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[Pembo]

.

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

DS watches them now, but only if we're watching too or if we've seen and tell him it's ok.

He had friends that were allowed to watch whatever in Kindergarten and 1st grade, one of them went to see Terminator 3 at the 10pm show during the school week

 

[ElizK]

I don't even let my DD12 watch just any PG-13's. Usually I'll watch them first, or read www.pluggedinonline.com review of the movie. I have no problem with her seeing Spiderman and Kate and Leopold, both PG13's, but I can't imagine when I'll let her watch Chicago or Moulin Rouge.

DD9 has only seen one PG13, and that is Spiderman. We'll also take her to see Spiderman 2. She'll have to wait a couple of years to see the other's that DD12 has been allowed to watch.

As for your DS's friend.... isn't it sad that the friend's parents don't care about what goes into his brain as much as you care about what goes into your DS's brain?

 

[snoopy]

I made the big mistake of letting my 9 year old watch Starsky & Hutch the other day with me (a real stinker, I might add). Its PG-13. Completely inappropriate for a 9 year old.

I think it depends on the movie and the child, but I would definately say no one under 14/15 for R movies, as a general rule.

 

[Christine]

It really depends on the child and the movie. My DD just turned 13 and in the last 6 months I have let her see things like The Ring (not sure of the rating). I'm not sure I would let her watch all of them. In fact, I did take her to see Starsky and Hutch and was not at all comfortable with her seeing the "threesome" scene (BTW Snoopy, I really liked Starsky and Hutch). But, I'm not uncomfortable with her seeing a fairly tasteful love scene (to include nudity) between movie characters with a healthy relationship.

Now DS 9 is a different story. He is SOOOOOO immature. It will be a long time before he sees an R rated movie. He does see some PG-13s and I usually regret it. My neighbor's kids, on the other hand, have been watching R rated movies for awhile and they are 9 and 11.

 

[KarenB]

Our DSs are 14 and 16 and we are now discussing R rated movies. Before taking them to the theater (and I believe it has only been a few so far) I always ask someone why it is rated R. I am pretty much okay with the language and some violence, but I am not comfortable with the sexual references at this time.


As for renting them, they are ones that DH or I have already seen so we are the judge.

Karen

 

[piglet too]

Hanging my head, ducking from any flames....

I just went through some of our DVD's to see some of "our" movies that my 10 and 5 year olds have watched with us.

So far there are two "R" rated ones, never had them on for the boys to watch, but don't turn them off if they come into the room either, and those are "Air Force One" and "Blazing Saddles." BTW ~ I was shocked to see the latter is "R", I understand when I stop and think about it, but I watched this movie all the time when I was younger!

Some of the "PG-13" movies include all of the "Lord of the Rings" series, all of the "Jurassic Park" movies, and "Pirates of the Caribbean" My ten yr old used to fall asleep to the first Jurassic Park all the time when he was little, never really thought twice about the rating since he dd not get scarred by them. They both also love Spiderman and will see Spiderman 2 when it comes out on DVD.

I can't think of any of these movies, or any movie for that matter, that my husband and I don't screen first. The only exceptions would be Harry Potter and the Pokemon movies, those we saw in the theaters. My boys are not violent, don't swear, and are really good kids even though they watch "bad" movies. As a matter of fact, they both, my oldest in particular, hate it when people swear and will make faces at those parts of the movies.

The ratings, for the most part, are just a guideline. I know a kid who is too scarred by some Disney cartoons to watch them and they are "G" rated. The key is parental involvement and my husband and I are very involved parents.

 

[sha_lyn]

It really depends on the movie. DD is now 7 and saw the first LOTR move when she was 4 I guess, and has seen both spiderman movies. She's also seen all the Harry Potter movies.

 

[Pembo]

,,,,,,\

 

[Nancy]

They have been watching pg 13 for along time. R rated I'm not too crazy about even my 16 yr old watching yet...but they have seen them. Not in the movies but through rentals. If it has nudity it's a no, language, while I don't like it I'll let them watch...they know what they can't say. Same with violence, I'll let them watch, but if it's too bad we usually all cover our faces anyway.

