Question on F-911/Kids

[Badger1]

We have a very mature soon to be 11 year old daughter. We are going to see F-911 today and were wondering if we should bring her along. It is a special showing for our local Dem members and will know alot of the people there. What do those of you who have seen it think? Thanks in advance.

[nostamj]

1. there is some VERY graphic content

horrible scenes of dead and mutilated children, wounded soldiers, multiple amputees, and some very graphic language too.

i think it would be tough for an 11yo

[sadiesworld]

4. Agreed.

And actually she is 10, right? I wouldn't consider it for a child under 13. Make that a "mature" 13 year old.

Of course, I don't have kids so I might just be talkin' out my ass.
:P

[progressivebydesign]

10. No you're right on...

.. my 21 year old stepdaughter saw it.. and she couldn't handle a lot of it. Unless someone is pretty conditioned to handle violent images, it's pretty jarring. Not a good thing for kids. I don't think people don't realize how heavy, graphic images like that affect kids. They internalize it, because they aren't developmentally able to handle it.. it's emotionally distressing to them. I think people risk unneeded anxiety issues when they try to push their kids into being adults that way. I know we're all passionate about the message, but we have to be aware that kids are not mini-adults, regardless of the clothes they were and the movies they're allowed to watch. They're children.

If you ever have kids, you'd be a good parent!

[Francine Frensky]

19. The bad stuff is pretty short, maybe 5 second clips here or there...

adding up to maybe one minute. No worse than what they see on prime time tv or on the news. But why not watch it yourself and then take her later?

[UdoKier]

24. It's tough for all of us.

Much bettter to see such gore in a real context than to let them watch "Terminator 2" or some other rot.

[bahrbearian]

2. There is no point for her to see it.

There is some profanity and some violence,, and she will be bored to death.

[Citizen Daryl]

6. I plan to have my 14-year-old see it, but I think 11 is a bit early. n/t

[lapislzi]

3. Depends on the kid

I also have a 10-yr-old daughter. She chose not to see it because she knew she'd become too emotional--angry and sad. She already despises bush; I don't need to pour gasoline on that fire. She knows it, too. If your kid already has a strong anti-bush position, there is probably no need to reinforce it, especially if she, like my daughter, is likely to internalize it and become very emotional.

[cally]

5. I would probably take her but make sure

that you warn her about the violence and scenes of war. I've seen it twice and I couldn't watch some of it. If she knows, truly understands, what happens in war then I think she should see the movie.

[Jokinomx]

7. I would wait for the DVD... and watch it at home.. Then you could skip the

parts that are to graphic. I have been very open with my children on what they could see and not see and they were very mature for their ages and I wouldn't have allowed them to see it at that age.......F 9-11 is not for elementary aged children.

That is my humble opinion.

[leesa]

8. I sat next to some kids at one of my viewings and they seemed fine with it

There are graphic scenes but they are very brief and certainly less than the violence they see on teevee or at the movies.

[progressivebydesign]

9. See it first!!! Without her!

My 12 year old wants to see it.. but she's not ready. "very mature" 11 year old, I don't mean to be impertinent, but why does everyone describe their own children as "mature", it's sort of funny, everyone thinks that about their own kids. 11 is still a child, there are reasons why they have specific programming for kids.. it has to do with emotional development. What may disturb a 16 year old, could cause emotional distress to an 11 year old child.

We've decided that our 12 year old may see it when she's ready to handle the graphic scenes, BUT she'll not see it in a theatre. She'll see it at home, when the DVDs are available. That way, you can stop the film when you need to, if there are things to be explained, and she'll be seeing it in a safe, comfortable place, where she can leave and go in her room if she's overwhelmed.

I can't stress strongly enough that you shouldn't take her today. A lot of what happens in the film she'll need to have discussed. There is a reason it's an R rating, and it's not political. She's 7 years below the reccommended age. Please wait till she can see it at home, if you decide after seeing it, that she's ready.

[Badger1]

11. Thanks

Will take her to a friends house and she can see it later on DVD at home. Anyway, I think everyone will want to go out for cocktails after! Yipee! Thanks again, I know I get honest opinions here.

[soup]

21. Good decision.

My take is- let her be 10 as long as she can.

Treat it like you would anything else with age-questionable content.

After you've seen the film, you can decide whether or not you'd want her to watch it. Plus, you'd have more control with a DVD and be in an environment where you could pause for questions/ comments/ discussion.

I think you'll be glad you made the choice to take her to a friend's house instead.

