06 Oct 2011
by Kim
in Movies, movies 6+
Tags: action, adventure, cars, castle, inventions, Magic, science, scientists, song and dance, spies
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Released: 1968
Rated: G
Length: 144 min. (with an intermission at the 1:27 mark)
Age: 6 and up Commensense Media sez: 6 +
Scary Factor: fantasy adventure story abounds in peril but all is exaggerated and cartoonish; the Baron and his spies are too bumbling to be truly scary; the Child Catcher on the other hand is extremely creepy, he’s the scariest thing in the movie, especially when he captures Jemima and Jeremy
Intense Scenes: all the children living underground is a rather pathetic sight, it stuck with me as a child; Caractacus and Truly posing as dolls is a bit suspenseful, but mostly amusing
Questionable Language: apparently Grandpa says “ass” at some point
Other Violence and Mayhem: the Baron and Baroness are pretty weird, especially the Baron’s sly attempts to do away with his wife, particularly during their cutesy song together before the party; in an earlier scene the Baroness is ejected high into the air, she floats gently down thanks to her large skirts and the Baron hauls out his shotgun and shoots at her! (the resulting holes in her billowing skirt bring her down quickly, and he expresses disappointment that he only hit her skirt!)
Interests: cars, inventions, magic, action, adventure, castles, scientists, inventors, spies, musicals
Next: Ian Fleming book Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (very different plot)
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30 Sep 2011
by Kim
in Movies, movies 5+, Old Movies, Silent Movies
Tags: action, adventure, arctic, history, romance, snow, weather, winter
The Gold Rush (1925)
Written, directed by, starring: Charlie Chaplin
Rated: — (unrated)
Length: 95 min. 1925 release / 72 min. 1942 re-release
Age: 5 and up Commonsense Media sez: 8 +
Scary Factor: Little Tramp menaced periodically for comedic effect; two men struggle over a shotgun which is always pointing at the Tramp; he is also chased by starving, hallucinating miner with a gun and then an axe; cabin tipped precariously on edge of precipice; all threats are treated comically and violence is bloodless and kept at a distance
Intense Scenes: a wanted criminal shoots and kills two police officers before perishing in an avalanche
Other: a bear is shot offscreen for food; some smoking and drinking
Interests: old movies, silent movies, arctic adventure, history
Versions: restored 1925 print is 95 minutes long, with piano music and title cards; 1942 sound release is 69 minutes long, has an orchestral score, no title cards, narration written and performed by Charlie Chaplin
Next: other Chaplin – Modern Times, City Lights
See also: Top 5 Silent Movies for Preschoolers
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16 Aug 2011
by Kim
in Movies, movies 5+
Tags: action, chase, Fairy Tale, horses, Magic, Princess, romance
Tangled
Rated: PG for brief mild violence
Length: 100 min.
Age: 5 and up. Commonsense Media sez: 5 +
Scary Factor: not overly scary, mostly just suspenseful chase scenes; scary-looking thugs in tavern are revealed to be sweethearts; Rapunzel is briefly menaced near the end by villains
Violence: Rapunzel repeatedly knocks Flynn unconscious with a frying pan for comedic effect; Mother Gothel stabs Flynn at the end; Mother Gothel falls to her death – though she disappears before she hits the ground, aged right out of existence
Intense: it appears as though Flynn dies in a very sad scene at the end, but he revives; psychological abuse Mother Gothel inflicts on Rapunzel may trouble some
Bad Behaviour: no bad language; there is beer in the tavern, but this is underplayed
Interests: princesses, fairy tales, magic, romance, horses, action, chases
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28 Jun 2011
by Kim
in Movies, movies 6+
Tags: action, American history, robots, sci fi
The Iron Giant
Rated: PG – for fantasy action and mild language
Length: 86 minutes
Age: 6+ Commonsense media sez: 6 +
Scary Factor: plenty!… fishing boat goes down in storm (fisherman survives); the robot gets zapped at power station in a loud scene; scared boy runs away from robot; stressful scene in which robot is hit by a train; government agent menaces boy and threatens to take him away from his mom; boys fall from building but robot saves them; big ending has lots of action as army attacks robot and he returns fire; a nuclear missile is launched, heading directly for the town
Intense Scenes: robot learns about death when he sees a stag shot dead by hunters; during battle it briefly appears as if Hogarth is dead but he is soon pronounced unconscious; the moment when townspeople realize they are all going to die when the missile lands is quiet but intense; plus final climax in which robot saves the town is very, very sad and moving (but hang on for the ending!)
Language: “oh my god!”, a few “hell”s, and “you just blew millions of government dollars out of your butt!!” – these warranted the PG?
