1GirlTwinBoys Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Is it appropriate for my 7 & 8 year olds to watch? If not, is there something else you can recommend? My DD LOVES those old religious movies like the Ten Commandments, and we watched a movie about Noah the other night. She keeps asking to watch more but I'm not sure what is out there that's accurate and appropriate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Amanda~ Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I think the beating scene is VERY graphic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfatherslily Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 It's very graphic. I don't want my 7 year old to watch it quite yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 From all I've heard it's not appropriate for young children. It's a passion play and those are generally wrenching and gory. It is NOT anything like The Ten Commandments. Instead I'd go for other big movies of the period like Ben-Hur and Cleopatra. I suspect she likes the big soap opera style of those movies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TN Mama Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Like many other things, this will vary from family to family, but I wouldn't allow my 8 and 10 year olds to watch this yet. I bawled like a baby and had a very hard time watching, particularly the scene where Jesus is being beaten. ETA: Perhaps it would be best for you to watch before making a decision, even one based on the opinions of others here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyP Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 No, I wouldn't want my 7 or 9 yo to watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Absolutely not, sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Geek Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I wouldn't let a 7 yo watch it. There is a movie called Luther that was out about the same time and was good and there is a movie called the Gospel of John that was pretty good. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luther_(2003_film) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gospel_of_John_(film) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama2Many4 Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I'm probably the oddball here, but I let my 7 and 5 year old's watch it. To us, it was one thing to explain to them what Jesus went through, but when they saw it they truly understood. They weren't affected by the gore, but by the brutality in which Christ was treated. We watch it as a family every Lent. Make your own determination on how your kids would react. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Geek Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Maybe watch it first without your kids and then decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoforjoy Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I wouldn't. I know my 7yo wouldn't be okay with it. But, I'd say watch it first, since you know your child. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Well, it's rated R for a reason. When it was originally released, I reluctantly allowed then-14yos ER to go see it with dh. 10yod EK was not allowed to go. EK is now 16, and neither she nor I have ever seen The Passion of the Christ. We own the DVD, but I cannot bring myself to watch it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 (edited) No, I wouldn't. If you want a Jesus movie, Zeferelli's Jesus of Nazareth follows the gospel pretty well, is beautifully filmed, and might be up her alley. Ben Hur is also a wonderful movie (does have dancing girls, but it's in its proper cultural context--tho I don't know if that is really accurate historically, but anyway, it's not offensive). Edited July 18, 2011 by Chris in VA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarcyB Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I'd go with Ben Hur or The Robe before The Passion at that age. There is an animated Passion of the Christ available on Netflix, as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purpledaizy Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I won't watch Passion of the Christ. I won't let my young kids watch it for the same reason I won't let them watch slasher movies or the nightly news when the show grotesque images like Abu Ghraib. I firmly believe that you can convey the seriousness of the situation without showing your kids to that kind of visual violence. Dh is a psychologist and believes that visual information like that is damaging to children whether or not they understand the context. When 9/11 happened, we turned off the television and got our news from the paper or reliable online sources. He still occasionally runs across folks with PTSD symptoms from simply watching 9/11 material too frequently. My vote is no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakia Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 It's not appropriate for my children. I agree with the pp who suggested you watch it first and then decide about your children watching it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRAAB Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 IMO, absolutely not. My 13 yr old wanted to see it this year so her dad watched it with her (once was all I could handle). It really affected her but not in a negative way - so I'm glad we waited. Even 13 might be a tad young depending on their sensitivity level. There was a wonderful mini-series, Jesus of Nazareth, that would be appropriate for younger children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2scouts Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I would not let my 8 year old watch it. I let my older sons watch when they got to their teens, but prepared them for the very graphic and violent scenes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PentecostalMom Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 It's very graphic. I don't want my 7 year old to watch it quite yet :iagree: Awesome movie. I let me ds see it when it came out, but he was 12. