Are You Going To Let Your Kids Watch The New Harry Potter Movie?

I disagree completely. In a world where television, video games and the web are such a prominent feature of many children's lives, I am grateful for the triumph by Rowling that brought the novel back.

If the books appear simple, it is that they are intended to be accessible to both children and adults. Austen's books, in their time, were largely viewed as simple as well. And one of the reasons that Dickens became as popular in his time was his ability to create characters everyone could relate to, as Rowling has done masterfully in her books also.

Dickens' works brought social issues center stage, yes. But I think to claim that there are no social implications in the Harry Potter series is a gross injustice. Rowling openly discusses racism when she talks about half-bloods and muggles. She illustrates hate crimes committed against them in horrific detail. There are also statements made about government bureaucracy and its almost inherent inability to rise at a time of crisis. And how could we forget the underlying theme of the role of the media in shaping public opinion--and who better to characterize Rowling's critique of sensationalism and lack of ethics in reporting as the insidious Rita Skeeter?

Lastly, if brevity is an issue, then we ought to crucify Hugo and Tolstoy--who needs so much information about the Paris aqueducts? Who needs the minute details of Pierre's journey into Freemasonry? Right? I mean, right?

That notion, more than anything Rowling has ever written, is what makes me want to say: lazy reader. But I won't.

Instead I'll say, "thanks for reading." Because I am.

Religious views aside, HP incourages kids to be lazy readers. Read this for more info http://laurenperez.blogspot.com/2009/08/series-rev... ( http://laurenperez.blogspot.com/2009/08/series-rev... )

i saw snow white at the drive in years ago i don't remember my exact age but it scared me a lot! i can still see the evil queen yikes, but last night i took my girls to that same drive in. one is nine the other 13 older but yea they liked it and we loove scary movies, there are some things they aren't allowed to watch, they are at an age where they can decide if its too scary for them. although i would not say harry potter is scary, more fantasy it does have that good versus evil theme. and we all know in the movies good usually wins out, i think life is more scary!

i was a little dissapointed though i was hoping for more but it seems harry is growing up and so it would follow that the themes are maturing too! 

Whatever you think of the religious aspects, just the plain scaryness is what is the main focus here...or should be.  It reminds me of watching "Spirited Away" which was marketed as a movie for kids over here.  Its really not.  Its very scary.  Kids were crying and having to leave.

As someone who blogs about kids and movies (and how to NOT see Shrek again and again and again), I'm constantly looking at issues in film and attempting to discern whether or not they are appropriate for the younger set, the older set, or the in-betweeners.  

This HP film is reputed to be very dark and very scary... I was surprised to hear it earned a PG rating.  Some parents are letting their 8 yr olds see it, others aren't ... My own son, at age 8, would not have done well with it. Scary themes stayed with him for a long time and often resulted in sleepless nights. Only you really know your kids!

There is a site I find very helpful in looking CLOSELY at films and what's in them. It's called Kids in Mind. For some reason I can't get the text to link right now, so here is the URL (it's also linked on my blog, KidsFlix).

http://www.kids-in-mind.com/h/harrypotterandthehal...

-KeegsMom

KIDSFLIX

http://kidsflix.blogspot.com

I saw the movie yesterday and wrote a blog about it. Here's part of what I stated:

"There were a few intense scenes that I think are borderline scary. I really wouldn't recommend the film for young children. I suggest waiting for the dvd version for the young ones, and then they can view it in the comfort zone of their home on a smaller screen where things don't seem so scary."

If you're interested, you can read about the whole experience (where a fire broke out in the theatre) at windysblog.com ( http://windysblog.com/?p=729 ).

My daughter, nine, read all the books. She's not going to be worried about the movies. As for my 7yo son, he saw Anakin go bad in Star Wars III... something I decided is a lot more morally ambiguous than most things that happen in HP. (We ended up likening Anakin's fall to Lucifer's, so it's not a bad Christian lesson anyway.)

The thing is, you can make a Christian (or moral, anyway) lesson out of anything! It's all about talking to your kids, experiencing things with them so you can provide a balanced lens.

Oh, and about the magic thing -- magic, in her books, is just a metaphor for power. Good people have power too, but they use it appropriately. Great lesson for kids. Be responsible with your power in life.

Amber Le Rose
children's author
http://www.MindsBase.com ( http://www.mindsbase.com/ )

These are very uplifting stories and dare I say they teach some Christian values.  The idea that if someone fights the good fight, it will eventually beat evil, is a very good lesson. 

I love Harry Potter the books and films and intend on seeing every one.  HOWEVER, I think my kids are too young.  I can't wait until they are old enough to experience Harry.  I don't know the magic age, but I'll know it when I see it!

I am not a Christian first off. I understand where they are coming from trying to teach their kids their values though.

But honestly I fel as though there are some very good themes in Harry Potter. Among the fighting and the magic Harry has been trying to fight against evil. Do you think this is wrong? I don't. The themes throughout the books have been friendship, helping others, fighting evil and being good students. Dy ou think these themes are bad for your kids?

