The Incredibles

[Sheherezade]

Chiming in with my own little ...experiment . My daughter didn't tolerate Nemo (opening scene killed it). She did like the Incredibles--actually LOVED the Incredibles. Her only complaint was that the first 30 minutes were boring. And--for some perverse reason- she was freaked out by the "insurance agent" Mr. Incredible stamping denied on the little old lady's application, but completely fine with the giant robotic spider creature attacking people. I actually had to explain that the little old lady would be ok when she kept asking about it the next day. Kids are weird. Great--but weird. Important caveat: She has an 8-year old brother and spends many hours playing super hero games with him.

I was scared of the monkeys too. Also, the part where Dorothy's trapped in the witch's tower with the hourglass.

Angie, that's funny- I guess you just can't predict what kids will go for.

[PrincessFiona]

We watched the Incredibles last weekend and loved it. I must be desensitized to the violence, because I didn't find it any worse than Toy Story (some of those abused toys were SCAREY) or Finding Nemo (sharks, jellyfish and the death of the mom/siblings at the beginning).

My five year old's only response to it was that he was going to become fast like the character who can run so fast.....and so he has been practicing running outside since then.

I guess I just didn't think the violence was that bad...but then again, I did watch Tom and Jerry, The Roadrunner, and Slyvester and Tweety as a child. I also watched those old christmas movies where they laughed and made fun of rudolf's nose...and if memory serves....Frosty did melt

So, I guess I'm jaded! :>

kris

BF and I just saw it too and we LOVED it!! It reminded me of James Bond movies and the animation has gotten so good. I could see how some kids wouldn't like it, though. To me it seemed much more adult than other Disney flicks-- not just in terms of violence, but also the themes and dialogue.

[BonBon]

Saw this last Saturday and LOVED it! I agree that it seems adult-ish, but I bet the dialogue would fly right over most kids heads. Animation is superb. Really enjoyed this one.

We saw the Incredibles with my in-laws on Thanksgiving. I thought it was great. Since we don't have children, the level of violence and questions of its appropriateness for certain ages never crossed my mind. In retrospect and ironically, I think I'm more apt to watch a "childrens" movie since in many ways the dialogue seems to be aimed at adults. I was so resistant to the idea of watching animated movies until recently because I thought those movies are for "kids". I guess I'm a pretty big kid right now.

I read through the previous posts pretty quickly but I was suprised that there wasn't a mention of the political nature of the film (I may have missed it). What did you guys think of that? Specifically, I'm refering to the not-so-subtle attacks on what the filmaker views as a harmful trend in formal education when Dash says, "when they say everyone is special, what they're really saying is that no one is special". I thought of our spouses and tort reform during the "press conference" where the man saved from falling to his death was suing the Incredible for "preventing his death (sic)." I think it continued to the end when we're being prepared for the sequel when the villain says something akin to "I'm below all of you but no one is above me".

[PrincessFiona]

but I was suprised that there wasn't a mention of the political nature of the film (I may have missed it). What did you guys think of that? Specifically, I'm refering to the not-so-subtle attacks on what the filmaker views as a harmful trend in formal education when Dash says, "when they say everyone is special, what they're really saying is that no one is special". I thought of our spouses and tort reform during the "press conference" where the man saved from falling to his death was suing the Incredible for "preventing his death (sic)." I think it continued to the end when we're being prepared for the sequel when the villain says something akin to "I'm below all of you but no one is above me".

It all flew over my head

[Rapunzel]

We just bought this dvd and I watched it for the first time this weekend.

LOVED it.

I really liked that it was funny, the family was "normal" but not like the sarcasticly mean "sitcom" families that have become the norm in entertainment, and I really liked the thought-provoking theme of "specialness" and reveling in your own talents. Additionally, if you watch the extra scenes on the dvd there is a really great backyard bbq scene where the mom in the movie has to defend her choice to stay at home with the kids.

All-over it's the best movie I've seen in a long time for both adults and kids. Two thumbs waaay up!

Jennifer

[Sheherezade]

''Oh great Jennifer! No I have to go get the DVD!!

Additionally, if you watch the extra scenes on the dvd there is a really great backyard bbq scene where the mom in the movie has to defend her choice to stay at home with the kids.

