Anyone Seen A Christmas Carol?

[FairyGodmotherJen]

I'm looking for input from people who have seen this. My DD (8) and her third grade class are traveling to a local museum to sing Christmas carols on Dec. 8. They've also decided to take the three classes to see Disney's A Christmas Carol...on the Imax theater located at the museum.

Don't get me wrong - I was personally excited about seeing the movie on my own. But I had no intention of taking any of my kids (she's my oldest)! I was freaked out by the story line as a kid. Now I'm reading in reviews and on different websites about the fact that this isn't necessarily meant for small kids. DD gets wrapped up in a story, and gets all worked up during fairly low-key movies when the hero/heroine is "in peril." She just gets emotionally involved with it. Throw in the size of the IMAX screen and the 3-D effects...I just can't imagine her making it through this movie!

I don't want to keep her home - she has been talking about Christmas Caroling at the museum for a month. They're not taking any parent chaperones, so DH and I can't take the day off and go with her. I plan on talking to her teacher tomorrow to see if she has any ideas. Unfortunately, everything is made more complicated by the fact that I teach at the same school, and have always tried to keep the line between parent and collegue pretty clear. I don't have a choice here, though, I think. Anyone have any ideas????

 

[Hollie]

Is there someone who could pick her up after the caroling while the rest of the kids go to the movie? That's a tough scenario!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I've seen it twice. Not IMAX, but 3-D. I can tell you that although some of the kids seemed okay with it, there were some very disturbed little faces coming out of that theater.

Talk to the people in charge. Give them the reviews. Try to change their minds, but if not that, at least let the parents know about the movie, so they can make up their own minds.

 

[challer]

I took my kids (7 & 4) to see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs in IMAX 3D. The movie was great, but they were both freaked out by the previews of ACC. Of course, they were primed for freak out by the first IMAX 3D preview: Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland.

 

[cathie1327]

DBF and I went and saw the movie this weekend in Imax 3D. The story is a little on the heavy side IMO, much heavier than the Mickey version on this movie. Also, there were a couple of spots that were a little creepy and I was thinking that it'd probably be too much for my neice, who is 9 and gets scared easily.

 

[solar]

I saw it this weekend...and I thought it was creepy. In fact, I laughed at the commercials the next day saying it was a "heartwarming" tale - and their marketing of it...there were great opportunities to add some warmth, but this just felt...heavy.

I didn't like it. Not a huge fan of the story itself, but I thought with Disney's input it would be a little lighter.

I am 42.

I didn't hear kids crying - but some smaller kids seemed bored - and were talking through parts of it. While others who went with me liked it, I would have gladly skipped this one.

 

[Derby4me]

Wow! Who made that call?? Not a great movie for 3rd graders in my opinion. I saw the movie in 3D this weekend and had to watch a few sceens through my fingers as I was holding my hand up to my face. Good luck making a decision!

Sarah

 

[belle41379]

I would absolutly let the teacher know what you've read and heard and express your concern. Let us know how this one turns out.

 

[catycatcat4]

Now knowing its creepy i actualy wan't to see the movie.

and OP i would just let her go she will feel left out when she doesn't get to see it and has to leave before it.

 

[MagicKisses2]

I went this weekend with my 11 DN and she was okay with it (she has an older brother and has seen a few movies that would be scarier than this), but I was freaked out during some of the scenes! Honestly, the movie theater was pretty much teens and adults.

It was a great story, the animation was amazing, but I do think it would be pretty scary for kids.

IMO if you have a child that is sensitive, this may be a bit too much for them.

 

[DisLUV]

I personally loved the Movie. But I am 33 and love the original story but I brought my 7 yr old DD and overall she liked the movie, it was a little creepy and heavy for her in my opinion. I want prepared for disney to use such a dark tone with it, but overall I liked for me. For my daughter it was not as HEART WARMING as the advertisements. She was VERY happy with how it ended!

 

[Poohbear5]

I saw it in 3D and IMAX. They did an amazing job with the special effects! One of the best I've seen from Disney.

It was definitely creepy! I know some kids that age who loved it, but their parents tend to let them watch anything so they are more conditioned to creepiness.

Watch some trailers on the internet with her and gage her reaction. If she's going to have nightmares, pick her up early.

 

[Razor Roman]

I was surprised how much I liked it. Its hard for me to wrap my head around what the littlest kids would feel... I've always kind of had the personal opinion that parents err too far on the side of caution when it comes to movies, but that's up for debate elsewhere.

My suggestion... take the kids to see it in a regular theater first - this way nothing is new, they know how it turns out, but it's still a cool experience for them seeing it in the huge screen and in 3D - I gotta say, seeing it in IMAX 3D gave a great feeling in a lot of the shots - it was almost like Soarin' Over London

 

[lugnut33]

Saw it yesterday and loved it. I especially loved the parts with Marley. Very good stuff, but would be scary for a young one. Several parents with young kids did leave the theater during the show.

 

[disneymom8589]

I echo what most people have said regarding the movie. I saw it twice, and while it is a very well put together movie, I was surprised how scary and intense some of the scenes were. They seemed to drag those particular scenes out. If your DD is sensitive to movies, this one would probably be very questionable, especially in IMAX 3-D.

 

[cyberbox2]

I took the family this weekend to see it in Disney Digital 3-D, $12.25 a ticket...OUCH! The movie was incredible and seeing it in 3-D really added to the experience, the technology that brings this to life is amazing.

My DD is 12 and from what I could tell, the only part of the movie that was a little to intense for her at times was the Jacob Marley scene, My DW even winced at the sight of Jacob dislocating his jaw!

The falling snow and over head views of the town were beautiful though.

 

[klam_chowder]

DH & I saw it last week in IMAX. I was surprised at a few families who brought younger children to it. The real opening frame and the Marley scene were a bit intense. I was a shocked at some of the scenes but admittedly, I'm a featherweight when it comes to scary movies

This is not the Muppets version of ACC - I asked DH how old he thought kids should be to see this and he guessed, 10 yrs old

Guess it depends on what type of shows she's used to seeing, and trust your gut.

cheers,

 

[FairyGodmotherJen]

Thanks so much, everyone, for your input. I went to her teacher this morning. She actually had no idea...she thought it was a G movie!!! Our music teacher put this whole trip together, and she was just going with the flow. The trip might actually have to be altered, since usually we limit it to G-rated movies.

Unfortunately, the movie is first, than the caroling. As we talked, her teacher and I decided that if DH or I can take the day off, and they still go see the movie after everyone has a chance to do some research, one of us might just walk her around the museum. I offered to take any other kids whose parents expressed concerns, too!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I agree with other posters. I can't imagine taking 3rd graders to this movie for a school trip! If you like the story, it is a great movie and worth seeing - and I'm not even a huge fan of Jim Carrey! I think some kids will be fine seeing it, but many others won't! It is WAY too intense for a school trip. I can't imagine there won't be other parents up in arms about this. I'm thinking they are going to have to rethink this plan.

I don't think your school wants to deal with the aftermath of this one...

If you must, I'd go so far as to discreetly let the administration know about it.

And I hardly consider myself a prude.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

As a fifth grade teacher, I would not recommend the film for kids unless they are 10 and up. The film is very true to the book and shows the darkness aspect of it. The scenes with the ghosts are somewhat dark. I would not recommend an eight year old's seeing it until they can handle that. Again, fifth grade and up is more appropriate in my eyes, but every child is different.

With that being said, I thought that the film was excellent and beautifully done. It is much better than the watered down ones we are so used to seeing.