Sheltering Pt 2

[ciroccoj]

Here's a question: what age do you think is appropriate to allow kids to watch Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves?

We own the movie (I think we got it from ninja_kat) and I showed mine the trailer arrow-POV shot, because it's cool. They wanted to know if they could watch the whole thing, and I said Nope, when you're older.

Then I wondered how much older.

See, here's the thing. The violence is not that bad, as far as non-G-rated movies go. It's certainly no worse than what they've seen in LOTR. And although we eventually had to declare a moratorium on LOTR last summer after they became obsessed with killing every living and imaginary thing on the planet, we ended the moratorium a few months later to no ill effects, and I'm sure the pure violence part of Robin Hood would not be a big deal.

There's also a little teeny potty mouth - at one point, Will Scarlett says "F*ck me, they cleared it!" but again, that's not a big concern. They've heard those words before. They know where they're appropriate and where they're not (eg in the playground = not OK; on the ski hill after nearly being killed by a chair lift = OK).

But there's a scene in there where the Sheriff of Nottingham forcibly marries Maid Marian, and then goes about trying to un-Maid her. It's... um, somewhat disturbing. In part because it's played for laughs, which... eep. Nothing horribly graphic happens, but he's hurriedly undressing while a battle rages on outside, and there's a part where he lies down on top of her (both of them mostly still fully dressed) and shoves her legs apart - and then Robin Hood comes crashing through the window and he looks up and says something like, "Do you mind? We've just been married!"

See, I don't have much of a problem with sexuality, although somehow Daniel has reached the venerable age of 8 still not knowing how babies are made because he just hasn't asked (Justin, OTOH, asked and was told and said Huh.) But I'm not sure I want my kids to see what's basically a rape scene played for humour value.

But then again... the rest of the movie is pretty good... how big a deal is this... and what if we talk about it with them beforehand... and what if they see the movie (or something else like it) somewhere else... and you know the drill. Blahblahblahmommyangst.

Any ideas? How old do you think kids should be before viewing this movie, or one like it? How old is too old to be shielding them from this kind of thing? How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?

Comments

[lonejaguar.livejournal.com]

Hmm... not that I could really have much of a grasp on how to deal with children, but I went to see the movie when it was released in theatres. That would have made me 11 and I remember being freaked out by the marriage part. Now... that could have been due part to the witch because she seriously freaked me out, but... eh. You know your kids - and they seem extremely smart - maybe if you did talk to them beforehand, they'd be okay with it.

I still loved the movie and watched it over and over again. It's a great movie and there are lots of good things about it.

[noir-moll.livejournal.com]

I think reactions to film content will vary from kid to kid. Like lonejaguar, I saw the movie in theaters when I was 11. I remember the marriage sequence, and the humor aspect didn't register with me at the time; but, I wasn't disturbed, either. Color me unperceptive. I knew what sex was, had a vague notion of what was going on in that scene, but was more interested in upcoming fight. My nine-year-old cousin (who was more clueless than I was) saw the film with me and, afterward, we spent the next two days playing non-stop with his Robin Hood Lego set. The part of the movie in question was the last thing on our minds.

Show

[culturevulture7.livejournal.com]

The Erroll Flynn version instead ::g::

Violence is much less graphic, plus they can get a charge out of the Skipper's father as Little John and Trigger as Maid Marian's horse :-) And the action scenes are way more fun and the colors are bright and it's funny, not angsty.

As for the violence, I saw the 70s Three Musketeers at around 8 (my mom called the theater to find out what the PG rating was for :-) )

I also saw Lawrence of Arabia at 6. That I had to have an Arab costume and spent the rest of my childhood reading books about arms, horses, Genghis Khan, and played with knights, horses and castles is, of course, strictly coincidental...

Ignore that CV Behind the Curtain!

[woffproff.livejournal.com]

But do you really want your kids to grow up to be like culturevulture7!!!! HA! Only CV would know that Trigger was Maid Marion's horse!

She still plays with knights and horses, BTW. :)

I have absolutely no advice---other than listen to CV, she DOES know of the classic films of which she speaks---but I just remember how loud I laughed over the 'fuck me, they cleared it' line in the theater.

(CV, stop bashing me over the head with that scimtar! OUCH!!!)

Re: Ignore that CV Behind the Curtain!

[ciroccoj.livejournal.com]

how loud I laughed over the 'fuck me, they cleared it' line in the theater.
Oh, I KNOW!! That was hysterical. All the more so because AFAIK, there had been no other profanity. And it so came from the heart :D :D

The other huge naughty-word laugh I remember in a theatre was in Star Trek: Generations, when the Enterprise is about to plow into a planet, and Data says "Oh - SHIT!!" I seriously thought I'd pee ;)

I'd wait

[(Anonymous)]

Rape isn't a concept I want them to know or understand about right now. Call me crazy, but hero-violence is one thing, villian violence, especially rape, is another thing.

Sarah

Re: I'd wait

[ciroccoj.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's where I am. There's a lot I can explain, and a lot I think they can take... but how do you explain rape to anybody? Especially a five year old?

There's plenty of other films out there :)