Younger teens getting R movie passes.
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| Tue, 06-08-2004 - 8:35am |
What do you think of younger teens viewing R-rated movies without their parents? Are they too impressionable to view violent, sexually explicit or foul language? Or would you consider your, hypothetical, teen's maturity?
I recently saw "Troy", it was pretty bloody with some sexual content. I don't think I would have wanted my younger teen to see it without being accompanied by an adult. Films are rated for a specific reason.
Younger teens getting R-rated movie passes.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Midwest/06/07/movie.r.card.ap/index.html
Still weeks shy of her 16th birthday, Sydni Norris caught the R-rated war epic "Troy" on the big screen last month while her parents stayed home.
The Bloomington teen-ager's way around the rating system's age limit was a parent-approved pass card that has started a debate over convenience vs. parental responsibility and raised fears that the government might jump in to settle the dispute.
Supporters say parents can sign off on movies for their kids without the time and expense of chaperoning them with the new R-card, which Springfield-based GKC Theatres began rolling out last fall in parts of its 22-city chain in Illinois and three other Midwest states. The card only works for the R-rating, which requires children under 17 to be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian.
"I like it because now we don't have to wait until they come out on video," said Norris, a high school junior whose parents had to accompany her and sign for the $2 photo ID.
Critics argue that the cards amount to parents handing the delicate decision about what movies are appropriate to their kids, a shift they say violates the intent of the motion picture industry's voluntary rating system.
"All R-rated films are not alike. It is the parents' responsibility to make specific judgments about R films -- and wrong to give a blanket endorsement to all," said Jack Valenti, president and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, which issues movie ratings.
GKC, the nation's 15th largest theater chain, is the only theater network in the nation offering the card, said John Fithian, president of the National Association of Theater Owners.
Some opponents fear that leaving movie choices to kids could taint the ratings system, voluntarily enforced by theaters since 1968. They say that could open the door to government regulation that would stifle creativity and experimentation in film making.
"If parents lose faith in the system, the first thing they'll ask is 'What are our recourses?' Then, we could start hearing from every politician that wants to make a name for himself in the name of family values," said Dann Gire, president of the Chicago Film Critics Association.
GKC has issued about 700 R-cards -- most in central Illinois -- and plans to offer them throughout the chain by the end of the year, said James Whitman, the company's director of operations and marketing.
A convenience factor
Whitman said he came up with the idea after parents complained that they wanted to let their kids see R-rated movies but didn't want to sit through the films themselves. He said GKC encourages parents to give the cards to kids only after approving a movie.
"From what I can tell, the people who have them like them and the parents are trying to use them responsibly. We're not being inundated with kids whose parents are giving them access to everything that comes on the screen," Whitman said.
The motion picture and theater owners associations are pressing GKC to abandon the program, but some parents think the cards are a good idea.
Joyce Needham, of Peoria, said she discusses every movie "before and after" her 16-year-old grandson uses his R-card. With or without a card, she said, kids will find a way to get what they want.
"I just think communication is the answer and trusting the child," Needham said. "If you can discuss what's going on in this world, you're better off than letting them find a way to do it on their own."


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Parents seem to forget a large factor involved with their teenages: The more you restrict a teen from doing something, the more likely they are to do it. If you disagree, well, I guess you don't understand how many teenagers think.
Would someone, as a parent, rather their teen go to an 'R' movie with or without their consent? Better for a parent to know where their kids are and what they're being subjected to.
A possible solution to the problem could be to include a device on the card that records which movies a child sees. This way, parents can know and discuss films with their teens if they see fit. In any event, if a person disagrees with the card, they shoudln't give it to their child! Simple as that. Don't try to take away the right from other people.
Parents who try to keep their children from seeing things like scary movies have to remember: the internet, tv and the news are just as bad, if not worse. The tv news gives horrible graphic ideas, as does newspaper. The internet has tons of images of violence and porn. A simple mispell of a 'PG' site could lead someone right to explicit images. Sure, parents can try to restrict their children on this as well, but considering how important the news, tv and the internet is in today's society and education system, its virtually impossible to protect children from everything. And lets not forget about books either - what next, rating on all novels, news and internet sites?
-K, 18.
>"Which one scared me more? Disney's classic film Snow White."<
Those flying monkey things.
>"The tv news gives horrible graphic ideas, as does newspaper. The internet has tons of images of violence and porn."<
Yes you're correct. There's a need for parents to instill guidelines & common sense more now than at any other time.
I hate to sound sexist but some teenage males have been known to copy some extremely weird & dangerous behaviour from films viewed on TV. Example: playing chicken with traffic & such. Maybe that's budding machismo.
Having been a teen, once upon a time, my parents were unaware of half the things I did or places I went.
Welcome to the "In the News" board. Thanks for you post.
Shannon
>"pink elephants"<
Glad you mentioned they were in Fantasia..... People have been known to see pink elephants for other reasons.
LOL!
I like horror flixs too, not blood & guts but physiological tense ones.
IMHO, one of the scariest movies I have ever seen was "Alien".
>"the scariest movies I have ever seen was "Alien"."<
I
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