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I can remember some of the movies my parents shared with me growing up. Some of them I simply felt were too old, as many of them were movies they had watched themselves as children. Then there were other ones that were definitely exceptions to the rule. I felt that despite their age, these were thoroughly enjoyable as timeless classics. These are wonderful movies that should be shared with generations of future children, and its remarkable to think that some of these have such staying power. Here are a few movies that I believe fit this description.

1. The Little Mermaid. Though this is a newer classic, its a classic nonetheless. Coming up on its 20 year anniversary, this movie is just as enjoyable today as it ever was.

2. ET. Everyone loves the extra terrestrial that ate Reeses Pieces and charmed a small town. Elliot and ET make for a great combo, and any kids should generally love this movie.

3. Pinocchio. The wooden puppet who turns into a real boy. This is a true Disney classic, and one worth watching anytime, regardless of the storys age.

4. Superman. While this is a bit more mature in nature, children will love this movie, as theyll be fascinated with the concept of a flying man. Highly recommended for children.

5. Bend it Like Beckham. This is a sports movie that teaches children about all of the virtues of cooperation, teamwork, and the competitive spirit. A newer classic, its one that should teach all kids valuable lessons.

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African American movies have often focused on the troubling history of blacks in America. As most people know, Africans were taken from their homeland and transported to the United States where they were forced to work as unpaid laborers and were frequently abused and subjected to inhumane treatment. It was not until Abraham Lincoln composed his famous Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 that slaves were officially set free.

Although African Americans were considered free under the law, many US states (most of them in the south) continued to discriminate against black people and treated them as second-class citizens. In fact, Jim Crow laws were established in many southern states with the tacit intention of keeping whites separate from blacks.

This meant that whites and blacks were forced to attend separate schools, drink from different water fountains and even had to eat in different restaurants. This unequal treatment was not seriously challenged until Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white person on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955. This single seminal event put in motion the civil rights movement, which was spearheaded by exceptional human beings like the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.

Many African American movies have chronicled the experiences of blacks in American and have attempted to make sense of the discrimination that they have suffered. One of the most popular African American movies was called Roots. The movie was actually one of the first miniseries to appear on network television and it remains one of the highest-rated programs in network history. The program would go on to win nine Emmy awards as well as a number of Golden Globes and Peabody Wards.

The movie tells the story of an African warrior named Kunta Kinte who is taken from his home and forced to work on an American plantation. The series follows the protagonist for several generations until his great grandchildren finally gain their independence after the Civil War.

To this day Roots ranks as one of the most respected African American DVDs. Perhaps that is because it centers on an oppressed group of people fighting for their freedom, which is clearly a universal theme. The miniseries was based on a book by renowned author and journalist Alex Haley

Nowadays, however, most African American movies no longer focus on slavery or even on the civil rights movement. Rather, they concern themselves with the plight of blacks in urban environments. These movies tend to portray characters that are surrounded by drugs and crimes and are desperately trying to fight their way out of the ghetto.

One of the most powerful African American DVDs of the past twenty years was the film “Boyz n the Hood”. This movie tells the story of a young man who is trying to survive on the violent streets of South Central, Los Angeles. The film is set in the early Nineteen Nineties when violent gangs roamed the streets of the city and young men frequently turned up dead for no other reason than that they were wearing the wrong color clothes. The movie remains a powerful example of the seemingly intractable problems in the African American community.

You can learn more about African American movies and obtain African American DVD movies and films by visiting the African Side website.

A hip hop DVD can take many forms: a mixtape collection, freestyle battles, abdominal workouts, etc. Here, were taking a look at the best movies based on hip hop; from gritty street dramas to stories of making it in the music business, heres the best hip hop DVD releases ever:

Wild Style – A great reflection of hip hop when it was still growing up and a must see for any aspiring rapper. You get to see what freestyles in the park were like and how rappers used to perform (e.g. more call and response, crowd rocking, etc.).

Breakin – This movie did for breakdancing what 8 Mile did for freestyle battles; it really brought dancing into the mainstream, resulting in countless new kids trying to learn breaking, popping and locking.

Beat Street – The best all around hip movie, period. Unlike other DVD releases in this list, Beat Street successfully displayed the four elements: Rappers, DJs, B-Boys and Graffiti. This is the Holy Grail of movies, and one of my favorites.

Boyz In The Hood – OK, so technically this isnt a true hip hop DVD release, but with Ice CUbe as a leading man, it counts. Cuba Gooding Jrs role is dead on, and director John Singleton turned in his best effort with this hard edge, gritty urban drama about getting out of a bad situation with the gifts you were given. While not my favorite on this list, it is perhaps the best film overall, in terms of writing, acting and directing.

8 Mile – Freestyle battles used to draw dozens of people in most places. After this movie came out, those same battles drew hundreds and brought a new level of respect for freestyle MCs. The story of B. Rabbit (Eminem) fighting for his dream of rap success is a lot better than most critics give it credit for. Sure, the final battle scene seemed a bit contrived, but overall, you cannot deny the positive impact this had on hip hop in general.

Juice – Tupacs best acting performance, hands down. His character Bishop was scarier than any guy in Boyz In The Hood (which is saying a lot). Many would argue that Poetic Justice was his best film, but Juice really hit home with me as a solid, well crafted story of growing up in the ghetto.

These hip hop DVD releases are among the best Ive seen for their portrayal of hip hop in its purest form.

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