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Anybody seen Nanny McPhee yet?

27 replies

cardy · 23/10/2005 12:31

I heard on radio one that it is suitable for young children, however the clip I saw and the trailer on the website looks a bit scarey. Is it suitable for a 4yo who loves Mary Poppins?

OP posts:
nutcackle · 23/10/2005 12:34

There is a thread about it here

WigWamBam · 23/10/2005 12:34

There's a thread about it here which might help.

BROWNY · 23/10/2005 12:34

Hi Cardy, I took my three children last night, my youngest is 6 - it was a lovely film, despite the father's job as a mortician - my children didn't even mention the dead man with a tag on his toe - it wasn't done in a scary way if that's possible.

There's was a lot of nice special effects, I think your 4 year old would love it (it does say unsuitable for children under the age of 4)!

Hope he will enjoy it, I know you will - I'd like to go and see it again!! HTH[SMILE]

WigWamBam · 23/10/2005 12:34

Snap

nutcackle · 23/10/2005 12:35

LOL, great minds and all that

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cardy · 23/10/2005 12:40

Thanks and thanks for the link...she is just 4 but I think we'll give it a go. I'll take her tomorrow afternoon.

OP posts:
tiredemma · 26/10/2005 09:36

oh it was so good. Emma Thomson was marvellous, its such a good film for kids of all ages.
my ds (age 5 ) loved it.

myalias · 26/10/2005 09:42

I went with my mum(the children are staying with their grandparents) and it's brilliant it's a film that can be enjoyed for all ages. The last scene is magical. Agree Emma Thompson is fantastic - I watched Love Actually again last night and she is such a brilliant actress.

Octobernow · 26/10/2005 16:13

Just got back from taking the ds to see this (5 and 4). It was great - I cried at most of it and there is a completely gorgeous baby in it, too.

SPOILER ALERT

Does anyone know if the nanny in the original books looks horrible but gets prettier as each 'lesson' is taught? That was the only bit I felt uncomfortable with - why does she have to be beautiful at the end?

Polgara2 · 26/10/2005 16:57

Absolutely loved this film. Took dd's to see it on Monday - I laughed, I cried and came away feeling good. Emma Thompson is fantastic. Both girls were captivated and want it on DVD when it comes out already!!

jenk1 · 27/10/2005 14:10

Took DS to see it and he loved it, there are some bits about dead people in it but the kids werent effected even DS who has ASD and would usually freak out at something like that.

I am even thinking about going to see it again in a couple of weeks we enjoyed it that much, but i would say that its for children over the age of 4

tissy · 27/10/2005 14:27

Octobernow, the book is "Nurse Matilda" by Christianna Brand, with illustrations by Edward Ardizzone- it's great! Yes, everytime a lesson is learnt NM seems a bit prettier in the book. (Don't think that spoils the story at all, btw). I'm re-reading the book at the moment, it's brilliant!

Octobernow · 27/10/2005 20:27

Thanks for that info, Tissy - at least Emma Thompson was staying true to the original and not just showing us how beautiful she is!

I'm still uncomfortable with the 'message' that sends, but in its historical context I suppose I can't argue. Will definitely buy the books. I loved the film and have been replaying bits of it my head all day.

NomDePlume · 27/10/2005 20:28

DS2, who is 12 next week LOVED it. Not sure how suitable it would be for a 4 year old.

Milliways · 27/10/2005 20:34

Saw this today with DS (10) & DD (14) who both really enjoyed it - so did I

kiwibelle · 27/10/2005 21:28

we're looking forward to seeing this film... good question Octobernow. I saw the making of Nanny McPhee on the weekend and ET was talking about how she changes due to how you perceive her. Haven't seen the film yet so may be way off the mark but imagine it's something like our 'first appearances'. The beauty is not known until you get to know / understand a person. Glad all have enjoyed.

nooka · 27/10/2005 21:47

I loved the books as a child - also good to read if you are thinking of names, as in the book whenever there are descriptions of the terrible things the children are up to there are so many names (this is a family where the children are described in groups - ie the littlies, the baby, the very young baby etc) my favourite was always the baby who's nappy was always falling off as he toddles after his many many siblings. Not sure if that is in the film though! Hoping to take dd and ds at the weekend.

nooka · 27/10/2005 21:48

Also in the book although she does go from being ugly to being beautiful, it's also very much about going from being stern to being loving.

Octobernow · 28/10/2005 13:41

I should perhaps drop this subject and get a life but I do think it's a shame that we can't allow goodness and love to be shown without physical perfection going alongside it. Surely the lesson about loving someone once you get to know them would be better made if they all love Nanny McPhee even though she is warty and buck toothed.

I thought the same after Beauty and the Beast - it's the same message. Evil = ugly and Good = beautiful. It is too simple to say that the visual message is symbolic. It still perpetuates the wrong message in my view.

But then, if I was beautiful and everybody loved me without my having to do or say anything, I'd have got over it by now

nooka · 29/10/2005 20:59

Octobernow I do agree with you, but I guess there is a strong myth that beauty = good (truth, love etc). I would hope that newly written stories would challenge this (Nurse Matilda was written in 1964).

Katherine · 14/11/2005 09:58

I saw the beauty thing a different way. I didn't view her as ugly and getting more beautiful - I saw her as twisted up by the children being naughty and as they gradually became "normal" - then so did she. You could say she just looked like her normal self at the end, its just that the actress they used happens to be really pretty. I can imagine that when my children are having a bad day they I probably look something like that

I took all 3 of mine to see it (7, 5 and 2). It was the youngests first trip the the cinema. She did get bored towards the end but at least we did make it to the end. The other 2 loved it.

Angeliz · 14/11/2005 10:02

Octobernow, i saw it more as 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder' type lesson. Someone you love is beautiful. I loved the film, as did dd.
I cryed too! I loved all the names too Christiana and Evangaline

collision · 19/11/2005 12:22

My ds who is 3.8yrs loves Chitty chitty Bang bang and Wizard of Oz and loves Mary Poppins.

Do you think that Nanny McPhee is suitable for him?

tiredemma · 19/11/2005 12:27

yes collision, he will love it!

Marina · 19/11/2005 12:53

Hope your ds loves it collision - mine, who is six, did. Good to see plenty of little boys being taken to see this lovely film!

I agree Angeliz - although NM's beautification was depicted literally, I thought it was very possible to interpret what happened as taking place in the eyes of the children. And ET is beautiful, damn it - wish I looked as good as that...and talented too. Gggrrr.

The only bits I felt less happy about were Derek Jacobi's and Patrick Barlow's atrocious mugging as the undertakers. From I Claudius to this - I used to love his work (never expected better from the man who brought us The National Theatre of Brent )

Other than that, a magical film, with terrific children's performances especially.

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