I don't think me and my family will be going to see Nemo, but we will catch it on video.
From what I heard from a neighbor -- as Disney tends to do, they once again forgot that an audience of 3 and 5 year olds are not as jaded as the rest of the world. Read no further if you don't want the spoiler! (i.e., if you don't want to be told about part of the story before you've had the chance to see it)... Not much of a spoiler I don't think, but always like to warn...
I guess an early scene has a family / school of fish happily swimming along and enjoying the day. Before you know it, a shark swoops in and eats the entire family except one.
End spoiler!
This is HEAVY stuff for young kids. I don't understand why Disney simply can't make a movie that *is* fun, all the way through. Well, I guess I do -- it's all about the $$$. But all I can tell you that I know my kids would enjoy a completely "happy fun" movie far more than the extreme drama that they subject young kids to today -- if only for the reason that it would be such a rarity. Most parents don't realize, or don't care, thus fueling the indifference that ultimately translates into adulthood! Some children's TV shows do it well (eg, Blue's Clues or Oswald the Octopus -- always calm, pleasant, with minor, interesting problems for the characters to work out. Not scenes of shocking, tragic death).
Disney has done this over and over agian. The Lion King probably did it with the most grace (the death of Simba's father), and I think it is among the few death-scene movies that I'm comfortable having my kids watch because it's really such a great movie and the death of Mufasa served as Simba's full inspiration, so it was quite pertinent and poignant.
Like I said, we'll get it on video, because I'm sure my kids will ultimately enjoy it -- and of course balance is healthy.... Goes back to the discussion of why good things should possibly increase, but mediocre things should stay constant. (if you didn't see that thread then nevermind)
But I can see it in their eyes when Disney gives their scenes their famously macabre touch -- they don't fully understand it and sometimes it scares them a little too much -- and that's
not fun. Growing up is hard enough without Disney subjecting them to complex and confusing (even for adults) emotional issues.
There's a line somewhere between being an over-protective, oppressive parent vs. not protecting/supporting your child enough from things that they are not yet equipped for (and really don't need to be, but even if they do, I don't believe I want Disney to be the educator in that arena).
~ Fin ~