Child's Play

[Single Mom]

Does anybody know anything about the movies "Child's Play" and "Child's Play 2"? What are they rated? Would you consider them inappropriate for a child under 10?

[Dr T Non-Fan]

Slasher movies about a killer doll.

I wouldn't let my kids watch it.
First, they're not good movies.
Second, too violent and too much foul language.

Rated R.

Do not be tempted by that fancy double-pack at the Costco. Two sucky movies for the price of 1.5. Buy The Godfather package. When the kids are older (14), you'll want to indulge them in good cinema.

[Damn, Dirty Ape]

I second everything DTNF said (especially the Godfather part. I just got the DVD's!)

Sample line from Child's Play 3 - The Bride of Chucky:
Bride: Do you have a rubber?
Chucky: Baby, I'm ALL rubber!

If you're looking for info on any movie, check out http://www.imdb.com. It's the most comprehensive movie database in the world. It has tons of content, easy to use, and it's free.

[Single Mom]

Thanks for your input. It was what I expected - and feared. Unfortunately, the last two weekends my 8 year old son has spent with his dad, they watched Child's Play and Child's Play 2. Last night he said, "I'm just going to have to tell Daddy I shouldn't watch Chucky movies any more until I'm at least 10. He promised me the second one was more funny and less scary." I wish I'd have said something 2 weeks ago after they watched the first one. Sunday when I went to pick up my son, my ex-husband said to him, "Did you tell your mom what movie we watched last night?" I said, "I hope not another Chucky movie." The ex just laughed and said, "Chucky's back."

[Dr T Non-Fan]

I feel sorry for your son. Bad movies and less "quality time." Almost worth a call to the attorney about revising visitation rights.

(Now I feel as if I'm prying. Never stopped me before.)
How about packing some appropriate movies with him next time?
Or a board game?
Or a Harry Potter book to have read to?
Or some play clothes to go out and have a catch?

[Damn, Dirty Ape]

I wouldn't worry about it too much.

The movies aren't really scary. Some sexual overtones and foul language make them inappropriate for kids, but there's not much there that they couldn't find on TV.

What I'm more worried about is your ex's taste in movies. Ouch! These things are REALLY poorly made movies, with therrible scripts and absolutely no redeeming qualities. Sure, they're fun to watch with friends when you're 15, but for an adult (I presume) to go out and rent this trash is absurd!

If movies are important to both of them, just about anything out there would be more appropriate. I would stay away from slasher-type movies, though, since they are stupid and very degrading to women (Road Warrior excepted, of course).



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: d*mn, Dirty Ape on 2001-10-17 17:36 ]</font>

[Anonymous]

On 2001-10-17 17:05, Single Mom wrote:
Thanks for your input. It was what I expected - and feared. Unfortunately, the last two weekends my 8 year old son has spent with his dad, they watched Child's Play and Child's Play 2. Last night he said, "I'm just going to have to tell Daddy I shouldn't watch Chucky movies any more until I'm at least 10. He promised me the second one was more funny and less scary." I wish I'd have said something 2 weeks ago after they watched the first one. Sunday when I went to pick up my son, my ex-husband said to him, "Did you tell your mom what movie we watched last night?" I said, "I hope not another Chucky movie." The ex just laughed and said, "Chucky's back."


Don't raise your son to be a p***y.

[Oh Yeah]

party?, peppy?, penny? Never mind.

Single Mom: "I'm just going to have to tell Daddy I shouldn't watch Chucky movies any more until I'm at least 10. He promised me the second one was more funny and less scary."

Sounds like your kid's going to be okay.

[Traci]

Also sounds like the ex-hubby is deliberately trying to undermine.

If simply saying, "These movies are inappropriate, and I would really apreciate it if you would choose something of higher quality - or better yet, "chuck" tv altogether - You know he really would prefer to play a game of catch, or go to the science museum." - doesn't work (the former assumes your ex is a reasonable person) - then you might try fighting fire with fire:

""""Did you tell your mom what movie we watched last night?" I said, "I hope not another Chucky movie." The ex just laughed and said, "Chucky's back.""""

Mom: "Well - I guess your dad LIKES those silly movies. Maybe next time we could bring a GOOD movie to show to Dad.""

Then - out of earshot of your son - "You'll probably have to explain it to him though."

[Oh Yeah]

Wait a second. Criticizing Dad to the kid is NOT the way to go.

Let's keep in mind that the true victims of divorce are the children. The parents are human beings who probably had some feelings hurt (at the least) by the breakup. Making spiteful, or even mildly derogatory, comments about the other parent to the children is just plain wrong.

