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All parent reviews for Matilda
Average rating based on 21 parent reviews:
- 38% say violence is an issue
- 29% say there are positive messages
AGE
Disturbing Meanness
Frequently reassuring my nearly 10 year old kids that parents and principals would never act so meanly to kids, this movie was darker than I had imagined it would be. I wish I would have previewed it in its entirety first. Leather whips, children hurled across schoolyards, a closet full of knives that children are forced into, and children having to hide in fear while no adult seems to care enough to protect them seems over the top.
Although Matilda perseveres in the end, it is through magical powers that are used to frighten mean adults into submission. Other adults in the story could not stand up to bullying adults, or didn't care enough to pay attention... and Matilda used her powers to get even, to humiliate, and bully back. The parents give Matilda up for adoption at the end, as they are being sought by police for theft. The humor of just rewards was there, but overshadowed, I felt by the darkness of the movie.
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AGE
Loved this movie as a kid, still do now
I remember watching this movie when I was in first grade and I remember loving it, as I still do now. As a kid, I never followed the bad examples of this movie as other people say there are in it (ex. too much violence, drinking, lying and cheating, etc). It was a cute and inspiring film and I was never scared by it at all. Now that I'm older, I do notice a lot of those things in Matilda that parents notice when they watch it, but it's not an issue because they're not influenced by it. I think all kids should watch it!
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AGE
Scary adults rein this cute flick
It's a cute movie and Dahl is always awesome but this was just too scary and intense for our 5 (almost 6 year old). Allot of shouting and grown ups abusing children. Even though we are quite liberal with what we let her watch (Nightmare Before Christmas) she asked us to turn it off.
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AGE
We love many of Roald Dahl's stories and some of the movie adaptations, but both of my children and I hated it and turned it off after about 45 minutes. (Later I watched the end by myself.) My 7-year-olds said they were scared by the hateful parents and violent teacher, even though they realized that it was all exaggerated and supposed to be humorous They also disliked the bleakness of the surroundings.
The movie is so dark and depressing in the depiction of the adults who are all either clueless, indifferent or outright abusive that the positive message about a child's self-determination gets lost. Too much focus is on the violence and abuse perpetrated by adults who are supposed to love and protect Matilda. Also, it begs the question: How would Matilda fare without her exceptional powers and abilities? Where does it leave a regular kid in a terrible situation? Hopeless.
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AGE
Six and Older
I like it, but kids under the age of six shouldn't watch it because Mrs. Trunchball is really gross and scary. The music during the scene where Matilda sneaks into her parents' room is extremely weird.
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AGE
Although my children (ages 7 &; 9) found parts funny, my husband and I found the entire movie dreadful. First off, it is really dark - the parents are constantly calling the children terrible names and drinking beer, watching tv and glorifying that lifestyle. I understand that it is funny in a dark way, but considering this is a movie "for children" it is very inappropriate.
Also, if you have adoptive children - the end is just shocking. The first thing out of my daughter's mouth was "why is her parents giving her away? They don't like her?" Being an adoptive family, I felt the message they send on how the parents just shrug their shoulders and give their child away is very dark and sad.
And we haven't even tapped into the principal of the school who is physically violent with the children - which is intended to be laughable but just came off as making you uncomfortable to watch it.
I give this movie a big fat ZERO. Read the book instead and use your own imagination because this is just not worth it and most of the main characters are terrible role models.
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AGE
Over the top violence could reinforce child's dislike of school authority
This movie is over the top, when it comes to violence. Too much, too extreme, and each incident of violence goes on and on. True, it's fantasy, and true, it's cartoon-like, but does this mean that cartoon violence is okay? The heroine is cute, and winsome, and brave ... but her solutions to the problems aren't realistic. Also, if a young viewer already has issues with school and/or authority, this film would reinforce a dislike of both school AND authority.
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AGE
Great story for kids 6 and up
A gem of a book, made fairly faithfully into a very entertaining film
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AGE
Our kids loved this movie! We've watched it at least 5 times during our family friday night movie. Great themes which kids get.
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AGE
OK for teens and adults, NOT OK for young kids
The ugly parents are awful. OK, we've seen that before (i.e., Harry Potter and the Dursleys).
The ugly principal is beyond evil - and scary to witness.
The pretty teacher is sweet and kind, but - well - ineffective and helpless. Poor kids.
The teacher tells Matilda a tale of her childhood wherein her mom dies and then HER FATHER COMMITS SUICIDE, leaving her an orphan in the care of the evil Aunty Trunchbull. This is where I clicked the movie off and told my 6yr old we're getting rid of this film. "What did he do mama? He killed himself?" Thank you SO much, Danny DeVito, for introducing suicide to the kindergarten set.
Finally, Matilda tells her sweet-but-helpless teacher to "adopt me, Miss Honey!" And voila! just like that, papers are stapled together, parents quickly affix their signatures, and Matilda goes skipping off with her new mother. It takes more than that to adopt a DOG.
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AGE
8 and up.
Matilda is a great movie but parents there are some mild violence, and matilda's parents drink beer on occasionally but it has a great message about family and relationships also in the role model matilda's parents treat her bad and doesn't care about her and that's why matilda punish her parents for that and also she bravely stands up for others and almost always maintains a positive attitude and the Educational value part is that matilda is a very smart kid because she reads a lot of books and understands the educational methods and this is a great example for your younger kids.
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AGE
A good movie
Matilda was pretty good, but I didn't like the way that Matilda's parents paid no attention to her, but other than that, this movie was good.
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AGE
Nice work!
Good movie and good actors and speacial effects!
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AGE
Beautifully crafted film!
One of my all-time favorite movies - even as an adult! This film is amazing, which is why it may not be suitable to some families. It's very magical and fun with a very good message and positive role models! Matilda grows up in a bad environment, with her mother obsessed with her own self image and her father dealing in illegal activities (taking advantage of others and selling fake car parts) and a very annoying brother who bullies her - she takes on a natural magical ability that helps her through it. It has lots of kiddy scares, some very mean characters (which is why some people are put off by it (hey, it's a movie! and it's supposed to have a villain..or two!) Matilda's character is very gentle, sweet and caring...as is her teacher who finally adopts her from her terrible family. A great ending will have you smiling.
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AGE
Question
OK,so Miss Honey is very sensitive about violence,yet thinks Matilda should be put with the older kids,even though she may get bullied by them?I don't get that at all.
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AGE
Parents be warned.
I was appauled by this movie and strongly urge parents to pick another option. Other comments below capture the issues with the movie but I felt compelled (for the first time in my life) to add my warning to unsuspecting parents. Put simply, this movie has no redeeming features and every single message in the movie is contrary to what you would want your kids to be exposed to. Shame on you Danny Devito
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AGE
Don't bother watching.
This is an awful movie! My child watched this movie twice and I finally said No to this movie. I believe the book is good.
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AGE
Utterly brilliant!
A great telling of Roald Dahl's story. Typically dark and grotesque, superbly acted, with a good pace.
Nothing terrifying for children, the concepts of the chokey are such that my very easily scared daughter didn't hide behind the sofa once. Adults will find it darker than kids.
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