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Original poster

To ask for film help within the hour?

140 replies

Jones3A · 25/10/2024 18:35

We need a film to watch this evening, me DH and DS. Rare treat as DD8 is out on a sleepover.

My son is 11, he's mature, and he's increasingly keen to watch more adult style films.

He's not easily spooked and not squeamish.

He's seen Shawshank, a few good men, the dark knight, Forrest gump and hacksaw ridge, recently. All with both of us there to talk through the themes and difficult subjects. Some I've slightly regretted after tbh (Shawshank).

DH and I have argued this week because of some of the increasingly adult suggestions of films they're making together, to watch next. I don't mind him watching some stuff that's pushing it a little, but he's only a kid, and there's no rush.

What can we watch tonight that's exciting/challenging enough that he feels it's grown up, without filling his 11yo brain with things he doesn't need to be worrying about yet?

OP posts:
FloatyBoaty · 25/10/2024 21:49

ILoveToCleanSaidNooneEver · 25/10/2024 21:40

@FloatyBoaty I'd say that both the Green Mile and Marley and Me are both totally appropriate for an 11 year old, but like you say, it is subjective. Just because a film makes you weep (and both of them certainly did for me) doesn't mean it isn't appropriate.

Watership Down and Neverending Story broke my heart.

I mean…. I’m not sure I’d agree that a family film about a beloved dog that dies of old age at the end after a long and happy life, based on the jolly japes of a newspaper columnists dog, is the QUITE the same as a Stephen King adaptation about a man wrongfully imprisoned and executed for the rape and murder of two children…Which goes via the torture of death row prisoners including breaking their fingers, killing their pets, and then killing a man via electrocution without first wetting the sponge, so that he dies painfully, gruesomely and slowly - all shown on screen…. but if you think that’s suitable for an 11 year old, crack on.

Miyagi99 · 25/10/2024 21:47

ILoveToCleanSaidNooneEver · 25/10/2024 21:40

@FloatyBoaty I'd say that both the Green Mile and Marley and Me are both totally appropriate for an 11 year old, but like you say, it is subjective. Just because a film makes you weep (and both of them certainly did for me) doesn't mean it isn't appropriate.

Watership Down and Neverending Story broke my heart.

Agree, nothing wrong with a bit of trauma via a television screen, ET is harrowing as are Watership Down, Neverending Story, Bambi, Fox and the Hound. Still glad I watched them as a child. It’s a bit different to recommending Requiem for a Dream or something!

ILoveToCleanSaidNooneEver · 25/10/2024 21:40

@FloatyBoaty I'd say that both the Green Mile and Marley and Me are both totally appropriate for an 11 year old, but like you say, it is subjective. Just because a film makes you weep (and both of them certainly did for me) doesn't mean it isn't appropriate.

Watership Down and Neverending Story broke my heart.

AdviceNeeded2024 · 25/10/2024 21:40

Do you and your son enjoy things based on true stories @Jones3A

FloatyBoaty · 25/10/2024 21:33

Can I just say to poster suggesting The Green Mile, I watched it when I was fifteen, and cried myself literally sick. Was absolutely inconsolable at the end. There is no way it’s suitable for an 11 year old.

That said. I made the MAJOR mistake of watching Marley and Me with my 8 year old. Had never seen it before. Thought it was a comedy. And it was. It was funny.
Until the fucking end when my dog loving 8 year old had his own Green Mile experience.

I now use Common Sense media before every film we watch.

Miyagi99 · 25/10/2024 21:29

Jones3A · 25/10/2024 21:25

I totally agree, it's so subjective, my son watched things like war films that are harrowing without flinching, but we had to turn off titanic, when he realised steerage were trapped, signs when he saw the figure on the roof, E.T. when he was dying....

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ET is harrowing, but also in my top ten. I watched Terminator on repeat when I was 11.

Original poster
Jones3A · 25/10/2024 21:25

ColonelRhubarbBikini · 25/10/2024 21:15

It’s tricky to suggest because kids (and adults) are scared of some things and fine with others. I cheerfully watched Silence Of The Lambs age 12 but Signs which is a 12 scared the ever living shit out of me. I don’t believe in aliens but films about them give me the willies.

DS2 and I are working our way through the Bond films, we started with the Brosnan era though because anything before that makes him snort with derision.

I totally agree, it's so subjective, my son watched things like war films that are harrowing without flinching, but we had to turn off titanic, when he realised steerage were trapped, signs when he saw the figure on the roof, E.T. when he was dying....

