Yesterday I was asked what I had heard about the new Cars 2
But before we will even get a date set, off to the reviews we go. Unfortunately we can not leave it to Hollywood to decide what is appropriate for our kiddos.
My first stop is Plugged In Online. Part of Focus on the Family, this site gives specific examples of positive and negative elements.
Here are some other review sites:
Flixter
Kids in Mind
Screen It
Add to my list your favorite review sites.
So, you have read the reviews. What are you thoughts?
I normally read the reviews before seeing a movie, but for some reason, I didn't with this one. As for Cars 2, the plot is similar to what you'd find with adult movies and there is quite a bit of violence. I was honestly surprised. I didn't feel like it earned it's G rating due to the violence. We liked it, but I should have read the reviews and been a bit more prepared!
I must say I'm not shocked at the reviews. It seem since Pixar and Disney teamed up the movies just aren't the same. I have a strict G only policy for my boys and even then I often find myself pre-screening or hopping Plugged in Online to see if the movie is ok. Sad that kids movies today are laced with so much trash these days. I haven't decided on if they'll go see Cars 2 yet. My oldest son is very sensitive to violence. It either really upsets him or gets into his spirit and he's a horror for days after watching.
A 3rd grade boy that I talked to said it was good, but there was a lot of shooting in it. I personally haven't seen it, but that is a young boys perspective.
I am often shocked at the ratings of movies and the willingness of parents to allow their children to see things without viewing ahead of time. I am also often left in wonderment of who is actually doing the ratings. I have a 13 year old so for the most part am fine with her seeing G and PG movies, but I often find myself very uncomfortable sitting in the theater with much younger children who I feel the movies are directed and marketed to, but not appropriate for. Even worse is when I am attending a PG-13 or R rated film and kids my daughter's age are attending with and more often without their parents.
As for Cars 2 – we saw it and though my daughter and her friends – again 13 year olds – liked I would not have given it G rating for the violence and intensity of the film.
Just wanted to throw in that I took my 5 year old daughter to see "Winnie the Pooh" today at the theater and it was absolutely delightful! We opted to skip Cars 2 until we could preview it ourselves. But I so enjoyed Pooh today that I'd go back to see it again!