Parents need to know that there's a kidnapping that younger children might find scary, and the overall absence of parents. Pepito's parents are loving but rather neglectful, and Madeline is an orphan.
Kids any age can watch this movie. I think it is a great movie because there are a lot of funny parts. All the little girls were great actors. I think Miss Clavel was a great teacher to them. Thats all I have to say about this movie. See you later.
My girls loved it...but it's scarier than the books!
My daughters LOVE Madeline, and were excited to see this movie. The only issues I have with it were the references to death that are NOT in the books! In the movie, Madeline is an orphan. It works with the story line of the movie, but both of my children have had anxieties about me and/or my husband dying since watching the movie. Also, the benevolent benefactor of the school dies in the hospital while Madeline is there recovering from her appendix removal. Her husband, whom we later learn is simply unsure how to deal with his grief, decides to sell the school. The drama is keyed-up in the movie, making too scary for some young fans of the books.
That said, the film is well-acted and enjoyable, and while I, too, object to the "boobie-baskets" choice, it fits the scene. (The owner has just informed the school mistress that he will be closing the school, and the girls have refused their dinner, sneaking down to the kitchen later they are up to no good.) While I would have preferred that the movie stick closer to the story line of the books, we (my mom, the girls & I) all enjoyed the movie and recommend it!
If you have a fear of hospitals/doctors/medical stuff, then I don't reccomend this to you. Maybe it's just me, but the hospital scene where Miss Clavel and the paramedics are rushing Madeline to the surgery room, and where she's got this gas mask over her head, well that's all too much for me. Whenever I hear the word "Surgery" or "Operation" or "Hospital" I just practically go into a panic attack.
Educational: You learn about Paris.
Violent: Madeline and her enemy Pepito, get kidnapped and held for ransom, and Madeline's friend chicken gets cooked for dinner, Lady Covington dies, and Maedline has a giant scar on her stomach (no blood shown)
Inappropriate content: The girls play with bras, Helene mentions a million different husbands and talks about tattoos, the girls disrespectfully call Lord Covington "Lord Cookoo Butt", even to his face, and then Madeline lies about saying it.
Language: Quite a few bad words are mentioned in this film including "Idiot", and "Butt" which get used over and over and over again.
If I were an adult, I would not allow my children to see this, because I would not want them to act like Madeline and her friends. Also I know that my parents objected to the movie.