Should I let my 15 year old watch an 18 movie?

veronese68

In answer to the earlier question about TV series. I've only seen True Blood of those, and I don't think it's an issue as he wouldn't watch it anyway. As Rick said earlier about the film Taxi Driver, I just don't think it would appeal to him.

noiseboyfeetman

the 15 rated films of today are as violent or even more so than the majority of 18 rated films were when I was younger, I personally wouldn't let my 15 year old son watch it, not that i've watched the new Dredd.

The previous incarnation of Judge Dredd with Slyvester Stallone is rated at 15 and imo is a much much better film than the majority of people think, if he hasn't seen it already I'd say let him watch that one instead.

Medders

Kieran_Burns wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

Medders wrote:

As an aside - as an avid reader of 2000ad in the 80s, I didnt rate this film at all. Not nearly futuristic enough - gritty yes, but driving around on normal roads in ordinary camper style vans? Seriously, if you dont have the budget dont bother. Dare I say it the Stallone version felt more in line with the comic character.

WTF? Nah, man, you're wrong. I think the more recent versions of Judge Dread have scaled down the city of the future vision so that its more in keeping with the recent film than the flying bikes of Stallone's version. But seriously, dude, the Stallone version was terrible, wooden and boring compared to DREDD.

I thought they took key elements from Judge Dredd - the fact that he cannot perfectly administer justice in a infallable way, his stoic nature, Judge Anderson, the lawgiver, futuristic drugs, the mega blocks - and executed them perfectly.

I'm seeing more Judge Dredds at the comic conventions as well!

Great. Now you've got me agreeing with Don. Thanks for that.

:-) Damn sorry.

Agreed stallone was a serious mis-cast but the rest of the film actually used various real storylines and characters from the comic. Why the latest one had to invent a story and characters when there was such a wealth of good stuff available I cannot fathom.

No idea what JD is like these days - I stopped reading in about 1989 when the format and the artwork changed to such an extent ruined it for me. That and chicks and booze becoming way more interesting.

mpatts

Put simply, it's up to you.

I tend to think that if you are worried enough about something to (say) ask advice on a cycling forum, then generally you will make a decent decision about it.

It's not like it's as big a decision about whether to go campag, SRAM, or shimano is it?

rick_chasey

Might also be worth checking ratings in other countries. Dutch don't go higher than 16 except for pr0n.

I know scary movie 2 for example was 18 in UK and 12 in Ned because of different ideas around marujana and sex.

US and UK typically are lenient with violence (saving private Ryan only a 15) but often strict with sex and drugs.

DonDaddyD

All I'm saying is, despite the age restriction, people are less likely to stop their kids playing things like Street Fighter, Jet Set Willy, Duke Nukem 3D and Forever, Grand Theft Auto, Fable, Bully, Gun, Gears of War, Call of Duty, Skyrim etc and yet get all militant about a film - I'd argue the film is less violent - there is no joypad that vibrates when I stab someone in the heart or my character has sex.

If your 15 year old has a Playstation or Xbox, I'm not sure how you can then prevent them from seeing 18 rated films.

pblakeney

DonDaddyD wrote:

All I'm saying is, despite the age restriction, people are less likely to stop their kids playing things like Street Fighter, Jet Set Willy, Duke Nukem 3D and Forever, Grand Theft Auto, Fable, Bully, Gun, Gears of War, Call of Duty, Skyrim etc and yet get all militant about a film - I'd argue the film is less violent - there is no joypad that vibrates when I stab someone in the heart or my character has sex.

If your 15 year old has a Playstation or Xbox, I'm not sure how you can then prevent them from seeing 18 rated films.

I would agree with you that some games are more graphic than mainstream films but that simply reinforces the fact that parents should use the same discretion. Or is the conclusion that you may as well give up as you have no control?

