I was about to show this to a group of 6-7 year olds but quickly changed my mind on reviewing.
Just too scary combined with gratuitous violence (check out the MUGGING at the beginning - the inclusion of this was beyond me - even for adults).
I used the Kirstie Alley/Lloyd Bridges version instead.
Maybe someone could explain to me the 'why' for the mugging at the beginning?
True. I took my children to a live viewing, and I think my youngest was 7. She still gets nightmares caused by the wolf. I really regretted taking her...
But on the other hand - why is it supposed to be suitable for children? Because it is animated? Isn't the story (and music) in itself more suited for adults?
Whole set-up pretty horrific - starting out with mugging in alley etc.
Can't believe aimed at children - or for that matter why even have that start for anyone?
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As for terrifying stories - I guess we have to recall the works of the Grimm Brothers in general - I had a book as a kid - with really scary pages - snakes etc. If I recall I tried to glue them together so I wouldn't see them.
What is it with the constant penchant to scare kids? I can't see how it ever helps anyone. We're supposed to learn that we might be strangled by a dragon? or boa constrictor?
My 2 year old loved it. He said it was scary and was on the edge of his seat, but he was really engaged with the characters.
It is so much better than other things directed at children that avoid more interesting and compelling content.
Totally unbelievable to me that someone would intentionally let a 2 year old (or for that matter any under 10 - and as far as that goes it was not a good film anyhow and I would not recommend it to ANYONE when there is a film such as the Bridges/Allie one).
It's quite irrelevant if an adult might think a 2 year old 'enjoys' it - they probably are the same ones that buy cotton candy machines for the home because the kids like cotton candy.
Just the opening scene itself is enough to say WHOA!
But then again there is no one disputing that unhealthy adults have come from unhealthy kids.
He has since asked to watch it more and was not as scared.
To my child, I've noticed a lot more damage comes from the pacing of the content he watches. Slower, more contemplative viewing content seems to encourage more patience and learning. The pace of a lot of the "safe" material for children seems to be much worse than the material with slightly edgy content (i.e., more real world content).
In general I hate to compare parenting decisions with other parents, but my child is quite healthy and emotionally mature for his age, possibly because of some loving decisions I've made with sharing some more compelling content with him. But ultimately decisions on education have to come for a parent who has more direct communication and observation of their child.
Now, off to find some good time-tested fairy tales collected by the Grimm Brothers...
Thank you for the reply - it now explains a lot how 'out of the blue' stuff like Columbine and Sandy Hook happen with American teenagers!
The gratuitous - and totally out-of the story-line - mugging of people by people at the beginning of the film says it all. And it never gets better.
Grimms' Fairy Tales is exactly that - a collection of fairy tales - no one expects a wolf dressed up as a grandmother to be a reflection of the real world - nor stories of witches and dragons, snakes and the like.
Enjoy your kid (ticking time bomb) before he hits teen age.
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And it's quite irrelevant in many ways whether your kid is scared or not - that's not the point I was making - it's rather the teaching and acceptance of violence - mugging of modern day looking people by other modern day looking people.
And as far as your kid NOT getting scared - THAT IS THE REAL SCARY PART FOR ME - I'd be willing to foresee a lot happier (and life sensitive) future for him IF he WAS scared!!!
There is no teaching of acceptance of violence going on. There is some degree of teaching about beauty. That does much more to reduce violence (among other things) than much less beautiful viewing material.
The atmosphere, music, and pacing teach more. There is no reason to think that all actions by all characters are seen as models for behavior. Especially for younger children who often demonstrate a understanding of pretending.
The solution to reduce violence is not sheltering from beauty, but an increase of beauty (and a trusty firearm at ones side as a deterrent).
There's no beauty in an added gratuitous mugging - it's sure good that there is the Kirstie Allen version available to portray a neat musical composition.
And I guess we all know a but more about how some parents'attitudes result in the guns at Columbine and Sandy Hook, etc.