Friday, 10 April 2009
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Parental Discretion Is Advised
I was shocked to hear that parents were walking out of theaters during a showing of Watchmen. Not because they walked out but they were seen dragging their kids behind them!! Some under the age of 10!
Now, you may not have seen Watchmen but let me tell you, this movie is full of violence, sex, and some full frontal nudity. Parents may have seen the trailers and thought to themselves, "Well, this looks like another happy-go-lucky superhero movie. Maybe I'll bring lil' Tom and Jane to this", despite the R rating from the MPAA for graphic violence, sexuality, nudity, and language. Upon hearing about this, it made me think to myself. Just how many parents out there actually pay attention to the MPAA ratings?
My family and I used to go to the movies all the time. Occasionally, we watched a rated PG-13 movie but they never took me to an R film. Despite being under 13 and being able to watch a PG-13 movie, my parents would close my eyes whenever something violent was about to happen or a love making scene was going to occur. Of course, I would try to sneak a peek between the cracks in my parents' fingers. Still, my parents were very aware of the MPAA ratings.
Do you pay attention to the MPAA ratings? Do you try to monitor what your kids watch on TV or in the movies?
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- From: dannyb0y@xanga
- Name: Dan
- Location: California, United States
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Comments (192)
My parents only took me to disney or kid type moves when I was little. Obviously as I grew they let me watch PG 13 and such, but for the most part I could watch rated R when I was 15 depending on what made the rating so.
I think the rating system is too strict. If you say the F word like 3 times, the movie gets a PG-13 rating. I saw a bunch of different movies growing up. some people thing R/MA means sex/violence & the like but there's different things. they need to reevaluate the codes.
I don't have kids... but I am planning to be vigilant about what I allow my offspring to watch... I probably wouldn't mind my under-13 kid watching a PG-13 movie, but it truly depends on the maturity of the child - some children can handle it and others can't. But... I wouldn't let my kids watch R rated movies until at least 16, I'm sure... again, it's a judgment call, but I'm amazed at the example you cited... I didn't see Watchmen, just because it didn't seem like my type of movie - but I can't understand why parents would take a ten year old to see an R rated film. Maybe it's after the wave of Spiderman and whatnot... those may have been PG-13 but I don't think they deserved it. Maybe that's what was expected in this case... but I'd like to think that the MPAA at least somewhat knows what it's doing!
When I do have kids, I'm not going to be strict on them about what they watch. I mean, if the kid is thirteen, I'm not going to make them watch a PG-13 movie all the time. I'll let them watch an R rated movie if it's not too bad. As someone has already said, the ratings are too strict.
When I was a kid I saw all kinds of movies. Some of them had sex in them, some had cussing, etcetc. It didn't hurt me, I'm not screwed up in any way, and neither is anyone else I know who also watched non-G movies at a young age.
I absolutely pay attention to those. Especially regarding sex and violence. Granted kids can see more sex and violence nowadays by merely watching the evening news, but still, why expose them to more than is necessary? My 8 year old daughter has had to be aware of what sex is and what sex organs are used for for some time now because we live in Las Vegas and if you drive out a little, there are billboards advertising "services" etc. So better to have an explaination from Mom than from her friends at school. About the most "racy" thing we watch is "Dr. G: Medical Examiner" which fascinates her. The situations that are on there are sometimes cause for discussion but for the most part she gets that drugs are bad because they make you think bad choices are good and that sex is for adults who love each other and not for children to know too much about, just enough. So movies that glorify any of that are strictly off the list. I read up and do my homework before we go see any film, even the animated ones.
I pay attention to ratings and reviews. Anything above a G rating says to me that I should look into why it's over a G rating before I let my daughter see it (she's 3). If I don't feel comfortable after reading reviews of the content I watch it first before I let her see it. As for TV she mostly watches the Disney channel, nothing gets to racy there. Other than that we watch Food Network with her, she really likes the cake challenges. Again nothing horrible there.
When I went to see Watchmen, my husband and I had left our daughter at home with her grandmother. When we bought tickets there was a couple with two children attempting to buy tickets for Watchmen. The person at the counter tried to warn them, I didn't see if they actually went ahead and bought tickets. Of course I watched trailers and read the graphic novel before the movie so I knew about the violence and sex. Also the R rating was a big tip off.
I'm not a parent, but I make sure I understand what is going to be in the movie. I was surprised that they did show Dr. Manhattan's happy-go-lucky member in the movie, but it didn't turn me off or make me walk out. Parents just completely fail to read those ratings and try to sue and blame the movie theaters or companies because of their inability to read.
When I take my cousins (the youngest now is 11), I make sure to let them watch a movie that they wanna see, but also what I believe would be alright.
I saw Watchman, though it was a really good movie, I really thought the parents should have done their research before taking their kids to the movie. When we went, we went to the 9:15pm showing and someone had their 2 yr old 6 yr olda nd 10 yr old in there. They stayed the entire time.
