Help Me Plan Family Movie Night
November 1, 2011 6:31 PM Subscribe
Is there a guide for adult movies that are appropriate for children, in terms of psychological/emotional readiness?
For example, I would love to watch West Side Story with my six year-old son because I think he would really enjoy the dancing, the fighting, and the singing--but would witnessing Tony's violent death do him harm? (he talks about death all the time anyway, and in a completely fantastical way, so I imagine he'd be interested, rather than traumatized, but this is where the theoretical backing would come in handy) There are guides for children's movies, but I'm thinking about adult musical films (Oaklahoma's another example that comes to mind). I don't pretend that he'll understand the films, but I do think the song and dance would really appeal to him, and they are films that the whole family can watch together, and sing songs from together afterwards. Thoughts? Thank you!
For example, I would love to watch West Side Story with my six year-old son because I think he would really enjoy the dancing, the fighting, and the singing--but would witnessing Tony's violent death do him harm? (he talks about death all the time anyway, and in a completely fantastical way, so I imagine he'd be interested, rather than traumatized, but this is where the theoretical backing would come in handy) There are guides for children's movies, but I'm thinking about adult musical films (Oaklahoma's another example that comes to mind). I don't pretend that he'll understand the films, but I do think the song and dance would really appeal to him, and they are films that the whole family can watch together, and sing songs from together afterwards. Thoughts? Thank you!
Why not just introduce him to the singing and dancing parts? Musicals are long (Oklahoma is two and a half hours long!) and a lot of the plot and emotional development would be lost on a five year old, but it would be a lot of fun to go through classic musicals on DVD and enjoy the (livelier) musical numbers.
posted by moxiedoll at 6:59 PM on November 1, 2011
posted by moxiedoll at 6:59 PM on November 1, 2011
So many musicals involve people getting stabbed! West Side Story, Oklahoma, Carousel (actually, does Billy get stabbed, or is he trying to stab someone else and he gets shot... anyway). And doesn't someone get killed in An American in Paris? And Harry Beaton in Brigadoon (shot or whacked in the head with a rock, depending on what version you go with)... Oh, and Oliver, quite a death toll in that one.
I think you're just going to have to try it out on him at some point. Musical violence tends to be kind of stylized - it's not the same as realistic movie violence but it's not like a cartoon either. Maybe start him out on something where no one gets stabbed but there are still some scary moments (like, say, The Sound of Music or The Wizard of Oz or Annie) and see how he reacts to the peril in those, then decide where you want to go from there? I mean, when I was six I was afraid of Mr. Rogers' operas (like this!) but I know people who were watching Jurassic Park and Terminator at that age and loving it!
There are plenty of non-violent musicals, too - Singin' in the Rain, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (I mean, there's *abduction*, and maybe a fight scene or two, but no one gets shanked), The Music Man, Anchors Aweigh, the various Muppet movies, White Christmas, Mary Poppins... you could keep him busy with those for a while.
posted by mskyle at 7:09 PM on November 1, 2011
I think you're just going to have to try it out on him at some point. Musical violence tends to be kind of stylized - it's not the same as realistic movie violence but it's not like a cartoon either. Maybe start him out on something where no one gets stabbed but there are still some scary moments (like, say, The Sound of Music or The Wizard of Oz or Annie) and see how he reacts to the peril in those, then decide where you want to go from there? I mean, when I was six I was afraid of Mr. Rogers' operas (like this!) but I know people who were watching Jurassic Park and Terminator at that age and loving it!
There are plenty of non-violent musicals, too - Singin' in the Rain, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (I mean, there's *abduction*, and maybe a fight scene or two, but no one gets shanked), The Music Man, Anchors Aweigh, the various Muppet movies, White Christmas, Mary Poppins... you could keep him busy with those for a while.
posted by mskyle at 7:09 PM on November 1, 2011
Screenit was good when it was free, I have no idea what it's like now. All the stuff before 2004 is still accessible (mostly movies released between 1998 and 2004, but they did do some older films, such as The Wizard of Oz.
posted by SMPA at 7:10 PM on November 1, 2011
posted by SMPA at 7:10 PM on November 1, 2011
Common Sense Media does exactly this. Their take on West Side Story.
posted by expialidocious at 7:11 PM on November 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by expialidocious at 7:11 PM on November 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
I like Common Sense Media. Here's their entry on West Side Story. Their reviews are thorough without being preachy or biased. I don't know if I always agree with their recommended ages; all kids are different. But the information helps you to inform your own choices, and remind you of stuff that you probably don't even notice during an adult viewing that you might be iffy on for your kid.
posted by lilnublet at 7:12 PM on November 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by lilnublet at 7:12 PM on November 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
Thirding Common Sense Media (full disclosure: my husband works there). I sometimes think their age recommendations are safer/older/more conservative that necessary, but I think the information they provide is detailed and thoughtful. It would be useful in helping you determine what's a good fit for your kid and what isn't.
posted by mostlymartha at 7:21 PM on November 1, 2011
posted by mostlymartha at 7:21 PM on November 1, 2011
Kinds N Mind is another one. It's always fun to read that there are 27 F words, 32 instances of religious profanity, and a guy and girl kiss briefly in the street in their review of the movie.
posted by COD at 7:23 PM on November 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by COD at 7:23 PM on November 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (go with me here ...) has an archive of movie reviews as well as ongoing reviews of new films. They have some excellent reviewers (one in particular is hilarious in skewering bad movies) and they discuss both the artistic merit of the film AND the moral dimensions. A lot of parents find it useful because they do a pretty good guide of teasing out Things You May Or May Not Wish To Discuss With Your Children and explaining what those things are and how they're played. They're generally more conservative on ages than I think many parents would be but they give you good information on what you'll be facing. Reviews of current movies are considerably more thorough than their reviews of classics. (I guess because people are generally more familiar with the classics.)