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Would you let them watch Saving Private Ryan? It's about the same level of "real" violence, as opposed to something like Transformers that's clearly fantasy. Mine are slightly older. I'd let my 8yo but she's more mature than your average kid because of dss' autism so ymmv. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanceXToo Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I saw it and remember thinking it was very brutal and graphic. I wouldn't let my 10 y/o watch it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginevra Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 To me, this is a no way for anything less than a very mature teen. Children should be protected from visual violence and brutality, no matter how true the material is. Even as an adult, I have a hard time being philosophical about that movie; it is like watching your brother being tortured IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OLG Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Not unless you fast forward thru the graphic scenes. Save it till later years. There are many dvds available depicting say the Apostles, saints, etc. that you can find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sputterduck Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 No. I have a 7 year old and I also have my own copy of that movie. He was in the theater with me the night it came out, but he was in my belly. I was 8 months pregnant. :tongue_smilie: But that's the only way I'll be okay with him watching it until he is quite a bit older. It's extremely violent and some parts are scary. They didn't hold anything back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sputterduck Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 (edited) Would you let them watch Saving Private Ryan? It's about the same level of "real" violence, as opposed to something like Transformers that's clearly fantasy. Mine are slightly older. I'd let my 8yo but she's more mature than your average kid because of dss' autism so ymmv. I don't recall thinking Saving Private Ryan was extremely violent, but I sure did about The Passion. It didn't help that I was watching the torture of someone I love, though. Ryan isn't anyone I personally loved, but watching Jesus be tortured in full detail was extremely difficult. Still, I don't recall long drawn out bloody in full detail torture scenes in Saving Private Ryan. Perhaps I am remembering wrong. Edited July 18, 2011 by Sputterduck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovemyblessings Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Oh wow. I was 23 and it was so graphic that I sobbed. And I'm not sensitive to movie violence at all. I will NEVER forget that movie. NEVER. I would not allow a child of any age to watch it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfatherslily Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Another thought popped in my head - the entire movie subtitled. My DD is a good reader but can't read quite fast enough for subtitled movies:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I let the kids see a few scenes, but not the whole movie. My dd cried. I think it affected her in a good way, but again, she did not see all of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I don't recall thinking Saving Private Ryan was extremely violent, but I sure did about The Passion. I didn't help that I was watching the torture of someone I love, though. I don't know Ryan from anyone, but watching Jesus be tortured in full detail was extremely difficult. Still, I don't recall long drawn out bloody in full detail torture scenes in Saving Private Ryan. Perhaps I am remembering wrong. I found the whole D-day scene very graphic with lots of very realistic injuries and deaths. I vividly recall someone's arm being blown off and lying on the beach. IMHO, that's as graphic as the whipping in The Passion of the Christ, but you may or may not agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntieM Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 No, and I will offer a couple of reasons in addition to the graphic violence. It's spoken in Latin and Aramaic. Can your kids read subtitles through a feature length film? Many adults have trouble with that! Also, this film, while debatably important, depicts much brutality of man. It shows what Christ Jesus endured physically at the hands of the guards. However, there is no film that can depict the true, most painful passion of our Lord - the weight of the sin of the world. Bearing that unimaginable burden, to atone for our transgressions, is the real work of the cross. But often we get so wrapped up in the beatings and the crucifixion that we can less than fully realize the truest burden at the cross. No piece of celluloid could ever capture that. I think this film can be a rich, challenging experience for mature believers who understand what truly happened. For those who can truly grasp what it meant for the temple veil to be split wide open at his death. Without that, well, it's just another violent movie. If you are looking for a historical narrative, find the Jesus film, or the Jesus film for children. And I second Ben Hur. My kids loved the chariot race scenes (and yeah, they're even kind of messy). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewellsmommy Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I have not let my dd watch it yet. She has seen excerpts, but not the whole movie. How about the Nativity Story for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pamela&claire Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I have not let my dd watch it yet. She has seen excerpts, but not the whole movie. How about the Nativity Story for now. I was just going to suggest this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatCyndiGirl Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 ABSOLUTELY INAPPROPRIATE for children. We don't let them watch horror movies of any kind, nor any movies depicting torture. It doesn't matter if you think that there is some great religious message behind it, it is still a movie that shows torture and death. Such images are simply horrifying to a child and should not be seen by them. :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mereminerals Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I will admit I am going to be the odd man out in this situation. My dd10 has seen it, but usually covers her eyes during the whipping scene. We have watched it as a family several times over the past few years and my ds17 and ds14 have watched it with our youth over Easter the past couple of years. Here is a video that shows just bits of the graphic nature. My daughter just watched it and gets very solemn when she sees this video. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 No way. I won't watch it myself. I don't believe in putting images of long torture into my head. Also, it contains some significant inaccuracies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kchara Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 No, absolutely not appropriate for those ages. My 10 and 8 yo haven't seen it yet, and I don't plan on showing it to them anytime soon. Maybe when they're older teens, about to graduate, but not any time in the near future. It's simply too graphic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsbaby Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 No. No. No. The violence is far too graphic for a child! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fhjmom Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I have not let my 10 YO or my 7 YO watch it (and the 10 YO has asked). It is graphic, but it isn't just that. It is the very graphic portrayal of the real events that someone I love went through for me. The emotion impact that had on me was very heavy. When I saw the movie, I was glad I watched it, but it was very, very hard to sit through and I was deeply affected. i would want my children to have a more mature understanding of their faith and Christ's work on the cross before seeing this movie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 For kids, we like the movie The Miracle Maker. http://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Maker-Story-Jesus/dp/B00004WI56 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southcarolinamom Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 (edited) Like many other things, this will vary from family to family, but I wouldn't allow my 8 and 10 year olds to watch this yet. I bawled like a baby and had a very hard time watching, particularly the scene where Jesus is being beaten. ETA: Perhaps it would be best for you to watch before making a decision, even one based on the opinions of others here. :iagree: A few years ago my husband's men's Bible study watched this film on DVD at our house (we have a nice surround sound/home theater set-up in the basement). After everyone left, my husband told me there wasn't a dry eye.... it's a difficult film for grown-ups to watch. Edited July 18, 2011 by southcarolinamom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 What about Jesus of Nazareth instead? I liked that a lot when I was about 10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momofkhm Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 The beating scene is graphic. When they nail Christ to the cross, it's hard to watch. This movie is on my "seeing it once is enough" list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Heck no. Mel Gibson is psychologically disturbed. The violence is sadistic and way over the top. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrappyhappymama Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 No, not for our family. For me, this movie is like Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan. They are graphic depictions of real events, and so are valuable for their emotional impact, but definitely not appropriate for young kids. We're saving these and The Passion for the older teen years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
banker281 Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I would just suggest you watch it first and see if you think your children can handle it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate CA Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I think the beating scene is VERY graphic. The whole movie is really graphic and TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE for children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1GirlTwinBoys Posted July 19, 2011 Author Share Posted July 19, 2011 I had no idea that movie was rated R and also subtitled. Thank you for all the other movie suggestions. I'll have to research those and see what would be good for her to watch.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnthemLights Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 Heck no. Mel Gibson is psychologically disturbed. The violence is sadistic and way over the top. Bill I agree with the bolded. But then I have never watched any other violent movie so I have no comparison. It was awful...I think I had my eyes closed the whole time. No way would I let my children watch it (ever) and I wish someone had stopped me. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 I don't recall thinking Saving Private Ryan was extremely violent, but I sure did about The Passion. It didn't help that I was watching the torture of someone I love, though. Ryan isn't anyone I personally loved, but watching Jesus be tortured in full detail was extremely difficult. Still, I don't recall long drawn out bloody in full detail torture scenes in Saving Private Ryan. Perhaps I am remembering wrong. There's a scene in Saving Private Ryan where a Nazi soldier is putting a knife through the heart of a Jewish American soldier and he is pleading for his life. I wish I could un-see that (it has disturbed me to this day) and I view it as violent. I won't let my dds watch The Passion of the Christ. I've watched it once and cried so hard. It distrubed me and I was an adult so I can't imagine how they would feel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jelbe5 Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 I have not read all the posts, but I can tell you as an adult I had to stop and then skip over the scourging scene. I would not recommend it for children. There is a movie that came out some years ago called "Jesus" or "The Jesus Movie" that is very good. I would suggest that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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