I feel as though parents hould be parents .tell the kids that this is a movie, this isn't real life. You're not going to turn the lights on with a magic wand (unless of course you have remote control operated lighting!) and you're not going to fly on a broom. If a parent is concerned about the movie being too scary for the kids that's fine. Just go by the ratings system and you should be fine. But don't go on talking about how evil the movie is and how it undermines your beliefs.  It's just a movie!

You said pretty much what i wanted to say! s

I find it fascinating that no one is making a fuss about Disney -- and the evil witch in Sleeping Beauty or Snow White. Or the fact that in Snow White, a young virginal woman is living with and serving seven dwarf men. I guess the Wizard of Oz is off limits, too? Toss out all the fairy tales -- oh, and The Chronicles of Narnia. There is no explicit Christianity in these wizard-witch-charactered books. The whole Hobbit series -- poof - get rid of that too? Oh, and the legend of King Arthur? Merlin was in that -- let's "protect" our children there, too.

Even the Vatican has approved this film! ( http://in.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/id... )"There is a clear line of demarcation between good and evil and [the Harry Potter film] makes clear that good is right," -- the Vatican’s newspaper L'Osservatore Romano --

As far as dangerously raising a child's interest in the occult --- I'm more worried about the number of kids who get injured jumping off the garage roof because they think they are Superman. But I wouldn't ban Superman. Or Spiderman. Or Batman.

There doesn't have to e negative drama. Who started the anti-Potter bandwagon anyway?

~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool ( http://timesfool.blogspot.com )

Yes.

My 8 year old and I are going to hit the sack early and then get up and watch the premere at midnight.

We've read all the HP books, seen all the HP movies, and I've explained the scary parts as best I can. 

She really wants to do this and I think she is ready (her 5 year old sis stays at home with mom).I'll monitor how intense the show is, if it gets to be too much we'll just leave. 

Emmanuel, poetry blogger.

I blogg about poetry using the epic poem, Poepi and the Giant, as an example, which like HP is also fantasy. http://www.poepiandthegiant.com ( http://www.poepiandthegiant.com/ ) To be protected online legally, my blogg is incorporated as Blushing Mushroom Studios. Happy to share my experience of that with anyone who has an interest there.

There is quite a debate about the new movie in both the religious and secular sectors.  Setting religion aside, it seems as though the movie should be rated PG-13 as a result of the darkness portrayed within.  It seems slightly odd that the current one has attained PG status after having two PG-13 films before which weren’t as frightening or as dramatic.  To better allow parents to make an informed choice about whether to allow their children to see Harry Potter or any other movie I have provided a quick overview of the rating system.  This is a quick glance at the rating system for films in the United States with a brief explanation of what each one means:

•    G- General Audiences- nothing outside of everyday language and customs is presented.

•    PG- Parental Guidance Suggested- parents should investigate the movie before allowing their younger children to attend a showing.

•    PG-13- Parents Strongly Cautioned- gives a sterner warning to parents and is designed to severely caution them before allowing any children under 13 years of age to attend.

•    R- Under 17 Requires Accompanying Parent or Guardian- this level includes some adult material which is generally not appropriate for parents to show their children.

•    NC-17- No One Under 17 Admitted- these films are too adult for children under 17 and hence should not be viewed by audiences younger than 17.

For a full overview of what each rating system means please check out this link: http://www.mpaa.org/FlmRat_Ratings.asp

Sincerely,

Maria, professional blogger
vein-treatment.com blogging team
http://www.vein-treatment.com/blog

I'm not a Christian - although I come from that tradition - and I do not have children.

I find the idea of not seeing a movie, or reading a book, because it depicts evil, very interesting, and difficult to understand.  One way I can make sense of it is if you have very little faith in the strength of your own beliefs - or the strength of your children's beliefs.  That you believe you could be corrupted merely by the depiction of evil?

Or is it a Christian's duty to stay pure and not have anything to do with such things because it lends power to evil even to think about it? Or talk about it?

Does acknowledging the existence of evil makes it stronger? That is a nasty thought, especially when applied to things like sex abuse, rape, violence against women.

I believe in the reality of evil.  But in my world, evil is rooted in ignorance and predjudice - in the inability to realise that other people may be different from you and still share your humanity.  For me, all the most terrible things that people do to one another and to the world around them comes out a deep selfishness.  Either to get pleasure at all costs, or to justify one's own beliefs by denying those of others.

Evil exists in people's hearts, and for me, it is important to recognise it wherever it creeps in.

Sorry - ranting a bit there.  As for the Harry Potter books - I do enjoy them, but I find them a bit hollow, sometimes.   I am curious about the movie though.

My kids are too young at 4 and 8 but their Dad and I are playing hooky Friday afternoon to go see it. I'm hoping to keep my son away from it until he's around 10.  However I'm 41 and I can handle it. 

Kate

I blog at http://www.aftercancernowwhat.com