I am quite the movie natzi around our house. I am the mom that did not let her kids watch
PG 13 movies before they were 13. (even then, it was on a movie-by-movie case)
Unlike most of their friends, who did.
And boy did I hear about it.
I don't let them watch rated R movies. Like some of their friends do. And boy do I hear about it. Not so much hearing about it from my girls, but from their friends.
They are 15 1/2 and 13 now.
You would think a PG 13 movie would be safe. right?
Not so much.
I took the girls and 2 of their friends to see YES, Man with Jim Carrey.
Generally I am really good about checking out all the details of any movie prior to taking the kids by going to this site, called Screenit.com.
It is a member driven site, but you can get movie details without joining also.
It will give such details as to how many S* cuss words, F* bombs.
What type of nudity and how much smoking, drinking and violence etc....
IT is a great tool for parents who are concerned about what their children are seeing.
But, like I said, I did not visit the site prior.
I must be in a vacation fog still.....
And I seriously regret it.
The movie, while a bit on the funny side, had way too many F* bombs. and A*holes and S*heads...well..... you get the gist. Too much cussing. Which just bugs the heck out of me.
IT is NOT necessary to cuss to be funny. Right?
The cussing was getting on my nerves...but then, they had to go and push me over the parental edge with a sexual scene that I wanted to jump up and cover all 8 of the eyes that I so innocently brought to the movie for some good, clean entertainment.
I won't go into detail, but lets just say it was totally inappropriate and I think I may have scarred my children for life.
I try to shelter the girls from all the bad stuff out in this world.
I know they will be exposed to it someday...I just don't want it to be NOW!!!
Where are all the good, funny family movies????
I wish I could take it back......
Is there anything enjoyable between Madagascar 2 and Dawn of the Dead?
I strongly caution all the parents out there to check out this movie before taking your teens.
There, that is my good deed for the day.
where is my browine point?
That is such a shame. It seems that SOOOO much slides under the radar now. The kids and I were at the mall yesterday and they wanted to go into Spencer. Well, I think the last time I was in Spencer (before yesterday) was with YOU when we were 14.... needless to say, Spencer has CHANGED!!!! It is now basically a SEX TOY and ADULT GAME shop. Everywhere I turned there were sexually explicit things. I could not get my kids out of there fast enough! (I remember when you and I used to go there, they had whoopee cushions, strobe lights, and stuff like that.... pretty tame.)
ReplyDeleteIt's frustrating. There is inappropriate stuff everything.
And don't even get me started on what is considered "entertainment".... I caught S. watching a YouTube video for the Pussycat Dolls. (Let's just call them the "Sluttycat Dolls"....)
Sigh. Frustrating. Especially for young eyes, that are still trying to figure out what is OK.
Oh Suz---My daughter-in-law in Texas has the same problems, not just with movies, but with the parents of her girls' friends--who allow their children to see and do anything and everything they want to see and do... Like you, Lara tries to 'hold to her rules' with the girls (11 and 15)--but in this crazy society, it's never easy.
ReplyDeleteAbout the bad language, I assume that 'Hollywood' uses that language so much that it's just second nature to them. They probably don't think that it's offensive to some. GADS---where are the good ole days, the GOOD movies, the GOOD TV shows, etc????
Good Luck... Keep to your principles. The girls will thank you in the long run.
Hugs,
Betsy
If you find any good, funny family movies please let us know!
ReplyDeleteWell, you're not alone dear Suz. My boys aren't allowed to watch MTV or any music videos on television. They also don't have cell phones (16 and 11 yrs old). I have more control over who they talk to that way because their friends have to call my house. We aren't here to win Mother of the year or a Popularity contest are we? But did you see the new movie on ABC Family? It's called "Secret life of the American Teenager" and it's about a pregnant teen. I'm appalled! Since when is this the norm and since when do we want it on national TV for all teens to see! You can bet it won't be on my television!
ReplyDeleteThat is disapppointing...no, swear words do not make it funnier!!! I loved Marley and Me:)!
ReplyDelete-sandy toes
That's why I stick to cartoon movies!!!
ReplyDeleteI'd rent High Society, The Court Jester & White Christmas, to start with. We are big fans of PBS Mystery series, especially Foyle's War, Inspector Morse and Inspector Lynley. You have to deal with some murders, but they aren't gory, and they get solved. You get to learn some history & culture, too.
ReplyDeleteHope this helps! Hugs from here.
i have no words of wisdom on this one - we held the line pretty tighly when our girls were growing up. least until they hit 15 or 16 (got their licenses); then we eased up a bit on what they could go see...stick to your guys.....
ReplyDeleteya know - us lurkers are being destroyed by livefeed reports! lol :)
I hate cursing. It just sounds so terrible! I am sorry that the movie was like that. I don't know why cursing is so accepted. It just sounds trashy. In my opinion anyway...
ReplyDeleteIt's SO hard to shelter our kids from this "In Your Face" society. I have been more of a clothes nazi than a movie nazi. Why do people allow their children to dress like hookers???
