Maleficent the Movie

[Anonymous]

Angelina Jolie has talked a lot about how her own kids were scared of her in her costume and make up. I think Pax (10?) ran away crying? Only Vivienne didn't get upset, hence her being cast in the movie.

[Anonymous]

http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/moviemom/2014/05/maleficent.html

Here's the "Movie Mom" review.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I agree that it is refreshing. I roll my eyes at all these wimpy, scaredy-cat kids running around. I'm glad we didn't go there with DD. There's nothing cute about it.

Sounds like you'll be very proud and smug when your DD is playing Call of Duty at 7 years old and thinks nothing of killing . . . not like those wimpy kids you detest, right?

I'm the poster the poster you quoted agreed with, not the poster you quoted. But... Call of Duty is a video game, saying that someone who plays a game doesn't mind killing -- with the implication being that you mean doing so in the real world to real people -- makes no sense. By that same token, is a 7 year old who plays the board game "Life" fine with becoming pregnant at a young age since in the game players end up with kids? Does playing "Monopoly" desensitize kids to going to jail and make it more likely they will do that since players in the game end up in jail? Do most kids who watch cartoons duplicate things like walking off cliffs or blowing stuff up? Of course not, because those things are ridiculous, right? Your video game example uses the exact same logic.

I wouldn't be "proud or smug" if my DD enjoyed that game, but I certainly wouldn't be disturbed as it seems you would. If her enjoyment of it stemmed from a fascination with military service or the idea of dealing with the "bad guys" I would probably encourage her interest in the military by providing real information, exploration of successful military ops both historical and more modern, trips to related interesting places, etc. Detailed discussion of what is publicly known about the bin Laden raid would be offered as something she might find nearly as interesting as the success against fictional adversaries in the game.

It's not as though such a game would be my DD's first exposure to the concepts of death, or killing, so she would know our family's thoughts on the matter. Both girls watch the news with us almost daily, and unless you completely shelter your kid it would be pretty hard to get to age 7 without having had some exposure to those concepts.

Liking a particular video game isn't something to be proud about necessarily, but it could suggest a general attitude of being brave, or of having sufficiently good safety awareness/perspective not to bothered by "scary" things that are not actual threats, or a budding interest in a military/law enforcement/defense related career, and those underlying personality traits might be something a parent would be proud of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I agree that it is refreshing. I roll my eyes at all these wimpy, scaredy-cat kids running around. I'm glad we didn't go there with DD. There's nothing cute about it.

Sounds like you'll be very proud and smug when your DD is playing Call of Duty at 7 years old and thinks nothing of killing . . . not like those wimpy kids you detest, right?

Nope. She is brave and fearless and strong. None of this hiding behind behind us and pretending to be afraid because it is supposed to be "cute."

You are so weird, pp. I was scared of movies like this when I was younger too. No, I didn't hide and try to act cute like you imply. WTH? Making fun of a child for being scared of a movie purposely designed to scare? Bet your kids bravery medal is in the mail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it weird that *I* really want to see it? Wondering if it would be an OK date night movie. Or perhaps DH and I need to get an adult life.

No DH and I want to go...reminds me of the play wicked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I agree that it is refreshing. I roll my eyes at all these wimpy, scaredy-cat kids running around. I'm glad we didn't go there with DD. There's nothing cute about it.

Sounds like you'll be very proud and smug when your DD is playing Call of Duty at 7 years old and thinks nothing of killing . . . not like those wimpy kids you detest, right?

Nope. She is brave and fearless and strong. None of this hiding behind behind us and pretending to be afraid because it is supposed to be "cute."

NP here. What in the world??

Your kid is brave and fearless and strong because she can watch 'scary' movies? Your priorities might be a bit off.

You can raise your DD to be fearless and strong in other ways that are just as valid. Your pride in the fact that she has been desensitized to the scary stuff in movies seems so misplaced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am taking my 4y old!

This should have been "I am taking my 4y old to see a therapist when she turns 10 because of all the stupid shit I did to her when she was little!"

