Top 10 Movies from 1992

THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL is a live-action musical that re-tells the classic Dickens story with all our Muppet favorites and actor Michael Caine as Scrooge. Of course, the story is a biblical allegory depicting a depraved man who repents of his selfishness and proceeds to show kindness to everyone. THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL is fun for the whole family with finger-snapping musical numbers, and breathtaking costumes and scenery.

After inadvertently shrinking his children in 1989, inventor Wayne Szalinski is at it again. This time, Wayne’s baby, Adam, wanders in front of his enlargement ray. Confronted by his wife, Wayne admits: “HONEY, I BLEW UP THE KID.” Comic complications abound when Adam’s growth skyrockets. The best family film of 1992, HONEY, I BLEW UP THE KID unfolds with brilliant execution, editing and acting performances, and presents a pro-family scenario featuring three powerful moral lessons: (1) children need moms and dads; (2) only parents have the responsibility for their children; and, (3) the world needs people who are different (even “nerdy” geniuses like Wayne).

ALADDIN follows the rags-to-riches story of a resourceful “diamond in the rough” who uses the help of a Genie to save the mythical kingdom of Agrabah and win the heart of a princess. ALADDIN is a sweet cinematic confection bursting with kinetic energy and firmly grounded in the message of the importance of personal honesty and integrity. ALADDIN contains fairy-tale magic which is shown to be unsatisfying compared to true love and personal honesty. Some scenes may be too intense for very young children though none of them have the violence of the wolf-pack scene in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

When an aggressive coach takes over a ragtag team of peewee hockey players and renames them THE MIGHTY DUCKS, they snap their losing streak and skate their way to the state championships. Although THE MIGHTY DUCKS follows an oft-repeated formula, it is an excellent movie for children over seven-years-old and adults. Overall, THE MIGHTY DUCKS offers hope to young people, by pointing to the rewards of hard work, discipline, service, and teamwork.

The film BEETHOVEN is about a cute, cuddly St. Bernard puppy named Beethoven whose antics cause most of the Newton family to love him, but that gives the man of the house numerous bad moments. BEETHOVEN is a rare jewel in today’s film market: it is a family movie, refreshing, funny, exciting, and heart-warming as each one in the Newton family learns from their new pet and from each other about love, understanding and acceptance. In addition, the Newtons exemplify a loving, caring family and faith in God as they hold hands while saying “grace” at the dinner table.

A remarkable testimony of the sovereignty of God unfolds in WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS: PART 2. Based on the classic novel by Wilson Rawls, the movie opens in 1946 as two young marines, Billy Coleman and Rainee Pritchard return from WW II to the Louisiana farmhouse of Grandpa Coleman and Billy’s younger sister, Sara. The movie’s only drawbacks are that it is slow-moving (to be expected for a romantic drama) and that it ends with an unexpected tragedy (that nonetheless draws the family closer to God and each other).

In HOME ALONE 2: LOST IN NEW YORK, Kevin McCallister (Macauley Culkin) separates from his vacation-bound family for a wild adventure that involves defending his favorite toy store against crooks. The movie tries to outdo its predecessor with an added dose of slapstick violence, at the expense of original’s most endearing qualities. Of course, HOME ALONE 2 affirms man’s need for fellowship; however, the Christmas sentiments–such as good will and friendship–regrettably melt into a muddled humanism. For many, it was not the Kevin-vs-crooks showdown that made the original a success, but the storyline that affirmed Christian values, such as family, responsibility, repentance, and reconciliation.

Director Don Bluth, of AMERICAN TALE fame, recaptures his animated brilliance in ROCK-A-DOODLE about a little boy who is injected into his storybook fantasy when a flood threatens his family farm. ROCK-A-DOODLE is a very well-made, enjoyable, family film destined to make you laugh and cry. It communicates messages of friendship, love, courage, repentance, and forgiveness. While there is some magic present, it is not nominalistic, but a simple plot device in the style of C.S. Lewis.

In the film, DARK HORSE, fourteen-year-old Allison Mills, shaken by her mother’s death, keeps company with the wrong friends and winds up in juvenile court. However, Allison discovers a whole new life after the judge sentences her to ten weekends of community service on a horse ranch where disabled children learn to ride horses. DARK HORSE is an entertaining film that will provide young people with a positive example.

Fun for the whole family, LITTLE NEMO: ADVENTURES IN SLUMBERLAND depicts a little boy who opens a Forbidden Door with a magic key from the King. With brilliant colors, excellent pacing and special effects, the movie tugs at your heartstrings while exploring issues such as temptation and peer pressure. Overall, the movie shows that our actions have consequences and that forbidden doors may open a hornet’s nest of trouble. Please note, however, there is some magic present as an allegorical plot device which is clearly not nomenalistic.