It's been a LONG time since I've seen this movie and I only remember tidbits. I want to watch it again. My bf's son is five and LOVED Spirited away and Castle in the Sky. I know this one is a little more adult. Would let a five year old watch it? He'll be over for the weekend and I'mnot sure if I should rent it.
shareNo, don't. I absolutely adored this movie and I can't get enough of Miyazaki's films, but I watched it when I was five (coincidental, isn't it?) and I was confused and scared. When I saw animals being murdered and all the weird creatures, I was terrified. I actually remember watching it and being scared by some of the eccentric animation.
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A five year old?! Deer God no!
The Angels Have the Phone Box
My 2 year old son loves this film and watches it right now, again.
--- Once Upon a Time in the West ---
Keep your loving brother happy! - Frank
sorry to burst your bubbles but I highly doubt that at age 2, or even 5, any child would be able to comprehend anything beyond the visual level. While it may seem like the child is enjoying the movie, I wouldn't expect him/her to understand any concepts of such movie like Princess Mononoke. Like some previous posters have pointed out, it's not the type of animation for young children as the concepts and meanings are deep, and the movie also touches on various mature subjects (brothels, lepers). Do your child a favour and give them something they can understand and truly enjoy the meaning of the movie.
shareI remember that when I was watching Toy Story in the cinema and I was about 6, I was scared to death by the babyface doll and had to get out of the theater. :) I have a history of being scared easily by films and by certain elements that don't usually scare other children.
So it really depends on the children.
If the five year old can watch animated decapitations and forest ghosts (that would have probably scared the 6 year old version of myself) that's fine.
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shareWell it depends on you. Mononoke is not like Spirited Away, My mother is Japanese so all Ghibli films were neccessary and I know I was really young when I watched this one. I showed it to my son when he was 3 and he was fine. Yea a guy gets his arm decapitated and also another guy gets his head decapitated but he wasn't bothered with it.He was more afraid of the boar when it turned into the "Tatarigami." But then I can understand why some American parents would think its too much, but it is a very amazing story and in my opinion one of Miyazaki's best work. I say yes, maybe because I watched it when I was little and plus the Samurai's that are being decapitated were bad guys and were killing innocent people so I'm good with it.
shareThanks for asking this, because I wanted to get some other's opinions as well as I haven't seen this one yet.
And thanks to all the posters for your opinions! Very helpful and appreciated.
When it comes to this topic, I lean to the side of "depends on the child". My son is a very precocious six year old, and I've always talked to him as if he is older than he is since day one. My parents were very heavy with the shielding and over-protection with me, up until two months before my 18th birthday, then bam! All of a sudden no rules at all. Screwed me up big time. I feel like helicopter parenting and over-protectiveness can be more damaging than tv blood and death. This is where we as parents have to make decisions regarding our child, and our child only, as only we know them and what suits them, what they can handle, what they can't, etc.
When it comes to mild nudity (not sexual), animated blood, even harsh language in small amounts, I see no need to shield him. After all, it is just the human body, the liquid inside of us which carries life, and letters strung together. It's society who makes a big deal out of all of this. I teach him that film & tv isn't real, it's all makeup and CG. That just because he hears a bad word doesn't mean he can repeat them - yet. Once he's an adult he can all he wants (which still gets to me - that society has deemed words "bad". Words! I can understand the harm when calling people names or verbally assaulting someone, but outside of that, curse words are a problem because at some point society deemed them less than stellar and that just picked up momentum to where people get in trouble for saying "sh*t" when they stub their toe. Yeah, it's not classy, but only because society says so and has given so much power to those words. I hope someday we can evolve past this. I'm usually the cleanest mouth in the room, BTW). Of course, there are lines, too much violence, sexual scenes, and excessive cursing lies on the other side.
I do have to strongly disagree with the idea of keeping it from them just because the message will go over their heads. Of course it will! But that doesn't mean they can't enjoy it. Especially to whoever was telling the parent who let their 2 year old see it "I hate to burst your bubble but they won't get it". I'm pretty sure that parent understands that. At that age they hardly get anything except for Baby Einstein. I'm guessing those who said that don't have kids. You don't sit them in front of a tv to teach them deep life lessons. It's pure enjoyment, and if there's a film that both parent and child can get something out of it, no matter how polar opposite that something is, awesome! IMO, there's not enough films that fit that qualification.
My boy loves Tales From Earthsea and Spirited Away. I haven't made up my mind about this, but I'll probably let it happen. I do feel he's ready, and when we are watching other films I ask him lots of questions to get the best idea of what he can handle. Really, only the parent can make that decision based on their child's personality. And if worse comes to worse, oh well! It's a movie, it won't scar them for life. Life is tough, we can't shield them from loss, suffering, and heartache. It's an inevitable part of life. Trying to pretend it isn't will cause more harm than good.
Indeed, life is though and we shouldn't shield anybody. That's why you should let him watch 120 Days of Sodom as well.
This one:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073650/?ref_=sr_1
Yes, he can. But is it recommended for five year olds? No, not really.
sharePrincess Mononoke? Yes, but with caution. If he/she starts to show signs of concern or fear/distress, then pause/stop the video at once. That's my rule of thumb for watching a "mature" film with a child (in their company, of course).
Salo - 120 Days of Sodom? Are you fxxxing KIDDING ME!?
It should always depend on the child obviously 'cause each child is different when it comes to being scared or understanding things - and this movie can be intense and a bit scary.
With all that aside I would never let a young child (up to age 8) watch a movie where peoples limbs are severed or their heads are shot off by arrows. But that is just my personal view on what kids need to be exposed to about the world at what age.
Just giving some friendly advice, nothing else. :)
shareI remember watching this movie when I was about that age. It was on TV a few times.
I didn't really understand everything at the time but many beautiful images from the movie rested in my memory. Watching it again after more than 10 years was probably the best movie experience I ever had in my life and one of the reasons for that is because I watched it when I was 5 or 6. I can't really explain it, but it brings back my memories of my childhood and of other beautiful movies I watched back then which I mostly don't remember but all those partial pictures sort of merged into one happy feeling.
I would mostly recommend you let your kid watch all Hayao Miyazaki's movies (especially Princess Mononoke) and after 10/15 years you remind him/her to watch those again.
I wouldn't recommend it to someone very young. The movie is very violent and surreal and will be perfect nightmare fuel for them. The amount of blood and corruption is not the only problem but there is also the political/ideological issues. You have one side displaying reckless ambition, destruction of nature, and rampant sexism again men. An another side focused on killing people in mass in order to protect their greater good. Neither of these sides are portrayed as bad guys so these values could rub off on an impressionable child.
shareMy five year old nieces handled it just fine. I just merely explained to them what was going on so they'd understand. No nightmares.
Seize the moment, 'cause tomorrow you might be dead.
I watched it with my 7 year old daughter and she enjoyed it.
share