(1) QUIT CALLING HIM THE ATTORNEY!!!!!
It makes him sound like a smarmy ambulance-chasing deviant. Remember how much you don't like "The Practice"?

(2) I'd also like to see theaters able to take a stand against parents that take minor children to rated R movies. I couldn't believe I went to see The Passion and there was a 2 yr. old in the row in front of me, awake and horrified. I asked the manager if the child could be removed but he said that, while he agreed that it was practically depraved to expose a toddler to that violence, he would be accused of discrimination and risk serious legal trouble. Apparently, parents have the right to take their child to see ANY movie as long as the parent accompanies them.

I must point out, most G-rated films will be full of parents who presumably might want to see PG and R rated films. So long as the preview is g-rated, does it really matter all that much, do you think?

A couple of things:

1. If you and Mrs Q. attend together, you can tak ethe kids to the concession stand during the previews and have Mrs. Q call on a cell phone when the movie starts (she doesn't need to talk, just the ringing can indicate that the show is starting.

2. If you are really dead-set against going to the cinema, may I suggest NetFlix? They have plenty of G and PG movies (my daughter especially likes the old Harryhausen Sinbad movies) and are very easy to deal with. For a monthly subscription, which can be less than the cost of a family trip to the local cinemaplex, you can rent as many movies as you want.

Mrs. Q - is it OK if we just call him "The Barrister" ;-)

Dean,
Yes, I think it matters a great deal if previews for R rated movies are shown to G audiences, even it the previews are rated G. These previews frequently show people being threatened by other people, disasters, monsters, etc. Many studies have shown that children cannot tell the difference between video and real life – their brains assume the input is real. There is much academic discussion whether or not adults can tell the difference (that is, when you see someone die on film, your mind reacts as if you saw someone die in the street, yet your conscious mind tells you to sit there and do nothing. There are many social implications to this, but that is a new post entirely). So I do not want my young, impressionable children exposed to these types of media until they are older. I do not intend to shelter my children from reality, but I do intend to provide them a secure childhood upon which to build a strong character before they are exposed to concepts aimed at adults.

I also think by advertising R rated movies in front of children, Hollywood deliberately increase the desirability of the movies. It becomes forbidden fruit, and children look forward to the day when they can see any R-rated movie. I assume you would be upset if it were still legal to advertise cigarettes in movie theaters and these ads appeared before children's films?

Finally, I think it rude. If the previews do not scare the younger children, then they interest them. Why tantalize the kids? That is like going out to eat with a woman who just started a diet and then ordering a chocolate dessert for yourself.

Khobrah,
The electronic notification idea is pretty good. If something really good comes out (like another VeggieTales movie), we may give that a go. Neither of us have cell phones, but we have some family radios that would work.

I haven't tried NetFlix yet, but I might do so. Or we could just wait 9 months and buy the DVD for much less than it costs to take all of us to the movie anyway.

To anonymous,
Barrister, eh? Hmmm, I may go with this. Unless Lady Quixote objects. In which case, I'll revert back to calling him the Attorney ;-)

Actually "Barrister" was mine. Not sure why the site didn't save my name.

"Solicitor" might work, too.

As an alternative to radios and cell-phones you could ask an usher to notify and seat you once the objectionable previews are finished. It is their job and helps to communicate to the theatre your preferences. For the industry to police itself, they'll need to know that this is an issue for their customers.

If a local parent group exists you might be able to arrange a deal between a theatre and the group. For example, propose a monthly movie outing for the group to take their children to a matinée. In exchange, ask the theatre to guarantee there will be no objectionable previews during that timeslot. With enough potential patrons you may even be able to arrange a group/loyalty discount. This way everybody wins and no government intervention is required.

MRH - it generally doesn't work that way. A movie comes to a theatre complete with trailers. I have only ever seen digital movies which allowed insertion/deletion of different materials.

I don't know who you guys are or what exactly you do, but as far as this forum goes: I'm happy to see more people angered by the outrageous gall that film studios have in force-feeding children the "forbidden fruit" of R-rated films. I am in total agreement. I'm a 26-year old independant film and video maker and I'm actually doing research for a school paper on the topic of parents bringing children into inappropriate films. I tend to carry out my own crusade by bringing God-centered morals into films while still keeping them cutting-edge and "attractive" to the general movie-going public. I'm just happy to see more like-minded folk out there like me. Keep up the fight and I shall do the same. God Bless.

Trailers, like movies are rated by the MPAA, except that there are only two ratings for the trailers.

Trailers are either "Approved for All General Audiences" (with a green background) or "Restricted" (with a red background). "Resticted" trailers can only be shown with "R" and "PG-13" movies.

A "Restricted" trailer means that the trailer itself features objectional material. "General" trailers supposedly have nothing objectionable in the trailer itself, regardless of the rating the film it is advertising has.

I would recommend you contact the MPAA, this is the industry organization that determines the standards for ratings.

I agree that parents taking their kids to inappropriate movies is a problem. I do believe that R rated movies and entertainment suitable only for adults has a place in society and I do have the right to enjoy it.

But there are irresponsible parents. My wife and I saw Kill Bill Vol 2 in theater, but my enjoyment of the movie was hampered by the small child who cried whenever the movie became violent or scary. But this child had been brought by their parents.

Roger Ebert wrote an interesting essay about the Passion of the Christ (sorry it's no longer online) in which he described watching a small child cover her hands throughout most of the movie. Before the movie began, her mother had complained that the theater manager had suggested that the film was not appropriate.

I often hear arguments from conservatives that child-rearing should be left to the parents. And for the most part, I agree. But it goes both ways--bad parents have the right as well to raise their children as well and may choose to expose them to inappropriate movies.