[wellstone dem]

12. My sister has a 12 year old and i have a sixteen year old,

both daughters, I went to F911, once with my sister and my Dad and once with my daughter and my Mom. My daughter handled it appropriately, though as with some other adult level movies I sometimes have to remind her not to laugh inappropriately when something makes her nervous. She was angry when she left, but so was I and so was her Grandmother. My sister said she could not bring her daughter after seeing the movie. She said her daughter already worries about the soldiers, and this would just make it worse.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

13. Interesting reaction from my 16 y/o...

She liked the movie (although she said she thought BFC was better). She has seen her share of gory movies (even PG-13 movies have a lot of allowed violence), and she and her friends occasionally rent R rated films, like "Final Destination" ,etc. that have violent scenes. I saw F9/11 on opening night, while she and her friends saw (ugh) "White Chicks". She and I went to F9/11 later that weekend.

She described the movie as "really violent and graphic." When I told her that I knew she had seen movies that scene by scene had much more violence than F9/11 she said, "But that was REAL. We all know the movies are fake." She was shaken by the combat scenes, and the fact that she was willing to admit it was striking to me. (Anyone with teenagers knows the worldly facade they try hard to project).

The manner in which MM presents the war in Iraq makes it even more horrific than just showing the combat scenes without context. I'd agree that the war footage would be hard on a child around the age of 10. IMHO. MKJ

[seabeyond]

14. graphic stuff all together in a small 5 minute space

i would suggest at that time go out of theater and get a drink. all the rest i think is appropriate for younger child. looking at having 9 year old and as much as 6 year old wants to see on dvd and just fast forward thru the gruesome stuff.

watch movie first then take her

[genius]

15. Bring her. But there are some quick injury scenes where she should close

her eyes. Warn her in advance. You'll see them coming. It's so quick that it's not that bad the first time around. The second time people are looking for it. I've found that kids have a really positive reaction to the movie.

[genius]

16. It's more child-appropriate than a Bond movie

[Corgigal]

17. My 13 year old handled it well

however my 40 something year old husband actually came out more bothered by it. I don't think the kids, no matter how mature they are, really understand how devastating it is in parts. Actually that is a good thing and why I think young teenagers can see it.

[CityZen-X]

18. Let Her See It!

It is no more graphic than the video barrage that our children are exposed to here in America. She needs to see who are the real boogie men in this world. I would only suggest that you cover her eyes when they show the Commander & Chimp. I find those images disgusting even for an adult.

[greenbriar]

20. I took my 12 year old daughter

she cried, she laughed, and I had her cover her eyes during the beatings of the burnt bodies.


Best of all, she tells everyone that boosh is bad

[proud patriot]

22. I haven't taken my 8 year old

I think he would be bored .

If he was a wee bit older and showed intrest
I'd take him in a heartbeat .

The only thing that really makes it an "R" rating
is the word Fuck uttered numerous times by one
person , and in a song .

It is the quickest 2 hours I've ever spent in a theatre

[UdoKier]

23. I would definitely bring her.

Any child over the age of 8 or so should be able to get most of the gist of the film.

I'm not a big believer in sheltering kids for too long. The world is a serious place, and keeping them in a fantasy world of Barbies and video games for too long only trains them for a lifetime of consumerism and self-gratification. The protection of our country is the duty of us all, and part of that duty is being well-informed. I watched "The Day After" at a similar age, and it definitely made me more interested in politics and nuclear proliferation.

Sheltering an intelligent kid does her no favors.

I would however, instruct her afterwards about keeping her statements about the issues toned down. Young'uns with a conscience tend to get pretty strident about things (and often are not prepared for the other side's talking points), and get slapped down by their elders in one way or another.

[in_cog_ni_to]

25. My husband and I went to see F911 and

decided our 11 year old son would be able to handle it. We took him and he LOVED the movie. He was saddened by the deaths, the destruction, and the war. We discussed anything and everything he didn't understand or had questions about. IMO, it's important for our children to see REALITY. They must know the truth about their country, their country's government, what war REALLY is, how painful it is for families who lose loved ones in war, the pain and suffering of our troops, and how lies and manipulation lead to BAD, BAD realities. What Moore has shown in the movie, is no worse than a PG-13 movie.....except it's all TRUE. I would much rather my son see the real world than some hollywood created flick.

It's a great lesson in empathy. SEE the world around you and CARE about it. Feel what others go through. Absorb their pain and know you are not the only person on this earth. There are others less fortunate than you and you MUST embrace them and fight for THEM. IMCPO

:hi: