On Responsibilities, Parenting and Not Letting Your Children Read Playboy
“I don’t like this movie.”
Those words were spoken rather loudly by the young girl sitting behind me at a viewing of Where the Wild Things Are. These words were spoken just seconds before the young girl proclaimed she had to go to the bathroom or she would pee in her chair.
As you can well imagine, I was far from thrilled to be seated in front of this youngster. I was, not, however angry with her. I was angry with the grown man who had chosen to bring her to the movie in the first place.
I am well aware that parents are allowed to bring their children to the movies. I am not one of those people who feels that children should never share the same space that I am in. I love kids. I’ve taken kids to the movies before myself. I have no problem with kids in a movie theater when I make the decision to see a movie that is made is for children.
The issue here is that Where the Wild Things Are is not a movie that is made for children.
Yes, the movie is based on a popular children’s book. Yes, the movie features large puppet-like creatures. Yes, the central character of the movie is a young boy name Max. None of this, however, means that Where the Wild Things Are is appropriate for children.
I knew this was a movie for adults before I even stepped foot into the theater. I knew this because I read a few reviews of the film. I did my homework. I educated myself.
Why the hell can’t parents do the same thing before shoveling their kids into their mini vans?
When you are a parent, you have a responsibility to your children. This means you do not bring them to a movie just because you think it’s appropriate for the little ones. This means you look into the film. Any parent who would have done so would not have taken their children to see Where the Wild Things Are. And yet, I saw that exact film with quite a few children.
It’s all rather troubling if you ask me. In a day and age when Marge Simpson is on the cover of Playboy magazine, animation can no longer be the measure for determining whether or not a product is kid-friendly. Similarly, you can’t just bring a five-year-old to a movie because she likes the book it’s based on.
Children do not know any better, but adults do. Or at least they should. Most parents would not let their kids read Playboy just because a cartoon is on the cover. So why would they let their kids sit through an emotionally dark film just because it features cute furry monsters?
I’m not a parent. Maybe I am missing something. Maybe it’s now acceptable to have your children see movies that grapple with some pretty heavy issues such as divorce, loneliness, trust and betrayal. Maybe I’m way off base.
If I am, I apologize to all those parents out there who blindly took their kids to see one of the most adult films I’ve seen in a long time. I’m sorry for making assumptions about your choices. Next time I’ll go to a late-night showing of any film I think may have even the slightest appeal for children.
All I have to do then is hope that young kids still have bedtimes.
Though I have not taken my children to see this movie, I didn’t know it was too mature for children. I’d like to see it, but haven’t researched it. I assumed, which is always a bad idea. My kids are over twice as old as the charming child who sat behind you, not that it’s any excuse.
Marge Simpson is on the cover of Playboy?? I had no idea.
No, so many children don’t have bedtimes anymore, either. (Mine do!) Have you been out shopping after 10:00? Around here, anyway, there are small children scurrying after Mama and whining for treats as late as midnight at our Wal-Mart. Is very sad.
That reminds me of when I was in high school and a friend and I went to see American Pie. This woman and her two children (probably about 9-10) sat down in front of us. I hadn’t seen it, but my friend and I looked at each other like, “what is this woman doing??” It only took about 1 minute of the movie before she was rushing them out of there. Seriously? You didn’t hear that it was a movie based primarily around sex??
There is a hole in your logic here. Where the Wild Things Are is a Picture Book designed for preschool readers. Many adults grew up reading this book as a child. It is the responsibility then of the film maker to realize that this movie is going to attract preschoolers. I did not read any reviews of the movie but if I were a parent, I would assume that it might be for children. It would be different for a film like Alice In Wonderland, which is a juvenile title and meant for older kids… I am hesitant about stretching picture books to a 90 minute film anyway, but don’t blame the parent for not knowing.
I heard a DJ on the radio this afternoon say that it was a great children’s movie. She was excited because it made out like a bandit at the box office, but I don’t know that she has actually seen it.
Wow, I can’t believe that you think a kid shouldn’t see Where the Wild Things Are because is has a dark emotional topics that kids younger and younger every year are exposed to without the aid of media. 1) Divorce- It doesn’t surprise you that an issue like this is filtered through a movie when something like 40% of marriages end up in divorce now? Give me a break. 2) Loneliness- Everyone feels lonely sometime or another, children especially. Somewhere between 3-13% of children have some sort of depression and is the 3rd leading cause of death in the age rance of 10-24 (suicide). There should be no shock or even a reason to bring up loneliness as an argument when that’s been a universal issue since the dawn of time. 3) Trust and betrayal- SERIOUSLY? That’s a VERY valuable message to be sending to children. No one wants to send a false message or no message at all to educate children to stay away from people that you can’t trust or will betray you. It’s survival of the fittest, we all learn what we can to make ourselves thrive before others, trust and betrayal is probably a human’s number one tool for survival. Overall, your issue with this movie sending a bad message to children is, for lack of better words, FUCKING RETARDED. Those aren’t bad things to have in a rated PG (that’s right readers, PG. This isn’t even PG-13) or even reason to blame the parents for taking their children to see it. When I see PG, I think kid movie. Say what you want, but this movie is EXTREMELY kid friendly.
Also, have you ever watched some of the movies from when you were a little kid? There are SO many innuendos that you probably don’t remember because of the fact that they were so over your head at the time. I know that I’ve noticed it.
I actually have to agree with this post. While the issues presented are issues all people will eventually have to deal with, the ways in which they are presented are not appropriate for young kids. Unlike a Disney movie that play on many level, this movie does not have a lot for younger kids to enjoy. There are no musical numbers or bright colors or even funny moments. I brought my kids to the movie and my youngest (5) was bored throughout. My son (8) enjoyed the movie but was mostly left feeling confused by it.
The anonymous poster makes some valid points, but loses all credibility by calling someone “FUCKING RETARDED.” I sincerely hope this person is not a parent. What a horrible example for a child.
“Wild Things’ was appalling; depressing as all hell and had nothing to do with the lovely spirit of the book. what a dissappointment.