[Traci]

It wasn't meant to be derogatory - just meant to make him feel a little silly - for trying to deliberately undermine Mom.

The kid already agrees that the movies are inappropriate. Dad is probably talking him into them - just to tick Mom off.

So the message he needs to get is - Both the kid and Mom think the movies are bad - YOU are the only one who likes them - isn't this a little silly?

My real recommendation is in the first part of my message. But again, it assumes the ex is a reasonable person.

[Traci]

Also - I don't think there is anything wrong with Mom letting her son know that she disagrees with Dad - or disapproves of something that Dad lets him do.

If Dad is doing something dumb - like undermining Mom - the kid already knows it. If Mom doesn't acknowledge it - the kid gets the message that, well - maybe this behavior IS okay.

[Oh Yeah]

I have to disagree with you. It is not your job to make a grown man "feel a little silly". Treating him like a child will encourage childish behavior. I agree with telling him that you don't want your child to see those movies. But you should treat him with respect (if only for the sake of your child, in spite of the fact that it's the way you should treat all people).

I think this condescending, mother-to-the-world attitude that (some)women have is counterproductive.

[Traci]

"""It is not your job to make a grown man "feel a little silly"."""

No - but it is my job to make my son understand what behavior is and is not appropriate - even when the inappropriate behavior comes from his dad.

IF Dad is only doing this to get a rise out of Mom - AND/OR to look cool because he lets Jr. do stuff that Mom doesn't allow - THEN he needs to made aware - in the presence of the child - that this is NOT cool. Mom doesn't think it's cool and neither does the child.

Making him only feel a little silly is probably KINDER than saying flat out in front of the child - "These movies are inappropriate - HE knows it - I know it - and YOU should know it too." - which would be my 3rd recommendation if the first two fail.

Bottom line - if you don't want to look dumb in front of your child - don't do dumb stuff in front of your child.

I am not a mother-to-the-world, and I've never been divorced - but I would not hold my kid's father above reproach - as some untouchable hero - especially when he continues to demonstrate otherwise.

I do NOT advocate spiteful remarks in front of kids - but I do advocate honesty about good and bad behavior. As I said, the kid already knows.

[Single Mom]

Thanks for the thoughts and ideas. I especially like the one of sending movies or other games with him when he goes over there. We try to have plenty to do at both of his homes, but since he's here 85% of the time, I am more in touch with his current interests and favorite games.

I do agree that speaking bad about Dad to my son is not appropriate. I want him to respect both of us even if I don't always agree with his dad's choices. In return, I hope my ex does the same. We really have tried to keep things civil in the divorce for his sake, although it isn't always easy!I have to decide when to intervene and when it is better for me to encourage my son to make independent decisions. The more I think about the Chucky movies, I think I need to encourage my son to be more outspoken with his dad. Since he doesn't see him as often, Daddy's word tends to be gospel. He will tell me that he's going to tell Daddy he shouldn't watch those any more, but then by the time he's there 2 weeks later, he is less comfortable telling him or time has made his feelings less strong.

[Oh Yeah]

Divorce has become a sensitive topic in our house as of late. We learned just this week that some very good friends of ours are headed in that direction. They have two children (ages 10 and 5).

It's sounds like your trying to do your best. Every parent worries about whether they're doing the right thing from time to time.
I think what you said about teaching your child to stand up for himself makes a lot of sense.

[Traci]

"""I think what you said about teaching your child to stand up for himself makes a lot of sense. """

I agree - however - as she already noted, it can VERY difficult for an 8 year old to stand up to his dad.

Make sure you're not leaving up to him to do something that YOU don't want to have to do as a parent.

If he only sees his dad every two weeks, he is probably more concerned with keeping dad's approval than he is about standing up for himself about what movie to watch.

Hopefully, Dad will get the message if he simply says, "I would rather watch this one."

But, if Dad has ulterior motives, and comes back with something like "Aw come on! Just because Mom doesn't like them - WE can watch 'em!" Then the kid is in the middle - and it's DAD who put him there - and Mom shouldn't leave him twisting in the wind.

This is a hypothetical - I don't know you or your circumstances, of course. Hopefully, next time they will pick something good at the movie store, or better yet, go outside and enjoy what's left of the nice weather.

Enough said - back to the books!

[Aw Yeah]

http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/images/ChildsPlay.jpg

[Aw Yeah]

:blah:

whoa, wait.

what?