Parent Movie Guide, Parental Site.com

	Film Title: Mary Poppins		Best for ages: 5 and up.

	Movie Website: Click Here	Year Released: 1964	Rated: G (US)

SYNOPSIS
Mary Poppins is a film that did very well for Disney Studios back in the mid 1960's. It 's a film about the Banks Family and their children. Mr. and Mrs. Banks never really have time for their children nor to do they go out of their way to try and make time. The children have pretty much spent their lives being raised by different nannies who seem to quit because they can't stand the children's behavior. Out of nowhere comes Mary Poppins a mysterious women who seems to have all the qualifications to handle, discipline and educate the children. However despite Mary's talent to keep the kids under control she also has a magical thing about her, and she lets the children in on that magical secret and brings them along on her many adventures. Along with a Bert and handy Jack of all trades man the children will experience the magic that is Mary Poppins and her powers to help bring the Banks Family and their closer to one another and be happy with their lives. Click Here
VIOLENCE/GRAPHIC CONTENT/language
While the film really does not have a lot of violence, bad Language or graphic content; it does have a few things that might be of a concern regarding it's characters treatments of one another and it's fantasy elements. You also have some small things that regarded at the time this film was made as being harmless, but there is a scene in which the children take medicine and Mary uses the words "Yum Rum Punch" as if she has changed her medicine to rum. One of the things that concerns me is the way Mr. and Mrs. Banks treat their kids in the film. It's kind of a prelude to what some parents to do their kids today and that's reject them. The film shows how the Banks children run every nanny they have right out of the house with their bad behavior because their parents refuse to spend anytime with them because they are simply to busy with other things that occupy their lives. The good thing is that Mary Poppins seems to make everyone happy and in the end brings the family together. You also have your basic things like the kids doing little bad things here and there and there the fear towards the end of the film that Mr. Bank might of gone off and killed himself because they can't find him, but everything turns out OK. You also have a some frustration among some of the characters and yelling here and there. We also can't forget some of the strict disciplinarily actions taken by Mary Poppins upon the kids as well. The Fantasy element of the film may be the biggest concern of all. While we know that the film is full of make believe ideas I always thought that parents should warn their kids about the consequences of dancing on a roof, and the fact that you can't fly with an umbrella.
OVERALL VIEWS
I'll be honest, as a kid I disliked Mary Poppins a lot. It was one of those films that they used to play repeatedly during downtown in Elementary school and it was a constant hit with my sisters who had the VHS copy of the film in the VCR everyday after school and would sings the songs at the top of their lungs. The last time I probably laid eyes on this film was when I was about eight or nine years old. Not only could I not stand the film, but I found Mary Poppins to be a bit to proper for my liking. After all I was a young boy who preferred to watch movies like Star Wars and play army in the wood with all my friends. Now, Years later and having to relive Mary Poppins on DVD, I can now truly appreciate the cinematic masterpiece that it is. The movie did win five Academy Awards one of those being Julie Andrews for Best Actress and rightfully so as her performance is excellent in this movie. In fact all the performances are very good in this film which also includes Dick Van Dyke. I think what really makes Mary Poppins stand out as a film is the way the characters just pop out on the screen and not to mention the very well choreographed musical numbers and the use of animation and real life combined together to give the movie it's fantasy element. I say that Mary Poppins is best suitable for Children ages five and up. While the movie does have some fantasy elements that might be a concern to some parents, I think overall it's fine for them to watch. Just as long as they know that you can't really fly with an umbrella and it's not a good thing to do sneaky things to adults. I think most boys (as I did when I was young) will simply despise Mary Poppins, although some might like it's musical numbers. I really think that this is a film aimed more at young girls. Sure it's the ultimate family movie, but don't expect your boy(s) to want to sit though this without pouting. Overall, though Mary Poppins is a very well made Disney film that should be treasured for generations. The DVD is filed with a lot of special features. The Backstage Disney features include a Disney of Broadway feature which includes Everything from how Mary Poppins went from the page to the stage, Step in Time: Musical Number, Step in Time: Downloadable MP3 and Bob Crowley's Design Gallery. A Bonus Short Feature: An Animated Adventure Hosted By Julie Andrews. The Music and More Feature includes a musical reunion with Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke and Richard Sherman along with deleted songs and plenty of more features.
BUY THIS MOVIE.