Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

exp took dd(6) to see hunger games

58 replies

Mollymom · 12/12/2013 10:23

She said it was scary and it rained blood at the end. I have not seen the film so no idea if aibu but it doesnt sound suitable for a 6 year old. Its got a 12a rating so understand she can watch it with an adult but that doesnt mean its necessary ok does it? She explained to me that it was a 12 film but she could watch it with an adult which makes me wonder if exp was covering his back incase I objected.
Anyway. Aibu the tell him she is still too young for this kind of film?

OP posts:

Chattymummyhere · 12/12/2013 13:47

I wouldn't let a 6 year old watch it but would have no problem letting a 12+ year old watch it.

I personally did not find it scary bit then I read the books which have more detail than the movies.

But yes it rains blood, mutt baboons, mocking jays, roof falls in, tidal waves, killer fog, people killing each other...

Those who thought this one was bad I recommend not watching the 3rd from the book.

Floggingmolly · 12/12/2013 13:58

How on earth was he allowed in with a 6 year old???
It's really full on; it most definitely would not have "gone over the child's head" at all.

LiegeAndLief · 12/12/2013 13:58

No way. I have a fairly robust 7yo ds and have seen the film and no way would I take him. I watched parts of it through my fingers! (Although partly because I knew what was coming next and didn't want to see it, like when poor Cinna got beaten up...)

It's pretty violent, even if the child doesn't understand the plot and or any subtext.

jellybeans · 12/12/2013 14:02

It wouldn't bother me for the first one but I haven't seen the second. I guess what you are up against it is up to him what he does in his time though and what he sees as suitable may be different. Harry Potter could be seen as scary but all my kids watched it much younger than 12.

CoolItKittens · 12/12/2013 14:12

I'm usually pretty lax with films and tv but there is no way I'd let a 6 year old watch either Hunger Games film. DS1 is 11 and I've just got him the first one for Christmas (I've seen them both so know what's coming and think he'll be ok with it) and there is no way he'll be allowed to watch it when DD and DS2 are around.

BlingBang · 12/12/2013 14:15

my 8 yr old has seen the first one at home so he could stop if he felt like it. Never took him to the see Catching Fire in the cinema and will wait till it comes out on DVD. Think 8 is possibly too young, I probably wouldn't have let them see it at 6. I have let them see movies that I wish I hadn't, sometimes you get it wrong.

defineme · 12/12/2013 14:23

I think the difference with Harry Potter is that certain bits are scary, but a lot of it isn't. Whereas the whole premise of Hunger Games is about people being killed in the Games and violence in the world around it.
I wouldn't let my easily scared 9 yrold watch Harry potter either he knows his limits and that's Scooby Doo-he cried during the muppets and we had to turn the lion king off! There are so many u and PG certificate films about-why you'd feel you had to take them to a 12a I don't know?

ovenbun · 12/12/2013 14:31

It is not really comparable with Harry potter imho, because the whole entire plot is about who will die next, what horrible things will be sent in to torment them, the rich observers watch this all on tv and bet on who will survive. And there is lots of 'real life' violence. There isn't anything lovely to break it up like Harry potter, no funny magic or warmth, it is all pretty grim. I think the subject matter alone is deeply innapropriate for children under 12. I like the books but there is no way I'd be exposing a six year old to them.

Topaz25 · 12/12/2013 14:32

jellybeans, the difference that I see between Harry Potter and The Hunger Games is that the plot of Harry Potter is about magic but there are some scary scenes and sometimes people get killed. The plot of the The Hunger Games is all about children killing each other, and not with magic wands either! The violence is more graphic and sustained.

schokolade · 12/12/2013 14:35

6 is way too young IMO. I am 29 and sat with my hands over my eyes for some parts - esp. those with people getting murdered and tortured by government (vs. the actual "games" where the violence was mostly implied).

With a bit of luck the most sinister components went over her head.

Topaz25 · 12/12/2013 14:36

Whoops, x-posted.

