Children's Movie Rant

[Gerry_NY]

I thought that this would be an appropriate place to rant seeing that we are parents who generally post here.

My rant is the sick group of people that sit through every Disney or animated film meant for children and run a fine toothed comb through it. What I mean is that there is a group of people who find "adult innuendo" in children's movies then publicize it.

What sparked this little rant was a post in the "entertainment" section of CF. It was about Shark Tales. They apparently found racial slurs and other "unacceptable" material throughout the movie.
This group also found the word "sex" in "The Lion King", during one of the night scenes where Simba is looking at the stars. What 5 year old...wait...even better, what 10 year old would have seen that without it being pointed out? I couldn't even see it and I have watched the movie thousands of times...it's my favorite Disney movie. Then someone told me about the star scene and I just about passed out. This same group of people also found things wrong in "The Little Mermaid". What did they find, you ask? Well, on the original cover, some of the coral looked like penises (sp?). That, I will give them, it was kind of blatent, but again, would a 5 year old worry about the detail on the cover of a movie or would they want to rip it open and through it in the VCR? In the wedding scene, the "minister" crab gets an erection, very subtle...again I have watched this movie thousands of times with my children and not once did I see that until someone told me of the wedding scene.

I guess I am wondering what other parents think. Are they looking too deeply into the movie to "catch" Disney pushing porn? Are they taking their job too seriously in "protecting the youth of today"? How about they start looking at some of the programs that are on after school? Let's take a look at those. How about pointing out all the "sexual innuendo" in after school shows or cartoons?

Regardless of what this group finds, if I feel that a movie is appropriate, animated or not, my child will watch it. I can't believe they actually pay people to do that...

 

[andiesmama]

I totally agree with you! I'm sure there are many things that wouldn't be appropriate for children's eyes in the Disney movies, but there are many movies out there that have things in them....and most of them you have to run it frame by frame to notice it!! Like you said, what young child will be aware enough to notice anything like that or even comprehend it? My child is only 2, but she knows Tinkerbell, Pooh, and yes, we have the Lion King movie & she watches bits & pieces of that, too....Disney was a staple for me growing up & I don't plan on changing it for my daughter.

 

[yeshuaskid]

I am a Disney movie collector and my daughter watches them with me. While there are some I don't want her to see...for the most part, they are really good. I agree that people critique them too harshly. Yes, there are adult inuendos but, they are (in my opinion) geared towards the adults. Back when The Little Mermaid came out...there was a big scandal about the cover of the VHS case. It seems that one of the artists got fired and, right before leaving, changed the cover so that one of the castle towers looked like a penis. True? Unfortunately, yes. I have one of those cases. They were pulled from the shelves shortly after I purchased my copy. What's my point? If there hadn't been a scandal about it...people would never have known it. You really have to look at the case to see what they are talking about. I know that I have a responsibilty as to what I allow my daughter to watch but, I cannot keep her hidden from the world. I would do her an injustice. What's wrong with our children having a rich fantasy world? Instead of picking at Disney movies...we should be monitoring what our children watch on the television. There is a lot of garbage there. At least, I could put on Disney movies and leave the room but, with the regular TV on...I don't have that luxury.

 

[Lena75]

I have a friend who notices all those little things in the Disney movies that nobody notices, unless pointed out. Much was what you wrote. There are quite a few others. In the one Rescuers movie, there was a nudity scene. Most people noticed it and it got taken off the shelves to be redone. Personally, I do not like any new Disney movie. They are becoming more and more vulgar and the sex level is going up. We rented Home on the Range. Anyone seen that? There's these 2 horny bulls chasing the cows! Of course, my husband and I knew what they were doing, but our kids didn't. Our 6 year old asked, but we just said they were being silly. I thought if they're making movies like this, forget it!

 

[yeshuaskid]

Personally, I do not like any new Disney movie. They are becoming more and more vulgar and the sex level is going up.

I agree. I enjoy most of the old ones, too. The new ones are different, especially since Pixar broke off from Disney. The animation just isn't the same.

We rented Home on the Range. Anyone seen that? There's these 2 horny bulls chasing the cows! Of course, my husband and I knew what they were doing, but our kids didn't. Our 6 year old asked, but we just said they were being silly. I thought if they're making movies like this, forget it!

I took my daughter to see it. She got cranky before that came on and we haven't rented it.