I read through the previous posts pretty quickly but I was suprised that there wasn't a mention of the political nature of the film (I may have missed it). What did you guys think of that? Specifically, I'm refering to the not-so-subtle attacks on what the filmaker views as a harmful trend in formal education when Dash says, "when they say everyone is special, what they're really saying is that no one is special". I thought of our spouses and tort reform during the "press conference" where the man saved from falling to his death was suing the Incredible for "preventing his death (sic)." I think it continued to the end when we're being prepared for the sequel when the villain says something akin to "I'm below all of you but no one is above me".

Yeah I was curious about some of those undercurrents. Also, I thought there was somewhat of a mixed message in the film in terms of "specialness." On the one hand, they encourage you to embrace your specialness, but on the other hand, it seems elitist-- you're either born a super hero or you're not. The one character who tries to become special through his own intelligence and inventiveness (because he wasn't born with super powers) is the villain... and that didn't turn out very well for him.

Perhaps I'm thinking too hard

[migirl]

We saw this over the weekend and were also surprised at how 'adult' the themes and some of the dialogue were. Thoroughly enjoyable movie, though, we thought it was great. I agree, the DVD has lots of fun extra features that we spent some time going through (borrowed it from MIL, but we may buy it for ourselves).

On the one hand, they encourage you to embrace your specialness, but on the other hand, it seems elitist-- you're either born a super hero or you're not. The one character who tries to become special through his own intelligence and inventiveness (because he wasn't born with super powers) is the villain... and that didn't turn out very well for him.

That is an interesting way of looking at it. From my viewpoint, the movie makes stark contrasts to prove a point. It's true that the antagonist is "special" already in that he is clearly intelligent and inventive. But I think the reason he is the villian is because being inventive and intelligent isn't good or "special" enough for him. His ultimate goal (at least as the movie progresses) is to teach the "Incredibles" that they are not so incredible after all.

Yet, clearly their innate gifts are incredible (as his inventiveness and intelligence may also well be). Also, the "Incredibles" shouldn't have to apologize for their gifts to make persons feel better about themselves. The main thrust of the movie is to show that we're all worse off if we pretend we're all the same in service to the misguided notion that if we aren't deemed the same in all things then a terrible injustice is necessarily afoot.

In making the point about "specialness," the filmakers (as I see it) didn't have time to address the "gray" areas of the issue. Namely, that most people could be incredible with a lower case "i" in many areas through hard work and that unfortunately some people who could be "Incredible" with a capital "I" aren't able to do so due to things outside their control like low socio-economic status.

Perhaps one scene that could be further explored in terms of the "gray" area could be the "track scene" in which Dash finally goes full speed and leaves his "competitors" in the proverbial dust. For me, second and third place runners in the event very well may be great or good runners, but not "incredible" with a capital "I" in terms of foot speed. Garnering the "silver" and the "bronze" are achievements to take pride in if one has the proper perspective. Indeed, even the last place finisher may have made remarkable effort to even make the team. The "wrong thinking" in regards to the track scene would be that the race itself was "unfair" due to Dash's abilities and that the last finisher was necessarily being hurt or damaged by participating.

I think this misguided thinking is insidious and has pervaded a lot of thinking about education and child-rearing. A recent example is a school district administrator in the midwest that wanted to get rid of spelling bees in his system because the children who didn't win would suffer injuries to their self-esteem. Luckily, the parents and children revolted and the bees were reinstated.

Movie Plots 101- today's topic- The Incredibles.


now I think I should see this movie....

[migirl]

Clearly I didn't think hard enough about this movie whilst watching it. Here I thought it was just a movie about superheroes saving the world...

[Rapunzel]

I think Kevin summarized the issue quite nicely.

The villain was most certainly "special" in his own way but it wasn't good enough for him. He envied and hated Mr. Incredible and others with innate "superpowers" simply because they had these gifts. He definitely used his own talents but he didn't seem to appreciate them since he was heck-bent on destroying anyone with the talents he didn't possess.

I really liked that the movie focused on the importance of being able to use your gifts/talents in order to live life to its fullest. I also liked that the mom liked being a mom and that was treated as a "job" as much as her former career of superhero-dom.

Jennifer