ReplyDeleteI definitely held a harder line with the older kids. I was dissapointed just the way you were so many times. Now I really just try and see what they see and talk about what I find inappropriate. Music is the same way. A drive in the car gives me gray hair and gives me a chance to explain the term "misogynistic."
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the cussing. I catch myself once in a while, usually when I'm driving and some arse cuts me off.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to find good movies to take teens to. Even some of the cartoons get too PC for me.
Now, I just saw Doubt, and it's PG-13 for theme, but the theme isn't what you would expect. It's about truth, and the lack of it, and how jumping to conclusions can cause irreversable harm to others. I think it's an appropriate message that a teen should "get" without being damaged.
I saw it too. D for dumb is the rating.
ReplyDeleteI don't often look at the rating any more though because I have no little ones, and it seems the rating system doesn't match the movie anyway. I agree with all the swear words and the T's and A's. UGH!!
Have they seen Planes, Trains and Automobiles? That's really one of the only funny (laugh out loud) movies I can think of that doesn't have any other smut to go along with it. As for what's in the theaters now, I have no clue.
ReplyDeleteAlso you know who could watch as a family is Ellen Degeneres' stand up act called Here and Now. It is soooo funny and not any cuss words if I can recall. Nothing risque either. Even if your girls don't watch it you and the hub would probably enjoy it.
I can't believe how much gets past the censors these days. The amount of bad language and violence is horrendous. I think the tv is the worst. Once nine of clock comes over here and the watershed starts, it is unbelievable
ReplyDeleteDon't beat yourself up too bad over it. Like you said, it was bound to happen some day. At least they were with you and you could talk to them afterwards and apologize to them. You did talk to them didn't you? Of course you did.
ReplyDeleteSuz, luckily I only have a few minutes before I have to go to work, or I'd unleash about all these things (movies, clothes, etc.) I've tried to keep Stud Muffin fairly sheltered, although that work seems to have a bit of a negative connotation, doesn't it? We don't have cable, so I don't have to worry about him watching music videos and stuff, or R-rated movies when I'm not around, etc. But, prime-time TV has gotten a little racy lately, hasn't it?
ReplyDeleteI'm TOTALLY with you on this one!! Keep those girls GIRLS for as long as you can, because they will become women before you know it :(
I'm the same way. My son is 13 and I can count on one hand how many PG-13 movies he's seen. I am very hesitant to expose him to that stuff. He can see an R rated movie once he's an adult out on his own, for all I care! But not under my roof.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean.even for adults,most days I want to see a good clean movie .Why is it hard for Hollywood to make one?
ReplyDeleteToo bad that there isn't a Comedy Sportz in Florida. Their shows are a lot of fun for the whole family - and *no* cussing allowed. It's one of the few forms of entertainment available that has me laughing the whole time and I wouldn't be afraid to bring my grandmother to. Here in the Buffalo/Niagara Falls area, we can see shows every week - and every one is different. If you are ever in a town with a Comedy Sportz group, make sure to go - you won't be disappointed :) www.comedysportz.com
ReplyDeleteI was one of those mom's when my kids were young too and I really don't regret it. I have always felt that they have many many years of adult things and keeping them kids when they are kids was important. It blew me away that so many parents really didn't care about a lot of these things and I was just "one of those parents". I still feel the same way now that I'm back at the mommy gig once again...in fact, I probally feel more this way now.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't easy being the "mean" parents but someone has to do it!
My biggest beef about profanity is morning radio programs, some of which are syndicated. I got on a discussion board one time to register a complaint about a morning show host telling the audience if a cast member couldn't do something then another one would hit his *vulgar slang term* with a horseshoe. I also emailed the general manager of the station about it. I was accused of pushing an agenda.
ReplyDeleteTimes sure have changed, haven't they... not sure it's doing our society any good either. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteYou can't shelter your kids forever though, all you can do is hope to arm them with enough common sense so they can make their own responsible choices down the line.
Remember though that for kids of any age, what the parents forbid holds that much more interest to obtain ;-) Soooo you could be a bit more liberal and let your girls find it distasteful all on their own. I'm sure they're smart like their mama ;-)
Ugh. That's pretty bad. We all sit down and read about a movie before we go see it.. you might try pluggedinonline(dot)com. They do an excellent job of detailing every aspect of a movie. We've even opted out of some cartoons based on their reviews. lol
ReplyDeleteI suppose I'm the only bad Mom around here. I'm pretty open to what my boys see. Although, there are house rules and they know I better not hear any of that language (and I haven't from them)!
ReplyDeleteI like to keep things open with them when it comes to things like that and sex talk. At the moment, they are comfortable asking me questions about sex and I hope that sticks! Always telling me stories about what other kids at school are saying and doing. We talk about it though, and that, I believe is key.
=)
I didn't know about this website. That will tell you EXACTLY how many bad words are in a movie! FINALLY! i have ammunition! When she wants to know why she can't see (insert absurd movie here), I can say, well, there are 13 words that are inappropriate and 2 scenes that will scar you for life! THANKS!
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