I have really, really had it with the packaging of mature subject matter with G and PG rated films. I took my 8 yr old daughter to see Princess Diaries 2 the other night which is rated G. What was one of the movies for which they showed a trailer before the start of the movie?: Alien vs. Predator!!!! This was a Disney movie for crying out loud!
Now I don’t know about you, but I get angry when I take my child to a G-rated film, something that is supposedly “safe”, and they show a trailer where she has to cover her ears and close her eyes. Nice moviegoing experience, don’t you think? I complained to the so-called manager, who looked like he was still in high school, and he did apologize but said that it was how the movie comes from the distributor.
What bloody idiot is the person who is responsible for putting these things together?
I’ve seen trailers for PG-13 movies ahead of PG films as well. And I’m talking about salacious scenes with lots of suggestive stuff going on. Are the people in charge of deciding which trailers go with which movies getting some perverse pleasure from exposing kids to this stuff? It’s really disgusting.
Of course the same goes for the commercials that are now shown ahead of the trailers… there was one a while back for some iced tea product which involved a skeleton walking into a seedy bar. The damned thing looked like it was directed by Quentin Tarantino. Again, attached to G-rated films. My daughter was terrified of skeletons for a couple of years thanks to that stupid piece of work. That’s just one example, there are lots more with low cleavage and suggestive stuff abounding.
I find it really sad that I can’t even take my daughter to a kid’s movie any more without worrying about what will show up on the screen.
I went to the Disney site and managed to track down the email address of someone I could contact, for all the good it will do. If anyone knows where I can direct my anger constructively on this issue, I’d really appreciate it.
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You’re certainly right to be upset. What good is the “G” rating if the previews and commercials aren’t consistent with that rating? I suspect any response you may get from the movie studios or theater chains will be patronizing (i.e. “we take everyone’s input seriously, and we will give this matter all the due diligence it deserves”). However, there are a few activist-type groups out there. This one seems to be one of the more vocal.
In this day and age, it’s harder than ever to protect your children from all the filth that’s out there, and Hollywood isn’t doing much to help.
Brian
I’m with you. Our children are being robbed of their innocence almost before they are born.
I am so grateful for a childhood that was full of wonder.
And as to the “Manager” situation, I think it’s ridiculous that there is no one present who can really DO something about a complaint.
(Like the ear splitting sound levels)
The manager should have a little booth, where we all can see him. And he should not be able to leave except for 5 minutes potty break.
I’m tired of monoliths with the Wizard of Oz running them somewhere in the bowels of the cavernous theaters.
Grrrr…..
Thanks Brian, I knew I could count on you to come up with a useful site.
Vic
Yetzirah, I hear you loud and clear. I hate the feeling of helplessness with stuff like this. It’s like trying to sweep back the ocean.
As far as the volume issue, that *can* be addressed. It’s completely under their control and they should turn it down if you request it. I had that done the other day.
Vic
I think they are finding out that sex in advertising is becoming a waste of time. The audience remembers the pretty people, but not the product.
Unfortunately, this is the same industry that sticks with ‘tried and true’ formulas for marketing and advertising. Anything ‘outside the box’ is dangerous thinking. *IF* people want to protest this stuff, they should show up 20 minutes late. What do you miss in the first minute or two of the movie anyway? How would the theatres stop this? Not sell tickets 20 minutes after a showing starts and have an empty theatre? …And go out of business?
I don’t know about you all, but I’d almost pay an extra dollar for a movie just to NOT see the commercials.
As for this particular instance, how many other G-rated movies are opening soon? I don’t agree with showing the AVP trailer before a G-rated movie, but I am sure the person who decided to do this was thinking “what else can I show?”
I don’t mean to turn this political, but Hollywood in it’s liberal thinking probably says “these children have EVERY RIGHT to see an R-rated trailer! Who are we to censor them?”
I could rant forever about this… it’s called “Standards and Practices”, Hollywood’s PC term for censorship.
Here’s a list of trailers they could show: Shark Tale, The Incredibles, The Polar Express, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, and Raise Your Voice.
Pay *not* to see commercials? I thought that was what I was doing when I hand over my money to get into the movie. >:-(
Vic
Although I agree on showing proper trailers, what is most disturbing to me is the hatred and language used to complain about it. Seems to defeat the point, doesn’t it? I mean, the trailer is inappropriate because of the violence, but is the furiousness we show our children any more appropriate? Maybe we’re more affected by the trailer than our kids are. Can we find a more appropriate way to express our disgust? Who is going to protect our children from the filth we show in our anger?
Sometimes anger and disgust is appropriate and necessary. As to language, the worst word I used was “damned”… beyond that the only other terms that could be considered even remotely offensive above were “bloody idiot” and “stupid”. I re-read my post, and yes, it has an overall angry tone, but nothing I would consider over the top. Not by a long shot.
And this is a venue where I don’t expect to find 7 and 8 year old children. That’s part of my point: I’m discussing this in an adult venue. The equivalent of what I’m talking about above would be for me to post my diatribe on a Disney message board created for kids.
Vic
I understand your concern and you have the right to be upset. My question to you is, Are you angry because your daughter had to see them or are you angry because they are seen in the first place? Are you angry because it encourages people to see movies rated for mature audiances? I mean, as if someone were to say, “Man I can’t wait till I get older so I can see this movie.” If this is your problem, to need to grow up a little. The entire WORLD is rated X. There are hundreds of people having sex right now, hundreds being shot right now. If I ever have children, you’re damn right I’m going to tell them the truth about these things and I will let them watch whatever they want according to their own consequece (being afraid of aliens, ect.).
Dude, you are missing the point. I don’t think that trailers for scary movies should be attached to G-RATED FILMS. WTF is so hard to understand about that?
So I suppose in your non-parental-experienced opinion it’s ok to introduce X-rated content to 7 year olds? Just because I don’t want to expose CHILDREN to things at an early age doesn’t make me a prude.
Market “mature” films in a “mature” venue. Attach trailers for PG-13 movies to PG-13 films.
It ain’t rocket science, bub.
Vic