My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

28 Feb 2011 Leave a comment

by Kim in Movies, movies 4+ Tags: , , , , , , ,

My Neighbor Totoro

My Neighbor Totoro

Rated: G
Length:  86 min.
Age: 4 and up.        commonsense media sez: 5+

Scary Factor: soot sprites are creepy, and provide one big Startle Moment (see below); Totoro seems scary at first glance, but is soon revealed to be friendly

Also: issue of Mother sick in hospital may bother some, but whole situation is treated gently, and without worry until late in film when girls grow concerned (see more below)

Interests: monster/spirits, magic, nature, country life, Japan

Next: Director Miyazaki has two other films for this age group: Ponyo, Kiki’s Delivery Service; for older kids try: Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle

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Meet Me in St. Louis (1945)

26 Feb 2011 Leave a comment

by Kim in Movies, movies 4+, Old Movies Tags: , , , , , , ,

Meet Me in St. Louis

Rated: Canada – PG (parental guidance?! probably because of Hallowe’en sequence) ; USA – Approved
Length:  113 min.
Age: 4 and up. (more for comprehension and attention span)

Scary Factor: Hallowe’en scene (see below)

Intense stuff: the Christmas Eve scene with the snowmen makes me cry, but I don’t think children will be such marshmallows over it!

Interests: history, family, musicals, song and dance, old movies

Next: Judy Garland: The Wizard of Oz

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Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

24 Feb 2011 Leave a comment

by Kim in Movies, movies 4+ Tags: , , ,

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Rated: G
Length:  83 min.
Age: 4 and up.                commonsense.org sez: 5+

Scary Factor: huntsman drawing dagger to kill Snow White is a momentary threat, Snow White afraid in the dark forest, the Queen concocting spells and transforming into an old crone, the dwarves chasing the Queen is rather exciting/suspenseful, image of face in mirror is creepy to some

Intense scenes: Snow White eats poison apple and falls down, dwarves grieving over Snow White’s dead body might be a little intense for some.

Interests: fairy tales, princesses, magic, animals

What’s Next: read the original Grimm’s version, MOVIES: Cinderella

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