I hope I don't get nailed for this but, there is really only one new Disney film that I won't let my daughter watch. It's Brother Bear. It's really a personal thing for me. The whole movie is based, in my opinion, around indian spirit themes. While, I agree that many Disney movies have this type of thing in them, the whole premise of this particular movie is about spirits. I'm a big fan of The Toy Story movies and, let's face it, they are about talking dolls... What? you don't believe that dolls talk? (LOL)

 

[Lena75]

We actually have Brother Bear. I know it's based around Indian Spirits, but at least it's about the Love totem. He gets to show how much love he really has for another. With Toy Story...you know, I've never watched the whole thing! We haven't bought them and I dunno, just never interested me. As a kid I imagined that my dolls talked. And I know our kids do that, regardless. But movies like Atlantis and Treasure Planet, Mulan and such, those are more for adult entertainment. Lilo & Stitch is about aliens. Hmm, what's the point in that one? Besides one freaky imagination?

 

[yeshuaskid]

But movies like Atlantis and Treasure Planet, Mulan and such, those are more for adult entertainment.

I totally agree.

Lilo & Stitch is about aliens. Hmm, what's the point in that one? Besides one freaky imagination?

I loved and own both Lilo & Stitch movies! I am an avid fan of the daily show, too. The creators definately do have a freaky imagination.

As far as Brother Bear is concerned, my only problem with it is a deep and personal one. I was involved in something a long time ago that mimicked this spiritual thing. The movie has a good premise. I just don't want to open the door to the past and, right now, Brother Bear would do just that. It probably sounds silly. Maybe one day, I'll be past that. But...that's for another day.

 

[HeatherJay]

My girls love Disney movies and I don't have a problem with them watching them. We have MANY...including Brother Bear and Treasure Planet. In fact, those are 2 of my 6 year old's favorites.

I loved Treasure Planet...what adult themes are you referring to specifically? I guess I haven't noticed them...at least not any more so than the other disney flicks.

Brother Bear was beautiful, I thought. I can see how some parents might object to the spiritualism in it, though. Personally, I just laughed my rear-end off...and then cried at the end. It was great.

We have both Lilo and Stitch movies, too. My kids love them. They're pretty good...very funny. I love all the talk about things being 'an abomination'. LOL, It really cracks me up. Great soundtracks. Personal preference, I guess.

We also have Sinbad (not a Disney movie, but...), and my girls love it. I'm assuming that some parents would find issue with that one, too. Once again...great movie.

The one Disney movie that I have a real problem letting my kids watch (even though we have it) is The Hunchback of Notre Dame. It's a fabulous movie, but I don't think that it's appropriate for young kids. I think it should definitely have a higher rating than G...at least PG.

 

[selune]

I love the Disney movies except for my pet peeve of one the parents dying or being dead in almost every one. I don't have a problem with Brother Bear--telling about the Inuits beliefs, or Mulan--A real children's tale from China, or Hunchback--Wow the songs in that one blew me away. I do not like the bad cartooning of several of the recent ones Teacher's Pet or Home on the Range.
We go in to the movies with a view that they are fairy tales, nothing more. Yes some have double meaning jokes for adults, but so do Sesame Street (always has) and The Muppet Show and other such kid's fare.

 

[isaiah5213]

about the only movie i really really had a problem w/was pocahontas.. it not only had the spiritualism in it, but there was way too much rolling around the ground during all that singing for me... & my kids didn't get the point of the movie when we saw it.. i thought it was just me, until they kept talking about the kissing, and the "lovemaking"...yuck--i spent way too much time working hard to play those parts down... if they would have taken out all that surround stuff, i think my kids would have had an easier time seeing what the point was: just because someone is different, doesn't mean they are "wrong" or "bad"...

i never knew about the crab in the mermaid movie, so i am disappointed now, sigh.. but i thought they did an excellent job w/prince of egypt.. i am proud we own that movie...

 

[HeatherJay]

about the only movie i really really had a problem w/was pocahontas.. it not only had the spiritualism in it, but there was way too much rolling around the ground during all that singing for me... & my kids didn't get the point of the movie when we saw it.. i thought it was just me, until they kept talking about the kissing, and the "lovemaking"...yuck--i spent way too much time working hard to play those parts down... if they would have taken out all that surround stuff, i think my kids would have had an easier time seeing what the point was: just because someone is different, doesn't mean they are "wrong" or "bad"...

i never knew about the crab in the mermaid movie, so i am disappointed now, sigh.. but i thought they did an excellent job w/prince of egypt.. i am proud we own that movie...

