R movies aren't for kids! (possible Watchmen spoilers)

[JambaBamba]

So last night I went and saw Watchmen with a coworker. Behind us in the theater was a guy and three kids, all under 10....

Will someone please explain why in the world you would bring 3 kids to such a violent movie when Escape to Witch Mountain is playing one theater down and started 5 minutes after Watchmen? Okay, so maybe the guy didn't know that Watchmen would be violent. So don't you think after the first scene when you have to tell your kids to not look because of the fighting that maybe you should leave? No? Okay, how about 5 minutes later when one of the little boys asks "Why are the two girls kissing?" No? How about when the near rape scene happened and the little girl cried out "Oh No!"? No? Okay how about when the little girl asks "Why is that man holding little girls underwear?" No? Okay, how about the next scene where a little girls leg and foot (complete with shoe) is being eaten by a dog? No? Okay, how about the scene where the guys arms get cut off and one of your kids starts making noises like he is about to start crying and the little girl is looking terrified? No? Okay what about the sex scene? No? Alright, just tell me this...Why the are you even allowed to be a parent?

And in case you're wondering twice I turned around and suggested that perhaps this wasn't the best movie for the kids. His response "Oh it's good for them to learn about this and I've really been wanting to see it". My coworker went out and talked to the staff but no one came in and talked to him

I feel so bad for the kids. I seriously don't understand why some people have children...or why they don't learn about babysitters. GRRRRR..people suck.

[wynjara]

My brother met their evil twins when he went to see the movie. Of course, the loons then went out (after staying for the whole movie) and demanded refunds because it wasn't appropriate for their children. Dunno if they got them, but I sure as heck hope not.

[reirei]

When I saw Cloverfield in theaters, there was a woman with a kid about six and a toddler. The toddler never stopped crying, and the ushers did nothing.

[Toujin]

Sadly, some people are too lazy and/or uncaring to get a babysitter. I always wondered what's going through the minds of people who take 5 year olds to see 'R' rated movies.

Then again, sometimes people get the wrong idea. I remember when 'Death To Smoochie' came out, people were being warned not to take their kids to see it just because it had Robin Williams in, and was about a kid's show.

[El Pollo Guerrera]

Then again, sometimes people get the wrong idea. I remember when 'Death To Smoochie' came out, people were being warned not to take their kids to see it just because it had Robin Williams in, and was about a kid's show.

This I believe. Some people think "movie based on comic book" equals "kids stuff". The same with cartoons... When I first started working in a video store (MANY years ago), I found that the owners had some pretty violent anime like "Akira" in the Children's section because "they were just cartoons..."

This guy, though, takes the cake. Major douchewaffle.

[Peppergirl]

Good on you for saying something.

It's a damned shame the ushers didn't do something. Probably one of those situations that they're not 'allowed', for fear of *gasp* offending someone and having them reported to the almighty corporate.

[PepperElf]

sure save a few bucks and don't hire a baby sitter for your scary r rated film
and pay the price in being woken up in the middle of the night when your kid has nightmares

[Nurian]

Well, here's the thing about kids in R rated movies: there's nothing illegal about them being there with a parent or guardian.

From the MPAA website:

An R-rated motion picture, in the view of the Rating Board, contains some adult material. An R-rated motion picture may include adult themes, adult activity, hard language, intense or persistent violence, sexually-oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements, so that parents are counseled to take this rating very seriously. Children under 17 are not allowed to attend R-rated motion pictures unaccompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Parents are strongly urged to find out more about R-rated motion pictures in determining their suitability for their children. Generally, it is not appropriate for parents to bring their young children with them to R-rated motion pictures.


Guy's still an idiot, though.

[icmedia]

I understand your being upset, but I would like to point out that the commercials for Watchmen portray it as an X-Men style movie...I have four boys, ages 6, 9, 9, and 11, and all of them desperately want to see it. They scoff at Witch Mountain, saying "that's for babies."

They are currently all pissed off at me because I refuse to take them. The two oldest said their mother is taking them next Saturday . I guess she and I will have to have a talk, as she is clueless.

[KellyHabersham]

It's not just movie theaters where people can be stupid about that sort of thing - my daughter was spending the night with a friend awhile back (both girls are 10), and apparently the friend's dad had rented Rob Zombie's remake of Halloween for them to watch.

[Peppergirl]

I understand your being upset, but I would like to point out that the commercials for Watchmen portray it as an X-Men style movie...I have four boys, ages 6, 9, 9, and 11, and all of them desperately want to see it. They scoff at Witch Mountain, saying "that's for babies."

Agreed. I've seen the commercials and I can see where the misunderstanding would happen.

And I could almost forgive the parent for missing the fact that it was an R rating when they got to the theater with the kids. What's unforgiveable for me, is the fact that he refused to remove his children at the first sign that it clearly was not for kids.

Jackass.

[Soulstealer]

Will someone please explain why in the world you would bring 3 kids to such a violent movie when Escape to Witch Mountain is playing one theater down

Because that movie is a remake and remakes are a travesty unto Nuggan.

[JambaBamba]

I understand your being upset, but I would like to point out that the commercials for Watchmen portray it as an X-Men style movie...I have four boys, ages 6, 9, 9, and 11, and all of them desperately want to see it. They scoff at Witch Mountain, saying "that's for babies."

They are currently all pissed off at me because I refuse to take them. The two oldest said their mother is taking them next Saturday . I guess she and I will have to have a talk, as she is clueless.

I completely understand that if someone hasn't read the comic they might think that it's an X-Men film. But there is some pretty horrific stuff in the first 10 minutes that I think most parents would see and go "hmmm..maybe this isn't the film for my kids that I thought it was". I've never seen an R rated film where all the violence was in the first 10 minutes and then it was PG...

From how the kids were acting I'm pretty sure dad wanted to see it more then them...

[Becks]

When I first started working in a video store (MANY years ago), I found that the owners had some pretty violent anime like "Akira" in the Children's section because "they were just cartoons..."

I've posted a few times in the past about going to used CD/movie places and they keep the anime porn next to and mixed in with the children's stuff.

[Buglady]

His response "Oh it's good for them to learn about this and I've really been wanting to see it".

That's a new one. Kids need to learn about ultraviolence and rape? Really? Kids need to see these things? It's not just the dad being a selfish immature fuckwit? No, I don't bloody well think so. And neither would the local social services. If the children are distressed, you take them home. PERIOD.

(*I* have not seen that movie because *I* find it too violent and disturbing. I have read the graphic novel and even that gave me nightmares. I'm 35 years old. If I had been exposed to that sort of thing at age 6 I'd have PTSD by now. That's not an exaggeration - we ARE seeing children with dissociative or PTSD-like symptoms these days even if they haven't been directly victimized. Living in a high-crime neighbourhood, or even being exposed to really violent movies can, for some kids, be traumatic enough that they withdraw to protect themselves. I'm not a "think of the children!!" type and I don't favour censorship, but I do think that an R rating should mean nobody under 18 gets in, period. Sure, the parents can show it on DVD later - in their own homes it's up to them - but a TV screen is much smaller and less likely to trigger panic than the overwhelming, inescapable surround sound and giant screen of a movie theatre. I think people forget how much more intensely kids' senses work than adults!)