PG-13 for a reason

[Mike Taylor]

On a similar line, well along the lines of being 6 or so, has anyone noticed that cartoons of the late 80's/early 90's, cartoons for kids handled some quite serious and what would now be considered mature themes and subjects? (Battletech, Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors, Pirates of Darkwater, Dungeons & Dragons, Animals of Farthing Wood etc)

Even then, those shows were operating within FCC (or their international equivalent's) regulations for children's programming. However, it wasn't so much the topics as the visual presentation of combat and/or death. Bravestarr had an episode where a child died. You didn't see it happen on camera, but at the end of the show, Marshall Bravestarr is seen standing next to the grave stone with the kid's name on it. Hell, waaay back in the 1970's, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids had an episode where one of the regular adult characters had a heart attack onscreen.

[NorthernZel]

On a similar line, well along the lines of being 6 or so, has anyone noticed that cartoons of the late 80's/early 90's, cartoons for kids handled some quite serious and what would now be considered mature themes and subjects? (Battletech, Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors, Pirates of Darkwater, Dungeons & Dragons, Animals of Farthing Wood etc)

Reminds me of a children's book from the early 80's where the Smurfs harvest grapes and hide them in a large wooden keg until they're having a party a week later while Papa Smurf is out of town. Whaddya know, the grapes fermentate, so when they open the keg and make what they THINK is juice, it really is wine...

The story itself does have a "happy" morale ending since the Smurfs, once they've recovered from their hang-over, ditch the keg and the rest of the wine in the river and promise to Papa Smurf never to get drunk again, but the description of what happened until then was HILARIOUS....

I've thought of searching for a re-print of that book, but somehow I think that's impossible

[BlaqueKatt]

Eh, it depends on the kid, really.
<snip> So long as a child knows how to separate fantasy from reality, some movies are fine. And with the right kind of parenting, the difference can be taught.

yeah my son's favorite movie when he was 3 was actually "deep blue Sea"-he'd run around pretending to be a shark

[AnaKhouri]

When we saw Pan's Labyrinth some genius had brought his kids, maybe 5 and 7, to see the movie. Somehow he managed to miss the fact that it was in Spanish and rated R. Apparently he just saw, 'fantasy film' and somehow missed all the other information.

We debated warning him- we didn't want to tell him how to parent his kids if he was aware of the movie's content- but it didn't matter, he left about the time the Capitan was shoving a broken bottle into a dude's face. I've always wondered if he caused a scene in the lobby or not...

[ShinyGreenApple]

When we saw Pan's Labyrinth some genius had brought his kids, maybe 5 and 7, to see the movie. Somehow he managed to miss the fact that it was in Spanish and rated R. Apparently he just saw, 'fantasy film' and somehow missed all the other information.

I think somehow people just looked at that one and thought that it would be another Narnia, or that it had something to do with Labyrinth of the 80's with the lovely Mr. Bowie and his tight . . . oh. What was I talking about again?

[mikoyan29]

It would be nice if parents would realize that not everything is for kids.

[Luna Baby]

I must be a horrible parent. My youngest son watches the Saw movies (rentals, not theatre) and I took both my sons (12 and 8) with 3 of my oldest son's friends last year to see Death Race. I did have to turn the head of the youngest and cover his ears in one scene, but then again, he's seen more than that when he was able to sneak past the internet securities we'd set. Needless to say, the computer has been disabled for him.

[gerund]

She took her 6 year old son to see Wolverine this past weekend.

Hellooo, it's PG-13

When Kill Bill came out in Australia I think it was "R" rated, which means that only 18 years and over can see it. I went to the local movie theater and there in the seat next to me was a little girl about 5!

I was worried about the little girl (it appeared her Mother was sitting on the other side), but she appeared not to be watching the movie. She disturbed me somewhat because half way through the movie she started kicking her legs and singing to herself.

What mother takes a girl that old to one of the bloodiest and most graphic films I have seen since the uncut version of "Soldier Blue"?

[mariamousie1]

My brother was talking about getting Pirates of the Caribbean for his 4 year old daughter. When one of my other brothers told him it might be too scary (skeleton ghosts, etc.), he said "Come on, it's Disney!" My brother is kind of an idiot.

[Racket_Man]

as you all know I am a RHPS fan. on the groups web site they used to have a link to an article to that towns paper about a man who took his young son (I think about 6 or 7 or 8) to see RHPS. they do not have the link there anymore but his letter to the local paper is summed up by this list.

Now remember this movie is STILL rated R (in the US movie rating system) ie strong sexual themes, strong language and one very brief drug refernce and OGM homosexuallity themes. though I think today it might get a PG-13 rating. the letter was posted about 10 years ago I believe.

1. show is at midnight only on a Sat night. who does this????
2. This was NOT a horror show it was a musical
3. WHY are all these people running around in their underware? and why are there people running around doing stuff during the movie?????
4. WHY are all these people shouting very crude and obscene stuff during the movie? and why are people throwing stuff and spraying water during the movie???????? this is SUPPOSED to be a movie where we watch the movie and just sit quietly and enjoy
5. OMG there is someone getting felt up during part of the movie/shadow cast
6. HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO A CHILD???????????

BIG FAIL

[AnaKhouri]

I think somehow people just looked at that one and thought that it would be another Narnia, or that it had something to do with Labyrinth of the 80's with the lovely Mr. Bowie and his tight . . . oh. What was I talking about again?

I never noticed when I was younger, but now I am grown up I am convinced those pants are actually spray-painted on.

Me and the husband are going to tangle over showing our kid The Dark Crystal. When I was 5 it scared me so badly I refused to watch it for 20 years; and when I saw it again I still found it unsettling! But he loves it!

[NightWatch]

It depends on the kid.

My 5 year old nephew watching LoTR in the theatre with eyes glued to the screen in fascination. Only talked once, when he asked his mom for more popcorn. Good example.

10 year old boy in Xmen Origins who repeatedly asked his parent if he could leave and talked through the whole movie. Bad example.

[PepperElf]

i think it depends on the child.

i know my own nephew is only 7 but i wouldn't take him to see wolverine. the kid has a very vivid imagination and would likely have nightmares.

[Mike Taylor]

My brother was talking about getting Pirates of the Caribbean for his 4 year old daughter. When one of my other brothers told him it might be too scary (skeleton ghosts, etc.), he said "Come on, it's Disney!" My brother is kind of an idiot.

The same Disney that gave us the Wicked Queen in Snow White, Maleficent ("Mistress of All Evil" and summoner of the powers of Hell) in Sleeping Beauty, Chernabog the demon in Fantasia, and the robotic Maximillian in The Black Hole.

You're right. He is an idiot.

[ditchdj]

I saw "Silent Night Deadly Night" on tape when I was 11 years old.

I haven't massacred a town, yet!