newmcass webbley nafuna
Cris Luczak
We've been watching the Curious George:A Halloween Boo Fest and my 3.5 year old LOVES it. It's definitely been on repeat a few times in the past couple of weeks. I would agree that it's a typical Curious George episode that's just longer and involving the fall festival and costumes aspect of Halloween. My little one is not into scary stuff (she covers her ears or closes her eyes during the rats part of Tinkerbell) so finding a happy medium of "something involving the season of Halloween" and "not scary" can be tricky. For us this is a "Good" Halloween Netflix option. ?
I would also like to defend Curious George. I mean, the plot is pretty basic George but to be fair it is in the "Movies for ages 2-4" category. And throughout all the episodes of the show, Bill hasn't figured out George is a monkey and George is allowed to cook in a restaurant kitchen. What I'm saying is suspend some disbelief for the kiddos and the movie holds up just fine.
Yeah my little ones love Curious George Boo Fest as well, but like the two comments above, my kids are 4 and under. The review you read about The Addams Family is pretty spot on, although I don't remember a molestation reference but it wouldn't surprise me. And I love Scooby Doo so I will probably be watching that one during nap time today ?
Has anyone seen The Spiderwick Chronicles? Opinions? It got a pretty safe rating from Catholic News Agency and other reviewers, but I'm curious to hear any other opinions. It looked too scary for the youngest kids.
I saw Spiderwick as a teen and didn't care for it much. The costumes and the general art direction were fabulous, but it's pretty dark. It has a sort of Victorian treatment in the tragedies of the three orphans.
I don't remember much beyond that, though.
Haunted Mansion had some weird "stealing another guy's wife because you believe she is your dead wife reincarnated" stuff. Better to stick to the ride.
I also love the Curious George Halloween movie. It isn't super annoying, and I can potentially sleep through it. Not a ringing endorsement, but it makes my "I have a toddler and a newborn and need some sleep" cut.
Not on Netflix streaming (but should be): Wishbone "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" episode, and Hocus Pocus. The Wishbone episode has the cute dog for the littles and a level of creepy for biggers. Hocus Pocus actually imparts that the devil is a real person who is working in the world concept (with a nod to the guy-in-a-red-suit-as-a-devil thing.)
Elizabeth, I haven't seen Hocus Pocus, so I don't know about that. But as far as Harry Potter goes, the way *I* see it! is that there is a distinction between "the occult" and "magic." The occult is cooperating with satan to get power or favors. If a book or movie deals with the occult, it needs to have the appropriate consequences. Disney's Princess and the Frog is a good example of that done well.
Harry Potter, on the other hand, deals with "magic" not the occult. They just live in a world that has magic in it. There are people who use it for good and people who use it for evil, but no one is calling on the devil. Narnia, Lord of the Rings, fairy tales, all just have magical worlds. I don't have a problem with that. At all.
I love that explanation, thank you! I hadn't pinpointed why I was fine with magical worlds but other magicky things bug me. Tipping my hat to Once Upon a Time again, for their lovely good v evil plots with magic AND consequences. Even if Jesus is just there allegorically.
My kids love the Curious George Halloween Boofest and I think it's good. The songs are horrible, it is true, but the animation is sweet and attractive and *my* kids have fun being scared of No Noggin. For little kids it has just the right amount of creepy and there's nothing inappropriate like in the Scooby Doo (which we had to stop letting our kids watch for similar reasons.)
1. I didn't call them "bad," I called them "bad *asterisk*." An asterisk changes everything.
2. It was my intention to be very clear that I didn't think that there was anything objectionable about the shows, just that they weren't my personal preference.
3. I can only barely tolerate the Curious George books. They live at Gramma's. I love a naughty anthropomorphic animal as much as the next mom, but I prefer them to get what's coming to them, Peter Rabbit-style. I'm fairly confident I won't like it.
I don't like Curious George either. I don't ban him or anything, but I agree on the consequence issue. Nothing annoys me like a disobedient character when the story works out for the better often as a result of the disobedience. That and the, "Oh, George!" dialogue. Like mischief and disobedience are almost cute, if a little exasperating. I always want to jump into the show and give George some real consequences, and I'm always hoping my kids don't think their obnoxious behavior could ever be construed as cute, funny, or ultimately for the better!
