Kids and Alice in Wonderland?

[jcm]

I kind of want to bring my kids to this movie (ages 10 and 6) but knowing Tim Burton, it's more than a fun little kid movie. My kids don't normally scare really easily but I also don't relish weeks of nightmares if taking them is a mistake!! Anyone planning to take/not take or already taken their kids to see this?

Jen

 

[pjlippert]

Hi Jen,

I want to take my seven year old son to see it as well. What I've found that works for us is to go to Fandango and other sites to let him see the previews. I'm really glad I did that with the Jim Carrey Christmas Carol because once he saw the previews, he said he was too scared and freaked out to see it on the big screen. Phew! That saved us about $30! We did see the previews for it when we went to see Avatar and it looks pretty intense and magical. I believe it's in 3-D so that amplifies the freakyness.

I'll let you what we decide. I'd like to hear what you decide and if you see it, what you and your kids thought of it.

Happy Saturday!
Pam

 

[janie1234]

\ I'm really glad I did that with the Jim Carrey Christmas Carol because once he saw the previews, he said he was too scared and freaked out to see it on the big screen. Phew!
Pam

How funny Pam. My kids were way to freaked out to see The Christmas Carol too. I'm deffinitely going to see Alice in Wonderland on Monday, . let you know what I think. I love going to the movies myself. It is my "Me" time. That and I LOVE movie theatre popcorn and NOT having to share. Funny enough I just recently finally saw Avatar. I liked it, didn't LOVE it but I'm lukewarm about whether or not my kids could handle it. 7 and 9 year olds. It reminded me of a mix of Braveheart, terminator, Fernengully, Pochohantas, and Dinotopia. Very fantasy, . .BUT I could have done without all the bad words. I hate those movies where there is the male character who does the chest pounding H*LL YEAH "B" word. Visually stunning though.

 

[pjlippert]

Hi Janie,

I hope you enjoy it!! We all need a little mommy time. I personally take myself to lunch once a week, sit and read without the constant "hey mommy, hey mommy, hey mommy'

My son LOVED Avatar. There were just a couple of scenes that had him hide his eyes. But the second time we saw it, he was not the last bit scared.

I can't wait to hear your review!! Tim Burton and Johnny Depp together again. Brace yourself!! hehehe.

Pam

 

[FourAM]

I heard about this website that is just for that very question...It is called kids-in-mind.com ...I think that is it. It is supposed to be real helpful for movies that you are on the fence about knowing if it would be good to take your kid to.

 

[pjlippert]

What an awesome web-site!! Thanks for sharing. It's much more targeted than any other I've seen. Thanks again!

Pam

 

[jcm]

I'm taking my two younger - but not 3D. I always to to www.pluggedinonline.com It's a review from a Christian perspective. Personally it's more conservative than I am, but anything remotely "bad" is pointed out and I decide from there. I'll have to check out the one for kids you recommended. I think J. Depp is brilliant. A long way from 21 Jump Street - for us old folks And I LOVE movies by myself. I've only done three - and two were Pirates of the Carib. movies. My kids are almost 10, 6, and 22 months. Most of my "me" time is with Cathe or the treadmill! I can't wait to see this and get lost in NeverLand (ok - wrong book/movie).

Jen

 

[bigfarma]

Just yesterday on the radio I heard a guy call in to say what a great movie it was, give a really glowing review, and then right before he hung up:

Caller: ".... but don't take the kids."
DJ: "don't take the kids?"
Caller: "don't take the kids."

He said his 14 year old was a little freaked out by it, and younger ones would most likely be pretty scared. He was pretty emphatic about it. Gosh, I'm a little freaked out by the trailer myself

 

[jharris]

We went today. My DD is 12 and enjoyed the movie. She has taken a liking to the Mad Hatter. I wouldn't take children that frighten easily. Or very young children.

The movie was good, went very quickly. We didn't see it in 3D.

 

[Liann]

I personally did not like the movie - thought the characters were all pretty one dimensional (aside from the Hatter), thought the white queen was a flake, still don't understand who or what the Cheshire cat was and his whole place in the story, and would have liked the ending better if Johnny had some role in it. BUT, aside from all that, I didn't think it was too bad scary-wise. It wasn't your typical Tim Burton. Definitely watered down for the kids, which was fine. The scariest part was probably the fight with a dragon at the end and it didn't last all that long and a flash back of a town being destroyed by a dragon earlier on. Not even close to a Harry Potter movie in the realm of action/violence. I went into the movie with way too high of expectations being a Tim Burton fan already. I think that is why I was disapointed. If I had taken kids, I probably wouldn't have minded it as much, but I was just there with adults and we were all pretty bored and ready to go before they even got to the dragon part. All of the kids at the theater really seemed to enjoy it though. The 3D was definitely a big hit with them even it if did leave me with a headache and blurred vision for a while. Can you tell I was less than thrilled with this movie? I think I will enjoy it better watching it in Blu-ray at home. It was so DARK and muddy looking at the theater. On a positive note, I did think Helena did a good job and I loved Alan Rickman's voice on the caterpillar. Johnny did his best with what they gave him. I wish his role had been beefed up a little more though and I also wish that Alice had some actual recolections of Wonderland throughout the movie. That would have made her role a little more believable. And lose Anne Hathaway. They should have just used Helena in both roles.

 

[MadnNatsmom]

I agree absolutely with Liann about Anne Hathaway, but I really dont like her anyway. I ended up loving the actress who played "Alice." I didnt think I would from the trailers.

My 10 and 12 year olds really enjoyed the move as did my DH and I. We saw it in 3D.

I read bad reviews so I wasn't expecting too much, but I really liked it!

I wouldn't take anyone younger than 10. But, it depends on the child. My kids play some pretty graphic video games.

 

[carres1973]

Liann - I was confused by that. It is billed as Alice's "return" to Wonderland. She doesn't seem to remember having been there before?

I think I will take DS (10) and DD (11) this weekend. I am itching to go to a movie and this seems as good as any of the others out there!

Carrie

 

[Liann]

Liann - I was confused by that. It is billed as Alice's "return" to Wonderland. She doesn't seem to remember having been there before?

I think I will take DS (10) and DD (11) this weekend. I am itching to go to a movie and this seems as good as any of the others out there!

Carrie

It shows that as a child she had some "wonderland related dreams", but she's so dense through the whole movie that she never puts it together until like the last 10 minutes when someone practically has to smack her over the head with the fact that she has been there before. I think a little "ooh, I kind of remember this" throughout the movie would have been helpful. Instead, she has zero recollection of anything until a short little flashback scene at the end when she's suddenly like "oh, I guess I wasn't dreaming when I was little". Not the actress's fault at all. She did fine with what she was given. Just not the best writing I think. Again though, I went in with wayyy too high of expectations. A little more wit and humor would have kept my interest. I'd like a copy of the screen play and a red pen. Kids will not be this anal though and I think most kids will love this movie - lots of color, crazy creatures, action, etc... I agree with the 10 and over age group though unless you know your 7 - 9 year old doesn't scare easy and has already been through some Harry Potter movies.

 

[pjlippert]

Okay, you guys have convinced me to take my son. He definitely does not scare easily and we both LOVE Tim Burton!!