Movies with Mia: The Pirates! Band of Misfits

There were no displays for The Pirates!,
so we posed with Thor instead.

About a month ago, I detailed the experience of taking Mia to her first theatrical movie (Beauty & the Beast) and what a massive success it was. Well, dear readers, the pendulum has swung (three-quarters) the other way.

I had been itching to get her back in the theater, but we missed The Lorax, and after it was gone, there weren't any other options. I seriously considered Chimpanzee, but decided she simply wasn't ready. Then The Pirates! Band of Misfits opened this past weekend and thought it might be entertaining, though the animation style was quite different than what she's used to. I thought since we're still in the experimental stage of her theater adventures, a film that I wasn't anticipating would be a good choice to test the waters further.

There were no scary trips over the river to the second-run ghetto theater this time. No, no. We got to go to my lovely multiplex, with stadium seating, clean bathrooms, and 10:00 a.m. screenings, which was the perfect time to experiment since our theater was next to empty.

But then I got a bad feeling feeling when I went to the machine to buy tickets (I hate people, so I prefer technology) and it said the next screening for The Pirates! wasn't for another hour, despite what my Flixster showtimes app was telling me. So then I went into panic mode as I tried to decide if it was worth it to stay for an hour at the theater with a 3-year-old in the name of movie-going science. I decided I'd investigate further by talking to the man in the glass box, who had a marquee behind his head saying the next screening started in five minutes. As it turns out I clicked the showtimes for the 3D (ick!) version at the ticket machine. Operator error. And the man in the box took one look at Mia and assumed she was under whatever age gets in for free (she's not, she just looks it), so I was out only $6, which is the high point of the entire experience.

We sat off to the side far away from the other 10 patrons to avoid ruining the film for them. And it's a good thing, because Mia was bored. And I mainly blame Dora the Explorer.

You see, Dora is Mia's favorite show, and she's seen every episode at least 10 times. But I allow her to keep watching it to help build her knowledge of the Spanish language, since daycare stops with colors and numbers. Unfortunately, Dora has a couple of adventures with pirates as well, but they're pigs dressed as pirates. So as we were watching The Pirates! Mia kept asking for the "pirate piggies" and didn't understand why there were grown people dressed as pirates. Once I told her (for the millionth time) that there were no oinking pirates, she was pretty much done. So she proceeded to tell me that she wanted more popcorn, wanted more soda, needed to go potty, that she was cold, that she wanted to go up and down the steps, that she wanted to watch Dora, etc.

After I finally ssshhh-ed her into submission (and bribed her with the promise of Sonic tater tots), she actually did settle down for the climatic third act, but clearly didn't really care, because she didn't ask any questions. Of course the zinger was when we got in the car afterwards and she asked me what my favorite part was. I tried to turn the tables on her, but she just changed the subject.

You may be wondering why I didn't just take her home. Well, she really wasn't loud and squirmy enough to disturb anyone other than me. Now if it had been a packed house and we were forced to share armrests with total strangers, then I wouldn't have let it go on, but since we're still in the experimental stages, I wanted to ride it out and see what I might expect in the future. All in the name of movie-going science, I suppose.

11 comments:

  1. This is right around the age I started taking my son to the theater.

    Luckily, we took him to see Toy Story 3 for his first movie going experience and although new, he knew all of the characters and was pretty much mesmerized. Had to explain to him beforehand that he could not ask questions or talk during the movie - which he loves to do.

    These are fun to read and I understand your apprehension, especially with how expensive movies are nowadays - it's also nice that you actually do care about the others in the theater, believe me I have been to many a movie where parents do not.

    It will definitely get better and easier as her tastes broaden, which will be fun.

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    1. I haven't given up completely, but I do try to be cautious and seek out the earliest screenings with the least amount of patrons to annoy. I think for Brave, I will expose her to as many clips and trailers I can find beforehand to amp up her interest, instead of taking her in cold. More experimentation is needed for sure!

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  2. This is easily my favorite feature on the new website and absolutely *must* continue!

    (No pressure there mamasita)

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    1. From this I interpret "I laugh at your public humiliation." J/k. Glad you're enjoying these posts. There will most certainly be more in the future, as I seem to be a glutton for punishment.

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  3. Love the choice to rude it out and your description.

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    1. Damn iPhone. Ride it out.

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    2. Yeah, I wanted to wait and see if she'd take a flying leap over me to get to the steps, so she could run them up and down. She didn't go quite that far, yet.

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  4. Sounds broadly similar to our first cinema experiences with our two little people. At first they wouldn't sit still no matter how much popcorn was offered as a price. Now they adore it and we try and go as often as we can. Getting them involved in choosing the film was a real breakthrough. They recently had a choice between The Lorax and The Pirates and chose Dr Seuss's environmental tale. Not sure where you are but Finding Nemo has just got another cinematic release here in Oz, unfortunately its been retro fitted into 3d but hopefully there will be 2d screenings as well. Not sure the glasses would last 5 mins and would no doubt be used as weapons in the dark at some point. Keep persisting with Mia, there is nothing better than sharing your passion for films with your children, especially at such a young age.

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    1. We had to do 3D for Beauty and the Beast. She took the glasses off after half an hour, but the picture wasn't blurry enough to bother her. She likes Nemo and we'll definitely take her, but it doesn't hit theaters around here till September, so we'll have to wait for Brave in the meantime. I'm sure she'll eventually get better, but I just have to be patient, not my greatest virtue.

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  5. You're also providing a valuable service - tips for me to remember for two years from now. :)

    Sounds like she was a pretty good little camping, even if a bit annoying to you. They can't all be winners for her, and she didn't freak out or anything.

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    1. So glad to be your guinea pig! I'll definitely keep trying, but I think those 10:00 a.m. Sunday shows will be our best bet for now.

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