 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Edward Scissorhands
- PG-13
- Genre: Science Fiction
- 1990
Common Sense Media says
Dark yet sweet underdog tale for older kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that there is sporadic violence in this film. Aside from a woman attempting to seduce Edward wearing a lace bra, sexuality is limited to Fifties-style courting rituals (kissing and hugging). Some of the garish set pieces, like Edward's haunted mansion, and the title character, with mean-looking, scissors for fingers, may be terrifying for young children.
What's the story?
Peg Boggs (Dianne Wiest) is a down-on-her-luck Avon representative shopping around her small, sunny neighborhood for prospective clients. When skewered resources force her to pay a visit to the local haunted house, she meets Edward (Johnny Depp), a recluse living in the attic who shyly appears in a zany 80s punk bouffant and leather getup, with scissors for hands. When the matronly Peg adopts Edward and brings him home for dinner, the whole family must deal with the razor-sharp consequences of Edward's scissorhands; most notably Kim (Winona Ryder), the doe-eyed daughter who becomes Edward's object of affection. At first, the townies welcome Edward with patronizing curiosity, but, after he rejects the advances of the neighborhood hussy, the town shows its true colors. Edward proceeds to get caught at the wrong place at the wrong time and is pursued by the police. Cornered, he is forced to make a choice between staying with the girl of his dreams or returning to his dark palace alone.
Is it any good?
The film, lovingly directed by Tim Burton, is a darkly sweet (self) portrait of adolescent angst. We can all relate on some level to Edward's social awkwardness, and Depp's deer-in-headlights self-consciousness is adoring enough to soften the sharpest of pointed appendages. The pastel-colored township cuts a drastic figure against Edward's looming mansion in the distance. Like the best of David Lynch, the film exposes the cynical underbelly of front porch Americana, forcing us to find beauty and truth in the grotesque when we allow what is "good" to run more than skin-deep.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how the film is an 'Ugly Duckling' fable about a misunderstood, soft-spoken underdog who does not fit the cookie cutter mold.
What is normal?
How does conformity play a role in the townspeople's
treatment of Edward?Can you think of instances in real life when
people have judged others based on their appearances?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
Why do they have to add the silly little things?!
Without the language and the horrible sex scene, this movie would be wonderful. The movie is still good, but movie makers just put little things in there because they think adults will enjoy it more. Well, what about kids?
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AGE
Wonderful movie, start to finish. Artsy and heartwarming.
I was maybe, 8, when I first saw this movie, at a babysitter's house. The thought of a man with scissors for hands may scare parents, but you've got it all wrong! Poor Edward is just an uncommonly gentleman, misunderstood for his appearance. Another Tim Burton/Danny Elfman movie. Wonderful in everyway. The only -slightly- sexual part in the movie is when one of the lady neighbors shows Edward her hair cutting smocks, but it's humorous when he returns to the family and explains what happens. As for drinking, there is a little, but it's almost put out there in a silly, humorous way. It's heartwarming that somebody can love Edward as he is, unique and slightly dark on the outside, but sweet as a kitten on the inside. Not scary in the least, cool storyline, everything. But then again, this movie is just my style. I've loved it since I first watched it. Thank you, Vanessa! For showing me this masterpiece when I was younger!
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AGE
Possibly the perfect film! =D
I absolutely love this masterpiece by dark director Tim Burton.
It has developed a cult following among older kids, and it remains a dark, romantic and deeply deeply moving lesson about accepting differences.
I really cannot stress how incredible this film is...
The acting is incredible, Johnny Depp plays a lost, frightened Edward so well that it seems real.
The only concerns in this film for me would be sex, violence and themes.
The stereotyping of suburbia could go over young children's heads, and the themes are often dark and sad, but it is great!
The violence is often gory, but not TOOOOOOO bad... there's only two very bloody scenes.
The sex, however, is different.
There is references to rape, and Edward is seduced by Joyce. She climbs on top of him, exposes her bra, pushes his head into her breasts and they make out before the chair falls backwards.
All of this is done in a comic but sexual manner, and for this reason I would reccomend it for OLDER children (10+)
However, this is probably the perfect film: it has everything: drama, comedy, romance, horror, fantasy, action, everything.
It's a bittersweet and lovely fable about trying to be accepted. It's beautiful, and I would give it 11 out of 10. A must see for EVERYONE!
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Kid, 12 years old
September 6, 2010
AGE
Perfect for tweens
It might creep kids out
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AGE
NOT FOR KIDS!
NOT FOR KIDS. A guy gets stabbed and killed in the chest and falls from a great height (MOST intense scene) A sex scene, though the people are both clothed.
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AGE
Cool for watching around Halloween but any other time of the year works too.
Edward Scissor hands is a tale of Romance, Action, and absolute horror (that kids 10 and up can handle). An assortment of of bad words are said. Sexual scenes affect the way parents are looking at this. Theres one major scene that Mom and Dad will want to fast forward where a middle aged woman who was trying to help Edward start a buissness tries to take her top off in front of him, which I think she does but I don't remember. A lot of clevage is shown from her in that clip. The ending is bloody and sad.
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AGE
YES!!
I absolutely love this movie i have since i was about four ( though i dont recomend parents to let kids that young watch it) it is so beutiful and stiring and yes, it is a bit of a chick flick, the music is superb the lessons well learned. it is an absolute MASTER PEACE
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AGE
Classic bittersweet Burton film; really awesome~
At the end of the cul-de-sac in a cookie-cutter suburban town, there's a gate that leads to a gloomy looking mountain with a gloomy looking mansion at the top. This is the home of an old inventor who creates unusual things. His most involved project is Edward, a sort of robot/humanoid being with feelings. Edward was made with scissors for hands, but his creator dies of a heart attack before he can finish Edward by giving him regular hands. So, Edward lurks in his mansion for years before he is discovered by kindly Avon saleslady Peg Boggs. Peg brings him down from the mountain and introduces him to her normal, suburban life- and that's when it all begins. This is a really heartfelt romance about trying to fit in and being yourself. However, there are some warnings: there is a fair bit of (accidental) cutting by Edward, as having scissors for hands isn't easy. There is a bit of profanity (d***, s***, h***, etc), and one of the women who lives in the town tries to seduce Edward. These things make it appropriate for older tweens and up. But all in all, the movie has equal amounts of witty, romantic, and depressing moments, making it a really wonderful film that you'll want to watch over and over again.
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AGE
Absolutely beautiful, sad, and hilarious!
This movie was so amazing! I almost cried at the end; my eyes got teary. Anyway, it's also really funny and an absolute masterpiece. Sex: Isn't a real issue. CSM covers it. Violence: Edward does cut a few people, including himself, but there really isn't violence. Some people chase Edward. Language: There is defintely some swearing. Around ten swear words, including God's name in vain. I really recommend this movie, particularly on Clearplay DVD Player (clearplay*)
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| Studio: | Twentieth Century Fox |
| Director: | Tim Burton |
| Cast: | Dianne Wiest, Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder |
| Genre: | Science Fiction |
| Run time: | 100 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | December 7, 1990 |
| DVD release date: | November 5, 2000 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | violence, brief language and sexuality. |
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