www.hiphopfilmfestival.com

Trying to arrange family bonding can be a laborious endeavor, especially if your children are teenagers. Board games or bike rides are often submitted to grudgingly, and no one ends up having fun with mopers. Most people, however, enjoy watching movies, and this shared experience can be a launch point for insightful discussions and fun interactions. It doesn’t matter if the movie is a high-brow literary adaptation or a breezy romantic comedy. Themes, cinematography, and direction will show up in every film and can be used to open the lines of communication.

Using a movie as a foundation, you can build a whole night from a two-hour flick. Make it as regular an occurence as you like, and let each family member choose the movie per night. You’ll get to introduce your kids to the old classics, and you might enjoy experiencing a new genre or actor. Don’t let the night end with the credits, though. If your family tends to disperse after the lights come on, make it a habit to get frozen yogurt or something afterwards. Spend some time discussing the good points of the film and the places where it fell short. Ask everyone to rank their favorites of the movies you’ve watched so far. Make lists of the best actors, heroes, villains or plots that you’ve seen and compare them to see who agrees and disagrees.

Mostly, have fun with it. This isn’t about judging other people’s tastes, so make sure you don’t shut down any ideas, even if they don’t sound like your style. You may find yourself enjoying them, and even if you don’t, this is about bonding. Try to find good things to mention. You want your family members to trust each other with their opinions and favorites, so make it a positive atmosphere.