You ever go through Blockbuster with kids? You walk slowly around looking at the New Releases, while your kids run amock raking videos off the shelves like dominoes. Some bulgy woman who works for the store chasing after them, while trying hail me with "Sir? Sir? Are these your boys?" To which I always say, "No." This allows me time to find a movie that I'll like. Because I know that about 40 videos are coming from 4 little hands that I won't like.
Kids don't know how to pick a good movie. They don't read any reviews. They easily believe what they see on TV ads. And, the only "word of mouth" they get is from other kids...who know as much as your kids do about movies.
So, as I'm looking at The Last King of Scotland, here comes both boys with some movies for me to approve or deny, based on what I think would be appropriate for them to watch AND what I could stomach watching.
Spenser's Choices (he's 9)
1. Leprechaun 2: A midget killing people...Vote: Denied. Why? Blood, Breasts, and a midget.
2. Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj: Me Likey...Vote: Denied. Sex and drugs and Rock and Roll.
3. Deathwish 3: (He comments, "Dad it had boobs on the cover...I figured you'd like it) Vote: Denied. Not because of the boobs, but I'd seen it...it sucked.
4. Stomp the Yard: I'm figuring this is going to have both of them act like Gangsta Rap Breakdancers the whole weekend. I started to say "no." But, he give me the Puss in Boots big eye thing. It's PG 13...I can suffer through it. Vote: Approved.
Off to the Snack Section runs Spenser.
Brandon's Choices (he's 7)
1. Whore, starring Theresa Russell. I've seen it, it's hot. Brandon thinks it's "Horse" and likes animal movies. Vote: Denied.
2. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: Brandon likes power tools. Vote: Denied
3. Happy Feet: Vote: Denied
4. Poltergeist: It's PG...it's kind of scary...Vote: Approved
We watched Stomp the Yard. It was good. I was amazed, good story, great dancing, the kids and I bonded.
