Weddingbee boards

While that is not the choice I would make for my kids (9 and 4), I try not to judge the decisions other parents make. Who knows what converstion they had before and after the movie about it being fake.

This is something that bothers me to the EXTREME. I'm sorry, but if a child is under 13 I don't think they should be allowed in an R-rated move (or even PG-13) period. Even with a parent. If you want to watch that stuff with them at home, fine, but it's just disturbing and disruptive for other movie-goers.

We went to see Scream 4 when it came out, which is obviously extremely violent, and a woman walks in with a stroller AND a 4-year-old. The infant screamed and cried for half the film, and the little boy kept asking loud questions and laughing like a maniac every time someone was murdered (which disturbed me the most). Oy.

My friend who used to work at a theater said she routinely saw people bringing young children into movies like Saw and other torture porn films like it was nothing.

Honestly, I don't care if you talk to your child about it being fake or not. The point is, there are certain violent films that go above and beyond and stick with me as an adult with a fully developed brain. To expose your young children to that I just find absolutely irresponsible. I'm not for completely sheltering kids, but bringing them to a graphic film isn't really, IMO, the best way to open a dialogue.

@.twist.: Like I said, not a decision I would have made (my kids don't even watch Sponge Bob because I think the sexual references are inappropriate), but as long as their kid wasn't obviously hurt or tramatised, I try not to judge.

@.twist.: Unfortunately true :( Now if he were crying and obviously upset I would go to a worker at the movie theater and have them be asked to leave. Until movie theaters make it so no one under a certain age can see it even with their parents, you will always have those that make questionable choices.

Here, anyone under the age of 18 can't see an R rated movie, but very few movies are actually rated R.  The ratings are G, PG, 14A, 18A and R.  Immortals, for example was 18A and not R. I wish young kids were also banned from 18A movies.

In general, I find movie ratings to be a little odd.  I had trouble getting into 14A movies as a teen sometimes (what teenager has ID with their age until they have their drivers license, I didn't usually carry my learners with me and I didn't get it when I was 14).  When I was 16-17, I could see 18A movies depending on which friends I went with.

@.twist.:  I am fine with there being different admission criteria for 18A and R movies, but in some provinces you have to be a minimum age (14ish) to see an 18A movie with an adult.  I am fine with that, it's the 10 and under kids that bother me at an 18A movie.

I think R rated movies can be too much for most young kids and can desensitize them to violence and sex, which is a problem. But I don't think seeing one or two R rated movies can change the course of a kid's life or anything. We were never allowed to watch R rated movies but I know I saw a couple at friends' houses and it didn't affect me. Movies are a lot more gory and violent now than they were when I was a kid though.

@.twist.:  Oops, I forgot you were the OP!  Here, the 6 year old would have been allowed into the Immortals, as long as he was with someone who was at least 18.  They don't even need to be his parents.  Alberta has no age restriction for 18A movies as long as a minor is with an adult.

Here if you have a problem getting into a movie, just grab a random 18+ couple who was in line for the movie, get them to say that you're with them and as long as it isn't R you're in.

@MrsMeNow: A mom after my own heart! We also don't let our child watch Spongebob for that exact reason.

I don't understand why parents expose their children to stuff like that on purpose. Why can't we just let our kids be kids and enjoy the innocence they have? Why rob them of that?

I never really thought about it before having my own child but now I am so aware of what he sees and hears from movies, shows, music, and even what comes out of my own mouth.

@.twist.: I guess the kid wouldn't have been allowed in if they lived in the states?

Unfortunately, yes, he would have.  My mom does daycare, and it's shocking to me how many "inappropriate" movies these kids have seen.  Movies I would never let my kids see at their age.  One of the little girls is also obsessed with Twilight, (and the family plans to name their new baby "Isobella"), and about 90% of her clothing consists of Twilight and "I Love Vampires" shirts.  I'm one of those who feel Bella is a terrible role model for women, but that's a different thread.  LOL.  One family in particular, the kids have seen many/most of the movies my husband and I see, (and I would rather see shoot-em-ups than chick flicks, if that gives you any indication).  

@amnystik: One of the most startling things for me now though is the previews to movies no longer have to match with the rating of the movie itself. So we can't even take DS to see a PG movie and sit through the previews b/c they can and DO show previews for rated R movies.

Really????  Granted, I haven't seen too many "kids" movies lately, (though I don't have a problem with it...I've seen a LOT of Disney-type movies in the theater), but I haven't seen any that didn't match the general "theme" and rating of the movie we were seeing.

@amnystik: It's a recent change... only in the last few months. DS has movie date nights with my mom pretty often so she noticed it first... Last movie we all went and saw together showed to preview for Contagion on it!

Yeah, none of the movie releases in the last couple months appealed to me enough to see in the theater.  I want to see "Puss in Boots" for example, but it looks more like a rental to me.  MIGHT go see "We Bought a Zoo" but leaning towards that being a rental, too.

I agree that that's way inappropriate!  I hope you complained to a manager.  If nobody complains, they will just keep doing it.  

@amnystik: Is it the theaters themselves that decide on what previews are shown? I have no clue.... if so then I'll DEFINITELY tell other parents here so we can say something!

I don't think they choose the previews, but I was thinking more along the lines of, if customers are complaining to them they will either pass on the complaint, (because they don't want to lose money), or tell you you can contact such-and-such a place to have your complaint do the most good.  

I know working retail, a lot of customers would complain about us bugging them to open charge cards, (which I HATED doing!).  Complaining to the cashiers does no good; we can't do a darn thing about it.  But if you complain to CORPORATE, maybe something will get done.  So, hopefully complaining to the theater manager would at least get you pointed in the right direction.  Going to go read the article you posted, now.