MovieChat Forums > Mary Poppins (1965) Discussion > Unwatchable for kids today.

Unwatchable for kids today.

posted 3 years ago by Redsfan001 (6004)
18 replies | jump to latest

I have read several stories about grandmother's who have had fond memories of this film were disheartened to see that their young grand and great grandchildren could not focus on this movie. The children quickly became disinterested and their attention wandered elsewhere.

It's a remarkable social science observation. How media (speed of information) has increased through the past 60 years and how it has shortened attention spans.

This leaves open the intriguing question; If kids of 1964 had the attention span to gladly watch this, and 2020 kids do not, does this signify anything meaningful for our future generations?

It is hard to know what we have lost.

[–] Otter (24464) 3 years ago

The thing is... it's not a very good movie. Okay, the score is memorable and if you had the soundtrack album like every kid of that era you'll be able to sing the songs until they put you six feet under... but it's still not a very good movie.

It's slow and overwhelmingly sentimental, so much so that people who like that sort of thing must be very fond of it. But that's not the same as good, and I don't think today's kids like weepy sentimentality.

[–] Magicdave (472) 2 years ago

It's a Disney film of the 60s. It is a film of it's time. And, I saw it with my Mom in the theaters when it was first released. I am sad that you found it boring, but then you are probably not into Disney and Family films, so it's understandable. I, on the other hand, have a special place in my heart for this film, and to this day, when the song of the bird woman comes on, I shed a sentimental tear.
Also, you could be right that today's kids don't go for weepy sentimentality. And that is really sad that society has become so cynical and have such short attention spans.

[–] Otter (24464) 2 years ago

I actually love, even LOVE, a lot of the Disney animated films! I've seen them all, seen some of them ten times or more, I do love the art of animation.

But I've never been into the Disney kiddie live-action films. I don't hate them, they're just not my thing, so if you love them don't worry about me bashing them.

[–] Magicdave (472) 2 years ago

Understandable, I have no problem with someone not liking a film that I like at all, though I have a slight problem with someone "bashing" them, as you put it. There is too much "bashing" of films on these boards. I think it would be more constructive to simply say, as you did, that a particular film is not to your taste.
(The following paragraph is not aimed at you, because you replied to my post in a civilized manner. just an observation of a lot of activity on these boards)
I have seen so much negativity from youngsters on here. And I get the feeling that they think it makes them look "grownup". But it doesn't. It makes them look like fools.

[–] SandyR (7330) 2 years ago

You completely missed the point, Otter.

[–] Otter (24464) 2 years ago

Well, of course discussing *why* a film doesn't appeal to modern audiences is completely beside the point of discussing why it's "unwatchable" today.

[–] SandyR (7330) 2 years ago

It's weird how people on the Internet think their individual opinion represents the opinion(s) of other people.

[–] Otter (24464) 2 years ago

It seems you're trying to pick a fight... over "Mary Poppins".

If this is true, please consider the need to rethink your entire life!

[–] liscarkat (16483) 3 years ago

Uninterested, not disinterested.

[–] AndyKing1967 (33737) 3 years ago

My daughter enjoyed it (she was 5 when she first saw it).

[–] Redsfan001 (6004) 2 years ago

There you go, maybe it was just a too small a sample size.

[–] AndyKing1967 (33737) 2 years ago

[Update] She’s now nearly 8 and has watched hundreds, if not thousands of films with me. She has a cuddly toy cow and waves it in my face, saying “it’s moo-vie time”.

[–] PaladinNJ (20308) 2 years ago

I know a lot of kids who watch it and love it.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7395) 2 years ago

I like this movie But my nieces and nephews would have a hard time watching something like this. My sisters have just had them watch their shows and movies through streaming and because of this they are only exposed to fast paced movies and shows. Streaming is why kids can't watch slower paced movies like this. They are just not interested in something that is slow paced. I can't even watch my favorite movies with my nieces and nephews.

[–] Redsfan001 (6004) 2 years ago

That's what I'm thinking.. I just watched Disney's fine MegaMind (10) a few days ago. The jokes/action come so fast that my slow gen X brain is overstimulated.

Although there are exceptions, I think this hyper- stimulation can and does effect ones focusing ability for slower movies, especially kids.

It's kind of like a drug..once used to a certain level of entertainment, lower levels just will not do.

Tic-toc might just be the Anti-Christ. Completely obliterating attention spans world wide giving the viewer a continuous 5 second entertainment dopamine hits.

[–] Skynet1984 (189) 2 years ago

My two kids like it. The are both late teens now but they very much enjoyed it when they were younger and still like it to this day.

But I do get the point you are making.

[–] PaladinNJ (20308) 4 months ago

I know a lot of kids who love this movie.

[–] Redsfan001 (6004) 4 months ago

Yes maybe small sample size, but I read a similar stories in two different articles.

Giving my original post some more thought....It could be that attention spans of kids have always been short, just that back in 1964 going to a movie was more special and TV was a relativity a new thing.