I would pick “Amazing Grace” starring Ioan Gruffud and Albert Finney. It’s the story of William Wilberforce and his lifelong efforts to end the slave trade in England.
-Deb at Cascade

This is the fictional adaptation on the true story that happened to the Amish girls that were involved in the fatal shooting.
-Tami at Sand Lake

An elderly bachelor and his spinster sister adopt an orphan and are mistakenly sent a girl instead of a boy. The orphan, Anne, remains with the couple, moves from one mishap to another, succeeds academically, and finds love. This is one of my favorite book(s)-to-movie adaptations.
-Candida at Plainfield

Hotshot rookie race car Lightning McQueen is living life in the fast lane until he is stranded in Radiator Springs, a town on old Route 66. He meets a variety of quirky characters who help him discover that there’s more to life than trophies and fame.
-Recommended by Eric at Tyrone Township

Choices based on personal honor codes, striving for excellence, SPORTS and Scotland. What more could anyone want?
-Sandy at Alto

Caleb is a fearless firefighter whose marriage is headed for divorce, when his father challenges him to approach his marriage the same way he fights fires. The ‘Love Dare’ helps Caleb reclaim his wife and his faith in God at the same time.
-Recommended by Shannon at Comstock

The story revolves around two orphans who refuse to give up their dog Friday as they move from foster home to foster home. They find an abandoned hotel, house their dog there, and wind up taking in all sorts of stray dogs. It’s a silly sloppy dog film with a good heart. It’s loaded with predictable outcomes, suspense and fantasy clichés. Not bad for innocuous entertainment.
-Marlys at Wyoming

Hogarth Hughes just rescued an enormous robot that fell from the stars to Earth. Now young Hogarth has one very big friend and an even bigger problem: how do you keep a 50-foot-tall, steel-eating giant a secret?

Recommended by Betsy at Caledonia

Inspired by a true story, Letters to God, portrays the battles of a 9 year old with incurable brain cancer and the subsequent realization that hope is contagious.
-Kelaine at East Grand Rapids

Awesome DVD
-Laura at Plainfield

David is a widowed science fiction writer who adopts Dennis, a young boy who claims to be from the Red Planet. David believes the child acts strangely in order to process the difficulty he has had in his young life, but soon both David and his sister, Liz, begin to wonder if the boy might be telling the truth.

Reccomended by Andy at the Service Center

Magical nanny Mary Poppins flies into the life of a proper banker and his two children, who learn from her just how fun life can be. Contains more bonus features than ever, including a never-before-filmed musical number from Disney on Broadway.
-Barbara at East Grand Rapids

Damian and Anthony, young boys from Ireland, find a bag filled with money and learn a lesson in ethics.
-Faith at Wyoming

Also recommended by Cheryl at Kentwood

Spiritually uplifting (and clean). Takes place in New Orleans, great songs and lyrics and a touching story.
- Shaunna at Grandville

We watched it again just recently – love it!
-Brian at the Service Center

A boy creates a scheme which involves helping three people who must each help three people and so on. His plan actually works, though not in the way he anticipated, and not until his own world is forever changed for better and worse.

Recommended by Suzanne at Cascade

A great animated movie about the freeing of the Jews from slavery in Eqypt. I love the fact that Patrick Stewart (Capt. Picard from Star Trek) sings as the pharaoh in this movie. I love his voice and the music from this movie.
-Kathleen at East Grand Rapids

What’s more spiritually uplifting than true love :)
-Kris at Wyoming

With fire swamps, giant rodents, rhyming giants, Dread Pirates, and magic, what could be better than The Princess Bride?
-Meredith at Byron

One of the most frequently staff-picked DVDs.

It is uplifting because it tells a story of a young girl who is not very popular with other kids. Throughout the course of the movie, she gains self-esteem and confidence to become a princess. I really like this story because she treats others with kindness regardless of their status.
I think this is a very important lesson for kids as well as adults
-Sandy at Byron

It’s all uplifting and filled with joy, and “Do your best, and believe in yourself, and don’t let anyone put you down!” coupled with “I am providing for my family even though it’s tough” and “I LOVE YOU DAD!!” and “I LOVE YOU TOO SON!!!!!”

Plus, Will Smith. Yum.

-Monica at the Service Center

A black football coach is hired over a white coach in Alexandria, Virginia in the early 1970s during a time when the high school has just been integrated to allow blacks into the school.
-Chris at Walker

A story of inspiration and family love that appeals to all ages. A man loses his wife in a tragic accident and finds that love again in the woman who receives his wife’s heart. David Duchovny and Minnie Driver give warm hearted performances as the designated to-be-lovers who meet by chance. But the real story lies in the friends and family around them who love and support them in times of trial.
-Marisa at Kentwood

Baseball and Dennis Quaid. Warm fuzzies for all.
-Sam at the Service Center

SPIRITED AWAY is a wondrous fantasy about a young girl, Chihiro, trapped in a strange new world of spirits. When her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, she must call upon the courage she never knew she had to free herself and return her family to the outside world.

Recommended by Stacy at the Service center

Billionaire Red Stevens wants to bequeath at least one member of his extended family “the ultimate gift”: something he perceives as immensely more valuable than material wealth. Grandpa Red’s “ultimate gift” of life lessons profoundly and permanently improves the quality of his grandson Jason’s life.

Recommended by Laurie at the Service Center

After a bitter divorce, Frances buys a rundown villa in Tuscany and sets out, with the help of some locals, to transform it into her home. Along the way she finds that sometimes what seems like a mistake is really a blessing.
-Julie at East Grand Rapids

The Visitor is not a traditional holiday movie, or even a traditional love story, but it does celebrate family in a special, quiet way. The cross-cultural references and exchanges, enhanced by the vibrancy of New York City and drum circles made the film come alive for me. Richard Jenkins, as the main character, is perfect as an “everyman”. His empathy for the squatters in his city apartment really touched me. I think there is a lot we can learn about ourselves and each other from a film like this.

-Amy at Kentwood

One of my favorite lines is “have you ever been so lonely that you’re talking to a man in a coma?” AND “these mashed potatoes are so creamy”
-Judy at the Service Center

To prepare for a show in their hometown that is only weeks away, a group of senior citizens must learn a slate of new songs ranging from James Brown to Coldplay. The tireless musical director leads the chorus through a series of chaotic rehearsals.
-Cheryl at Kentwood