MovieChat Forums > Paddington (2015) Discussion > Will my overly sensitive child like this...

Will my overly sensitive child like this?

posted 10 years ago by sinceimetjc
8 replies | jump to latest

I have an 8 year old daughter who gets upset when a character is in danger. For example, she got upset while watching Cars 2, when Mater had a bomb under his hood. And she got upset while watching Toy Story 3, when the toys were almost burned up in the furnace. I try to help her through it, by reminding her that it's not real, and that everything will be okay. That it's a kids movie, and the characters won't die in a kids movie. But she still is just so sensitive. I just noticed in the trailers on IMDB that part of the plot for this movie is about a taxidermist trying to stuff Paddington. That seems a little scary, even for me to think about. Would my daughter be able to handle this? I wanted to see this in the theater, but maybe our best bet is to wait until it comes out on DVD. Is the theme of the taxidermist handled in a manner that is not too scary for sensitive children?

"The hideousness of that foot will haunt my dreams forever."

[–] Steve2911 10 years ago

There are definitely parts towards the end that she might not be able to handle. If you want full context click the spoilers;

Near the end of the film Paddington is sedated and left helpless on a table while the taxidermist prepares to cut him open. There's also a part where Paddington is climbing up a metal chimney that's quickly filling up with fire, which is pretty intense.

[–] Spielburger 10 years ago

WRT "Threat": as well as the taxidermist sequences, there's also a scene near the beginning which involves an earthquake, which leads to the death of an important character (implied; not explicitly shown).

The IMDb "Parents Guide" is in reasonably good shape, but if you need more information you could check out the BBFC report on the film here:
http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/paddington-film
(Click on the "expand" arrows.)

[–] sinceimetjc 10 years ago

I just really thought about your comment, and now I'm wondering if paddington's mom dies? If so, then this movie is absolutely out of the question for us. Both of my kids have problems with movies where the mom is either killed, or abandons a baby or something. Are my kids typical, because I really don't remember being this way as a kid. And I don't shield my kids from stuff like death. Let's see a list I movies that my girls have gotten all upset about because of the mom dying or abandoning a baby/child. Spoilers for other movies btw. There's Kung Fu panda 2, where Po's mom has to put Po in a crate in order to save him. There's the beginning of Meet the Robinsons, where the mom leaves a baby on the doorstep of the orphanage. Oh yeah! And my 8 year old hates the beginning of Elf, because Buddy is an orphaned baby who climbs into Santa's sack. (this one makes no sense to me!) Not a mom, but my kids did see How to Train Your Dragon 2 in the theaters, and they do not want to see it again because Toothless becomes controlled by the antagonist, and kills the father.

"The hideousness of that foot will haunt my dreams forever."

[–] Spielburger 10 years ago

I just really thought about your comment, and now I'm wondering if paddington's mom dies?

*Spoilers for both movie and books throughout*

In both the books and the film, Paddington is sent to London by his Aunt Lucy, who goes to live in a home for retired bears. I believe that in the books it's revealed that Paddington was orphaned during an earthquake, however at the start of the film he's already living with his Aunt and Uncle (as in the books, he gets his hat from his Uncle Pastuzo). In the film, it's Paddington's Uncle who dies in the earthquake. As mentioned previously, his death is not explicitly shown, but it's implied that Paddington finds his body.

In the context of the rest of your post, it's probably worth mentioning that child emigration - either due to the death of parents or forced abandonment - is a major theme throughout the film. Paddington's trip to London is likened to the child evacuees who left London during the WW2 Blitz (this was a major influence on Michael Bond when he created the character), and Jim Broadbent's character Mr Gruber came to London via the Kindertransport.

[–] sinceimetjc 10 years ago

You know, I was just thinking about this, and 101 Dalmatians really has a similar dark theme, except that they kind of gloss over it. Cruella D'evil wants to kill the puppies, so she can make a coat out of their fur. But I remember watching that a child, and not truly grasping that. But if Paddington is strapped to a table, about ready to be cut open, that just takes it to a new level IMO.

"The hideousness of that foot will haunt my dreams forever."

[–] justin40580 10 years ago

No. And clearly, you won't either.

[–] mikeyflatley 10 years ago

She might like in2 da woodz...much gentler movie

[–] lazywildcat 10 years ago

We are Paddington fans so I am eager to answer your question. My son is 7. Same as your daughter, he is very sensitive. Before the movie we read a lot of Paddington books. We knew Paddington very well, including how he got orphaned. So I thought my son was prepared. We were expecting that the movie is just like most of the books, about Paddington doing funny things. But to my surprise, after the movie, my son told me he was scared because some bad people tried to kill Paddington and stuff him. Yes, the bad people was not in the book. So if you decide go to the theater, be prepared.