[Anonymous]

this is sadly calling to mind the thread about the 6 year old who was killed at CO at the Batman movie.

[Anonymous]

I attended an advance screening. The movie's plot is not what you're expecting.

[Anonymous]

I absolutely agree with the 4th to 6th grade rating in the review. Depending on your child's maturity of course. But I would not want a child younger than 10 watching this movie at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I'm the poster the poster you quoted agreed with, not the poster you quoted. But... Call of Duty is a video game, saying that someone who plays a game doesn't mind killing -- with the implication being that you mean doing so in the real world to real people -- makes no sense. By that same token, is a 7 year old who plays the board game "Life" fine with becoming pregnant at a young age since in the game players end up with kids? Does playing "Monopoly" desensitize kids to going to jail and make it more likely they will do that since players in the game end up in jail? Do most kids who watch cartoons duplicate things like walking off cliffs or blowing stuff up? Of course not, because those things are ridiculous, right? Your video game example uses the exact same logic.

I wouldn't be "proud or smug" if my DD enjoyed that game, but I certainly wouldn't be disturbed as it seems you would. If her enjoyment of it stemmed from a fascination with military service or the idea of dealing with the "bad guys" I would probably encourage her interest in the military by providing real information, exploration of successful military ops both historical and more modern, trips to related interesting places, etc. Detailed discussion of what is publicly known about the bin Laden raid would be offered as something she might find nearly as interesting as the success against fictional adversaries in the game.

It's not as though such a game would be my DD's first exposure to the concepts of death, or killing, so she would know our family's thoughts on the matter. Both girls watch the news with us almost daily, and unless you completely shelter your kid it would be pretty hard to get to age 7 without having had some exposure to those concepts.

Liking a particular video game isn't something to be proud about necessarily, but it could suggest a general attitude of being brave, or of having sufficiently good safety awareness/perspective not to bothered by "scary" things that are not actual threats, or a budding interest in a military/law enforcement/defense related career, and those underlying personality traits might be something a parent would be proud of.

Wow.

Call of Duty is rated M for Mature. There is a lot of language and a lot of violence. Gratuitous violence. It is not okay for a 7 year old, future Army Ranger or not.

And yeah, I do think that 7 year olds who play Call of Duty grow up to be violent lowlifes who either go to jail or live in their parents' basement.

[Anonymous]

So, has anyone ACTUALLY seen the movie? Thinking of taking my 7 yr old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am taking my 4y old!

I hope you will enjoy the 5 minutes of the movie before you will have to leave with a terrified, crying kid.

No, she will be fine based on past experiences.

I find that weirdly disturbing.

And in stark contrast, I find it commendable that this parent has raised a child who based on this evidence appears able to determine what things are not worth being frightened by. Iow, I find a 4 year old who is able to recognize that a fictional movie is not a threat to her security quite advanced and admirable, not disturbing at all.

I have taken a similar approach with my girls because I saw no benefit and several possible drawbacks to encouraging them to be frightened by things which do not present legitimate threats through my action of presuming they would be frightened and unable to handle them.

Why would a 4 year old watching animated movies without becoming terrified be disturbing?

I am not an expert but I think developmentally it's tough for kids that age to differentiate between real life and fiction. They're still figuring things out in the world so I don't think this is commendable, typical, or has anything to do with parenting style. My kid is only 2.5 and has never seen a movie so what do I know.

[Anonymous]

Wow, this thread is going strong. I am the pp who is taking her 4y old and I didn't post anything else besides "I know she will be fine based on past experiences." Anyway, I just want to clarify that I don't think less of kids who are scared of such movies or think they are wimps or whatever. I think each child is different and as long as the parents respect their feelings and know their limits, it is fine (and of course, it not something against the family's values). And no, my child won't be playing CoD AT 7, 10 or 13. Maybe after 14 if she wants it. However, if she wants to play WoW she will be welcomed to play it occasionally in a few years - after she learns how to read/write.

[Anonymous]

www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/388607.page

Another thread. May or may not help.