PS:- I just noticed your confession to not being able to lose your virginity until you were 21. Condolences.
Could it be linked to spending too much time playing computer games?

getting_on_a_bit

If he or she has an older sibling and/or access to the internet then they will be well up to speed on most things in an 18 cert film

antonyfromoz

When you think about it, it's a funny old world we live in. I am judging no one but here we are talking about a violent film (apparently, I have not seen it) which according to comments on here is very graphic and 'gritty', with someone getting skinned etc and many think this is okay for a 15 yo but would draw the line at sex scenes. Nothing nice, normal or natural about skinning someone but sex is off the menu. Reminds me of a story someone told me about watching a surprisingly violent film on a plane in the US which stated at the start that it had been edited to make it suitable for viewing in the plane. He watched the unedited film afterwards and the only difference was that in one scene you could see a nipple... Hardly surprising that kids seem to be getting more violent and the number of people with body image issues is rising. :?

okgo

Most kids have had booze, fags, maybe drugs and probably sex by 15, I seriously doubt there is going to be anything that will shock a 15 year old in an 18 cert film (aside from things that are just shocking to anyone, human centipede, days of soddom etc)

apreading

Didnt realise there was someone being skinned in it - that would be too graphic for my kids.

Thing is, you can have loads of violence without seeing organs being splashed open and it would be OK in my book (remember the A team anyone?). But showing in that level of detail or torture would be out. Another thing I would not find appropriate was the scene in Spooks where someone is put in the deep fat fryer - they didnt really show it graphically but I wouldnt want my kids seeing that because of the psychological effect it could have. So nothing that would be distressing is my ethos for violence.

I think that when it comes to sex most kids really wouldnt want to watch sex scenes with their parents in the room anyway...!

bompington

DonDaddyD wrote:

If your 15 year old has a Playstation or Xbox, I'm not sure how you can then prevent them from seeing 18 rated films.

Simple - our house rule is that all screens are in public - kitchen, living room or study. Whatever your views on how much you should control teenagers, the fact that you cannot control everything they do does not mean that you can, or should, do nothing.

bompington

okgo wrote:

Most kids have had booze, fags, maybe drugs and probably sex by 15, I seriously doubt there is going to be anything that will shock a 15 year old in an 18 cert film (aside from things that are just shocking to anyone, human centipede, days of soddom etc)

Quickly searched stats for 15 yos:
Booze - 45%
Fags - 10%
Drugs - 17% (significantly down in the last ten years)
Sex - 25%

Not necessarily accurate, but a long way from "most kids"

First.Aspect

bompington wrote:

okgo wrote:

Most kids have had booze, fags, maybe drugs and probably sex by 15, I seriously doubt there is going to be anything that will shock a 15 year old in an 18 cert film (aside from things that are just shocking to anyone, human centipede, days of soddom etc)

Quickly searched stats for 15 yos:
Booze - 45%
Fags - 10%
Drugs - 17% (significantly down in the last ten years)
Sex - 25%

Not necessarily accurate, but a long way from "most kids"

Internet - 100%

EKE_38BPM

First Aspect wrote:

bompington wrote:

okgo wrote:

Most kids have had booze, fags, maybe drugs and probably sex by 15, I seriously doubt there is going to be anything that will shock a 15 year old in an 18 cert film (aside from things that are just shocking to anyone, human centipede, days of soddom etc)

Quickly searched stats for 15 yos:
Booze - 45%
Fags - 10%
Drugs - 17% (significantly down in the last ten years)
Sex - 25%

Not necessarily accurate, but a long way from "most kids"

Internet - 100%

Booze and fags are drugs, but the government tax them, so they are fine, right?

Bikequin

bompington wrote:

okgo wrote:

Most kids have had booze, fags, maybe drugs and probably sex by 15, I seriously doubt there is going to be anything that will shock a 15 year old in an 18 cert film (aside from things that are just shocking to anyone, human centipede, days of soddom etc)

Quickly searched stats for 15 yos:
Booze - 45%
Fags - 10%
Drugs - 17% (significantly down in the last ten years)
Sex - 25%

Not necessarily accurate, but a long way from "most kids"

I'd say you can add lying 55% - what 15 year old has never had a drink?

okgo

Well, it was the norm ten years ago when I were 15 or so, kids these days, poofs. Mind you fags used to be 16 to buy, and were not as hated as they are now (god knows why, they're awesome).

bompington

Bikequin wrote:

bompington wrote:

okgo wrote:

Most kids have had booze, fags, maybe drugs and probably sex by 15, I seriously doubt there is going to be anything that will shock a 15 year old in an 18 cert film (aside from things that are just shocking to anyone, human centipede, days of soddom etc)

Quickly searched stats for 15 yos:
Booze - 45%
Fags - 10%
Drugs - 17% (significantly down in the last ten years)
Sex - 25%

Not necessarily accurate, but a long way from "most kids"

I'd say you can add lying 55% - what 15 year old has never had a drink?

