How scary is Chronicles of Narnia?

[PRINCESS VIJA]

I want to take my family to see Chronicles of Narnia, but I am worried that it would be to scary for my 7 year old. Any opinions?

 

[KathyFP]

I am also interested in taking my DD(7). She really wants to go.

 

[Jennifer S]

My DH took my 9 year old and he was fine. We left the 5 year old home. I heard that 9 was about the good age. I think there is a website that list particulars but I forget what it is called. I'm sure others can help.

 

[Feralpeg]

Has your 7 year old seen any of the Harry Potter movies? If so and they didn't bother him, Narnia won't either.

SPOILERS....................






























The only scary parts would be the wolves, the White Witch and maybe some of the creatures. The wolves talk and are not very nice. The witch turns things into stone with her wand. There is a battle scene with all sorts of creatures, but it is not graphic. I saw many small children at the movie and they didn't seem frightened. Some were a bit upset when Aslan was killed.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Our church went, and I had many of my younger children attend and most did well through it. I advised their parents weeks ahead of time to read the book together - children are not as scared of things when they know what is going to happen and have already formed the image in their mind. One family brought their 4 year old, something I would not have been comfortable with, BUT they read it together every night and the boy was very familiar with the story and all it's creatures. He loved the movie and was only afraid a one scene - in the beginning of the movie, there is a scene not in the book. He wasn't prepared for it and it scared him.

There is an intense battle scene, and the creatures are quite scary looking for a child that young. But if the child has read or been read the book they should be prepared for everything that happens.

(I should also mention that 3 of my parents saw the movie a few days prior to make sure their child could handle it, that's also a great idea)

 

[KathyFP]

My DD (7) has seen Harry Potter. She also does not scare easy - like her mother

 

[jennyl772003]

I took my 8 year old last week. It didn't seem too scary to him at all.

It is REALLY slow at the beginning though. My DS started getting bored. Luckily it picked up about half way through.

 

[lillygator]

Hmm...I didn't think it was scary at all...some of the creatures faces were horrid looking.....

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

Thanks!

 

[Geoff_M]

Our 6 year old did just fine. The scary elements of the film are mainly limited to characters being in peril. There also is one scene when one of the wolves jumps out of nowhere and the whole theather jumped in reponse when I saw it. I could see that momentarily freaking out a small child. I'd say that if your kid can handle the first Harry Potter flick, then they'll be OK with this one.

 

[Barb D]

I took DD6. We had read the book this past summer, so she knew the story. At a couple of points in the movie, she whispered, "I don't consider this a happy movie." (When Edmund was in the ice prison, and when Aslan was getting shaved.) I told her to just wait. Then when the happy things did happen, she was fine.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I took my seven year old a few weeks ago and she was fine, as were the other children in the JAMMED packed theater.

There are some intense scenes, but I don't recall seeing any blood or gore whatsoever.

 

[mtblujeans]

We saw it yesterday and DH said he would not take a child younger than 10 to see it....so I also think 9 sounds like the right cut off age

 

[can'twait]

I can't recall the website now, but you can do a search for family oriented movie reviews. They will tell you anything that might be considered objectionable. I did this before we saw the Incredibles and the reviews were right on.

 

[mrsv98]

Try www.moviemom.com

Nell Newton reviews movies in detail and then assigns a grade to each one. Be warned there are spoilers but it is helpful when you are trying to decide about taking a child.

We tend to be a bit protective of DD. We read the book this summer but I did edit some bits and after DH and I saw the movie, we decided it is too much for DD.. She is 5 and still gets scared of some things we can't predict. For instance, she loves the Incredibles but won't watch the scene when Mr Incredible hides behind the skeleton or in Monsters, Inc, she doesn't like the doors at the opening of the movie, go figure.

I don't think I would take a child under 8, but that is JMHO.

 

[Oh Kay!]

We've also read the book to the children before we saw the movie. DS7 loved the movie, and DS5 got scared a little, but liked it anyway.

BTW, if you have a kid who's curious to what "Turkish Delight" is, we found it at William Sonoma. It looks similar to candied ginger, but is made of pistachio.