Confessions of a Movie-Addicted Editor
Look, I’ve been in this business for 23 years. That’s right, 23. I’ve seen alot of movies. And when you have kids? Oh boy. It’s a whole new level of commitment. I’m talking about the kind of commitment that makes you question your life choices at 6:30am on a Saturday.
I’m Sarah, by the way. Senior editor at a major magazine. I’ve interviewed A-listers, I’ve covered festivals, I’ve even sat through a 4-hour director’s cut of a movie about a talking volcano. (Don’t ask.) But nothing, nothing, prepared me for the onslaught of kids’ movies.
And let me tell you something, folks. Some of these movies? They’re not just bad. They’re criminal.
First, the Good
Now, I’m not all doom and gloom. There are some gems out there. Take Spirited Away, for example. My daughter, let’s call her Lily, she’s 8, she watched it and then proceeded to draw Studio Ghibli-style creatures for the next three weeks. It’s like she had a physical aquisition of artistic talent overnight.
And Inside Out? Genius. Absolutely genius. I cried. My husband, Dave, he cried. Even our dog, Buster, looked like he was crying. (Okay, maybe he was just sad about the lack of treats.)
But then there’s the other stuff. The stuff that makes you want to sell your TV and move to a cabin in the woods.
The Bad and the Ugly
I’m looking at you, The Emoji Movie. I’m looking right at you. I sat through that mess last Tuesday at the local multiplex. You know what my friend Marcus said after? “Sarah, that was the worst 87 minutes of my life.” And he’s a guy who enjoysTransformers movies. So you know it’s bad.
And don’t even get me started on The Smurfs. I mean, what is that? Some kinda dystopian nightmare? The blue is too blue, the humans are too… human, and the plot? It’s like they wrote it during a coffee break and then forgot about it for the next 214 days.
I had a conversation with a colleague named Dave—yeah, I know, another Dave—about this. He said, “Sarah, kids’ movies are just vehicles for merchandise.” And I said, “Dave, that’s the most depressing thing I’ve heard all week.” But honestly? He’s not wrong.
But Here’s the Thing…
I’m not saying all kids’ movies are terrible. Far from it. But I am saying that parents need to be discerning. Do your research. Talk to other parents. Read reviews. And for the love of all that’s holy, don’t just let your kids watch whatever pops up on the screen.
And if you’re looking for a way to manage all the streaming services you’re gonna need to subscribe to? Check out this cloud computing solutions comparison. It’s a lifesaver, honestly.
Oh, and one more thing. If you ever find yourself watching The Emoji Movie again, just know that I’m judging you. Hard.
Anyway, I gotta run. Lily’s calling me to watch Frozen for the 36th time this month. (I’m not sure but I think I’ve seen more Elsa than my own reflection lately.)
About the Author: Sarah Johnson is a senior editor with over two decades of experience in the entertainment industry. She’s seen it all, from blockbusters to flops, and she’s not afraid to share her opinion. When she’s not watching movies, she’s probably watching her kids watch movies. It’s a never-ending cycle.
