OT-- What's scarier for kids Star Wars of POTC

[drewsmomslp]

I'm in a heated debate with a friend. We both have 5 year old boys. Both have seen (and LOVE) star wars -- and neither was scared by it. I won't let my son watch Pirates of the Carribean, because I think it seems too scary and gory and such for him. My friend says that I am being rediculous, and that POTC is no worse than Star Wars. POTC is rated PG-13 and Star Wars is rated PG -- so at least the government would agree with me, I was just wondering if anyone else had some opinions to share on this! (I'm not going to change my mind on whether to show it to my kid -- just wanted some help in this debate)

Thanks

 

[kribit]

POTC is definately more scary for a child (imho). The part where the "ghost-pirates" are walking underwater actually freaked me out a little. So, 1 vote for POC here.

 

[Hannathy]

I would say neither. All my DS's friends have seen both series and neither seemed to scare any of them. Star Wars is definitely not scary! And I think POTC is so obviously make believe that it wouldn't be scary to most kids either.

 

[meandtheguys2]

I would say that if your child is scared of visual stuff, POTC would bother him. I've 1 son that is like this. Another is not bothered by anything like that, but has nightmares about Bigfoot...go figure!

Star Wars movies aren't scary, unless you count number three, which was too visual for me!

 

[Belle1962]

DGS (at 5 and now 6) doesn't like the dark so POTC is 'scary" to him. But he LOOOOVVVVVEEEEES Star Tours.

 

[five_lil_monkeys]

I will absolutly NOT let any of my children watch POTC....and neither will dh and he is pretty liberal about things like that compared to me. We all watch Star Wars together (except for the last one....my children have not seen that one and may not for quite a while, I heard that it was not child appropriate).

 

[Stimpy]

My son is a BIG SW fan and has been since he was about 4...thanks to his SW "geek" daddy He loves SW and loves POTC. (He's now 7) I really thought the first POTC would be too scary for him but it wasn't. DH and I went to see both POTC before taking him to see it.

BTW, scary-wise, I think the last SW was much more frightening for young children, especially with the younglings. (Don't want to give too much spoilers LOL) DS loved Anakin through the 1st two and I think it was worse for him seeing Anakin turn evil than it was to see the bad pirates be bad. I guess he just knew to expect them to be what they were.

Also SW III Revenge of the Sith is PG-13.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

We won't let them watch the last SW that came out because it was too gory. They have all seen POTC and SW and they love them both. My DD especially loves to sing the pirate song! I think that any movie can be a bit scary but it depends on how you approach it with the child. We explain what an adventure the pirates are on etc. and as for SW it is very much like a superhero movie to us. It depends on the child. My kids aren't afraid of too many things. In fact they love to watch Ghosthunters !!! I on the other hand do not!

 

[rt2dz]

DS6 and DS3 love both. Neither one of them think either is "real". It's DS3 who is always saying "it's just pretend".

 

[drewsmomslp]

Thanks for all the responses!
My argument with my friend is over the original star wars-- episode 4 -- verses POTC. My kids(5 and 3) have only seen 1 and 4. We don't really do many pg movies at all -- I'm kind of particular about what they'll watch. And I just don't see Star Wars (ep. 4) as being scary at all. I saw it at 4 or 5 years old, and I remember not being scared at all -- just wishing my mom could make my hair look like Princess Leia's!

 

[Twingle]

LOL - while I was reading the above posts, I was only thinking about the original Star Wars movies, not the "new" ones! My son has watched Star Wars (the first one . . . used to just be called "star wars", but I think it has a different title now), and Empire Strikes Back, no problem.

I absolutely will not allow him to watch POC. He understands that it's a movie, not real, etc., but there is plenty in there that visually would freak him right out.

So, I totally agree with your logic! Star Wars from the late 70's and early 80's, I think are fine, POC not so much!

 

[HACAM]

All 3 of my kids have seen and love the POTC movies, and all the Star wars movies, my DD had the hardest time with Star wars, but loves POTC.

I guess to each his own.

 

[GEM]

Oh. Am I the only one that saw the topic and thought they were asking about rides? Star Tours vs. Pirates?

Anyway, I can't help much with the movie discussion. My little guy is almost 4 and hasn't seen either - and won't for quite some time. He'll have plenty of time to watch those kinds of movies later on. Right now he's strictly a "G" kind of guy.

 

[Pinmaniac]

I and my dd7 would agree with the op that POTC is scarier for kids. My dd saw the original POTC once and has been hesitant to watch it again despite a huge crush on Johnny Depp. As for the ratings I don't think you are comparing apples to apples. It is my understanding that PG-13 was not a rating when the original Star Wars (episode 4) was released. The ratings went straight from PG to R at that time.

 

[barbmouse]

My ds loves Star wars.....he also likes POTC. I agree that POTC is way scarier!!

 

[sleepinbootie]

My DS10 will not watch POTC but loves Star Wars. (Hasn't seen the last one as we agree with the previous poster who mentioned that the kids get attached to Anakin and the PG-13)

He told me that even though he knows it is a story and knows that it isn't real, people on ships is something that he can identify with and people aren't flying to Mars yet let alone a galaxy far, far away.

Knew we should never have taken that trip to Mystic Seaport or toured the USS Constitution. Too much education strikes again