I think Prince of Egypt is by DreamWorks, not Disney. They have another one called Joseph, King of Dreams that's biblically based. Beyond that, they've done Shrek, Spirit, El Dorado, Antz, etc.

Fox also has some good movies...Anastasia and Ice Age are my favorite ones that we have.

 

[Entertaining_Angels]

I agree. I enjoy most of the old ones, too. The new ones are different, especially since Pixar broke off from Disney. The animation just isn't the same.


I took my daughter to see it. She got cranky before that came on and we haven't rented it.

I hope I don't get nailed for this but, there is really only one new Disney film that I won't let my daughter watch. It's Brother Bear. It's really a personal thing for me. The whole movie is based, in my opinion, around indian spirit themes. While, I agree that many Disney movies have this type of thing in them, the whole premise of this particular movie is about spirits. I'm a big fan of The Toy Story movies and, let's face it, they are about talking dolls... What? you don't believe that dolls talk? (LOL)

I am with you on Brother Bear. I pray about movies before the kids see them and I did not get a good feeling about that one but I also tend to be VERY sensitive to false spirituality.

I don't make a huge deal about it either way. We won't be seeing Shark Tales but we have Nemo and many Pixar and Disney films on DVD.

 

[redemption song]

in defense of disney (which i'm not a fan of), dreamworks, warner brothers, and company, i have to point out that yes, they are mostly for children, but keep in mind that adults are the ones who work on these films and we as adults, do tend to have a sense of humor. i draw extensively, and will admit that it gets rather tedious. before the fiasco with the hidden sexual jokes in disney movies, they only checked the frames for quality. since little mermaid, aladdin, and lion king, every studio examines the individual frames thoroughly (in the little mermaid, at the end on the ship, the priest noticeably has an erection. not sure if they fixed that or not). also, before the current animation boom which all started with The Little Mermaid, films were made predominantly for children, hence the sterotyping of all animated films to be strictly kid's fare. disney noticed that if you add a couple of jokes for the adults to pick-up on, they could at least attract the parents to it and keep them engaged. it's strictly marketing and a fact of life. should adult innuendos stay out of kids' fims? absolutely. but films now are targeted at the whole family, which includes children, teenagers, and parents. disney is also moving away from strictly G-rated fare and to be fair, their recent efforts have tried to slowly tread away from the strictly child's fare. more and more adult or closely adult oriented material is creeping into their films. it's also the animation market maturing (sans the immature jokes) - what i'm referring is to is that these are huge conglomerates with multiple interests at work. factoring that in, films can't be strictly aimed at children.

i would like to tackle the issue of nudity in animated films now. if you don't want to be offended or are easily offended, you might not like my p.o.v. there are instances of nudity that's peppered throughout children's films but not lately. nudity in this country is closely associated with sex, for good or bad. i think for a lot of people, it makes them uncomfortable. but if you look at the context in which nude scenes occur, you might view it differently. there is a terrific film titled My Neighbor Totoro about children, their imaginations, and the ways in which they deal with childhood and the adult issues that crop up. there's a scene in which two girls are bathing with their father. in japan, as with many countries including america, it's accepted to bathe as a family in rural areas. there has been some outcry over this by american audiences but isn't thought of as an issue in europe and asia. the question that arises, is why are some issues taken up in here when not viewed as a big deal in other cultures?

pixar thus far has produced G rated films but their history is filled with animation experiments. their next film, The Incredibles, is a PG rated film for animated cartoon violence. i thought i'd include pixar in there to let you, the concerned parents know why it's rated as such. it's also a brad bird film, who made the excellent The Iron Giant, which i'm fairly sure 10 people saw in theaters. that too is rated PG, so if you're not sure about letting your little ones watch The Incredibles, be sure to check that one out to see what you should expect.

as for Finding Nemo DVD, if you're a really concerned parent, don't listen to the commentary as someone drops the F-bomb midway through.

every parent possesses the right to filter what is seen by their children and animation shouldn't be singled out for having impurities in it. while it is a fantasy world that's very well suited for children, keep in mind that not all those who view animation want strictly kid-safe materials in all films. the bottom line is the dollar and to attract as many people to films as possible, certain flexibilities are built into the system to make sure that things are kid appropriate but also open for adults to enjoy.

sorry i got a bit long winded, but animation really is my baby.