A Must See for all ages! Not because of amazing stunts, new technology, or the latest and great trends. It is a hit because it speaks to the heart telling a true story of a very special Chimp and what happens to him.
My children and I sat in the theater not really knowing what to expect. I thought it would have a conservation message if you recall from a post I shared a few days ago. While I think it has applications for this, it was really about relationships and the life of this little guy. It mirrored for my children a world of growing up and for me a world of teaching that we know so well but also a life so much harder than our own and yet also simple.
We laughed a lot, and got sad a lot too. I had to explain a few parts to my 6 year old later but will not share a spoiler as to what ones as I think you will know when you want it yourself. My 12 year old when talking about a few moments in the movie later asked if we could talk about it another day as she was emotional about it. I found her reply to be mature for her age and one I sometimes use myself when I need time to think more about something. She told me she is doing a project tonight about Chimpanzees to include some of what she learned in the movie but she will not tell me much more about it, letting me though that I will see it when it is done. It is 1am. checking in on her, she says behind a closed door that she is still not done.
Night Sweety!
I really look forward to seeing what ever she is up to when ever it is done.
One of the many things I loved about this movie was how it showed the little chimp working so hard to copy the adults and learn things form himself. My son noted that he does the same things, not with rocks and sticks but with forks and computers. He is a very observant little guy and correct too. He drew a picture of the Chimpanzees breaking nuts open with big rocks and then next to them a picture of him trying and failing. He said he does not think he would ever be very good at that but that he knows I would always do it for him….. not sure what to think of that part! He is simply just so adorable when he says it. I told him he can of course learn anything he must and anything he wants to given enough time, the right tools, and support.
For us this Movie leads into a hot topic, one many of my beloved readers might not agree with for please forgive me for jumping into it like this. We are taking it as a reminder of evolution, the ending of this movie for me showed how struggle can lead to unexpected changes. So many of our own human relationships can be found in these animals too, the connect for us is rather clear, we are animals too, just a bit different. So we go dive into the childrens books on the big bang, early earth and early life and then the best scientific theories on evolution at the moment. Always with the understanding that we could be wrong, and that is ok! It is ok as long as it does not stop us from exploring. The moment we think we know it all, we have all the answers, that we can stop trying to learn more and just accept things as they are I think is a sad day indeed.
This is what we teach our children because in point of fact, Daddy and I are geeks!
Yes dear readers, I know I am a very weird tree hugging geek.
You love me anyway right?
So go watch this movie this weekend, it is better than anything else out there for young children in my opinion but really this is a movie for all ages if you have a love of nature, of all things adorable, and specially if you want to learn a few real things about life.
Resources: An Activity Book PDF and the AMAZING Educators Guide and finally Thank You Disney for a Movie I have no guilt bringing my children to see. Thanks to all those who worked to get this movie in front of bloggers like me! Shannon, hope to meet you at one of these some day!
Thanks for the review!
Thanks for the review. My son is autistic and is easily scared by movies. Was the scary/sad part quite scary? Was it graphic?
Thanks so much.
Having taking care of a few Autistic children over the years I would say that while this movie is not at all graphic, that the action might be a bit much to risk in a theater situation. The Chimpanzees show their aggression by pounding on things loudly and charging and they do attack one another but no blood is shown or injury. I think this movie would be great to watch at home with Autistic children just so you can be sure to be able to pause things if needed!