Back to School Movie List

If the calendar hasn't reminded you, the TV commercials certainly have... it's Back-to-School Season! A time of the year when you buy notebooks, pens, erasers, binders, new clothes, new shoes, backpacks, lunchboxes and all of the things we hope will bring us a happy new year of learning. Or for parents, back to the regular schedule, which may be more or less stressful depending on your child's schedule.

In honor of this holiday season, I have compiled a list of movies to get you excited about a new year of school or (in my case) miss the confining and liberating walls of an education.

Enjoy!

Billy Madison (1995)

Although Adam Sandler is on my "Least Favorite Actors" list, this movie is pretty funny. Who doesn't love to see 5th graders beat a grown adult at math problems? There's a whole show about it! It may also make you feel better when you feel like an idiot on the first day of school.

Legally Blonde (2001)

I have to admit, I wasn't all on board with this film the first time I saw it. A movie about the pretty girl getting brains and a guy? Leave some for the brainy and not so attractive girls! But after seeing the musical, I appreciate this film much more and feel bad for this girl who believes that this jerk is worth something.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone(2001)

Sadly, we can't all get an acceptance letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But we can all watch the first movie of the tale of the Boy Who Lived.

Matilda (1996)

Be very glad that you don't go to a school like Crunchem Hall run by Principal Agatha Trunchbull. And have to gorge yourself with cake or get put into the Chokey.

The Breakfast Club (1985)

High school is hard. And having to spend your Saturday in detention with a Brain, an Athlete, a Nutcase, a Princess and a Criminal can get interesting.

The School of Rock (2003)

Having Jack Black as your teacher would be one way to have a rockin' school year! Look out for the musical version.

Freaky Friday (2003)

I know it's a remake and it has the not-so-great actress Lindsay Lohan.... BUT Jamie Lee Curtis is awesome! And she totally rocks the teenager-stuck-in-her-mother's-body thing. And mom going to school supposed to be a teenager- well, I think all teenagers wish that could happen.

Fame (2009)

It breaks my heart that this movie didn't revive the "famed" 1980 movie and TV series. But I think it had the potential- it included some of the original material, new modern material, and all of the heart and heartbreak that came with the original series and film.

Dead Poets Society (1984)

I didn't watch this movie until I was in college, but I wish I would've watched it earlier. Not only does it speak to the power of literature but the power of a great teacher.

Election (1999)

Did you ever run for a student election? I don't think anyone's was this crazy. This is Reese Witherspoon at her very best as the controlling OCD student who will stop at nothing to win. (Maybe Elle Woods should have taken some advice from Tracy Flick)

An Extremely Goofy Movie (2000)

Going to college is supposed to be a time when you move away from home and learn to live on your own, but not for Max Goof, Goofy's son. Goofy finds out that he has to go back to college so he decides to kill two birds with one stone by spending more time with his son and going back to school. This movie instilled my love of disco music and extreme sports.

Did I miss any of your favorite back to school movies? Leave me a comment and tell me what I missed.

Happy Back-to-School!

Halloween Weekend Movie Schedule

What are you going to do with a whole weekend of Halloween? Watch movies and eat candy of course! I'm not a huge horror and gore fan so here is a list of not-so-terrifying films that are sure to fill your weekend.

Friday, Oct. 31st- Halloween

Work til 5pm (ish)

6pm- Spoon your chilli into your favorite bowl (preferably one with a Halloween theme) and top with sour cream, cheese, and oyster crackers. Pair with an Angry Orchard Hard Cider.

6:10-8pm- "Hocus Pocus" (Bette Midler will start your night right with a song and with a bit of nostalgia)

8:20pm- Answer the door for those kids who are way too old to be trick-or-treating. Glare at them until you know they are too far away to egg your house.

8:25pm-10pm "Young Frankenstein" (Mel Brooks is a comic genius. After the movie go download the Broadway soundtrack. He makes musicals just as funny as movies.)

10:15pm- Do you hear that? What is that whimpering? It's your stomach. Cave into your "diet" and grab the candy bowl. Trick-or-treaters should be all done for the night, and those Clark Bars aren't going to eat themselves.

10:15-12pm- "The Witches" (You need a little bit of scary in this haunted night. Angelica Huston will do that for you.)

12:15pm- Realize there is no way you can sleep after that movie. The witches are coming to get me! How about we put in something a little tamer.

12:30-2am- "Hotel Transylvania" (So much better! An Adam Sandler movie that you don't want to throw against a wall.)

Saturday, Nov. 1- All Saints Day

10:30am- wake up sprawled out on the couch. Did I sleep here all night? Roll over. It's a Saturday there is no way I am getting up now.

11:45am- Jolt awake. Pour yourself a cup of hot cider. real clothes are an option today. Finish off the leftover chili.

12-2pm- "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (let's start out with an easy one. And we haven't had any aliens yet)

2-4pm- "Casper" (Who wouldn't want a ghost friend? Ghost boyfriend? Not so much.)

4-6pm- "Corpse Bride" (Tim Burton needs to be represented here in some way. "Nightmare" is also another option that would work here)

6:15pm- listen to your stomach growl for 10 minutes before dragging yourself off the coach to order pizza. Throw on a sweatshirt and jeans before the pizza guy comes. You don't want him to think you're a lazy bum who sits around all day...oh, wait...)

7:15pm- 9pm "Adams Family Values" (This one ends up being better than the original due to Joan Cusack as a husband-killing, jewelry loving psycho. As well, as the scene where Pugsly and Wednesday are punished by watching Disney movies)

9-11pm- "Rocky Horror Picture Show" (singing and dancing are optional though greatly encouraged)

11:15pm- Where did that candy bowl go?

11:30-1:30pm- "Practical Magic" (Sister Power!)

Sunday, Nov. 2

9:30am- Decide that the coach is not looking comfy anymore. Decide to take a shower, brush cavity-infested teeth, comb tangled knots of hair, and go out today. (bring a friend if you would like)

12pm- Grab some lunch at your local Mexican restaurant. They're still open right?

2pm-4pm "Book of Life" (this one is still in theaters, but totally worth the money you will spend. With intricate and beautiful animation, it's the perfect eye candy)

4:30pm- Invite your friend over, but tell them to wait in the hallway until you can throw all of your candy wrappers and dirty clothes under your bed. Maybe it is a good idea to see a living being this weekend.

5pm- Play the I-don't-know-what-do-you-want-to-eat game until you realize you haven't had Chinese yet.

6-8pm- Any of the HP movies ("I'm a what?" "You're a wizard, Harry.") Share the remainder of the candy bowl

8:30pm- Your friend heads home to get to bed early. Maybe you should too... Nah. We need one more movie to finish off this weekend.

8:45pm-11pm- "Halloweentown"

11pm- Got to bed... Seriously, you spent a whole weekend watching movies. You're crazy.

Until next year, Halloween!

Number of movies finished: 13
Pounds of candy consumed: 3ish... ok more like 6
Regrets made: 0