OP posts:
ColonelRhubarbBikini · 25/10/2024 21:15

It’s tricky to suggest because kids (and adults) are scared of some things and fine with others. I cheerfully watched Silence Of The Lambs age 12 but Signs which is a 12 scared the ever living shit out of me. I don’t believe in aliens but films about them give me the willies.

DS2 and I are working our way through the Bond films, we started with the Brosnan era though because anything before that makes him snort with derision.

ILoveToCleanSaidNooneEver · 25/10/2024 21:15

Woman of the Hour. It's a great film that highlights misogyny, and isn't too graphic. There are scenes that include murder and talk of women in a derogatory way. It's set in the 70s and the cinematography is beautiful and stars the gorgeous Anna Kendrick. Failing that, Lost Boys.

I don't have kids so ignore any suggestions that might be inappropriate. It's also over an hour since you asked.

MasterBeth · 25/10/2024 21:03

YellowphantGrey · 25/10/2024 19:29

Are you going through everyone's replies to give your approval or just mine?

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No-one else's are quite as daft as yours.

Bellatrixpure · 25/10/2024 20:57

Thanks for the thread, going to add some of these to my to watch list 🙂

Original poster
Jones3A · 25/10/2024 20:54

MrsJoanDanvers · 25/10/2024 20:18

Master and Commander is my favourite film. I watched it with my son when he was 12.

Oh that's a great shout, I love that film too!

OP posts:
Miyagi99 · 25/10/2024 20:42

lonelywater · 25/10/2024 20:08

Alien? For an 11 year old? Are you completely bonkers?

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My 11 year old girl watched Alien at this age, still one of our top ten. Amazing female role model and the aliens are fantasy so it involves a suspension of disbelief unlike more realistic films. But I get it depends on the child!

PastaC · 25/10/2024 20:39

Hope you enjoy your evening film! :) 👍👍

Original poster
Jones3A · 25/10/2024 20:36

Thanks so very much again to everyone who took the time to post. Not only have you given us an idea for tonight - we're going Interstellar - but I'm saving this thread for future reference. Brilliant ideas.
I can appreciate how well pretty much everyone understood the brief in that so many of the films you've recommended we've already seen.
Life of Pi, Catch me if you can, the martian, pursuit of happiness, titanic, the matrix, mission impossible, dune 1&2... Stand by me is next on the list, and Jaws maybe ...

OP posts:
Bellatrixpure · 25/10/2024 20:36

Jones3A · 25/10/2024 19:24

Thank you so much everyone! Definitely a winner in here and will reply properly shortly. Just eating 😁

Let us know what you watch!!

Isobel201 · 25/10/2024 20:34

MasterBeth · 25/10/2024 18:41

He's a mature 11 year old, not a mature 7 year old! Harry Potter? Jurassic Park?

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I read Harry Potter books when I was a teenager? I still watch the films now occaisonally at nearly 40.

Bellatrixpure · 25/10/2024 20:30

The pursuit of happiness, lovely feel good film, based on a true story

Original poster
Jones3A · 25/10/2024 20:30

Andoutcomethewolves · 25/10/2024 20:10

Just don't do what my mum did when I had two school friends over for a sleepover at 10/11 and stick on The Full Monty followed by Trainspotting(!!!). That dead baby still occasionally haunts my nightmares, God knows what their parents must have thought 😳

Truman Show is a great shout, or Men in Black!

😂😂

OP posts:
Createausername1970 · 25/10/2024 20:25

Here is one NOT to watch. The Boy In The striped Pyjamas.

DS wanted to watch it around that age, I was aware of it, was aware it was about the concentration camps, and DS liked a war film so I thought it would a different perspective.

Oh god, I don't know who was more upset at the end of it, him or me.

If no-one else has suggested it - Woman in Black (Daniel Radcliffe version). DS loved it, I was watching from behind a cushion.

JoanChitty · 25/10/2024 20:21

Pineapplesandthegovernmentandpunkrock · 25/10/2024 18:41

Life of Pi

Yes. Showed this to my year 6 a few years ago. They loved it.

lonelywater · 25/10/2024 20:19

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

well, yes, but.....it was originally an "X" rated film, for good reason.

MrsJoanDanvers · 25/10/2024 20:18

Master and Commander is my favourite film. I watched it with my son when he was 12.

GentleFinch · 25/10/2024 20:14

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

AdviceNeeded2024 · 25/10/2024 20:14

PattiLupone12 · 25/10/2024 18:44

Tremors

I watched that at my nans house when I was about 7 I think and I was too scared to go to the toilet incase one of the worm things came up it while I was sat on it 😂🪱