In which I am nosy and interfering.

[electricland]

Dear father who was sitting behind me at Kung Fu Hustle yesterday afternoon:

It is very distracting for the other people watching the movie to hear a small child piping "Why did his head fall off? Where did the blood come from?" The movie has its fair share of (admittedly fairly bloodless) axe murders, machine-gun slaughters, decapitations, and slicing off of limbs. Also decomposing spectral warriors and a cat sliced in half. Also, oh yeah, subtitles, which I observe your child was unable to read. Thank you at least for not reading the entire movie out loud to him.

I realize that kids are tough, that it's none of my business how you decide to bring up your 3-year-old, and that I won't be dealing with any nightmares that may ensue. That's why I didn't add to your no doubt extensive collection of interfering-stranger stories by turning around and telling you off. That said, I do worry. I try to regulate my behaviour when I'm near small fry, at least to the extent of cleaning up my language and not jaywalking. When I'm driving, I try not to run them over. If it looks like they're going to run into traffic, I prepare to stop them. Somehow this extends to worrying about children seeing movies that, really, are too old for them.

I think these rules of thumb should probably cover the case: If your child is too young to read the subtitles, figure out for himself why the man's head fell off, or sit through a 2-hour movie without standing up and talking in my ear, he is too young to see a subtitled movie rated 14A and his presence there will probably make the other people in the theatre uncomfortable. I don't care how funny the trailer looked. Next time, just do us all a favour and go see Robots again instead, 'k?

Sincerely,

ELL

(Aside from that, I enjoyed the movie.)

Comments

[ladyjestyr.livejournal.com]

Your self-control and tact are admirable. I would not be anywhere near so restrained. :)

[electricland.livejournal.com]

I knew we had problems right from the start when the child started seeking explanations for the trailers (for Dark Water and Layer Cake). Oy.

[kendokamel.livejournal.com]

I can't believe the theatre staff let him bring a child that young in. I mean, I know that there are some older children who could, plausibly, handle a mature film, but I really can't stand it when people bring their tots.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

all the parenting stuff I've been reading has made me very cautious about interfering in how other people bring up their kids. What do I know, maybe this will be one of the child's fondest memories 20 years from now. But really!

[jenlev.livejournal.com]

*word*

and the fact that the kid was even at the movie scares me. you are a kind and patient person. :)

as something of a tangent....the first movie my mother took me to was olivier's 'henry V'.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

and you grew up just fine!

awful confession: I have never seen Olivier's Henry V. The shame!

as far as being a kind and patient person goes, that's lovely of you, but sometimes I fear it's just moral cowardice. Do they also serve who only sit and seethe?

[jenlev.livejournal.com]

hee! thank you...although there are days i wonder. *veg*

watch the movie, but ignore his haircut in it.

seething can also be good, especially as thoreau said it so well.... "discretion is the better part of valor." :)

it's good to pick your battles. *hugs*

[pixel12.livejournal.com]

Hmm... this is the second posting in my flist today covering inappropriately aged children in cinemas...

Did a lot of parents lose their mind this weekend? Is it on its way to becoming an international epidemic??? Parents - Stop The Madness!!!

Have you heard of the mummy club Festival Theatres hold weekly? An intelligent movie, with no loud war scenes (to wake the sleeping babes) and a chance to interact with other parents... What a fab idea.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Yes! it is an excellent idea!

[pixel12.livejournal.com]

I'm excited that I found a Festival-esque theatre this weekend. It specializes in foreign and older release films (like the original Solaris, that's been re-launched here).

Fabu!