I took my nephew to see Charlotte's Web. He loved it, I found it enjoyable...but a good deal of the younger audience members got very upset during Charlotte's death scene.
Not just sad at the emotional poignancy of the scene, but miffed and shocked that such a thing was even in the story. Some had to be taken out of the theater.
I guess it just goes to show how inadequate a "G" rating is.
Test the waters. Read the source material to them first, see if they're ready.
Posted by JenniK (Member # 3939) on :
It is always better to have heard/read the story before you see the movie, IMHO. I always liked the story, I will NEVER see the movie! Kwea can go see it if he likes, but since I have severe arachnophobia, I will not be joining him.
Posted by Mazer (Member # 192) on :
lol, the kids got visually pwn3d.
I disagree about reading, then watching. I find I am rarely disappointed with a film not living up to a book if I watch it then read it. I think my kids would enjoy this, but I will hold off since I have not read it to them or had them read it.
Posted by Lupus (Member # 6516) on :
did they at least show her kids like in the book?
That at least made it a little better. The fact that most left was sad, but in the end Wilbur was not left alone.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Yes, her offspring are seen during the coda.
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
I had absolutely no such experience in my viewing. I went with a 4 year old and a 9 year old (girls), and was in a theater full of families with small children. No one left the theater early or in any way emotionally troubled as far as I could tell.
On the other hand, I think this movie could be a wonderful and very untraumatizing way for a child to deal with the concept of death. I find it very hard to believe that this could possibly be a "first experience" with the concept for a child in our society these days, but it certainly is one of the more kind, natural, and sensitive introductions to the concept. It's hands-down less traumatic than Bambi or Old Yeller.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Just in case I've been misunderstood: I'm not advocating -not- bringing children to this, nor am I saying the film is inappropriate in any way.
Just that it'd probably be best to let the kids no first that this won't be nothing -but- cuteness and sweetness.
Posted by James Tiberius Kirk (Member # 2832) on :
Charlotte's Web earned about $13 million this weekend. Didn't do as well as I expected; but then, they didn't promote it as much as I thought they would.