Rating for the Polar Express

[ckay87]

I just noticed that the movie, the Polar Express, is going to be rated G. Does anyone else find that odd? If you are familiar with the story, you know that it raises one question which I really didn't want my kids to ask when they were very, very little - back in the G-rated movie days. They still - at 8 and 12 haven't asked the question, but I think that's because they don't want to know the answer.

Anyway, I thought a G rating was for absolutely no questionable material. If I had a preschooler, I wouldn't be ready at all for them to hear the question which is posed on page 1 of the book ("...a sound a friend had told me I'd never hear.")

I don't know, call me crazy, but you just don't see G ratings at all anymore (the Incredibles is PG)

 

[WDSearcher]

The official definition for a G-rated film is "a film which contains nothing in theme, language, nudity and sex, violence, etc. which would, in the view of the Rating Board, be offensive to parents whose younger children view the film."

The key word here is "offensive."

While "the question" you reference here may be difficult or questionable, it would be extremely difficult to categorize it as offensive.

 

[soccercruiser87]

the only reason the Incredibles is rated PG is because of the action violence. Other than that the film wouldve been G, there isnt any type of violence in the Polar Express that i know of.

 

[MB MinnieGirl]

Originally posted by ckay87
If I had a preschooler, I wouldn't be ready at all for them to hear the question which is posed on page 1 of the book ("...a sound a friend had told me I'd never hear.")

This may be a dumb question, but I'm not familiar with the book.

I have a preschooler and would like to take her to see it, but I want to know what the question is that you are talking about? Can you fill me in. If there is a reason you are not posting the question, please PM me.

Thanks!

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

I was wondering, too.

I thought this would be a great Christmas movie for our kids. But maybe I need to find out more about this ? first.

 

[Dan Murphy]

If the question revolves around Santa being real, is there a Santa, I think the story definitely proves, in the end, unquestionably, there is, if we believe.

 

[castlegazer]

There was a very long two page review of this movie in our local paper yesterday and I had been planning on taking my son who is just a toddler to see it as his first movie. Now I will not after the review. I think its probably a G rating, but some feelings and emotions in it may be better left to older children -they had to take a short book and make it into a 90 minute thrill ride for the movies. I think I am jumping the gun with him seeing it at this time.

It is dark in theme at times and has some action sequences that may prove scarry. Our reviewer also said the children's eyes are hollow which he found scarry - I think that's a bit subjective.

 

[ckay87]

Originally posted by Dan Murphy
If the question revolves around Santa being real, is there a Santa, I think the story definitely proves, in the end, unquestionably, there is, if we believe.

Yea, and it is beautiful in story, picture, and theme. But my only point is that real little kids - like the ones who go see G-rated movies - are not ready for that question. Nor are the parents. It just puts the question "out there." Santa is as real as your keyboard to little kids. To them, why would anyone even wonder? It's like asking is your Dad real.

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

Oh, THAT question Whew, what a relief.

I won't even share some of the versions I came up with as to what "the question" was.

 

[ckay87]

Originally posted by JessetheCowgirl
Oh, THAT question Whew, what a relief.

I won't even share some of the versions I came up with as to what "the question" was.

LOL!!!

That's ANOTHER movie.

Or Howard Stern.