Help! My G-rated Kids Want to See PG-13 Transformers

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  Posted by KristinH Sun Jun 28, 2009 4:47pm PDT

  Parents like you are the one's that ruin it for the children!!! You don't think your kids are faced with violence every day in their life that is real???? This is a movie, this isn't reality!!! Sure children love to play with transformers and when they play with the transformers are they playing nice, timid and shy??? No, they are aggresive by fighting and acting out with one another as transformers....this is part of what the transformers are!!! So, take a lesson in the real world....you are punishing your children by not allowing them to see this movie and prohibiting them from actually enjoying themselves!!! What a shame you are as parents!!!!

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  Posted by momof4 Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:44am PDT

  My daughter, now 5, loved the first Transformer movie. When movies like this come out with PG-13 ratings, I as a parent, make the decision as to whether or not I think it is appropriate for her to watch. I don't know that I will take her to see it, but I would definitely rent it and edit with the remote control if need be.

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  Posted by nadia Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:52am PDT

  The first transformers movie was great...both of my kids saw it (5 and 8 at the time) and they really enjoyed it. Since it's on dvd now you could do a trial run where you watch the first one and then decide if you are going to let them see it. It would be a compromise of sorts....they get to watch a transformers movie and you get the piece of mind knowing what they'll be seeing before they see it. Depending on the age of the children it might be a good time to discuss violence and such. Honestly though the violence in the movie is mostly cartoon-ish.

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  Posted by Michelle Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:04am PDT

  Wow, smcalif. Do you have children? As parents, our job is to make sure that our children grow at an appropriate speed. Just because children like to play with the toys that are associated with the movie, doesn't mean that we should let our children see the movie. Yes, children are faced with violence every day. They see it all the time. That is part of the reason we should limit what we choose to expose them to. My son knows that if there is something that I believe to be inappropriate for his age, I tell him. When he tells me that so and so friend's mom let his friend watch it, I tell him (in the spirit of many successful moms before me) that I am not so and so's mother and if I was so and so would not be watching it either. My son is not prohibited "from actually enjoying" himself, he just has to find another way to do it. If you truly believe that we are "a shame as parents" then that is your right to believe it. Just as it is my right to censor (yes, I said censor) my sons viewing.

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  Posted by elle Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:19am PDT

  I really dislike how so many parents try so hard to censor their children from the "evils" of movies, or television, or what have you. Children see, hear and learn ALOT more than you realize. Yes there needs to be an appropriate timeframe for growth and experiencing certain things, but I hardly doubt letting your child see the Transformers movie will result in them running around, having sex, doing drugs and dropping out of school. Take this as an opportunity to explain to your children that this in face a movie and thus is not real life. No one said the kids are trying to watch 9 ½ weeks so I think everyone needs to calm down a bit and loosen up on the leash some.

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  Posted by Brittany G Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:27am PDT

  The movies are rated for a reason. PG-13 means children below 13 shouldnt watch this. It wont hurt them to not watch this movie & you are NOT punishing them. They might be upset for a few minutes but they will get over it. Take them to see UP instead. Kids are growing up so fast these days & part of it is because parents are letting them watch movies that they shouldnt be. Come on parents & actually BE parents. Thats what we are here for!

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  Posted by Jezabel Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:55am PDT

  In my opinion the committee who decides the rating system are a bunch of out-of-touch morons who toss around G, PG, PG-13 and R based on their whim and fancy. What is the limit for the F--- word in a PG-13 movie? Three or less? Erm, pardon me but why is it suddenly worse if you go over the limit since the kids already heard it 3 times.

  Violence? What is the limit there? Some movies released in the 80s have a PG rating that are more violent than modern PG-13 movies. Why? PG-13 was invented after it was already branded. So you can actually have PG movies more violent than PG-13 films readily available to kids if their parents for some reason actually trust the MPAA to assign an appropriate age recommendation.

  Also what about foreign rating groups who decide the same movie is appropriate for children younger than American children. Are they (foreign children) really more mature than our children?

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  Posted by JoKTM Tue Jun 30, 2009 9:20am PDT

  Parent have been dealing with this for years. Focus on the family always have family friendly ratings for moviesand tips on how to discuss the appropriateness of the movie.

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  Posted by Rowdygirl Tue Jun 30, 2009 9:42am PDT

  How about using your authority as a parent and saying "no". If you're in charge of your household, that means you decide what IS and IS NOT age appropriate.

  Why are some many people wimps when it comes to their kids? Don't be their friend, be their parent and guide them like you're supposed to. Stop worrying that they won't like you, or they won't be like their friends.

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  Posted by Writers_block Tue Jun 30, 2009 9:49am PDT

  Wow people. You need to all back up and take a deep breath. This is a movie. Parents need to make the grown up, responsible choice of weather or not their child is mature enough to watch it. I understand that locking children away from the real world isn't doing them any favors, but does this mean you'll turn a three year old loose with a movie about stalkers and rapists to "make sure they're prepared for the real life"? The answer if you're any sort of responsible parent is no. Let kids be kids for awhile. Watch Seaseme Street, Blues Clues, Dora the Explorer, then decide if you want to introduce them to the world of violence, anger and agression that we adults have to endure on a daily basis.

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