Monster House

[Benjamin Grimm]

Took the kids to see Monster House this weekend.

It was a fun, entertaining movie. It reminded me of the Stephen King short stories that I used to enjoy. (And I think they inserted a little nod to Stephen King during the basement scene. At least, that's how I interpreted it.)

I think if this movie was done with live actors, it would have come across as pretty stupid. But with an animated movie you tend to expect less plausibility, and that helped in this case.

A lot of famous voices in this film. I only recognized two of them, although some of the ones I failed to recognize should have been very familiar to me. (I had no idea who was in this movie when I went, and the credits didn't appear until the end of the film.)

[Vic Sage]

they showed the trailer during CARS and it scared the crap out of my kids.

i don't know who the audience is for this movie. Its too scary for younger kids, and older kids i know think animated films are "for babies", and are too insecure to want to do what they think only younger kids do. but its not scary or sick enough to appeal to teen thrill seekers or grownup cult film-meisters.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Good point. I wouldn't have gone to see it if my kids hadn't asked to go. I enjoyed it, but I'm certainly not the target audience.

My nine-year-old son enjoyed it a lot. He's too old to be scared by it but not to old to think it's beneath him.

My five-year-old daughter was frightened by it, but in the good way: she was riveted but not disturbed.

[Vic Sage]

well, my 9-year old girl now turns up her nose at most animated films. And she abhors movies that are the least bit scary or have any violence whatsoever. Basically, that limits her to Disney-type movies with Lindsay Lohan, Raven Symone, Mandy Moore, Amanda Bynes, Hilary Duff... musicals and comedies only. Nothing sad, nothing where animals are endangered or die, and, recently, nothing in black & white (which is annoying). HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL is a masterpiece, in her universe.

My 5-year old boy is also violence-averse, and highly sensitive to anything scary. he gets nightmares if i read him a "captain underpants" book... you ever try to comfort a kid terrified of being eaten by a terrible talking toilet or a monstrous booger-boy robot? Not so easy to talk him in from THAT ledge, let me tell you.

He was once so scared of a movie trailer (SON OF THE MASK) that he refused to re-enter a movie theater (or even a video store) for over a year thereafter. Even now, either my wife or i have to wait with him in the hall outside the theater until the trailers are over.

[soupcan]

Watched this with my boys (7 & 9) last night.

Thought it was great. Really entertaining. The animation was excellent and the story was fun.

The boys liked it a lot. I'd definitely recommend it, especially this time of year. A good Halloween rental.