I have this theory that almost every youngster in this world is trained to be a genre fan from birth. It is, after all, our sense of child-like wonder that makes this genre so appealing. Weren't you raised on make-believe? Read fairy tales as bed time stories? Recounted other fantastical tales, both sweet and horrific? Scary monsters in the closet, under the bed, below the toilet lid... jeez, the things we would fall for! I mean, how absurd is the idea that a flying fairy will soar through your window at night and leave cash under your pillow in exchange for your teeth? That fairy sounds a little too much like Don King, methinks.

With Christmas merely days away, adults can bask in amusement by telling children that an old, fat man from the North Pole, in a red jumpsuit no less, is going to slide down every single household's chimney to deliver his present for everyone in one night! I know, I know. I sound the biggest spoilsport in the universe. I apologize. I love Santa, I really do. And I love the power of myth, even if I was a hardened cynic at the early age of six.

Kids may be impressionable, but they are by no means dumb. And where does Santa fit into all of this? Well, that he's an imaginary person -- the operative word being imaginary. Yes, Imagination is a powerful quality that children develop early, a virtue that they can depend on. It is also the cornerstone to any good family movie.

Since World War II, the name and aura of a certain Mr. Walt Disney has so pervaded the family movie film market that most moviegoers think him synonymous with it. While I cannot deny Disney's insanely popular impact -- both in animation and technology -- they are by no means the total representation of children's movies, nor are they necessarily the epitome of quality. Specifically in the realm of science-fiction, few have really been notable or influential.

It's not that I hate Disney ... well, other than the fact that they're trying to take over the freakin' world! Anyway, other than that, I am simply suggesting that there are excellent genre films out there as an alternative that both children and adults can enjoy watching together. So, call the whole family in and sing along!

"On the first day of Christmas my sci-fi crazed aunt gave to me... a copy of The Iron Giant DVD!"

Okay, so that's not how the carol actually goes, but it's one of twelve great ideas to be offered if you read on. I mean it's Christmas, people! A perfect time to warp young minds... er... I mean teach young folk to appreciate great genre movies.