MovieChat Forums > The Mouse and His Child (1977) Discussion > Great, memorable film - but...

Great, memorable film - but...


DON'T let your kids watch this, because it is too weird and scary. I watched this again after about 15 years and I still remember a lot of the scary scenes, and the one where (SPOILER) the rat picks up a rock and strikes the two mice was just too much. It's not a bad film, adults will probably enjoy many aspects of it. And don't get me wrong, I'm not squeamish or anything.... just that the "G" rating the film has is misleading.

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i found this video of the mouse and his child from years ago. mustnt have seen it in about 12 years so i put it on , i just love the music from it and to be honest i dont really understand it. any deep meaning behind it?

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As the tramp said,

"be happy"

Family is good, home is good; "be tramps" until you can find a family and a home. The world out there is rough, but "you will succeed." as the coin encouraged.

Also, Love your enemies. The scene where the child gives Manny the gold coin is a great example of forgiveness.

Mostly that's the meaning behind it as I see it.


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Excellant. You hit it right on the head. I actually got this movie over 30 years ago when I first saw it and have lived my life by it. I totally agree.

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You know, I sat down the other night and watched this again after nearly 30 years. I can't tell you how many of the elements of this movie ingrained themselves on my life. :)

Girls do it better... http://www.sharptattoos.com

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The rating isn't misleading at all. G rated films don't have to be all sunshine and farts, you know.

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I think kids are so sheltered now a days. I saw this when I was 6. Many of the movies I watched as a kid had some violence or intense situations. I watched things like "The Secret of Nimh", "Watership Down" and "Plague Dogs" when I was 6 - 8 years old, and it didn't screw me up, or scar me for life. I'm a caregiver, and I've been empathetic towards people and animals since I was very young, so I think I'm probably a better person because of these movies. Some kids can't handle intense stuff, so parents probably should watch the movie, to see if their kids can handle it, but I don't really think there is anything that goes too far from what should be G. I just think we are so used to seeing sugared up happy tales where nothing bad happens (or if it does, it never gets that intense, and gets worked out right away) that a movie like this seems to go too far, when in fact, 20 or so years ago, many kids watched it at a young age, and (despite possibly remembering some disturbing scenes) they turned out fine.

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Tell me about it! I watched this movie several times on HBO when I was 7 or 8. I wasn't sure I liked it, but kept watching it over and over. (Watership Down did not bug me as much as The Mouse and His Child did!) Just watched it again on YouTube and WOW! I had no idea so much about this movie ingrained itself in my memory. It is much less dark than I remembered. It does have a happy, if odd, ending. ( So I think it's OK for kids. They won't be screwed up for life by seeing it.

I'll bet no kid who ever saw this movie ever forgot it, though.

If you want to raise kids who can think for themselves, let 'em watch. If you want to raise human veggies who never have to think about anything that could even be remotely grim, well, by all means keep your little tykes sheltered until they're 35.

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Yeah, nuts to the OP! I watched Zardoz when I was under 10 (edited for TV) and it didn't destroy me--and you know, that which does not destroy you...

Anyway, yeah, I saw weird cartoons as a kid and loved it. I think it destroyed Hollywood for me later because everything was so normal but the things I saw as a kid were so imaginative (and sometimes dark, creepy and bizarre!)

I once was looking on Amazon and saw a parent warning other parents not to show their kids Dumbo because it was dark. Oh, c'mon! Maybe your kids need some darkness, some terrifying moments, or deeply emotional losses. Do you want kids to experience this first in real life? Movies and film are a kind of (mental) play, and play is a way to prepare for adult life. I don't buy into sheltering kids from this for a moment.

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In response to this (dated) response, I personally have enjoyed many children's films... from Disney to Watership Down. This film is simply too bleak for most of its running time to be considered "G" rated material. If it weren't animated, it would not be rated "G". I do think children should be exposed to many of life's hardships, and this film certainly has them in miles. I do not think children should be sheltered from the elements that the film offers. It's just that certain scenes are too strong for "all" children. The PG rating is perfect for it - similar to another "strong" film that is otherwise good for kids, "The Plague Dogs".

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