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AIBU?

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Original poster

To take 9 year olds to see The Hobbit ?

74 replies

RufflingFeathers · 07/01/2013 20:40

Posted in AIBU so I could get a quick response. For a treat for DS's birthday.
Not seen it and haven't let him watch a 12A before....

Any thoughts ?

(I'd love to see it, but that's a side point, nothing much else on that he's not seen)

OP posts:
InNeatCognac · 07/01/2013 20:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
RufflingFeathers · 07/01/2013 20:45

So apart from length - is the 12A for the violence and mature themes (I'm assuming they haven't over sexualised Tolkein ?!!!)

OP posts:
piratecat · 07/01/2013 20:46

dd is 10 and a half, but i can honestly say it was fine, she loved it. so did i!

piratecat · 07/01/2013 20:47

nothing sexual whatsoever! can't remember any wanton violence at all.

CreepyLittleBat · 07/01/2013 20:48

Dd (8) loved it - just a few scary moments, but the violence is quite restrained. No guts and gore. In fact the absence of gore was a bit weird. Heads being cut off and no blood coming out.....you could sort of tell they'd softened it a bit because it's a kids' book really.

KenLeeeeeee · 07/01/2013 20:48

Ds1 is 8 and loved it, describing it as "the most bestest film EVER". There's one or two bits where the action is a little intense but it's no worse than LOTR.

CreepyLittleBat · 07/01/2013 20:49

Nothing sexual unless you fancy the dwarves. Some of them are quite pretty.

IAmLouisWalsh · 07/01/2013 20:49

There are some scary bits - the Wargs, for example - and some of the fighting is a bit gory, but I would say it is fine for a 9 year old, as long as they can sit still for that long. No sex or swearing!

IAmLouisWalsh · 07/01/2013 20:49

Yes, there are some sexy dwarves....

Original poster
RufflingFeathers · 07/01/2013 20:50

Cheers all, it's partly because he wants to take a couple of friends as his birthday treat, so didn't want to freak out other people's kids !!

OP posts:
ThalianotFailure · 07/01/2013 20:50

wow, I'm obviously very old-fashioned, I would think it was way too violent and scary - just because a DC loves it doesn't mean it's suitable, does it? Oh dear, even I know that sounds old-fashioned Blush. DD's going to hate me, isn't she??? And can you legitimately drool over Thorin and Kili if you're with a child - I might feel a bit reserved which would be a pity . . .

manicbmc · 07/01/2013 20:50

It is a totally brilliant film. Some very easy on the eye dwarves.

Definitely right for a 9 year old.

LadyIsabellaWrotham · 07/01/2013 20:51

It's noisy and very very fighty but not too bad. Check the BBFC website for a detailed rundown of content.

CreepyLittleBat · 07/01/2013 20:52

if you go to the 3D version, the glasses will disguise the look of dwarf-lust in your eyes.

jennywren123 · 07/01/2013 20:53

If you have a look at the www.imdb.com entry for the film, scroll to the end of the page and find the link to the parents guide. This tells you exactly what the rating is for. It's really handy to see this info for films if your dc are possibly too young but you aren't sure.

Thingymajigs · 07/01/2013 20:54

If they can cope with the length of the film then I can't see an issue. We decided that the length of time spent sitting still in a cinema would ruin my 9 year olds experience of the film so it was best to wait for the DVD.

GeorgianMumto5 · 07/01/2013 20:55

Depends on your 9 yo. I took ds, who is 6, and he loved it and has now asked me to read the book to him. Normally, if I read that someone had taken their 6 yo to a 12A, my judgey pants would be hoiked up over my ears, so feel free to judge me right back. However, people I trust and who know ds well, who had seen the film, assured me he'd be fine with it and he was.

The wolves are a bit scary, as is the Orc leader, but ds assures me I'm wrong there. We were both a bit grossed out by the goblin king. He leads a very sheltered life and I am generally very strict about most things, but here I made an exception and it seems to have been the right decision.

No way would I take 9 yo dd, mind you - she'd still be having nightmares now! Very different people, my two.

MissyMooandherBeaverofSteel · 07/01/2013 20:55

I took DS 11 to see it and he loved it, I didn't take DD 8 to see it as I wanted to check it was suitable first and I'm glad I didn't. I wouldn't take anyone elses child to see it either it is quite violent and graphic in places.

motherinferior · 07/01/2013 21:00

DD2, who is nine, loved every minute of it.

I personally have become a firm dwarf-pervert too.

manicinsomniac · 07/01/2013 21:01

It's a film for kids based on a book for kids, of course it is suitable!

directoroflegacy · 07/01/2013 21:02

DH and I went to see it last week. In front of us was a mum with her 5 DC

  • a new born, 2, 4, 7, 10 (ish)
The Hobbit isn't really my thing so I was kept busy thinking scenarios that explained WHY she would take children so young to see this film. There is a lot of violence/Gore but in a Tom & Jerry/ Simpsons type of doing it (Does this make it better??) Scenario came up with- she was looking after DC for a sick friend (ok didn't get v far!!) but this doesn't explain why not see a more child friendly film that was on at the same time and it was on at 17:30-20:00 surely teatime for the littler ones. Really wanted to ask her - not to judge but v v nosey
RedTinsel · 07/01/2013 21:04

My 9 yo loved it. It's gory but not in a 'realistic' way. It's very long though.

There's no sexy stuff, well except for a few of the dwarves Grin

ThalianotFailure · 07/01/2013 21:06

it's not a film for kids though, I think; the book is much much more childish - the film is more akin to LOTR which, as a book, is aimed at an adult audience and really nothing like The Hobbit. DH is rereading it, post seeing the film, and has noticed how very 'young' the book is. And if it was meant for kids it wouldn't be that long!

weegiemum · 07/01/2013 21:07

My 9 yo dd2 loved it (was 9 end November).

But she's my youngest so has seen lots of films - her first 12a was Indiana jones and the crystal skull. We'd been to "sky fall" 3 weeks before the hobbit.

OptimisticPessimist · 07/01/2013 21:15

My 9 year old loved it, he and I went just the two of us as a birthday treat and he came out declaring it "BRILLIANT!" Grin

I don't think it's unsuitable for the average 9 year old but given the certificate I think you'd be best checking with parents first and having a back-up film if any of them say no - it's not really your place to take other people's children to a film that is certificated above their age without parental permission, even if legally they are allowed to watch it. I'd say the same if it was under 8's to a PG film (based on BBFC certification information).