 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Tinker Bell
- Review Date: October 21, 2008
- G
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2008
Common Sense Media says
Sweet, simple story is best for young Tink fans.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the Fast Play feature that lets you start the DVD without the remote also pushes you to four previews for Disney movies and an ad for Disney Rewards. It would actually be faster to go to the menu and hit "play." There's also plenty for sale in the Tinker Bell line: dolls, toys, books, a magazine, a video game, and more. This simple story is mild on violence -- only one scene with a hawk snapping its jaws at fairies may be frightening -- and has a few good lessons about accepting and enjoying your own talents.
What's the story?
TINKER BELL tells the fairy's story from her creation after a baby's first laugh (as in the Peter Pan book by J. M. Barrie) to her first adventure. After landing in Pixie Hollow, Tink (voiced by Mae Whitman) finds that she's a tinker fairy -- one who builds and fixes things for the other fairies to use as they change the seasons. When she finds out that this means she doesn't get to go to the real world with the other fairies, she decides she doesn't want to be a tinker and tries to find a new talent, with disastrous results. Only by embracing her original talent can springtime be saved.
Is it any good?
This sweet and simple straight-to-DVD story is geared especially to kids of the age most likely to clap their hands and exclaim "I believe in fairies!" It does a lovely job of introducing the world of Pixie Hollow with some lush animation and a dreamy, Celtic-infused soundtrack featuring Loreena McKennitt.
But the story is a little too simplistic and mild for older kids who love the world of Peter Pan and the Lost Boys. Tinker Bell makes a mistake, learns a simple lesson, and saves the day. Her sidekick fairy friends -- all voiced by some great talent -- will doubtless do more for doll sales than they do for this story; except for the "mean one" Vidia (Pamela Adlon), their personalities aren't very fleshed out.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how Tinker Bell learns to accept her talent, even if it isn't as glamorous as what the other fairies do.
Why is Tinker Bell's talent so important to all fairies?
Do you like to invent or fix things?
Would it be more fun to you than pollinating flowers or making dew drops on spider webs?
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AGE
Very rare to find a movie actually without any kind of violence/monsters/really bad guys. Not much nastiness around except for maybe a very mild rivalry between Tinkerbell and on other fairy. Not too long, lovely little music, my 4 year old daughter enjoyed it a lot. And I can assure anyone that I am VERY VERY VERY careful when choosing a DVD as I feel alreadya bit guilty of letting her sit and watch for 90mns.... First was Aristocats, now Tinkerbell has passed my PG!
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AGE
I loved this movie very much. Its great for younger children. I think it also sends a good message about being yourself.
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AGE
Cute, but Tink seems so.... 'innoccent'
I love it! I thought it was so cute! And I love Mae Witman, she's a great voice actress. I also love the voices of Jessie McCartney, Raven Symone, America Fararaya, and Lucy Lu.
Its a good movie for little kids, it still has Tinkerbells' attitude she had in Peter Pan, although they made her seem too sugary for my taste, and I don't think in Peter Pan Tinkerbell would be upset about being a Tinker. They also made Tink's eyes really small and her cheeks were huge (nothing wrong with that, she just doesn't seem much like tink that way) Clank and Bobble were neat, a little weird, but neat. Although they did stare at Tink up and down when she wore that dress, at least in the cartoonish version there was something under it! She just reminded me of Barbie in a way, except a tad better, the scenery was beautiful, and I like most of the characters, yes, Vidia too, I think its rude of them to be mean about Vidia on Disney*, they say "she's a loner.. wonder why?" and "She lives in a Sour Plum Tree, ALL alone" and in the movie they make her attitude worse by mocking her (I know she has no right to be that way, but mocking her makes it worse) Its neat, but I really can't imagine Tinkerbell really being that way, in those old "Pixie Previews" Tink seemed to look like herself, and more funny. I guess I'll stick with Peterpan, but this was cool for little kids, just let them see PeterPan first.
I'm not a big fan on the whole worlds season's being changed by Fairies, but its just a cartoon. Plus, they're trying to get Tinkerbell to have a love interest, I know her and Terence seem more buddy-buddy, but on the site they quoted that they are friends "but maybe more" Yeah, go figure they'd try that.
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AGE
Not only does this movie send a positive message to girls about being yourself and being proud of who you are, but the animation is beautiful. It was a joy to watch b/c of the story but also the beauty.
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AGE
Great Family Movie
My kids (and I) LOVE this movie! Even my two year old can sit through most of it. It is action packed, and the animation is great. It's SO nice to see a female Disney character who is not dumbed down, who can do things independently, can recover from mistakes made, and who is not dependent on a male character to "save" her! There is some name calling and at one point, Tinker Bell says being a tinker is "stupid". This generated a good discussion in our household about that word and how it can be hurtful. I really liked the message of the movie too, that everyone has a purpose and that every individual person has value and worth.
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AGE
One of the best Disney has managed to churn out in the last several years
I really like this movie, Disney actually did good. I was a little worried they'd dumb it down, but instead they managed to keep it simple without being condescending. Yes, there is a lot of marketing based around it, but seriously people - it's toys and t-shirts. I'd rather see little ones playing with fairy toys than plastic guns, and I would think it's much easier to clothes-shop for kids when they have something to relate to.
Tweens and teens might get embarassed to say they like it, but my whole family (me, mom, dad, and a 12-yr old boy) all love it enough to get the sequel.
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AGE
best from Disney since...ever!
I never gave much thought to the female protagonists in Disney animated movies until I had children. Since then, it's hard to believe it took THIS LONG for Disney to develop a strong, admirable female lead for their animation franchise. When our family first watched this film, I thought it was a little cheesy, but, by the second viewing, really loved the film. The writers don't dumb things down for their audience, which I appreciate (my girls know what "elucidate" means because of this movie!) and the overall theme is really wonderful for girls of any age, but especially preschoolers. Tinker Bell is hardworking, creative, strong-willed, and a true inventor. There's a brief lovey moment with a boy fairy, Terrance, but this is a girl-centric Disney movie with NO ROMANCE! It is fantastic! There's no prince to rescue her, no damsel-in-distress scenario here -- Tinker Bell can figure things out for herself, and, happily, does.
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| Topics: | princesses and fairies |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Director: | Bradley Raymond |
| Cast: | America Ferrera, Mae Whitman, Raven Symone |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 78 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | October 22, 2008 |
| DVD release date: | October 27, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | G |
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