Poll: bringing young children to theater

[ToryK]

Originally Posted by OpiumKungFuCracker

When you say it depends on the kid, do you mean if they understand the plot/story/comprehension wise or do you mean kids can go to a movie theater and sit still and be quite for 2 hrs/ or do you mean kids are able to tell what is movie and what is real life and not harm others in the classroom during play time???

A combination of all of the above. The kid should be mature enough to sit still and should be able to understand the difference between reality and a movie. I watched some violent stuff when I was a kid, but I've never been a violent person.

[ShaOW!linDude]

Originally Posted by NoForAnAnswer

Last time I went to the theater, I saw the Friday The 13th remake (I know, I know...) on opening day which was on friday the 13th. The people who sat in front of us were talking the whole time, dicking around with their phones, drinking vodka they brought in and saying how much they'd like to smoke the weed on the screen in the beginning. At that point I would've walked out but I payed for myself, my sister and her friend to go and I stood to lose like $40, so I stayed put.

That's why I will refuse to go to the movies anymore.

Complain. If the management won't handle it, ask for a refund or free passes to catch the feature at another time. They may comp you with a free showing to a different movie that will start shortly. I've found most theater management will take action.

I've gotten to the point where I say something and that's "Hey, I didn't pay to listen to your commentary; if you won't be quiet, you owe X amount for what I paid to see this now and I'll come watch it later" and that usually shuts them up.

[Markgway]

I wouldn't want to sit and watch an R-rated movie with my preteen kid. I'd feel really uncomfortable. If a film is 'R' it means that it contains either/and/or strong violence, sex, language, drug use. Assuming a child is capable of handling these movies does that mean it should be encouraged? I used to trick my parents into renting me adult rated movies by downplaying their content; if they'd known what I was watching they never would've allowed it. I don't believe that parents are the best judge of what their kid should watch because most parents have no clue what goes on in their child's head. No child is going to start acting 'psycho' after seeing a horror movie but that doesn't mean it hasn't affected them in some way. It's not like the signs are obvious. My kid hasn't tried to strangle his classmates ergo he's fine to watch any violent movie I choose. I realise ratings are there for guidance (in America) but because you can take a preteen to see an R doesn't mean you should. Use some common sense people.

[Takuma]

Watching The Dark Knight Rises last week in a late (IMAX) screening with not a single child or teen (or adult acting like one) in the audience was just amazing! I couldn't even hear noise from popcorn. God bless this country!