I always check the movies out before i take my son to see them. I didn't even think Twilight was appropriate for him, and it isn't too bad. I just think people should do their research first.
My kids are little right now, and pretty much only watch cartoons, but I plan to pay attention to what they are watching. In college, I was in the theatre to see American Pie, and during the opening scene, which was pretty crude, a family stood up, with their 3 small children, and started griping about what an awful movie, etc. Ummm....hello...it was rated R, why would you have your small children (all under the age of 10) in a rated R movie, regardless of why it's rated R?
My brother's kid watches Spider-Man and The Simpsons Movie, and it's not really made for them. They are like 4 to 5 years old, repeating the scene where they were thanking GOd for this "bountiful penis". Wow. Heh.
I ignore the ratings because they do not reflect my standards for what I take kids to see. I always preview movies personally before taking small children. It may be disney and rated G but still not be something I want little ones to see. Some of those Disney shows give me the heebie jeebies! Then again it may have a higher rating but the movie may be educational in nature so I would be OK with them seeing it.
If I am not sure of a movie (saying it is rated R or PG-13), I'll watch it before my son does... he is only 2 1/2, so I have a ways to go. We went and saw Monsters VS Aliens (his first movie theatre experience), and I will definitely keep an eye on that stuff. Especially with video games!
Hmm ... I guess I am of the opposite opinion of a few comments on there. I think there are many movies where the ratings aren't strict enough and I can't believe the movies they market as 'kids movies' sometimes. In that respect, I would say that I don't pay attention to the ratings because I don't trust them. If we have any questions about a movie, we watch it before our kids do and decide whether or not we think they should be watching it. You can say I am too strict/picky/protective if you would like ... I just don't see any reason to expose kids to inapropriate stuff, like swearing.Â
I think this phenomenon is more a combination of parents not being able to afford the babysitter or to preview but still lacking the sense not to go with kids in tow.
We don't even watch rated R movies so there's not much chance of our kids sneaking a peek at them! We definitely pay attention to the ratings. My parents didn't so much, I pretty much watched whatever I wanted.
When I was a kid my parents never took me to any R rated movies, but they didn't really censor anything that was on TV. In fact, they MADE me watch select scenes from Pulp Fiction as an anti-drug lesson. It worked haha.
If I ever have kids, the only thing I'd censor until they're maybe 12 or 13 would be really graphic violence, because I don't want them to have nightmares or become desensitized. I don't see the big deal about sex and drugs though, haven't people realized yet that when your parents deem something acceptable, it is a thousand times less interesting?
Well, unfortunately, these information will get to them. When you try so desperately to hide these info from them, it becomes like a forbidden fruit; and this makes them more curious about it and become increasingly rebellious. They won't even come to talk to you about sex when they should. Better explain it to them before it's too late...
A lot of parents don't bother looking at the ratings. I remember hearing stories of people taking little kids to screenings of Pan's Labyrinth (a movie so gory that it would give an adult nightmares).
If I had kids, I would definitely be looking at the ratings, or at least screening the movie myself beforehand to make sure it was appropriate. My parents never let me watch R-rated movies as a kid... and I wasn't permanently damaged by being denied.
@Shinbi_Belldandy@xanga - actually, the f word is one of the most strongest cuss words. It would be rated R for brief strong language. And maybe some other stuff added too.
@alyssajanel_x3@xanga - I understand but I mean if it's said 3 times in the course of 2 & a half hours, how is it "strong"? Or take the movie "The Frighteners" for example. The MPAA gave it an undeserved R rating & I think the only 2 curses I heard were damn & hell & not more than maybe twice. They said because the images were scary....right. If that's the case, why is Casper a G movie? He's a ghost too! They tried to appeal for a PG-13 rating but they said no & alienated most of the targeted audience.
BTW, I like your xanga name. It's pretty! =)
I pay close attention to ratings. I can't believe people actually took their kids to that!
My parents let me watch pretty much anything they just tried to cover my eyes when there was a sex scene. I personally don't pay attention to ratings, but then again it might just be due to the fact I don't have kids. I kind of look at it when I take my cousins, but it's basically the same idea, violence is fine and dandy so is profanity, but when it comes to the raunchy stuff they aren't allowed to watch. It's also the way their parents do things to. I guess my family is kindda lenient?
That upsets me so much I want to SCREAM!!!!! Little kids can be scarred for life. Their precious minds are being molded and formed and they should NOT EVER see sex, violence, nudity, or hear foul language. It is totally wrong and parents who allow their children to see these movies are not fit to be parents.
@sidewayslife@xanga - I agree. There are some PG ratings in the 1980s with nudity. Completely uncalled for. Some recent PG-13 (FOR 13 YEAR OLDS!!!!!!) with violent rape in it.