Narnia - just back - PG - who are they kidding?

[SecondhandRose]

Scary war scenes, with very frightening faced warriors. An awful lot of subtle killing. Poor Edmund in chains & being hit in the face by the queen.

Mmmm, I wouldn't take little ones. My nearly 11yr old DS said it was a bit scary.

I was talking to my friend in the states about Chicken Little last night - she'd just got back from seeing with her boys. She said it was OK. We were wondering why the US has to change everything to suit them - surely it was Chicken Licken? She also said that Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was re-named HP and the Sorcerer's Stone over there. Wonder why? She said it's because American's can't say big words (she's English) and we had a sneaky giggle at their expense! No offence to any Americans on here - eek.

my 4.5yr old reading this atm with her dad. Loves it. Sure, some of the concepts are prob passing her by but the drama, adventure, atmosphere, emotional content are all gripping her attention. Hopefully she will read it herself when older and discover the more grown up imagery for herself.
Had planned for her to see it over Xmas when book finished, might watch the BBC DVD version with her instead so can have breaks if finding it scary. lights on etc!

The chicken little thing looked really shite didn't it, lol..... I actually said it out loud just as there were a silence........

Ds jumped at one point too and nearly lost his popcorn, think it was when Edmond went to the castle and the dog jumped up?

I watched the end of Harry potter (is it 3 - the one with the dementors) last night and there is no way I would want my nearly 6 year old to watch it

she has nightmares after Mona the Vampire though

Just saw this with dd7 and ds10 - perfect for their age group. We loved it, I don't think it could possibly be adapted better. Loved the bit with the frozen waterfall which I think isn't in the book at all?

Fantastic film. DSs (nearly 5 and 7) thoroughly enjoyed it and didn't find it too scarey at all

I watched HP and the goblet of fire again today (on my own aren't I sad! ) and still think Narnia was scarier !

I've really gone off Narnia since reading a biography of Tolkien - think Narnia is a bit of a rip off LOTR to be honest - Tolkien and Lewis were good friends, Tolkien strict Catholic, Lewis outspoken atheist, then Tolkien 'converted' Lewis, who instantly started spouting Christian literature, which upset Tolkien - he felt he should give it time to learn about his own faith, before writing 'instruction' to others, especially given his questionable (within a Christian framework) marital arrangements. Lewis also used some of Tolkien's names (slightly altered). The trailers of the film seem to me to be doing the same to LOTR as Lewis did in the first place - it being filmed in New Zealand, similar landscape shots, released at Christmas in instalments, similar music etc. Am definitely a die-hard LOTR person!

some good opinions on here.
Still not sure what to do. Tempted to just take ds1 (6) but fear dd (4) will be unhappy about that.
Yes I love that bit where the girls play chase with Aslan.
Like Marina, I was surprised that Rossy didn't like it.
Have read some of the book to the older 2 children, not sure if they followed it or not. Started telling them the story again yesterday to pass the time while we waited for the AA man (! don't ask) and since then have been inundated by requests for "the Narnia story mummy" from both ds1 and dd. Bless.

Loathed LOTR - bored the pants off me (the book, didn't see film due to previous boredom experience) but adored all the Chronicles of Narnia. Really liked that it had strong female characters I could identify with, plus was linked to reality unlike LOTR - and they spoke normally! Would love to see the film but unsure about taking ds. He loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Would like to read him the book first though.

Took DS (5) and DSD (4) to see this today and TBH was very impressed. Thought the war scenes were actually done very well with no blood and only hinting towards what was actually occuring without being gory in anyway, the violence actually passed right over my 2s heads TBH. DS is usually a right pain when we go cinema and can normally only cope with an hour before he gets bored BUt he sat glued to the screen for the whole movie which to me is a sign that he enjoyed it very much! What pleased me too was talking to them afterwards and the fact that they had actually grasped the plot very well even though neither of them had read the book.
As an adult i loved it. Took me back to my childhood and was impressed that it remained true to the book!

no comment

I think poor old Lewis failed with me! Still love the books. I always adored myths and legends, and I loved it that the children became kings and queens. How fab would that be?

Reading that article in the Guardian actually spoilt some of the atmosphere of the film for me today (I read it when it was originally published btw) When I first read the Narnia books in Primary School the biblical aspects went completely over my head, despite the fact that I was at a C of E school. I was really concerned that going today was going to be similar to being smacked over the head with a bible, and it made me very oversensitive to every little detail. Frankly, imo if I hadn't been actively thinking about it I don't think I would have drawn many parallels. Love, sacrifice, resurrection, good vs evil are staples of most of the fantasy genre.
DS1 loved it for what it was at face value. He came home and immediately got me to find my Narnia books and started to read them and started nagging me about getting the DVD!

DS1 didn't find it too scary, although he did want to hold onto me during a few parts (he's 8 in february btw) We did find we had to do a mad dash for the toilets at the end though, because of the length

exactly - we don't seem to be able to take things at face value these days - always looking for an angle.

glad your ds enjoyed AND it's encouraged to get the books out - surely that's a good thing!

I read the Daily mail (I think?) review, which said it was excellent for all ages, even tinies because the special effects were so good, and fantastic scenery etc, which would keep them spellbound. I had planned to take my 6 and 3 yo because of this review. The reviewer said it was the best film of the year.

Still cannot decide wether to take the dd's to see this.
Dd1 is 8 and doesn't like Harry Potter, Doctor Who etc so am not sure if she would find it too scary.
Dd2 is 6 and one of her fave films is Jason and the Argonauts so I think she'd cope with the fighting etc, but is any of it sad because I'm nt sure she'd cpe with that.

I never realised there were any biblical bits until I read it on this thread!

dd1 (5.5) went as part of birthday party at weekend, the mums who took them said she was a bit scared and they gave her a cuddle, but she's been raving about how good it was (ie not how scary) since then.

I really want t see it so I think i'll just take them and they will have to shut their eyes if they get scared.

dd1 says she'll definitely go again, as I want to see it too

i was bored senseless but one three and one five yo suffered no ill effects and keep yakking about it...

I primed DSs for it being scarey and, tbh, I don't think it was actually too bad. Some of the Bad Army are scarey looking, the battle scenes are realistic but the camera turns away nicely before any gore and there are some "perilous situations". The sacrifice scene is sad and scarey in a dark magic ritual kind of way with the gathered hoards etc. Maybe prime them about scarey bits and remind them it's not real.

so glad you started this thread, now I know not to take mine. It's really bad of them. I often think - surely they don't have to go to such lengths in scenes that it spoils the kiddies enjoyment.

they probably see worse if they watch the news