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Jan. 10th, 2010 09:16 pmBeen watching kids films lately. Last week, I watched via TCM, the 1975 classic, Escape to Witch Mountain starring Eddie Albert, Ray Milland, Donald Pleasance, Kim Richards, and Ike Eisenman. According to TCM - the film was a hit, but it was the kids that everyone loved and Disney asked back for the sequel - Return to Witch Mountain - which starred Betty Davis, Christopher Lee. The first is far far better. It's based on the science fiction children's novel by Alexander Key (actually it is really close to that book, more so than one might think). Disney who loved to get mileage out of its properties - did not stop there, they apparently did a series called Beyond Witch Mountain - which I have no memory of, so probably never saw, and an updated 1990s TV movie, and most recently Race to Witch Mountain starring the Rock, which from the description and trailers lacked all the charm, and everything I adored about the first one. (It basically turned the story into a Rock action flick, with a hot female companion and two teenage kids/aliens.) The original is quite good in places, it has a mystery or puzzle at the center which the kids have to figure out,
and focuses mainly on the two kids - we are entirely in their point of view, and shows how they can make it work. When I watched it, first time in over 20 years...I remembered why I adored it as a child and could see why. I still do adore it in a way, a nostalgic one. While it is violent in places, it pushes non-violence. The kids never hurt anyone, they go out of their way not to. They defend themselves, but they do it in a way that no one is hurt.
This afternoon - watched the Disney Pixar film Up - which was not what I expected. Yes, the kid is as annoying as he is cute. As is the dog. Although the dog made me laugh - "I am here to serve you Master - Squirrle!" But the central story, and the central character, Fredrickson is beautiful. The first twenty minutes - we see his loving relationship with his wife Ellie, from when they met as children to her death. The movie had the emotional resonance that I found lacking in AVATAR (although I did enjoy AVATAR). I cried during the first twenty minutes of this film. And Fredrickson's journey is a moving and satisfying one. There are also some laugh out loud moments. It's a sweet film and like Wall-E before it, deserves all the critical praise lopped onto its head. A film that works for children and adults alike. It is more violent than Escape, oddly enough,
although like Escape - the old man tries not to hurt anyone, and is basically defending himself. It's subdued violence.
The only downside of both films - is they have violence in them, granted not as much as most kids shows or films. But this does raise a question that I've been pondering: Why are tv shows, movies, and books - especially those written for children so violent and why do we put up with it? Sex is not permitted in children's films, but violence is not only permitted, it seems to be encouraged and prevalent? I wonder about this sometimes.
And I wonder why parents don't mind at all if their kids see a violent show, but get really upset if they see one with sex, foul language or nudity.
and focuses mainly on the two kids - we are entirely in their point of view, and shows how they can make it work. When I watched it, first time in over 20 years...I remembered why I adored it as a child and could see why. I still do adore it in a way, a nostalgic one. While it is violent in places, it pushes non-violence. The kids never hurt anyone, they go out of their way not to. They defend themselves, but they do it in a way that no one is hurt.
This afternoon - watched the Disney Pixar film Up - which was not what I expected. Yes, the kid is as annoying as he is cute. As is the dog. Although the dog made me laugh - "I am here to serve you Master - Squirrle!" But the central story, and the central character, Fredrickson is beautiful. The first twenty minutes - we see his loving relationship with his wife Ellie, from when they met as children to her death. The movie had the emotional resonance that I found lacking in AVATAR (although I did enjoy AVATAR). I cried during the first twenty minutes of this film. And Fredrickson's journey is a moving and satisfying one. There are also some laugh out loud moments. It's a sweet film and like Wall-E before it, deserves all the critical praise lopped onto its head. A film that works for children and adults alike. It is more violent than Escape, oddly enough,
although like Escape - the old man tries not to hurt anyone, and is basically defending himself. It's subdued violence.
The only downside of both films - is they have violence in them, granted not as much as most kids shows or films. But this does raise a question that I've been pondering: Why are tv shows, movies, and books - especially those written for children so violent and why do we put up with it? Sex is not permitted in children's films, but violence is not only permitted, it seems to be encouraged and prevalent? I wonder about this sometimes.
And I wonder why parents don't mind at all if their kids see a violent show, but get really upset if they see one with sex, foul language or nudity.
