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2nd Trimester
Toddler's at R rated movies. Thoughts?
Obviously some people would not agree with me because they do it. But I went to go see the new Robert Pattinson movie with a couple of my girlfriends last night. I think it was only rated PG-13 but had some pretty violent and graphic scenes. I mean the opening scene was a woman getting shot. There were at least three people there with young children. One had an infant that was crying off and on, and another two throughout the theater that had to be between 3 and 6 years old. Half way through the movie the couple with the infant left after not being able to settle the baby. But the other people with the two younger children stayed and let their children run around the theater, one almost fell down the flight of stairs from the top, and the other shouted at the screen, the entire time! There was a part where a character said "Shut up you @sshole" and one of the children shouted that same line back at the screen. Needless to say I was a little upset because we couldn't fully enjoy the movie. We all came out to get away from little voices and crying for a solid 2 hours and enjoy having some grown up time.
Is it just me that can't find a valid reason to bring a young child to a more adult movie? If you have done this or don't see a problem with it, why? Go ahead and flame me if I seem naive and self involved that I can't understand why someone would do this.
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Re: Toddler's at R rated movies. Thoughts?
My dad used to take us to see movies on the weekends when we were really young. Mostly because he was in the film business and didn't have any time during the week to go. (my parents are divorced). So, by the time I was 6 I had already seen movies like Gandhi and frickin Time Bandits (which scarred me for life) and Chariots of Fire. On the one hand, I'm like "Why couldn't we just go see the Care Bears, dad?" But, on the other, I'm glad I was exposed to adult art because I think it shaped who I've become today. I give him hell about it all the time though.
I think it depends on the kids. My friends have 2 kids and they take those two EVERYWHERE. But they're really well behaved. The are constantly immersed in public situations and so are socialized really well. And really ahead of their ages. They have the attention span necessary to sit through a full length movie. Or, they just fall asleep. So, I don't know.
I think it's a judgement call for the parents. But, I will say this. I sort of breaks my heart that my 7 year old nephew won't watch the Wizard of Oz because it's "too scary for him". I watched that movie at his age OVER AND OVER. And sure, it was scary, but we just covered our eyes at the scary parts.
Ah well.
I agree with this, esp if the movie is for adults or even young teens.
but i've taken my niece (she'll be 3 in aug) to see G rated movies, and she loves them and can get through the whole thing. just dont let them be disruptive and DONT take them to movies that arent intended for children
I wouldn't take them, just out of respect for all the other people who paid $12 a ticket to get in.
I certainly wouldn't take a newborn, it's just too loud and too many people and frankly, I've never thought of movie theatres as clean places. I'm not worried about the kids seeing/hearing them, just because my dad would let me stay up when I was three to watch James Bond marathons with him doesn't mean that I run around trying to seduce/shoot people and wreck expensive cars
My parents made it very clear to me that a lot of the behavior and language I heard on TV was not appropriate and would not be tolerated.
This is definitely a time to call in favors to friends or grandparents or suck it up and interview the teenage across the street.
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Exactly. I don't find anything wrong with taking well behaved children to a G or PG rated movie, that's what those movies are intended for. It's the parents that take their young children to a violent/graphic movie, way past their bed time, don't keep an eye on them, and are inconsiderate of everyone else trying to enjoy their night out that I have an issue with. The movie we went to go see was 2 1/2 hours long and ran til midnight.
If you feel comfortable letting your children view that particular movie, fine, that is your decision as a parent. But perhaps be considerate and rent the movie to watch at home.
That is insane. Children that young do not belong at an R rated movie. That is irresponsibility on the parents' part. And kind of selfish too. You can't expect a child that young to sit quietly through an adult movie and its not fair to your fellow movie-goers.
I totally understand wanting to get out and see movies and such when you have kids. But that is what babysitters are for! Or, I've had a couple of girls nights outs where the hubbies watch the kids and we go see girly movies. Then, my hubby went to see Avatar with a guy friend since neither of the wives wanted to see it. No reason to bring a kid that little. ESPECIALLY at night!
When my oldest niece was born, my SIL really wanted to get out of the house when the baby was a couple of weeks old. There was a movie theater near their house where you could pay $15 extra and rent a private balcony that sat like 6 people. Pretty cool. That way, we went out to the movie, she got out, and the baby bothered no one. I know not many places have that, but it was cool!
