I haven't been to a theater in years. I get DVD's from our public library and watch them at home. I also buy used DVD's if the price is right and the movie sounds interesting.
I suggest you look for movies made by Studio Ghibli and released on DVD in english by Walt Disney Home Entertainment. They are classic heartwarming animated movies and totally inoffensive. There is a little bit of a culture gap since they were made in Japan, but that just teaches kids that "people are all alike, but all different." In fact, it's fascinating to watch the movie in english, and watch it again later in japanese with english subtitles (the original japanese-to-english translation, not "english for the hearing impaired"). There are many cultural details in the japanese script that get americanized in the english sountrack.
Among the best known Studio Ghibli films:
Spirited Away {I love this movie!}
Kiki's Delivery Service
My Neighbor Totoro {An absolute classic.}
Wisper of the Heart
Nausicca of the Valley of the Wind
Laputa: Castle in the Sky
Link to a fansite with synopsis of movies, photos of the people who provided voices for the characters, etc.:
http://www.onlineghibli.com/films.php
Most of the Studio Gibli films have a common theme: "No matter what is happening,
you are capable of making it through this on your own and becoming whatever you want to be." These movies are full of spunky kids who work hard for what they believe in, but the "bratty kid" image is totally missing and so is all the burping and farting.
The only Studio Ghibli film I've seen that wasn't suitable for children was 'Grave of the Fireflys'. It's about two Japanese kids trying to survive during WW II and was intended for adults.
There's also a very mild caution on My Neighbor Totoro because it contains a scene of the two girls bathing with their father. That's normal in Japan and the scene is totally innocent, but I've seen reports that some American parents freak out about it. Like I said, cultural differences. I mention it only so parents who do object won't be surprised halfway through the movie.
And don't forget, movies like Swiss Family Robinson that we loved when we were kids are now on DVD, and for a kid who's never seen it before it's still a brand new movie! So why pay the high cost of going to a theater, especially if you can get movies like this at your library?
