Da Browns

Da Browns

Welcome to the jungle!

Our jungle has a mighty lion king, Jared; his sultry lioness, Tamany; three crazy monkeys, Landon, Tyler, and Ethan; and a beautiful gazelle, Isabel. It also has a beast, Phoebe, our mastiff.

Life in our jungle is much like other jungles: a constant searching for food. It consists of finding the food, killing it, bringing it home, preparing it, eating it, cleaning it up, and trying to share with others what we found.

This blog is to share the highlights of what happens in our jungle during that process.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Monsters vs. Aliens

You know the scripture that tells that once you've been warned you should warn your neighbor? Consider this your warning! :)

Every time we finish reading the Book of Mormon the kids get to go see a movie at the theatre. I have suffered through two horrible movies since we decided on this family activity---Shark Boy and Lava Girl--biggest waste of time and money ever spent! And the latest, Monsters vs. Aliens.

I have issues with Dreamworks in general. I know that a lot of their movies are popular, but I think that they have too much "adult" content that gets passed as a G rating just because it is animated. To a kid, it is all the same--actually it means MORE to a kid when it is animated because they actually pay attention.

Monsters vs. Aliens is a pretty shallow movie, but my real beef with it is its use of the Lord's name over and over (once is bad enough), the feminization of men, and its nuances to homosexuality.

The premise of the movie is that the girl can be strong and independent without her soon-to-be-husband. But throughout the movie they show scene after scene of men being rescued by women, a girl coming on to a guy at "lovers lane" and the guy not wanting anything, etc.

The one guy who is "manly" is the General and he is made to look like a lunatic.

Some people think that it is okay for kids to watch this stuff because it "goes over their heads". I don't believe that. Kids are like sponges and pick up on everything. Everything they see influences them. Besides, I am not so worried about whether they catch things cognitively right now, as I am worried about offending their spirits.

I am personally boycotting Dreamworks from now on.

4 comments:

  1. Once at a park another mom was talking about how her four year old son had seen all these movies (many of them PG-13 movies). Later I was commenting to a friend how crazy that was to me and she remarked that if it isn't G her kids can't watch it. John and I just wanted to laugh because I am so picky, even on the G-rated ones!

    My bro and sis-in-law go and preview movies before they take their kids. (I don't know if they always do it together or what.) I just try to skip movies in general, but I'm sure as my kids get older I won't be able to get away with that so easily...

    Kids are so sensitive to things and the prevailing humor is put downs or being saucy and mouthy to their parents. My kids are totally influenced by what they watch and I just think no thank you!

    But, congratulations on the scripture reading! I am so impressed that your family has read the Book of Mormon three times. That is fantastic!

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  2. Okay. We suck as parents. I didn't even notice all the things that you noticed. We all went to the show and liked it. I guess we are totally desensitized. Sad.

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  3. I've found the same thing with Dreamworks. Shrek (the last Dreamworks I saw) was funny, but it was offensive as well. I will join your boycott.

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  4. I could have written this post! I feel EXACTLY the same way. Our kids haven't seen many (or any, I don't think) Dreamworks movies. Bring on the boycott!

    ReplyDelete


Post surgery/grateful kids

Phoebe's stitches

new stove

new water heater

Mom, she loves us

Mom, she loves us
Tyler's pic of Gramie

Mom, she love us

While at dinner with Gramie, I asked where she was. The boys said she was standing in line waiting to get them their pizza from the buffet line. I said, "What!" Tyler looked at me and emphatically announced, "Mom, she loves us!"

My Guitar Heroes

My Guitar Heroes
Jared and Landon practicing

kiddies at the park

bed of mulch

monkey bars backwards

"Hulk" at the park


Belle and Babe

Bella and her "buh"

I Am a Child of God

I Am a Child of God

2008 in review

2008 in review
Landon's baptism

Gramie and Grandpa came to visit

Best buddies

the nappers awoke (after family pics)

Extended Stay (Feb 2008)

Extended Stay (Feb 2008)
I got sick---Gramie stayed

A Bit Too Much Fun With Slime

Houston Rodeo

Houston Rodeo

Easter

Easter

First Easter Dress

Grandma Lowry Came to Visit (April 2008)

Grandma Lowry Came to Visit (April 2008)


#41 Presidential Library

T-Ball

T-Ball
Da Boys

A Love Affair

A Love Affair

Beautiful Belle

Poisonous Snake (copperhead)

Poisonous Snake (copperhead)
Annie Oakley got her snake (with a shovel)

Overnight Campout (May 2008)

Overnight Campout (May 2008)
Lake Livingston

horseback riding at Lake Livingston


HUGE Frog

HUGE Frog

the frog we caught in our neighborhood

Farewell to the Broadbents

Farewell to the Broadbents

Tyler and Jeffrey saying goodbye

Tamany and Sheralie

Jared's B-day

Jared's B-day

Trip to St. Louey

Trip to St. Louey
Jesse James Wax Museum

driving 15 hours with the dog

road trip to with 9 kids under 9

all the cousins

Inside The Arch

Independence, MO

Independence, MO
where Tyler felt the Spirit

Liberty Jail

Liberty Jail


Far West Temple Site

Far West Temple Site

Adam ondi Ahman

Adam ondi Ahman

Ethan's birthday (July 2008)

Ethan's birthday (July 2008)
He was in heaven

Isabel's 1st birthday

Isabel's 1st birthday
hosted by Mr. John and Ms. Shey

princess dress from Grandma Lowry

Mr. John with Belle-Belle

Dinner with Elin (Aug 2008)

Dinner with Elin (Aug 2008)
Fancy French Food

First Day of School

First Day of School
Very Happy Day (for all of us)

Playing at the Pier

Playing at the Pier

Ethan

mom and daughter

Hurricane Ike

Hurricane Ike
retreat to Birmingham with the Oborns

Sharlene and Isabel

Phoebe and Joey (Oborn's dog)

visiting Lana during Ike aftermath

Ragnar (October 2008)

Ragnar (October 2008)
CTRs--Chicks That Run

VICTORY

Halloween 2008

Halloween 2008

Disneyworld

Disneyworld
We went to Disneyworld for vacation in December. It was a lot of fun. We were just happy to see the kids got over their fear of people in costumes!

The Princesses

Daddy's Girl

Daddy's Girl
While in Disneyworld, Isabel's wish came true: to have her dad hold her non-stop for an entire week! She is so in love with her dad!

Tyler's birthday in Disneyworld

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2008
Gramie and Grandpa

Aunt Sara, too

monkey attack

The Polar Express train ride

Gramie and Belle

potato gun shooting