll probably enjoy this feel-good film and you’ll love the positive message and musical soundtrack! (Bonus: When you buy certain versions of the soundtrack, you get a karaoke CD so you and the kids can perform your favorite HSM songs solo.)

3. The Sandlot

Another film you might remember growing up, The Sandlot has a cute plot and great message for kids about honesty and making friends. Because it’s a live-action film, you’ll get into it too!

2. Elf

I know, it’s a Christmas movie, but I know quite a few moms (including myself) who love watching this one with their kids year-round. You can’t beat Will Farrell’s humor and the unique plot of this movie!

1. Enchanted

This movie is awesome. It begins as a cheesy cartoon fairy tale and turns into a live-action flick filled with lots of humor. This musical pokes fun at Disney fairy tales, and adults will love spotting which Disney movie is being made fun of. (A little interesting side note: The receptionist at the law firm was the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid. The fish tank in the lobby is a little clue to that fact.) You’ll love singing along to the musical numbers, and your kids will love watching a Disney princess come to life!

Don’t get stuck watching Barney over and over again. Break the cycle and get a movie that you and your kids can watch together and enjoy.

They’re out there, we’ve all heard them. Thanks to the internet, silly myths are quite easily passed around by the uber-gullible. Some of these myths are obviously fake, like Bubble Yum Gum being made of spider eggs, or Pop Rocks and soda creating a lethal combination. But other myths aren’t so obviously fake. So for your reading pleasure, here’s a list of the Top 10 Silliest Myths you’ll find anywhere… especially in your inbox.

10. “Beware” Email Forwards

These silly forwards include rapists luring women with $5 bills , murderers luring women out of their homes with the sound of a baby crying, robbers who spray women with perfume to steal their belongings, you get the drill. Have you received the email on how to defend yourself in an attack? You might be surprised that much of that forward is not very good information. Don’t believe me? Check it out here.

9. Urban Legends

Alright, people, keep it smart when you read your emails. There are no snakes in the ball pit at your favorite fast food restaurant. Your child will not be poisoned by their Halloween candy (although there could be razor blades or pins in there, apparently), and Dawn Dishwashing Liquid will not erode your tike’s corneas. Come on, now. Tell me you knew that already.

8. Pregnancy Myths

Some people must enjoy preying on the delicate emotions of pregnant women. Ladies, do not believe these silly myths, please. First of all, it is impossible to get pregnant by simply swimming in a pool (now, if you were doing other things in the pool, that’s another story…). Also, do not count on Coca Cola as an effective form of birth control. Now, if you’re already pregnant, don’t count on Drano to predict your baby’s sex, and rest assured that certain restaurants will not put you in labor.

7. Nostradamus Myths

The French astrologer, Nostradamus was, no doubt, ahead of his time. But, he did not predict 9/11, George W. Bush’s election, or the crash of the Columbia Space Shuttle. I wonder how this guy would feel, being associated with such negative events? (Awww, come on, it was set up perfectly for a Bush pun, I couldn’t resist.)

6. Cell Phone Myths

Try as you might, you will not be able to unlock your car by calling someone who has a key-less remote and aiming your cell phone toward your car. In addition, you will not be able to track your cell phone using a free website, nor will you be able to reach an emergency call center by dialing 112 , or #77. Sorry!

5. Food and Drink Myths

It makes sense that you want to be careful about what you put into your body. But these silly myths put fear and concern where there shouldn’t be. First of all, Mountain Dew will not affect the “family jewels” in any way, shape, or form. Second, the ingredients in Red Bull are not associated with brain tumors. Believe it or not, Twinkies will not last an eternity and mixing Pop Rocks and Soda will not kill you.

4. Disney Myths

These myths, though quite entertaining to read, are not true. Walt Disney’s facade is not one of the singing busts found in the graveyard at the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland and no one suffered a heart attack after the ride first opened. As far as Disney movies go, there is no penis illustrated on the cover of The Little Mermaid, and the priest is not sporting wood in the wedding scene between Eric and Ariel’s imposter (take a look for yourself, though, I’m not so convinced on either of these myths).

3.  Religion Myths

I hate to break it to you, but declaring “Jedi” as your religion will not actually make it a religion (but, may the Force be with you, anyway). Scientists have never discovered a lost day, and no one has ever drilled their way to Hell.

2. Sports Myths 

This is slightly sports and slightly movie-related, but Back to the Future II did not predict the 1997 World Series. Tom Brady was never a cast of The Brady Bunch, Superbowl Sunday does not create the most domestic violence in a single day every year,  and no one has ever been eaten by a crocodile while golfing (but Chubbs did lose his hand to one in Happy Gilmore).

1. Political Myths

It’s that time again, political mudslinging, debates, and the usual crazy political myths about the candidates. These myths take the number one spot on the Top 10 Silliest Myths for one simple example: Barack Obama is the anti-Christ . Come on now people, seriously? I don’t care who you’re voting for, this is completely insane. Another silly political myth is this picture of Sarah Palin in a flag bikini wielding a weapon. You gotta love Photoshop!

If you haven’t checked out YouTube’s collection of Movie Trailer Spoofs, you are missing out, my friend! Have you ever gone to see a movie after watching the trailer, only to realize after the movie is over that it was nothing like what you expected? Well, a bunch of talented folks have taken that concept one step further and created some of the most hilarious movie trailer recuts on YouTube. Just in case you don’t know what a trailer spoof is, allow me to explain. Ya know those movie previews you see before the movie starts? They usually have music and cuts to match the theme of the film, right? Well, with these spoofs, the creative individuals who have put them together have taken different music (for instance slasher movie soundtrack for a children’s movie) and cut the movie up to create a whole new trailer with an entirely different meaning. It’s amazing what an editing job and some new music can do to recreate how a movie appears!

Here are 10 of the best YouTube trailer spoofs, let me know which one you enjoy the most:

10. Cat In The Hat: Family/Comedy-turned-Horror

9. The Princess Bride: Comedy-turned-Horror/Drama

8. Dumb and Dumber: Comedy-turned-Horror

7. The Waterboy: Comedy-turned-Horror/Drama

6. School of Rock: Comedy/Family-turned-Horror

5. Liar Liar: Comedy-turned-Drama

4. Dodgeball: Comedy-turned-Drama

3. Mary Poppins: Family-turned-Horror

(For the record, this one really freaked me out!)

2. Superbad: Comedy-turned-Action/Drama

And finally, the best YouTube Trailer Spoof of all time…

1. The Shining: Horror-turned-Comedy/Family

Did I miss your favorite YouTube Trailer Spoof? Post it in a comment below!