I would have gone to complain to management instead of sitting through that. I have a friend who brought their infant to movies on occasion, but the child slept the WHOLE time, and if it started to make a peep the mom immediately took it out.
With toddlers though? First, I remember scary movies from when I was 3 and will NOT be allowing my children to watch things like that. And second, regardless of the movie being shown (even if it's a kid movie) your child should be behaved enough to sit in the seat and not bother people. Where were the parents who let their kids scream at the screen and fall down the stairs?!!?
Sitting in their seats, eating popcorn, and opening up their cell phones every 5 minutes.
I was sitting at the top and they were half way up the stairs (stadium seating). And could see the usher come by a couple times but all they did after that was loudly shush the kid after he kept talking to the screen. So it just made it worse. I just couldn't believe that tiny little voice was capable of saying "Shut up @sshole" loudly in front of his parents and the parents obviously didn't seem to mind.
I think the usher probably didn't do much anything because people just love to play victim and could have gotten the guy in trouble if their "rights" where violated. I deal with people like that all the time at work. As long as it's convienient for them, to heck with everyone.
I would never bring my toddler (or infant) to a movie. I know I wouldn't be able to enjoy the movie and I wouldn't want some else to not be able to enjoy the movie because of my child.
I worked at a movie theater for a little while and it seemed like it was more socially acceptable by some culture groups than others. Talk to theater management if this is an issue. They can usually kick these people out or refund your ticket so you don;t have to put up with it.
I know the movie you saw was PG-13, but doesn't it say (at least at my theater - which is a Regal theater) that nobody under the age of 17 will be admitted to and R rated film - even if they're with an adult??? Or maybe that's just at night??? I know that in PG-13 you can get in younger, if you're with a parent/adult - but I thought that R rated was restricted to 17 and older, no matter what. As other people have said - I think it is about respect for other people in the theater, regardless of what your "beliefs" are on what your children should be exposed to. I can see bringing in an infant that you expect to sleep the entire time. But, if the infant can't be settled - you need to take it out. Toddlers and young children - it's just not appropriate for them; that's why there is a rating!!! They can remember - and obviously repeat what they've heard! Even the film industry (which is interested in as many people seeing their film as possible) says it's not appropriate for children younger than x!
A friend told me that he was at McDonald's with his daughter, letting her play in the play area. He was sitting next to an older gentleman there with his granddaughter who was app. 4 years old. The granddaughter walked up to the grandfather and asked him to fix a toy (I think the doll's arm had popped off or something like that). Well, the grandfather couldn't figure out how to fix it and the little girl responded with "you dumb sh!t". To her grandfather!!!! Who did she learn that from? Could have been her parents - but maybe they took her to "The Hangover"! Still makes my skin crawl to think about her talking to her grandfather that way! And we wonder why kids act the way they do...
i went with my good friend to a movie and we took her son (he's 9 months.) he was so well behaved he didn't cry he just looked at the colors (it was All About Steve w/ Sandra Bullock) i think it depends on the child, i mean we could never take her daughter, bc she is so would just squirm and cry. but i think if the baby can sit and is well behaved then go ahead and take em.
if you can get a sitter thats great but for some people they dont have that option so what should they do stay at home all the time?
OMG this has to be one of my ALL time biggest pet peeves!!!!! I personally think that not only are these parents ruining your movie-watching experience, but they could be seriously scarring their children! I've been to too many rated R movies with graphic sex and violence (which is way worse) and little toddlers have been sitting there just watching away, sometimes asking their parents what different 4 letter words mean. I'm embarassed for the kids sometimes when it's like a 7-8 yr old with their parents watching an obviously inappropriate movie.
Someone else commented that all kids are really different when it comes to what is appropriate for them to watch and, for the most part, I agree. As a child I was incredibly imaginative and would be very moved by movies, to the point where it would be hard for me to remember that it wasn't actually real. I'd have horrible nightmares...even as an adult now i'm still moved to tears and become physically upset when I see some types of violence in movies. It's a very individual thing so it would be really important for parents to take that into account with their kids.