The Epicurious Runner

In no particular order, these are the movies I remember watching the most when I was little.  To me, these are still great movies today and I would watch’em in a heat beat. I have kind of a thing for children’s fantasy movies. I would absolutely love to work at the Jim Henson studios, it’s definitely one of my life long goals.

RETURN TO OZ

Directed By: Walter Murch

Starring: Fairuza Balk

This film is supposed to take place after ‘The Wizard of Oz’, but clearly Dorothy is a lot younger in this movie. That didn’t seem to phase me when I was a kid, I actually didn’t even notice it until I watched this movie as an adult. Dorothy travels to Oz in some crazy wooden cage and washes up next to the deadly dessert with her talking Chicken Billina.

I like this movie a lot because of the characters: Tik Tok, Billina, Gump, and Jack Pumpkinhead are way cooler than the Scarecrow and Tinman. Oh and I can’t forget about the wheelers, they used to scare the shit out of me when I was a kid. The creepiest part was definitely the headless Mombi and her room full of locked up heads. It’s a good children’s story in my opinion that ends happily with a full reunion of everyone from Oz.

THE NEVERENDING STORY

Directed By: Wolfgang Petersen

Starring: Barret Oliver

Another great fantasy movie that revolves around a boy named Bastian who is basically sucked into a book about another boy, Atreyu, who is trying to save his world, Fantasia from being destroyed.

While doing some minor research I came upon the fact that this was actually the most expensive non-hollywood film ever made in it’s time. The old special effects are great and that is why I love it the most. There are many memorable characters and moments that will forever stick out in my mind. I don’t even know how many times I cried when the horse, Artax was sinking into the humongous mud pit!  This film like many other ‘fantasy’ films relies on the audiences suspension of disbelief. I actually think this film would rank in my top ten movies of all time. It’s THAT good.

THE MUPPETS TAKE MANHATTAN

Directed By: Frank Oz

Starring: The Muppets! (Obviously)

I couldn’t get enough of the Muppets when I was younger, this is the one movie that stuck out the most to me. The gang travels to New York to try and get their musical, ‘Manhattan Melodies’ on Broadway. Along the way Kermit gets amnesia and goes missing causing panic amongst his friends.

This movie is ridiculous, but fun nonetheless. My favorite parts include Piggy chasing down the man who stole her purse on roller skates and the marriage of Kermit and Piggy at the end. I love how they have every Jim Henson character that was ever created, attend the wedding. The music is very catchy and it’s probably one of the few musicals that I can actually watch. I don’t hate musicals, there are just a very select few that I enjoy. My favorite song is the Rat Scat with the Rats cooking in the kitchen at the restaurant. The BEST Muppet movie out there.