5 dvds for family road trips

Rated G

What's the Story?: While searching for her place in the world, a spunky witch-in-training learns she must believe in herself in order to soar.
Why It's Great for the Road: The breathtaking animation from acclaimed director Hayao Miyazaki is far more riveting than the view of endless highway from your child's window.
Touchy Moments: A dirigible accident puts Kiki's friend's life in danger; Kiki has some rough landings, falls ill, and experiences times of loneliness.
Extend the Viewing: Put on any of the Harry Potter movies to see how the young wizard's broom-riding ability rivals Kiki's, and discuss with your kids what magical skills they wish they had and how they would use them.

Rated PG

What's the Story?: Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) transforms his cornfields into a baseball field after he hears a mysterious voice tell him, "If you build it, he will come."
Why It's Great for the Road: This baseball classic is a reminder that the most important journeys often lead us right back home again.
Touchy Moments: Mild language; Ray's young daughter falls off the bleachers and almost chokes to death; Ray admits he "smoked some grass" in the '60's.
Extend the Viewing: Get tickets for a minor league game in whatever city you're visiting. These games are often held in family-friendly stadiums, and the players not yet caught up in product endorsements and record-setting--are out there strictly for the love of the game.

Rated PG

What's the Story?: A 10-year-old orphan (Aileen Quinn) discovers the meaning of family when she gets the opportunity to spend a week at the mansion of billionaire Oliver Warbucks (Albert Finney).
Why It's Great for the Road: The catchy songs will make the time fly by, and Annie's positive attitude will remind kids that, compared to her unenviable existence in the orphanage, their hours in the car don't really constitute "a hard knocks life."
Touchy Moments: The director of the orphanage (Carol Burnett) is a mean-spirited, man-crazy drunk who calls the girls "pig droppings" and threatens to "kill, kill, kill"; Warbucks says "damn" a couple of times; Annie is kidnapped.
Extend the Viewing: Put on the soundtrack for a great family sing-along, and if inclement weather threatens your vacation, keep replaying "the sun will come out tomorrow."

Rated PG

What's the Story?: Teenage damsel Ella (Anne Hathaway) tries to return the gift of obedience which her eccentric fairy godmother gave her at birth.
Why It's Great for the Road: Kids--who love to copy what they see onscreen--may pretend they're under the same spell as Ella, and listen to everything you tell them to do!
Touchy Moments: Ella's mother dies; Ella is ordered to commit murder; guests get drunk at a wedding; giants are whipped and treated like slaves; ogres dangle Ella over a boiling cauldron, and tie an elf to a tree.
Extend the Viewing: Read the novel to compare with the movie version, and bring along some of author Gail Carson Levine's other princess-themed books for your children to enjoy.