Yes, George drives me crazy a lot but it's because of the people. Like, of course your dinosaur bones got all messed up! You brought a MONKEY to a MUSEUM and let him run around! They actually remind me of dog owners who have Granddog stickers on their vehicles.
I love, love, love the Addams Family. And I think the key difference for us was my parents pointing out that this is exacty the OPPOSITE way people are supposed to act. That point was really driven home to me in the second movie, where their baby turns into a little cherub and Mortitia is reading him a sweet bedtime story. She skips to the end and says, "Oh no. He lives."
What age range would you suggest for The Nightmare Before Christmas? My kids are 6 and under. They say they like scary things but they do get nervous about them sometimes. (They watched Mickey's House of Villains all the way through even though it scared them. It was fun scary.) Mostly I'm wondering if it's worth bothering with it if everything is going to go over their heads. I could just stick with Charlie Brown, but I've seen it before and I know I would be bored.
I think if they can handle House of Villains, they should be fine with Nightmare Before Christmas. It's just visually creepy. It's not like a suspenseful music, things jumping out at you horror movie. All my kids have seen it. The only part that really concerns them is when Santa is kidnapped and in danger. They get really worried. But it all turns out okay.
Addams family is an overreaction. Yes there is some sexual innuendo, but it's not bad, and I've been watching that movie since the age of eight, and have never picked up on it. Great film, they're overreacting.
Love your explanation of occult vs. magic in a fictional world like Harry Potter! Well done, and pretty much the way I try to describe it to my kids and others.
We just saw the Curious George thing this am. My three and five tear olds found it scary. I liked the fact that George discovered facts to explain the mystery, but i was bothered by the adults going on about it. I am not into scary movies at all.
I tend to like Curious George. Of course, the Man is kind of an idiot, but my kids see that. They are not going to learn bad habits from the monkey. I think they learn from the natural consequenses of the crazy things George tries; its supposed to be a science-related show, not a parenting show. I always think George is kind of parallel to my one year olds. Mobile, trying things, learning, climbing, clueless!
With Halloween right around the corner, the time is now to start thinking about all the Halloween specials on Netflix to watch with the kids. You can easily spend several hours per day catching up on all the spooky fun!
And the great part about Netflix is that you get to snuggle up on your couch at home and tune in, any time that you want. Who says that you actually have to wait until Halloween to take part in bingeing these flicks?
All of the fun movies below are available (or will be available soon) on Netflix for your viewing pleasure. Pop up some popcorn, grab the blankets, and snuggle down as a family to watch these great shows.
If you love the characters from the Land of Far Away (from Shrek) then you will enjoy Spooky Stories. The characters get together and tell their favorite spooky stories. Also, check out Spooky Stories 2.
This list of Halloween specials and movies are just a small portion of what you can easily find online. Netflix does a great job of having a wide variety of shows for all ages and finding movies that are spooky yet family-friendly is a breeze. Now you and the kiddos can spend a quiet Halloween at home or snuggle up after trick or treating to catch some of these popular Halloween shows!
True is ready to celebrate Pumpkin Day with her friends and collect Pumpkin Day Treats. But when Tricky Treats starts turning everyone into Howling Greenies, True has to figure out a way to stop them.
Orlando Parents Family Fun Magazine is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Taking place on Oct. 31, this Halloween-themed fantasy-comedy stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as the Sanderson sisters -- the malevolent spirits of three 17th century Salem witches (complete with pointy hats, brooms, warts and all) that were burned at the stake and accidentally resurrected by group of kids, who in turn attempt to kill the children as a show of gratitude. Eating children? Rather dark for a Disney-produced children's flick, wouldn't you say?
Truly scary movies and TV shows might be ideal Halloween fare for grown-ups and horror fans. But for kids and those who don't like being spooked, there are a number of family-friendly, less chilling but equally entertaining alternatives.
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy star in this Disney cult classic about a group of 17th century Salem witches who are accidentally brought back to life by a group of kids on Halloween night. The Sanderson sisters then proceed to try to suck the lives out of the children of modern-day Massachusetts before the sun rises, while also having some humorous encounters with modern-day phenomena.
Where to watch: Amazon (for rent or digital purchase) and iTunes