11 replies to this topic

[camay2327]

Make your comments on this one: What do you think???
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Pass Card Lets Teens in R-Rated Movies
By JAN DENNIS=

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) - 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.

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.''

[Chad Vander Veen]

Lazy, irresponisble parents have lazy, irresponsible kids.

What's next, a "ok to have sex" card so parents can pay even less attention to what their kids are doing?

Pathetic.

[folsomguest]

I agree with C Vander 100%. Some parents are so lazy and irresponsible. They are going to be the same parents complaining that their kids are violent because they commited some crazy violent act due to movies and video games.

[Steve Heard]

Total abdication of responsibility.

They should call it the, "I have no common sense and don't give a rats behind about my kid" card.

This is a potential bonanza for our short sighted, live-for-today youth.
We could have:

An "It's okay for my kid to drink" card.

An "It's okay for my kid to skip school" card.

An "It's okay for my kid to drop out" card.

An "It's okay for my kid to do any damn thing he/she wants to as long as he/she is out of my hair and I can't get sued for it" card.

[bigsheldy]

QUOTE (stevethedad @ Jun 7 2004, 02:41 PM)

An "It's okay for my kid to do any damn thing he/she wants to as long as he/she is out of my hair and I can't get sued for it" card.

[TheCourtJester]

HAHA...I would sign this card for me kid...

Over my cold dea body.

Total dereliction of duty as far as parenting is concerned.
My parent may actually get one if it comes down to it...they trust me enough to decide what I should and shouldn' watch...they're a bit lazy too. There aren't many rated R movies that appeal to me anyways...

Stupid stupid stupid...

[jagayman]

Alright, I'll part-way disagree since we're not talking about abortion here

I've seen some R-rated movies and thought they were less graphic than some of the stuff on the news or any accident that you may drive by on the highway. A lot of stuff is borderline R and makes it because of language -- which, personally, I view as less harmful that violence or depiction of drug abuse.

I'm not advocating tots should be exposed to R-rated flicks, but there are mature 15 and 16 year olds who can handle many films.

I think the cards should be on a per-movie basis, however. Then, the parents still have the ability to approve each R-rated film they let their kids go to. Then, if they don't want their kid to see an excessively R-rated movie, then their kid can't go. There would be a call-in or web site that the parent could visit to enable their kid's ID to let them view it -- presumably the IDs are already part of a bigger database so this should be feasible.

-jason.

[Steve Heard]

Jag

The problem with your solution is that it involves effort by the parent.

I know the rating system is skewed. But for the most part, R deserves the R rating.

I do recall the movie 'Broken Arrow'. I don't remember any sex, but lots of explosions and some swearing. It was rated R. I didn't think it was too bad.

Then there was a girls coming-of-age movie, rated PG13. My daughter was 12 and we rented it, watching it together. The girls sat around discussing blowjobs.

[bishmasterb]

Whatever happens, keep the government out of the process. I'd rather have a few "bad" parents let there teens see a few "bad" movies then have Teddy Kennedy or Trent Lott tell every parent in the nation what movies their kids can watch.

When I was in my early teens (13-15) my mom would often purchase R rated movie tickets for me (or my friend's parents for them). It was quite common and I think we all grew up just fine, and she knew what I was watching. And at the time I wasn't interested in seeing anything that was too intense anyhow.

Much ado about nothing.

[OctoberLily]

I think this is also "much ado about nothing". I have a 16 yo and a 17 yo and they ask me if they could watch a certain movie before they go to it.

Sometimes I go and buy their tickets for them but most of the time my 17 yo will do it himself.

Kids today are not as stupid as some of you think. Most of them are quite picky about what movie they are going to spend their money on - especially if it's $9 or $10 a pop - plus another $10 on snacks!

It's kind of ironic because some of you were raving about "The Passion of Christ", a movie I think that it is the most violent movie that has ever been put out ever. My son went to see it with some friends and he said that it was the first movie he has ever had the urge to get up and walk out of because it was so violent and made him literally sick to his stomach. How some people could bring their 12 yo or 6 yo to it is beyond my understanding.

[bishmasterb]

QUOTE (OctoberLily @ Jun 11 2004, 11:06 PM)

It's kind of ironic because some of you were raving about "The Passion of Christ", a movie I think that it is the most violent movie that has ever been put out ever. My son went to see it with some friends and he said that it was the first movie he has ever had the urge to get up and walk out of because it was so violent and made him literally sick to his stomach. How some people could bring their 12 yo or 6 yo to it is beyond my understanding.

I've seen the Passion of the Christ twice, I loved it and though it was a great movie.

But I couldn't believe how many kids (all ages, 5-17 ?) there were in that theater!

Oh well. Live and let live.

[LiveItAs]

I don't think this is a good idea. R rated movies are Rs for a reason. And there a just certain things in life you should have to wait for. My parents never let me go to R movies until I was able to on my own. My girlfriends and I never tried to get in like a lot of teens do. It was just the way it was and we found plenty of other movies to see. It was a rite of passage and I still can remember turning 17 and being able to go to one....but I still had to get my parents approval on a case by case situation.

If a parent thinks it is okay for their 15, 16 year old to see a particular R that is their choice. But I think they should go with them. There is nothing wrong with going to the movies with your kids and their friends. You can always sit somewhere else in the theater to compromise with your child and not be hovering over their social life. But at least your presence is still known...I believe that is the parents job.

It bothers me when I go to R rated movies and there are a bunch of Junior High kids. I find some of them disturbing. Good but disturbing. How are they finding them? Movies like the Passion of Christ, Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction...were made for and intended for adults. Can't some things just remain for the adults only!