I read A Christmas Carol and watched older versions of the movie, so I knew what to expect: spirits, nightmares, and Scrooge thoroughly reformed in a happy ending. La, la, la… Since this version is made by Disney, I thought I had nothing to worry about.
Not so.
It was dark, morbid, scary, and some scenes were flat out disturbing. Luckily, we were at a theater that didn’t have the 3D effects, or I’m sure we would have had to drag Elizabeth out of there screaming in terror.
Marley’s rotten jaw fell off…the ghost of Christmas past was a freaky, wide-eyed candle thing that totally creeped me out…the ghost of Christmas present died in a fit of maniacal laughter, rotted away before our eyes, then completely blew away like ashes… (Elizabeth spent most of the movie hiding under her coat, okay?)
As an adult? I enjoyed it! I thought it was well done. As a parent? Ummm…hell no. I wouldn’t take any kid under 7 to watch it.
I kept waiting for the big happy ending to show Elizabeth that everything happened for a good reason, but the sap was cut really short. The director was more interested in the terror and dark side of Dickens than the moral ending, so we left having to explain the movie to a little girl who wouldn’t listen and demanded that we never take her to see it again.
Ah. Disney memories.
12 comments:
I haven't seen it but my 18 year old daughter went to see it in 3-D and she thought the beginning was scary and I thought she was just being the drama queen that she is.
I had heard that this wasn't for children. But when you see Disney's name on it - you automatically think it would be for kids.
Thanks for this review from a "parent's" perspective..!! So sad what movies have become..
In Disney's defense, it does have the PG rating tagged onto it.
Seems like it's more along the "Pirates of the Caribbean" line of Disney thought than the Mickey Mouse end of the spectrum.
My dumb ass took my 2 1/2 year old! We were desperate to get out of the house and I didn't look into it much. he wasn't too scared...more interested in the twizzlers and popcorn (like me). if I knew it was going to be so scary I wouldn't have taken him.
He did tell my husband that the movie was about a boy that was mean to his friends...so I guess he was paying some attnetion!!
I KNEW it! I told my husband that we were not taking our 3.5 year old to this and he was like 'why'? But I just knew that it would be a bad idea! But, this does make me feel better about going to see it w/my husband this weekend.
a I heard that its not a kids movie, allot of parents have made the dame mistake.
I STRONGLY suggest you find a copy of The Muppets Christmas Carol GREAT kids movie.
hmm, yeah, I kinda got that feeling just from the previews.
Since my kids thought Polar Express was too scary...we'll have to skip this one.
We went to see it in IMAX 3-D. My four year old asked me why the black horse was trying to kill that man! I was very surprised how dark this movie was, wouldn't recommened for children and it's rated PG?
Good to know! We were thinking of taking my youngest sisters to see this movie but one of them especially gets scared easily! It's crazy that we have to watch out for such scary movies when they are for "kids"!
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