 

[trishy]

All 3 of my girls have been at different ages. My oldest was "sheltered" until I thought she could separate fantasy from reality - I'd say around 8. The middle was a bit younger, around 6. I've never sheltered my youngest - she's seen them all. Matrix has been one of her favs - she saw it when it first came out. Yep, I'm one of "those" moms. A lot depends on the content of the movie, too.

 

[TalkisCheap]

I'm 13 and I can see basically any PG13 I want(and have been able to for around 2 years). My parents rent movies, and I can watch them, no problem, same as if I rent one if a friend comes. To see them in theaters, my mom reads the review. I can't see all of them, but most I can see.

R's are a different story. My favorite movie. Tombstone, is rated R, and it has been my favorite since I was...8? So I watch that alot. As for other R's. I watch a lot of ones that are rated R, but cleaned up and on TV. If my parents rent some, I can usually watch them because they've seen them, but as for taking me to see them in theaters, that's usually a no. My mom says if it's bad enough to be rated R, than I have don't have to see it then they just rent it when It comes out, and I watch it anyway. I guess I'm pretty free in what I can watch, R or PG13.

 

[pw2pp]

It really depends on the movie.
I have found that www.screenit.com is very helpful.

 

[KarenB]

DSs (14 and 16) are interested in the Manchurian Candidate (spelling). DH and I went to see it tonight while they were at band practice. As I said in my previous post, some violence is okay, but the violence in this movie is too "realistic." This is an example where I will not allow them to see this R rated movie. Just my opinion! Each child/parent is different!
Karen

 

[CourtasanSatine]

I saw my first rated R the summer A Time to Kill came out and my first horror movie R rated was the first Scream my freshman year of HS(ok,it did not hurt I was able to convince my parents it was a spoof and all the other kids would be seeing it over winter break)

 

[SeaSpray]

I love the screenit.com web site. It's been very helpful to me in determining which movies I'll let DSs, ages 16 and 13, see.

As for the official ratings, I don't go by that. There are MANY MANY PG-13 movies that I would not want my DS16 to see, but on the otherhand, there are a couple of R rated movies that we've watched together as a family, for example, The Matrix series, although there were a couple of scenes in either the second or third (I forget now) where there was a big dance scene and also a love scene between Neo and Trinity that I fast-forwarded through.

I personally "screen" movies before letting DSs see them, unless they are PG rated movies, or PG-13 movies that are more obviously "Ok" for them to see.

Like KarenB said, DH and I are ok with them if the movie has a rating due to some language and some types of violence, but definitely sexual type movies are out. Teenaged boys do NOT need to be seeing sex portrayed in movies, even in so-called "comedies".

 

[piglet too]

Originally posted by Pembo
...but are your kids cool b/c they watch them????

Well, I would like to think so, but Kevin is kinda a nerd, a popular nerd but a nerd none the less.

 

[shortbun]

No R ratings here. We do allow some PG13. I use Screenit.com
to check for reasons for the rating. If it's fantasy violence, I
usually agree to see it with DS. He doesn't get to go with other
people, just DH and me so we can leave if necessary or discuss
issues immediately after the film. I have made a couple of bad
decisions. Hellboy scared DS for three weeks due to graphic
mutilation of one character and 8 Crazy nights, a cartoon with
Adam Sandler was totally inappropriate for a 9 year old. We are
still hearing things from that one. I've told DS that he has to be
at least 12 to be considered for an R rating and the caveat that
the answer may always be no. Lots of his friends were seeing
horror movies in K and 1st grade. Makes it tough to say no but
so far we're doing pretty well. BTW, we all loved Two Brothers-
rated PG.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I'm not ready for most R's, LOL.

 

[broken_dreams]

I am not a parent *just a teen* but my parent's started letting me watch PG-13 and R rated movies when I was 13 last year. They don't let my brother watch any R-rated movies yet though because he is only 12..anywho just wanted to tell you.