5 ms·
Ratings systems aren't really anything to go by, at least in the US. My rule is: it's gotta be good. I'd prefer my own kids to watch something good than to watc
by MichaelGG 12y ago
Ratings systems aren't really anything to go by, at least in the US. My rule is: it's gotta be good. I'd prefer my own kids to watch something good than to watch something crappy. The children aimed stuff, for the most part, is junk.
The only stuff I skip is really when there's a explicit sex act talk only because I don't want to explain jokes regarding specific sex acts and slang. My girls are 6 & 8, so I figure that's reasonable for another 5-6 years. Is that prudish? (I've only got cultural input from North America, which seems to recoil at stuff everyone sees in showers everyday, so all I know is that their scale is off, not where it should be.)
- xgbi 12y agoWoud you show them Drive then?
- MichaelGG 12y agoIf it's as I recall, it was rather boring, but otherwise rather tame. Edit: I just rewatched the trailer, and it looks fine. I just recall not enjoying the movie a whole lot.
- xgbi 12y agoYou might be interested in not showing your kids the lift scene where he stomps a guys's head, or when he shoots another point blank with a shotgun. My comment was aimed at highlighting that the rating is not dumb BS, some movies contains really disturbing scenes.
- Crito 12y agoWhen I was a kid, I would have just fast-forwarded straight to those scenes. The rest of the movie would have bored kid-me to tears.
- MichaelGG 12y agoI'm not saying the ratings are always inaccurate, just that they aren't calibrated to most things I care about. Compared to some folks that go "Oh I would never let my child watch a movie rated R" as if that was some kind of determining factor. People swearing, using drugs, and nudity will get an R rating even if the movie is fantastic. Those three things I'm annoyed that people find objectionable for children, as it only increases the stigma as they get older, for what should be very positive things. Violence, meh, so long it's not deliberately cruel or scary, I don't see why it'd be disturbing. Over-the-top stuff like you say sounds more funny than anything else. (The children's shows, Golden Compass, and RWBY, both contain scenes where the jaw/head of an enemy is blown right off.) As another poster mentioned, Common Sense Media is a far better rating system. They address specific points so you can make a good determination. Even then, I find my kids often enjoy stuff that CSM rates well over their current age.
- girvo 12y agoThe last 20 minutes of it are realistically violent. I cringed watching some of the scenes as an adult. I don't think kids would appreciate the build-up to it, either, the fact it's boring is what makes it so damned good when it finally releases the tension it's built to that point.
- minopret 12y agoI like Common Sense Media. I didn't think I would like any media monitor for parents, but I think this one provides enough depth of information to put decisions into parents' hands. They rate and discuss several factors including not only sex and violence, but also consumerism, "is it any good," and "will kids want it." On the other hand, they also offer simple summaries. A parent who has specific criteria can generally just get a list of current products that meet those criteria.
- Tyrannosaurs 12y agoThe thing I like about CSM is if you hover over (or click on, I can't recall exactly) the ratings for each category they outline why which helps you make your own mind up how flexible you want to be with their recommendation. Also gives good age ranges, not just the broad certificates.
- greendestiny 12y agoI love Common Sense Media. My kids don't like to be scared, it negatively impacts their sleeping and frankly their general well being but I'm not really concerned about bad language or minor innuendo - CSM is the best way to get an idea if my kids are going to enjoy something.
- nsgi 12y agoDo you view films like Toy Story, Star Wars and E.T. as junk?
- psykovsky 12y agoI do. All 3 of them.