How can I take action on this?

[kessieann]

We took our 5 year old dd to see Nemo this weekend and I was very upset when they started playing PG previews at a G rated movie. One was particularly inappropriate in our opinion. We are very careful at home about what our child watches and it is our personal opinion that gun type violence desensitizes children. (Please this is not about debating our personal beliefs for our own child). While we feel TV has gone way overboard on what they show these days we have a remote and we can change the channel. Yes, I know we could have left the movie as well but chose not to.

I spoke to the manager afterward stating that I didn't think it took much thought to realize that they should not be showing PG previews at a G rated movie-common sense if you ask me. He just said they have no control over the previews that is how they come in-end of discussion. I was just going to drop it but it just really really bugs me. It should not take a genius to realize that this is just backwards. Any ideas on how to be heard by anyone who matters out there that could make a difference?

 

[Steve H.]

You'd have to write to the movie studio. The theater manager is right -- the previews would be the same for that movie no matter what theater you saw it in.

I can't imagine you'd get very far with the production company, however.

 

[Kissimmee JP]

My kids and I saw all the previews before FN....which one did you find offensive?

 

[Desiree]

As a theatre manager myself, it's true that we have no control over what previews are played in front of each movie. The production companies usually dictate to the booking agent/advertising agency and from there it is relayed to us what previews are approved for what movie.

Generally Disney allows only Disney or Disney Production companies, such as Miramax, trailers in those movies.

I would recommend getting in touch with someone at the production level and contacting them.

 

[Desiree]

Sorry Steve H.! I didnt see your post initially!!!! I just replied after reading the first post and should have scrolled down first!

Des

 

[FOJMO]

Those are the chances you take in the "reel" world. If you think things are going to be offensive to you or your child, you might have to resort to viewing movies when they come out on video or DVD, where you have control.

 

[Steve H.]

Originally posted by Desiree
Sorry Steve H.! I didnt see your post initially!!!! I just replied after reading the first post and should have scrolled down first!

Des

No problem -- I was actually just guessing that it's how things work. Good to know I wasn't off-base (at least on this topic )

 

[becka]

I thought that the vast majority of theater previews were rated 'G' even if the movie is PG, PG-13, etc. The ratings board (or whomever makes the final decision) must have decided that it was appropriately rated. You may not agree but not everyone will agree about what should make a movie/preview rated higher.

 

[katerkat]

Originally posted by Desiree
Generally Disney allows only Disney or Disney Production companies, such as Miramax, trailers in those movies.

Regardless of it being a G-rated, animated flick, was anyone else surprised to see a preview for Dreamworks' Sinbad? If there ever were a company that Disney doesn't like...

 

[Desiree]

Katerkat,

I was a little surprised by that too!

 

[philaround]

Originally posted by becka
I thought that the vast majority of theater previews were rated 'G' even if the movie is PG, PG-13, etc. The ratings board (or whomever makes the final decision) must have decided that it was appropriately rated. You may not agree but not everyone will agree about what should make a movie/preview rated higher.

You are right becka. All previews are "rated" "G" no matter what the rating of the movie really is but the point of a preview is to get people to go see that movie when it is released and I have seen many previews myself that I would never consider "G".

The rating system is self regulated by the Motion Picture Association of America to keep our government from passing laws forceing the industry to take a moral stand.

I am not one to foster government control over our daily lives but this may be an area that needs to be revisited.

 

[mtemm]

we braved it and took our 15 month old to see Nemo this past weekend. More for us than him, although he did love pointing at the fishies. LOL! I was startled to see an add for Pirates of the Carribean, though. I scared him...there he was sitting in his booster seat oh so calmly eating cheerios and drinking milk from his sippy when BOOM!!!!! I wasn't too happy about that...he jumped at me and wasn't too happy. Glad when it ended.

 

[kessieann]

The preview that bothered us was the one that had guns and things blowing up. Sorry I can't remember what movie it was for because there were so many darn previews. Something about a detective maybe?

Dh & I have discussed that we may need to wait until films come out on DVD. It just seems a shame that we have to resort to that. I guess I am in the minority in thinking that a G movie should only show G previews so maybe I am just being oversensitive. I will give it some more thought and just stick to doing what is right for our family. Thanks for your suggestions!

 

[Desiree]

Was it the Johnny English preview?

 

[Desiree]

Of course you can also just wait until after all the previews are shown then go in with your child. Maybe your DH wouldn't mind saving your seats until after all the previews are done.

 

[kessieann]

Yes Desiree I think that was the one.

Actually it was in general that they were showing PG rated trailers at all that bothered me more then any one specific trailer. I am not familiar with the fact that they are all considered "G" because they definitely said PG on them so I don't quite understand how that works.

All in all I just see a trend of showing our very young children more and more violence and sex because what does it matter they will see it eventually anyway. For example we started watching Mr. St. Nick on ABC which was a Disney show and all the sudden "Santa" comes walking in the kitchen after having slept with someone. The TV went off immediately. I got so tired of sitting on the remote to turn off a violent Alias or some other ad during a Disney show that we just don't watch the ABC Disney time anymore.

I am sorry I was not trying to turn this into any kind of debate. It was just something I felt strongly about and I for once wanted to try and take action then to just stew about it.

 

[Rajah]

The PG that you see on those previews are for the movie itself. The previews are rated G (though, naturally, that rating system can be debated... I agree that not all "G" previews I've seen I would consider to be G... )

 

[DisneyRoys]

kessieann,

I commend you for wanting to stand up for what you believe in and I think that you should persue it if you feel strongly about it. It does seem that over the last few years the previews at movies have turned into "anything goes." (not to mention the commercials they are now showing )

I was surprised at some of the previews that showed at Nemo. There are many small children (infants, toddlers) who are quite frightened by large explosions or ghostly skeletons (Pirates preview.) My children are older now (12 and 7) and it seems when they were toddlers that a "G" movie meant they would show animated "G" previews.

I understand what everyone means as far as turning a "PG", "PG13", or "R" movie into a "G" preview but it really seems to me that a large amount of those previews are not "G" by any means.

 

[kessieann]

Thank you Rajah I now understand what was meant by "G" rated previews regardless of the movie rating.

 

[piratesmate]

Originally posted by Rajah
The PG that you see on those previews are for the movie itself.

The last movie we went to see was rated PG. Before some previews, but not all, there was a notice saying something to the effect that "This preview has been rated PG..." A couple of the movies themselves were actually rated PG-13.

We haven't seen Nemo yet, so I'm not familiar with the actual trailers in question.

Deb