About West Side Story, they say: "Directed by Robert Wise, the picture captures the grit of life in the city's lower depths, with glimmers of hope and elements of tragedy in a delicate balance, carried along by song and the dance numbers that pulsate with energy and verve. Some of the social issues, relationships and street language, however, require a mature perspective.(A-III)" A-III stands for adults only.
(For classic dancing movies, has he seen "An American in Paris"? A-II, adults and adolescents, for Romantic Complications? Or "Singin' in the Rain," A-II, minor sexual innuendo?)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 7:26 PM on November 1, 2011
About West Side Story, they say: "Directed by Robert Wise, the picture captures the grit of life in the city's lower depths, with glimmers of hope and elements of tragedy in a delicate balance, carried along by song and the dance numbers that pulsate with energy and verve. Some of the social issues, relationships and street language, however, require a mature perspective.(A-III)" A-III stands for adults only.
(For classic dancing movies, has he seen "An American in Paris"? A-II, adults and adolescents, for Romantic Complications? Or "Singin' in the Rain," A-II, minor sexual innuendo?)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 7:26 PM on November 1, 2011
Another Mom for Common Sense Media. Kids are able to write reviews of the movies, too, which gives you another way to triangulate on possible issues.
posted by cocoagirl at 7:34 PM on November 1, 2011
posted by cocoagirl at 7:34 PM on November 1, 2011
2nding Screenit. I find them much more thorough than Common Sense Media. They are incredibly specific about tense/frightening scenes (and also likelihood to inspire imitative behavior, which is a big one at our house). And like SMPA said, reviews for older movies are free.
posted by apparently at 7:57 PM on November 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by apparently at 7:57 PM on November 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
1) in terms of psychological/emotional readiness?
In any visual media, the most important thing is parental context: watching together and providing thoughtful explanation when things get a bit complex.
2) Any Hollywood musical is fine, except for Carousel, which is kinda weird.
3) Just kidding. Hollywood musicals, in all of their subtlety, are a perfect way to introduce young children to the modern society which they will one day inhabit.
posted by ovvl at 8:30 PM on November 1, 2011
In any visual media, the most important thing is parental context: watching together and providing thoughtful explanation when things get a bit complex.
2) Any Hollywood musical is fine, except for Carousel, which is kinda weird.
3) Just kidding. Hollywood musicals, in all of their subtlety, are a perfect way to introduce young children to the modern society which they will one day inhabit.
posted by ovvl at 8:30 PM on November 1, 2011
As far as potentially objectionable bits in West Side Story, there's also the scene where Tony and Maria wake up on top of eachother after their wedding, and the scene where they try to rape Anita. I was a big fan of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Annie Get Your Gun, and South Pacific when I was your son's age.
posted by ChuraChura at 9:23 PM on November 1, 2011
posted by ChuraChura at 9:23 PM on November 1, 2011
I grew up watching classic movies. I was a massive fan of Abbott and Costello, the Bing Crosby/Bob Hope "road" movies, and musicals like "Singin' In The Rain", the Astaire/Rogers oeuvre, "Oklahoma", "The King and I", "South Pacific", "The Music Man", and others mentioned above, from an early age--I never really differentiated them from the few kid-centric movies I saw via Wonderful World Of Disney or rare trips to the theater to see the latest Disney feature or Muppet movie. I'd probably seen most Hitchcock movies by the age of ten, possibly excepting "Psycho", as one of the local indie stations had a weekly "Hitchcock Theater" presentation that rotated through the canon. I am definitely one of those kids who saw countless on-screen deaths by a tender age, and I genuinely believe I turned out okay in this respect.
With Christmas coming, I must recommend getting your hands on a copy of "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney (and Vera Ellen and her amazing legs!).
posted by padraigin at 7:15 AM on November 2, 2011
With Christmas coming, I must recommend getting your hands on a copy of "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney (and Vera Ellen and her amazing legs!).
posted by padraigin at 7:15 AM on November 2, 2011
I accidentally let my eight year old watch West Side Story about a year ago (when she was seven). The fight and the stabbing weren't so bad, it was the attempted rape scene that freaked me out. On the other hand, she LOVED it. Totally loved it. And she listens to the soundtrack constantly. "Gee, Officer Krupke," in particular. She wasn't traumatized by it, and asks to see it again all the time. I'm waiting on that, but we do watch the musical numbers on YouTube all the time. I also get to answer a lot of questions like "What does pushing tea mean?"
Having said all that, I find that in terms of psychological or emotional readiness, a lot of the stuff that you (I) might be worried about just kind of goes over their heads. She has been far more affected by kids movies, which are pitching right at their level, than by movies that are too old for her.
posted by looli at 7:57 AM on November 2, 2011
Having said all that, I find that in terms of psychological or emotional readiness, a lot of the stuff that you (I) might be worried about just kind of goes over their heads. She has been far more affected by kids movies, which are pitching right at their level, than by movies that are too old for her.
posted by looli at 7:57 AM on November 2, 2011
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Whether or not a given scene is going to be handled well by your own child is a personal question. But you can at least be pretty confident going into a movie that no violence, language, or sex (no matter how mild) is going to slip by without you knowing about it.
posted by phunniemee at 6:39 PM on November 1, 2011 [2 favorites]