Original poster

Mollymom · 12/12/2013 15:45

Jellybeans, that does niggle with me a bit that I can tell him I think its unsuitable but if he thinks its ok there is nothing I can do about it. She seems ok and said she hadnt had bad dreams. She has tried to watch harry potter on tv before but found that scary so we switched channels.

OP posts:

BlingBang · 12/12/2013 15:58

6 is too young but the Hunger Games is a great read for older children - very moral and great for discussing. My son started reading them at 9 or 10 and I was concerned but I'd rather he was reading books the the HG than some of the others out there.

ElenorRigby · 12/12/2013 16:17

Yanbu.
DSD's mum brought to an age inappropriate movie when she was 6.
We didnt realise how badly it had scared her until we brought her to see WALL-E a few months later. She seemed fine, excited going in but the minute the lights went down and the stereo blasted she when into meltdown. Seriously I've not seen a child so hysterical before or since, she screamed the cinema down. It took us 18 months of working with her to get her to go back.

She's fine now, but I feared she had developed a proper phobia back then.

MrRected · 13/12/2013 03:59

Blingblang - are you serious that you'd let your 8 year old watch either of the HG movies????

ShanghaiDiva · 13/12/2013 04:21

Completely unsuitable. The books are aimed at the 12+ market and the entire premise is way beyond anything a 6 year old could process.

BlingBang · 13/12/2013 18:11

Yes I let him watch the HG, only part he had a problem with was the TrackerJackers and that was because he already knew that part was coming (as we had discussed the story and movie in the past)and he didn't like the sound of it. I did think about it, I don't let them watch anything and some things I did get wrong but so far I don't think they are traumatised.

just bought Jaws for Christmas, will have to think if he is old enough.

GoldenGytha · 13/12/2013 18:23

I went with DD2 to see this, but she is 20!

No way would I let a 6 year old watch it though, I didn't find it gory or scary but it's in no way suitable for a 6 year old.

I think it should be a 15, not a 12A, because I don't think I'd be happy with my DDs watching this under this age.

Freddiefrog · 13/12/2013 18:28

YANBU

My 12 year old has all 3 books and seen both films so far, she really didn't like the 2nd one and has already said she doesn't want to see the 3rd.

Really not suitable for a 6 year old

I'm not particularly strict with age ratings, if I've seen the film and I'm happy for my DDs to see it, then OK but no way would I allow a film like Hunger Games so young

43percentburnt · 13/12/2013 18:35

Bling, my dd was shown jaws under the age of 12 (not by me) and has developed a shark problem. She won't swim in the sea on holiday, doesn't like lakes, ponds, rivers etc. She has always enjoyed scary stuff and has never been squeamish, they totally misjudged how she would react.

BlingBang · 13/12/2013 18:43

Yes, it seems Jaws triggered a huge shark killing spree. Was taken to the cinema to see it when I was 5 or 6 and I do agree that was too young. I've dived into the sea and chased after sharks - so it didn't traumatise me too much. God, I love that movie and have been patiently waiting to watch it with my own kids, who will probably say "meh, what was all the fuss about".

Horsemad · 13/12/2013 22:40

I saw HG last weekend with DS who is nearly 15 and I was appalled. I haven't read the books or seen the first film and really didn't have a clue what it was about.

I couldn't believe the flogging scene and nearly walked out. It is so brutal. Vile.

As the film went on, I did begin to enjoy it and have now ordered the books to read.

Mushypeasandchipstogo · 14/12/2013 21:28

OMG 6 is far too young. Went to see it with my 12 year old DS and he thought it was great but couldn't get to sleep later in the day.

soverylucky · 14/12/2013 22:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lilacroses · 14/12/2013 23:23

Interesting thread...yanbu at all op. I'm really shocked that your ex took your 6 year old. I took Dd and several of her friends who are 11 and 12. I did think it was more scarey than the first one (the baboons were horrible) but in general Dd and I don't find the films very scarey and neither of us are particularly brave. We're all different though and I have friends whose Dds were freaked out by it.

Flip

1 2 3