Bad Behavior: villain smokes a pipe, a boy drinks a little too much espresso and goes a little haywire in a funny scene
Interests: science fiction, robots, action, history (Cold War era)
Next: book The Iron Man by Ted Hughes, other movies written/directed by Brad Bird: The Incredibles, Ratatouille
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12 May 2011
by Kim
in Movies, movies 6+
Tags: action, Arabia, castle, desert, genie, Magic, monkeys, Princess, romance, treasure, wizard
Rated: G
Length: 90 min.
Age: 6 and up Commonsense Media sez: 6 +
Scary Factor: villain Jafar is creepy and evil; the huge lion creature guarding the treasure is truly frightening; it devours a thief at the beginning, though this is not seen; in one scene Aladdin nearly drowns; villain’s magic in the climax at the end is pretty scary and huge – turning into an enormous snake and then an even bigger genie
Action: Aladdin is continually fleeing guards with swords – played for laughs but may be stressful; the scene when Aladdin’s in the cave is pretty heavy action-and-danger-wise (Indiana Jones-esque)
Bad Behavior: when the sultan is imprisoned Jafar’s parrot tortures him by force-feeding him crackers – this might be disturbing, or maybe just disturbing for adults!; Genie smokes a cigarette at one point
Sex: all females are scantily clad; a few kisses
Racism: many stereotypes of Middle-Eastern peoples and lifestyle; heroes sound American, while bad guys have Arabian accents
Language: very slangy; also name-calling: “stupid” “dumb” “idiot”
Interests: Arabian legends, magic, desert, folk tales, other cultures
Next: picture books of 1001 Arabian Nights, old movies like The Thief of Bagdad
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04 May 2011
by Kim
in movies 4+
Tags: action, adventure, boats, pirates
Rated: G
Length: 99 min.
Age: 4 and up. Commonsense Media sez: 6 +
Scary Factor: usual pirate fight scenes, though no blood; pirate attack on tavern a little alarming (though interjected with funny business)
Also: human character dies at beginning of heart attack, after drinking excessively (no drunken muppets though)
Interests: pirates, ships, muppets, adventure
Next: The Muppet Show TV series, or movies: The Muppet Movie, The Muppet Christmas Carol, etc.
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03 May 2011
by Kim
in Movies, movies 5+, Old Movies
Tags: action, adventure, boats, British history, pirates
(Disney live-action)
Rated: PG (US & video rating in Canada)
Length: 96 min.
Age: 5 and up. Commonsense Media sez: 7 +
Scary Factor: lots of adventure, threatening situations too numerous to count; sword battles, shooting, mutiny; Jim fights a pirate and is wounded before he shoots the pirate in the face
Also: much drinking of rum (only by adults)
Interests: pirates, action, adventure, ships, islands, treasure, British history
Next: other pirate films Captain Blood, The Sea Hawk; books Treasure Island, Kidnapped, Robinson Crusoe
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02 May 2011
by Kim
in Books, books 5+
Tags: action, crime, romance, theatre
GREENAWAY MEDAL WINNER – 2007
Mini Grey
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006
30 pp
Ages:5 +
Interests: nursery rhymes updated, crime and punishment, love stories
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27 Apr 2011
by Kim
in Movies, movies 6+, Old Movies
Tags: action, adventure, boats, British history, history, pirates, romance, war
Black and White
Rated: TV-G (TV rating)
Length: 119 min.
Age: 6 and up (more for complex plot and slow pace at start)
Scary factor/Violence: slaves are beaten, and one is branded as punishment (not graphic – offscreen); many battle scenes, but generally bloodless; one big swordfight on beach, but not graphic or disturbing
Sex: scene in which pirates party in a brothel/bar is pretty harmless
Other Bad Behaviour: fair amount of boozing, especially among the naughtier French pirates
Interests: pirates, sailing ships, history, old movies
Next: Treasure Island, The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Sea Hawk
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26 Apr 2011
by Kim
in Movies, movies 6+
Tags: action, adventure, balloons, dogs, nature, South America, travel
Rated: PG for some peril and action
Length: 96 min
Age: 6 and up Commonsense Media sez: 6 +
Scary factor: pretty high, with those snarling dogs in attack mode; dogs in planes fly into each other and plummet to the ground; dogs attacking/biting each other; villain Muntz tries to kill heroes; guns firing; many near-falls from airborn house; Muntz falls to his death, though impact not seen
Intense scenes: opening montage showing Carl’s wife in decline and then Carl in the funeral home and in mourning
Interests: action, adventure, travel, ballooning, South America, dogs
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