The Best Back To School Movie Is Matilda. Who (No Matter What Truchbull Thinks) Is Not A Squirming Worm Of Vomit Or A Villainous Sack Of Dog Slime

Back to school is around the corner so it's time to sit down with the kids and watch Matilda directed by Danny DeVito from Roald Dahl's novel - our favorite film to start school with. It's the story of a bright girl from an unloving and inattentive family who longs to go to school. Besides her ability to read early- reading everything in her house by the time she's 4- she develops the ability to make things move with her mind.

Harry Wormwood: Why would you want to read when you got the television set sitting right in front of ya? There's nothin' you can get from a book that you can't get from a television faster.

With a bullying brother and parents at home more concerned with eating and watching television than with her and a terrifying headmaster at her new school, Matilda finds the most perfect teacher who appreciates her intellect and showers her with affection.

Matilda adores Miss Honey and Miss Honey adores her. And Miss Honey's classroom becomes Matilda's favorite place. That's my hope for my kids every new school year- to be part of a classroom where they can have fun and learn and have a teacher who appreciates them.

My kids love the movie for two reasons- Trunchbull and Matilda's psychic powers.

The Trunchbull storms through the movie scaring and torturing her students. Trunchbull's dreaded "chokey" is a closet used for discipline and Trunchbull has a knack for shotputting her students out of a second story window. It's rumored Pam Ferris stayed in character on the set to keep the child actors afraid of her for the film. It's great to have a character so bad you root against her every chance you get. My kids cheer every time Bogtrotter burps after finishing the giant chocolate cake that Truchbull makes him eat as a punishment. And they root for the students when they get back at Trunchbull with the help of Matilda.

Agatha Trunchbull: Besides, even if you didn't do it, I'm going to punish you, because I'm big and your small, and I'm right and you're wrong and there's nothing you can do about it. 

Oh yes there is, Trunchbull, because Matilda has developed telekinetic powers. Having special abilities lets kids get one up on adults. Every kid wants to be powerful. I still remember trying to develop my Jedi skills and Escape From Witch Mountain powers in my bedroom when I was nine years old. This charming scene when Matilda practices her powers makes me want to try again.  (By the way, the doll named Wanda at  0:55 was designed by Mara Wilson when she was 7 for the movie.)



Of course we love to watch the movie for the happy ending. Miss Honey becomes principal, gets her house back thanks to Matilda, and Matilda ends up being adopted by a caring teacher. Sappy, sweet, and silly.

Matilda is the the best movie to start a new school year.

Enjoy it with your family and never spell difficulty wrong again. Mrs. D, Mrs. I, Mrs. FFI, Mrs. C, Mrs. U, Mrs. LTY.