The movie remains one of Australia’s favourite pasttimes and purchases, and we’re set to watch and buy millions more hours of moving pictures these holidays. The question worth asking, though, is which ones represent value for money? Or to put it another way, what might make a great outing or gift for the other “viewers” in your life?

Kids

Watch – Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day (December 9)
Based on the classic children’s book by the same name, Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day is about a primary school aged boy who comes to realise that well-off people tend to be sympathy poor. His day begins with gum stuck in his hair, followed by more calamities, none of which his family appreciates – until they all find themselves living through their own nightmare day. An excellent opportunity to teach compassion based on the mantra, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.”

Buy – Planes: Fire & Rescue (December 10)
Guardians of the Galaxy (December 3) is Marvel-ous fun for primary school aged kids but my preference would be for the sequel to the 2013 blockbuster Planes. This time Dusty Crophopper has to cope with life when all of your dreams don’t come true. Irreparable engine damage means our hero can no longer race. But his struggles lead to him learning a less selfish, more fulfilling path in life. Not a bad tool for introducing kids to the sovereignty of God.

But whatever you choose, don’t get sucked into the hype that will surround the release of Transformers: Age of Extinction (November 26). This is not a kids’ film regardless of the toy connection and it contains some really sneaky attacks on the rights of Creators buried in the dialogue.

Teens

Watch – The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies (December 26)
This is the impossible-not-to-watch title these holidays, even though it’s been invaded by a veritable army of subplots – interracial love between dwarves and elves anyone? However the best way to tackle the conclusion to The Hobbit is to start a conversation about the path of the hero, Bilbo. The life he left behind was ultimately a selfish one that only stood for comfort and quiet. By the end of the third instalment though, he’s become so convicted by what he believes is right he’s prepared to risk not only his safety but the good opinion of his friends. Now that would be a gain in any teenager’s life.

Buy – The Giver (January 14)
This is a case of the gift card combined with the cool recommendation. The Giver is based on the best-selling teen fiction book that introduces us to an idyllic community somewhere in the future where differences have been abandoned for the sake of peaceful coexistence. But hero Jonas begins to uncover evidence of a life outside of his ideal home. Among other things The Giver redefines faith from a baseless belief to the ability to “see beyond” what we perceive now based on the evidence and testimony of others. A thoughtful adventure that rises above Divergent and The Hunger Games.

Adults

Watch – Unbroken (January 8)
Post Middle Earth you’ll probably be looking for a real story to revel in – cue Unbroken. This is the inspiring life of Olympian Louie Zamperini who is involved in a near fatal plane crash during World War II and survives for 47 days adrift at sea only to be captured and interred by the Japanese. An epic tale that’s certain to inspire conversations about life, death and whether or not we have what it takes to persevere, beginning with, “What would you hold on to if you literally found yourself adrift in life?”

Buy – Begin Again (December 10)
It was honestly a close call as I could just have easily pointed to the release of Son of God (December 3), the latest retelling of Jesus’ triumph over sin, or A Most Wanted Man (December 10), a powerful story about the lies told in the name of fighting terrorism. But instead I’d like to draw your attention to a film about whole-hearted redemption. Begin Again is a quaint, musically driven story set in New York about a failing record producer and an undiscovered starlet. There is a happy ending but not the one you think, and rising above it all ultimately means turning your back on what you thought you wanted and walking in the opposite direction.