What on earth makes you think that in this day and age the pressure on kids is to underreport these things?

Bikequin

To be honest I think you've either got some pretty dud stats or these are for 15 year olds partaking in these activities on a regular basis - As I can't imagine that 17% have tried drugs whilst only 10% have tried smoking and there is categorically no way that only 45% of 15 years have had a drink.

Gallywomack

Kids these days are too busy texting, whatsapping, skyping, tweeting, BBpinning, instagramming and playing Super Nintendo to engage in wholesome activities like drinking, smoking, shagging and taking drugs. Bah! *Shakes walking stick angrily*

TheStone

I can't imagine my parents knowing or caring what I watched at 15.

I do remember my mum dropping me off to watch Commando as a kid. She didn't know what the "18" meant and was fairly unhappy with the bloke running the cinema. I quite enjoyed it. Can't believe it was aimed at anyone over 8.

DonDaddyD

When I was 15 I remember watching the 10min teaser on adult channel. I never did get round the parental lock my Dad set up...

If I wanted to watch Dredd, I would have found a way.

veronese68

The Adult Channel didn't exist when I was 15. We had an early VHS though.
Regarding booze we get some really disapproving looks if we tell some other parents that we let our 15 year old have a bit to drink every now and then. Allow them a little bit of alcohol on occasion so it's considered normal. An outright ban on something makes it an issue and then they lose control when they finally get to something that has previously been banned.

Mikey23

apologies if this has already been said. as far as i am aware the law is about the sale not the watching. nothing to prevent you therefore. but if it gets about that your kid has seen an 18 vid then a concerned parent or teacher might just dob you in to social services who could use it as evidence to get your kids taken off you. unlikely and extreme but weird things do happen. my objection would be peer pressure. ive had it so many times that so and so has parents who let him stay up all night, get drunk, smoke, watch18 films and computer games etc etc etc. all rubbish of course when you check it out but some of his friends have parents who do just that that ...

DonDaddyD

Veronese68 wrote:

Regarding booze we get some really disapproving looks if we tell some other parents that we let our 15 year old have a bit to drink every now and then.

Would you let him watch Dredd?

veronese68

DonDaddyD wrote:

Veronese68 wrote:

Regarding booze we get some really disapproving looks if we tell some other parents that we let our 15 year old have a bit to drink every now and then.

Would you let him watch Dredd?

Yes, but not Human Centipede.

DonDaddyD

Veronese68 wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

Veronese68 wrote:

Regarding booze we get some really disapproving looks if we tell some other parents that we let our 15 year old have a bit to drink every now and then.

Would you let him watch Dredd?

Yes, but not Human Centipede.

Things like Human Centipede and Hostel (I watched it once and said never again, never have and never will) are films that I would outright ban. They're sadistic in nature and coupled to depraved forms of violence (like torture, rape etc) which ultimately I find psychologically disturbing. I liken those films to the type of people who have dungeons in their basements and keep their sister-daughters living in them. (Why are most of these films normally set in torn Europe/Eastern Europe - more likely a WW2 torn village?).

I see Dredd like a computer game with enough surealism for most well-adjusted mature individuals to suspend belief and say to themselves its not real.

But it really comes down to the kid. Things like porn doesn't affect/embarass me in the way it does others. But then I could never watch Hostel and there are those that will watch it and remain undisturbed.

veronese68

Completely agree. I also let him play GTA. We had a chat about it before I bought it, he has a good attitude and, remarkably, a reasonable head on his shoulders. He is a lot more sensible and mature than a lot of adults I know.

joelsim

I suspect the film will be a lot tamer than most video games he plays with his mates.