We all have fond memories of children’s stories: Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty, as well as the newer kids stories. But some of these are not for kids!
Let’s look at Disney’s animated Peter Pan. My daughter and I couldn’t get past the first twenty minutes of this G rated film. Made in 1953, the animated Lost Boys rolled around, hitting each other with sticks and clubs. We fast forwarded through that first ten minutes. Soon after Tinker Bell was trying to kill Wendy. Lovely! Fast forwarding throug that led to guns, a lurking alligator, and Captain Hook. She was about two and a half then, and was covering her eyes and quivering in front of the TV. We just had to return to calmer stories like Blues Clues and Curious George.
This story, charming when it was debuted as a play in 1904, and as an animated film in 1953, hasn’t aged well as our views towards violence has changed, and kids’ exposure, too. (And lets be thankful for that!) And reading more about the story, the Lost Boys and Neverland were meant to contrast the strained Victorian society in which Wendy and the children normally lived. But seeing the level of violence and themes going on, I think the rating should be changed to PG, instead of G.
There is a great article by Martha Brockenbrough that talks about a violent Bond film getting a PG-13 rating, while a film with two swear words and brief nudity received an R rating.
And looking at the ratings, a G rating does not guaranteee its a child’s film, it just rates the level of violance and language, etc. A G rating from the MPAA says:
“A G-rated motion picture contains nothing in theme, language, nudity, sex, violence or other matters that, in the view of the Rating Board, would offend parents whose younger children view the motion picture. The G rating is not a “certificate of approval,” nor does it signify a “children’s” motion picture. Some snippets of language may go beyond polite conversation but they are common everyday expressions. No stronger words are present in G-rated motion pictures. Depictions of violence are minimal. No nudity, sex scenes or drug use are present in the motion picture.”
Tinkerbell’s trying to murder Wendy and the Lost Boys hitting each other with clubs exceeds “minimal violence,” in my opinion.
This author says that the CARA has a direct relationship with the MPAA, which could impede their judgements, or cause them to become influenced by friends. The members are supposedly anonymous and parents.
Then I thought of seeing the other Disney films. Many of them had other scary things: witches (Little Mermaid, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty), dragons (Sleeping Beauty), battles with swords (Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty), attempted murder (Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, & The Lion King- successful fratricide). Whew! Sounds more like opera themes!
I know that parents have to judge for themselves what is appropriate for each kid. Modern kids may be different, too. I know that mine is extremely sensitive. And if my kid doesn’t like it, I’m not going to force it. I write this even though I’m a huge fan of the scary Grimm Brothers’ tales, Harry Potter, and most fantasy tales. But Peter Pan will have to wait until she’s old enough to handle evil antagonists, alligators lying in wait, mischievious fairies, and Lost Boys with clubs.
Sorry, Peter, you’re going to have to stay in Neverland for now.
