Kids and Moms Review
Disney’s “Second Screen Live: The Little Mermaid”
By Sara Davenport
Disney is introducing something new and different to a moviegoer’s experience – Second Screen Live. Second Screen Live technology allows moviegoers to interact with films by playing games, answering trivia questions, participating in sing-alongs, as well as competing with other audience members for points.
No longer will you only interact with your popcorn and candy! This is one time that you are actually encouraged to ignore the message, “For the enjoyment of everyone, please turn off your cell phones and other electronic devices.”
Disney’s Second Screen Live: The Little Mermaid debuted at the Carmike 15 in Columbus, Georgia on Friday, September 20th. A friend of mine and I decided to give this new theater experience a try with our girls ages 3, 6 and 8. Here are our thoughts on Second Screen Live: The Little Mermaid.
Second Screen Live: The Little Mermaid
Rated G – 83 minutes
Carmike 15, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd.
Showtimes: 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:15, 9:00
Ticket prices: $5.50 – $11
How are you able to interact with the film?
Step #1 – You need to have an iPad or iPad Mini; requires iOS 5.0 or later.
Step #2 – Download the free Disney Second Screen: The Little Mermaid App to your device. This app is not currently available for iPhones.
Moms’ Review:
Save yourself a little time and download the app before getting to the theater. It takes about 5 minutes to download it, accept the terms and conditions, and enter your screen name. Downloading the app at the theater while getting settled and passing out drinks and snacks may pose logistical problems. Plus, they handed us additional instructions for our iPads’ settings at the ticket counter. Trying to read the directions in a dark theater was a little difficult but the changes we needed to make to our settings ended up being very simple. They actually went over the instructions again on the big screen before the movie started and a Carmike employee even came by and asked if we needed help or had questions.
What do you do while the film is playing?
The film drives when and what games the audience plays. In the bottom right corner of the movie screen, you’ll see a small window the counts down the time until each game begins. By playing games, audience members either gain or lose points depending on how well or quickly they work. My friend’s 8 year old quickly learned to watch the clock so she could start the game immediately in hopes of gaining the most points. Here are a few examples of the different games/activities we participated in during Second Screen Live: The Little Mermaid:
Tritan Trivia – Trivia questions about the movie display on audience members’ iPads. Trivia consists of multiple choice questions with four written answers or two picture answers.
Puzzles – A scene from the film is frozen and displays scrambled on audiences’ iPads. Audience members have to unscramble the image by sliding pieces of the picture to their correct place.
Scuttle Scope – A scene is frozen and displays on audience members’ iPad. Audience members move a telescope around to locate items that do not belong; tap the item that does not belong to gain points.
Steer The Ship – Audience members help steer Prince Eric’s ship by tilting their iPads to the left and right.
Bubble Pop – Audience members try to pop as many bubbles as possible on their iPads to gain points.
Eel Eyes – Audience members try to tap as many eel eyes as possible on their iPads to gain points.
Wipe Away – Seagull poop lands on audience members’ iPads. Use your finger to wipe away the seagull poop.
Treasure Catch – Audience members tilt their iPads to the left and right, while trying to catch falling items in a treasure chest.
Mazes – Audience members help film characters get through a maze while collecting points along the way.
Sing-Alongs – Sing along with your favorite songs, such as Les Poissons, Under the Sea, and Part of Your World. Song lyrics display at the bottom of the movie screen as well as on your iPad.
Kids’ Review:
What was your favorite game?
Vivian (age 8) – Tritan Trivia
Celia (age 6) – Tritan Trivia (Questions where you could chose between two pictures.)
Wren (age 3) – Popping Bubbles
Was it difficult to watch the movie and play games while eating popcorn?
Vivian (age 8) – “No, I ate my popcorn during the breaks between games.”
Moms’ Review:
We both agreed that it was good mix of activities for children of all ages and abilities, and that showed in the girls’ favorite picks. The main issue is that most activities require children to be able to read to truly participate. Each activity only lasts for a short time, so by the time I read the question and choices to Wren (age 3) or explained what she needed to do or find, time was up. It irritated me a bit – I guess that was my competitive side coming out – but she was just happy to be there with the big girls and drink lemonade. Easy to please – love it!
Celia (age 6) also needed some help reading questions and answers since she’s a beginner reader. Vivian (age 8) did well on her own but had trouble reading things that were written in cursive.
Not that Disney asked, but my friend proposed the idea of parents being able to select an audience age range during setup that would drive the level of games displayed for the user. I thought this was a fantastic idea.
Another point to consider is that in a perfect world, children would eagerly and happily share iPads during a Second Screen Live film. Those of us who are blessed with more than one child know that when multiple kids get around one electronic device, war often breaks out, resulting in said device is being removed from little, tugging, grabbing, snatching hands. Supplying more than one iPad per family really hikes up the price of an afternoon at the movies, which is already expensive for a family of four. I paid $4.75 for a small diet coke when we went and it even tasted flat to me – I’m just saying.
Before downloading the Second Screen app, I went to iTunes to learn more. Here is one of the customer’s reviews from what I’m assuming is a not so pleased mother:聽“The concept behind this app to begin with is HORRIBLE. Don’t bring a glowing iPad into a movie theater. It teaches kids that its ok to annoy other movie theater-goers with phones and other mobile devices, which should all be turned off and LEFT IN ONE’S BAG. Disney should know better than to encourage this!!!”
I understand this customer’s concern. I’m the first one to rant and rave about how electronic devices suck up our time and destroy personal relationships with mindless scrolling through Facebook or constant texting. But, in this case, Second Screen Live: The Little Mermaid was designed to interact with iPads and that is part of the experience. Getting mad about someone bringing an iPad to a Second Screen Live film would be comparable to getting mad if some brought a car to a drive in movie. I get this customer’s underlying point though … with iPhones, iPads, and iWhat’sNext, is there no place left to unplug?
Is the original film shown?
Yes, in this case it was the original The Little Mermaid film. It was paused at a few points for character commentary or a quick audience competition, but that was the only difference.
Kids’ Review:
Did you like the movie?
Vivian (age 8), “It was good.”
Celia (age 6), Nodded in agreement with Vivian.
Wren (age 3), “Are we going home now?”
Moms’ Review:
On the way home, my friend commented that it was truly the original film, not digitally enhanced like most older films are when we purchase them on DVDs or Blu-ray. I actually thought it was pretty nostalgic and it took me straight back to 1989 when The Little Mermaid debuted and I tight-rolled my jeans and owned more pairs of Duck Head shorts than I care to admit.
Is this worth a try?
Kids’ Review:
Did you have fun? Would you want to go again?
Vivian (age 8) – “I’ve already seen The Little Mermaid a lot. I just really want to see Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2.”
Celia (age 6) & Wren (age 3) – No comment.
Would you want to go again if you could play the games with another movie?
Vivian (age 8) – “Yeah.”
Celia (age 6) – “Yes!”
Wren (age 3) – No comment.
Moms’ Review:
I think if you would ask most parents, they would probably answer by saying, “Yeah. Maybe.” It was fun for us to see The Little Mermaid on the big screen and interesting to try to something new. We felt so cutting-edge. 馃槈
Personally, to get the full experience, I would recommend this for children ages 7 to 12.
Click here for more information on Disney’s Second Screen Live: The Little Mermaid.
