Countdown Cinema: Waltz into 2023 with these charming family movies

As we slide into the final week of 2022, most of us are probably busy travelling, catching up with friends, or simply enjoying this well-deserved downtime. It’s been a hectic year, after all, and even the most dedicated workers need a break.

Yet, watching the annual countdown party on TV can leave much to be desired, so why not spend the rest of your time on a good old-fashioned family movie? It’s always nice to kick back and relax with our loved ones, so here are a couple of suggestions if you’re looking for ideas.

4 Family Movies To Watch For The New Year Countdown

1. Ratatouille (2007)

Frankly, we’re not even surprised to see a Pixar film in this spot. Although it came out a whopping fifteen years ago in 2007, Ratatouille continues to capture the hearts of both children and adults today with its simple message of following one’s dreams.

It stars Patton Oswalt as Remy, a young sewer rat with dreams of making it big on Paris’ culinary stage. After a chance encounter (and friendship) with a waiter named Linguini (Lou Romano) at an establishment called Gusteau’s, Remy sets out to prove that a great chef can indeed come from even the humblest of origins.

2. Pirates of the Carribean (2003-2017)

Okay, so we’re kind of bending the rules for this second pick, simply because it spans not one, but five separate movies.

Despite the fact that the franchise ended with a whimper rather than a bang, at least politically, Pirates of the Caribbean has pretty much become a household name in the ream of cinema for its unique blend of comedy and swashbuckling action on the high seas.

Starring Johnny Depp as the cunning (yet somewhat unhinged) Captain Jack Sparrow alongside the likes of Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Geoffrey Rush and even Chow Yun-fat at one point, it’s as evergreen as movie franchises come. Filled with colourful characters, interesting storylines and topped off with a now-iconic soundtrack, it’s amazing stuff if you’re looking for a family-friendly action film that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

3. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)

Now, this third pick is what we’d like to classify as a wild card because unlike the first two movies, it’s a lot darker, despite fundamentally being a family film.

Although it’s inspired by the timeless Carlo Collodi tale, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio departs from it in various ways, one of which includes its setting in post-WW1 Italy. After losing his son Carlo in the war, a grieving Geppetto (David Bradley) plants a pinecone in his backyard as a mark of remembrance. This pinecone eventually grows into a tree, and it serves as the home of an anthropomorphic cricket called Sebastian (Ewan MacGregor) until a drunken Geppetto chops it down to make a new son out of the wood.

However, the carpenter passes out before he can finish, and on that night, a passing Wood Sprite decides to give life to the puppet, leaving him the name Pinocchio (Gregory Mann).

As bleak as it sounds, the stop-motion animated film is beautifully and masterfully presented, having already received three Golden Globe Award nominations for its portrayal of the puppet boy. True, it does feel odd to discuss such an emotionally tumultuous film in an otherwise festive period, but as they say, life is just as much about our setbacks as it is our successes.

Fortunately, our last pick isn’t quite so depressing as this one. In fact, it’s anything but.

4. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

Surprise, surprise. If Ratatouille was what you’d consider an old movie, then this is essentially a fossil, albeit a hilarious one.

Widely regarded as one of the best comedies in film history, and for good reason, Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a satirical take on King Arthur’s journey to find the sacred Christian treasure.

Cast-wise, this old-but-gold film stars the usual crew of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin. In typical Monty Python fashion, it pokes fun at just about everything related to the source material which, among other things, includes Arthur whimsically changing his mind about ruling Camelot, Sir Lancelot saving a prince who is decidedly less-than-masculine, and the odd shower of horse manure. Despite its age and admittedly dated graphics, it remains hilarious for all the right reasons, and will quite literally have the whole family laughing into next year.

Truly, there’s nothing like a good chuckle to usher in a joyous 2023, and the best times are the ones we share with our loved ones. As the cherry on top, you won’t even have to head down to the store and hunt through piles of old DVDs to watch these.

All you’ll have to do is pick up a Netflix or Disney+ subscription, and if you happen to be looking for a new broadband too, we can get you sorted out on both ends with a tidy HomeHub+ 1G Fibre Broadband package.

On that note, from all of us here at StarHub - have a happy and prosperous new year!