Scaring the Dickens out of children...you're doing it right.

[ErikaRobin]

 

I received a note from a friend of mine, warning me not to take my four-year-old to see Disney's new A Christmas Carol with Jim Carrey.  There were a few times during her theater experience that she heard littler ones protesting, including the approximately five-year-old boy seated near her who repeatedly stated, "I don't like this, Mommy, I want to go home" with the distinct tone of fear in his voice. 

If you have little ones, they might be rather freaked out by the whole Marley scene...and reportedly quite a few others.  Apparently, it's pretty scary, but moviegoers are drawn in by the whole Disney name and drag their little ones to see it "because it's about Christmas", despite the fact that Dickens didn't write happy-go-lucky stories that kids will appreciate.  This is not the kid-friendly "Mickey Mouse as Bob Cratchit" animated version, folks.  I can only imagine how nightmare inducing this movie would be in 3-D. 

Yeah, we'll save that one for the older kiddos...and on video, methinks.

[KelleyP77]

Nov. 30, 2009 at 11:17 AM

The original used to scare the crap out of me when I was a kid. It still gives me the hebbie-jebbies now. I kind of figured my girls would be too little for this one as well, but thanks for the heads-up. We'll stick with Rudolph this year. At least they are used to the Bumble now. =)

[ErikaRobin]

Nov. 30, 2009 at 11:22 AM

Yeah, Kell, bumbles bounce!  He'd be positively precious compared to Jacob Marley's ghost. 

(Original Poster)

[cleanaturalady]

Nov. 30, 2009 at 11:23 AM

What is the rating on it I wonder?  I can see how they could make that scary - ghosts and chains and dead partners and all that.

[beka03]

Nov. 30, 2009 at 11:27 AM

My son (5 yrs. old) and I where trying to decide on which movie to see this weekend... we watched about 3 diffrent trailers for this and he was scared just from that! Later he says he wasn't but when I gave him the choice to see this or Planet 51 this wasn't his choice!

[Guinhyvar]

Nov. 30, 2009 at 11:41 AM

Noted.

[proud2Bmomma]

Nov. 30, 2009 at 11:56 AM

You know, my SIL wanted to take my 7, 5, and 3 year old to see the 3-D version at IMAX.  I just don't think so.  This is not the first review I've read that said it wasn't exactly kid friendly.

[parrishsky]

Nov. 30, 2009 at 12:10 PM

I saw it with my older kids and agree there are a few scenes that are not typical "Disney" charm. Jacob Marley's broken jaw for instance... ~creepy~

[Journey311]

Nov. 30, 2009 at 12:36 PM

We saw the trailer in the theater before Toy Story so we had my 3 year old with us.  It scared the mess out of him!  I was schocked that they would  show that kind of trailer before a movie geared to such a young audience.  Some friends of ours took their kids (11 & 8) to see it, and their 8 year old twins got scared by it.  Needless to say, we'll also skip it for a few years.  The only version of a Christmas Carol that I've seen that wasn't scary is the Muppet Christmas Carol.

[Rebeccalynn_dj]

Nov. 30, 2009 at 12:42 PM

My kids watched it and loved it.  They do know the difference between real and fake and covered their eyes a few times.  They did like it.  We saw it opening weekend.

[ms_mommy_sue]

Nov. 30, 2009 at 12:42 PM

thanks for the heads up, I was wondering about this one. HTey haven't seen any of the ones out yet, not even Mickey Mouse, but I was kinda hoping with it being Jim Carrey it would be ok. Guess not. THank you again!