Nuthin' but a G Thang: The Best G-Rated Films (Not Produced by Disney)

In 1968 the MPAA instituted the ratings system for movies. This was to keep children from wandering into increasingly violent films like Arthur Penn's Bonnie and Clyde. Because, as always, parents didn't know how to keep on eye on their children, and blamed it on other people. In the years since Jack Valenti got this rating system passed it has seen a few changes to the actual ratings, but two have stayed the same: G and R. Walt Disney seems to have found the strangle hold on G films, but thankfully I was able to pool enough together to make this list. Many films released before '68 were stamped with the G rating in order to be able to get a re-release, but I'm not counting those, because I have standards.

10. STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (1979)

Produced by: Paramount Pictures

This is definitely one of the weakest of the original "Star Trek" films. However, it was nice for fans to see the franchise start after the show being off the air for 10 years. This didn't make the list because it was a strong film, but more for what it represents: the start of something better. I must say though, Oscar-winner Robert Wise, director of musicals such as "The Sound of Music" and "West Side Story", brought some impressive visuals, and got some good performances out of the cast.

9. THE ODD COUPLE (1968)

Produced by: Paramount Pictures

Scoff all you want, but I think this Neil Simon film, based on his play of the same name, is witty, funny, and worthy of this list. The two leads have such a great chemistry that you believe them as friends at odds with each other over simple differences such as cleaning duties, notes on pillows, and ladles. Gene Saks' directing is clean, and the timing is perfect.

8. 2001: A SPACE ODYESSEY (1968)

Produced by: MGM

I am NOT a fan of Stanley Kubrick. His imagery, and cinematography, were generally very spot on. The man knew how to place a camera, thus being able to create moments that resonate very deeply, as he does throughout this film. He was a director of the highest caliber. That being said, his scripts often dissolved into incoherent babel, and, unfortunately, the end of this otherwise fantastic film does just that. If it wasn't for the last twenty minutes, "2001" may have made into the top 5.

7. CHARLOTTE'S WEB (2006)

Produced by: Paramount Pictures

This was captivating adaptation of E.B. White's children's book about the bonds of friendship and the hardships of growing up. It seemed like all of Hollywood wanted a voice in this film, because everyone from Robert Redford to Reba McEntire to Oprah Winfrey showed up in this one. Dakota Fanning anchors down the human cast with a sense of maturity not seen by young actors in many family films. I may be a little biased with this one, because this story has been in my life for as long as I can remember. And look at that little pig face.

6. THE LAND BEFORE TIME (1988)

Produced by: Universal Pictures

Don Bluth's tale of loss, friendship, and survival has become a joke in the past decade, because of its more than 10 straight-to-video sequels, but make no mistake, this is still a story with incredible strength and power behind it. Despite a running time of only 70 minutes, you get to know these beautiful characters' fondly, and get to witness their pains, desires, insecurities, and prejudices. Also, it's about talking Dinosaurs, that use racial slurs when referring to each other. I love everything about this film.

5. BABE (1995)

Produced by: Universal Pictures

Speaking of little pig faces. I will admit, I haven't seen this film in years, and it may deserve a higher spot on this list. For now, this is where it stays. This movie, about an orphan pig being raised by sheepdogs, hit quite a chord with people. So much  it was even nominated for a few Oscars, including Best Picture. "Babe" was the kind of children's film you didn't find much in the 90's. It tried to entertain the children in the audience, as well as the parents. Disney had a couple of good ones before "Toy Story", but only a few that could match the charm, or heart, of this one.

4. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (1971)

Produced by: The Mirisch Corporation

Pure beauty! A story  about a Jewish family in the grips of pre-revoltion Russia, as the father tries to marry his three daughters off. Norman Jewison captures the musical perfectly, Oswald Morris' cinematography is stunning, John Williams' adaptation of Jerry Bock's music is astounding, and Topol's performance is top notch. This is one of the best musicals to ever be put on screen, and it has 8 Oscar nominations, and 3 wins, to back up that claim.

3. THE PLANET OF THE APES (1968)

Produced by: 20th Century Fox

This is going to keep happening. If I have a reason to put "Planet of the Apes" on a list, it IS going to be put on it. This sci-fi classic is everything a film should be, and I was lucky enough that it also happened to be rated G. Oscar winner Franklin J. Shaffner directs the first in a solid series of films about a post-apocalyptic society of personified apes who have taken control of the world from mankind. Charlton Heston and Roddy McDowall give excellent performances, and the make-up effects were cutting edge for the time.

2. THE MUPPET MOVIE (1979)

Produced by: Henson Associates, ITC Films

Breaking the fourth wall, running gags, great songs, mass celebrity cameos, and a road trip in a Studebaker. There isn't much "The Muppet Movie" didn't have, and what it didn't have, it didn't need. Jim Henson brilliantly brought the TV icons to life in their silver screen debut, with the help of  Jim Crawley's direction. This film will live on in the hearts and minds of the lovers, the dreamers, and me, even if only to hear Henson encourage his audience that "life is a movie, write your own ending, keep believing, keep pretending."

1. AN AMERICAN TAIL (1986)

Produced by: Universal Pictures

I could go on for days about this Don Bluth classic. How the allegory for Jewish-Russian Immigration to a brave new world during the revolution is as close to perfection as any animated film could hope to get. How the themes of family, loneliness, and social inequality are as heart-breaking as they are hopeful. How, even if I had Disney on this list, this would probably still be my number one. Instead I'll leave with this song, which is sung off pitch in the most beautifully effective way.

This was the best I could find. Please enjoy.

DON BLUTH

He was an animator for Disney in the 60's and 70's. After doing work on films such as "Sleeping Beauty", "The Sword in the Stone", "Robin Hood", and Pete's Dragon", Bluth struck out on his own, and opened his own production. Don Bluth Productions got their start doing shorts, which eventually led to their work on "Xanadu". Eventually they released "The Secret of NIMH" as their first full length animated film. While doing research for this list I kept coming across Don Bluth's films, and I honestly could have filled this list with just those. Though two made it on here, movies such as "All Dogs Go to Heaven" and "The Secret of NIMH" could have been anywhere on this list. They are animation classics that have stood the test of time, and are as good as any Disney film could ever hope to be (especially "Oliver and Company"). I tried hard to not just fill this list with Bluth films, and promised myself I would only put the on the ones I absolutely couldn't live without putting on here.