to expect cinemas only to show trailers of films with the same certification as the film you are there to see?

[NikkiH]

My DSs are desperate to see The Dictator having seen a trailer for it while going to see The Avengers Assemble which is a 12a. They were both so disappointed to find out this week that it has been certified as a 15 and both of them are too young to see it.

Neither would have been as aware of the film if it hadn't been promoted during the 12a film. It just seems unreasonable of cinemas to raise expectations which can't be met for the majority of the audience attending the lower certification films. The trailer did make it look very funny...

[Poulay]

They are 12? I'm sure they'll get over it.

It's not like they are screaming 3-year-olds

[Ithinkitsjustme]

I wouldn't expect to see an advert for an 18 at a U screening but i think that a trailer for a 15 at a 12A is acceptable.

[rhondajean]

It's the trailers which are the same classification not the actual film if swim.

[Rubirosa]

The advertise movies on TV/billboards/radio/in magazines too. You can't avoid all knowledge of films with a rating higher than 12!

[limitedperiodonly]

I'd pay to be kept in blissful ignorance of any Sacha Baron Cohen films.

Unfortunately, the smug, hypocritical bigot gets about like scabies.

[LentillyFart]

What do you think is going to happen to them if they see a trailer for a movie classified for kids a mere 3 years older than them? Seriously -what?

[Aribura]

The 12A rating pisses me off bad. Put it back to 12.

[Aribura]

I don't care that 6 year old Jimmy wants to see Spiderman.

[LineRunner]

The OP's saying that it raises expectations amongst kids that won't be able to see it.

I think she's saying it's pushing a product at an audience and then disappointing them.

Tbh the whole 12 / 12a rating thing confuses me.

[Pandemoniaa]

The trailer for a 15 will actually be made to the classification of films that it'll be shown before. Has always been the case. As a child, I was devistatted not to be allowed to see The Bride of Dracula, a trailer for which preceded 101 Dalmations. But guess what? I got over it.

[JosephineCD]

I don't think they show trailers for 18 rated films at anything less than a 15. I think it's fair to say that many people going to see the Avengers may be interested in seeing the Dictator as well.

[manicbmc]

What Aribura said. I hate 12a. If a film is classified as a 12 then that's the age I'd expect in the cinema to see the film. The last Transformers film was spoiled by a sodding baby screeching through half the film (and no, it wasn't a mother and child screening). Another film was spoiled by 9 year olds throwing popcorn - I complained and had the little scrotes ejected from the cinema.

Having said that, I've been to 15s where dd has been disappointed to find out a trailer was for an 18 - but then she just has to wait for it to come out on dvd.

[HappySquirrel]

I think you're allowed to see a 15 if you're 12 with parental supervision - so maybe they assume that there will be a fair amount of crossover?

I also assume that most of the people who viewed the Avengers Assemble (which I am not at all familiar with) were older than 12? A lot of films I watch are rated 12 (maybe 12A - what's the difference?), if they're not aimed at children then I don't see why the trailers should be either.

[manicbmc]

12 is a certificate only used on dvds, meaning no one younger than 12 may buy them. 12a means a child younger than 12 can see that film if accompanied by and adult - it is only on films in the cinema.

15 certificate dvds can only be bought by someone 15 or over. 15 rated films in the cinema can only be watched by people over 15 whether they have an adult with them or not.

[FourEyesGood]

Manicbmc - the last Transformers film was spoiled by dreadful acting, a confusing plot and being too noisy. Don't blame the mother and its screaming baby!

[EverybodysSleepyEyed]

When I took DS (5) to see The Pirates they had trailers for The Avengers and The Hunger Games. I don't know how they rated the trailer but he was able to understand that people were being killed

I was annoyed because it scared him and that made him on edge for the film. i now have a kid who is petrified of Queen Victoria!

[mumeeee]

Happysquirral you are not allowed to see a 15 film at the cinema until you are 15. Those under 12 can only see a 12a with an adult. OP cinemas have always shown trailers for films above the certificate of the actual film being shown. These trailers are always at a durable certificate though.

[ladyinthelibrary]

I thought it was the law (or something) that they only show trailers of the same or lower certificate. Isn't there usually an on screen announcement that says that the trailers you are about to see ...... etc etc

Saying that, I took DDs 13 &15 to see Dark shadows last week, and felt there was some inappropriate bits in there. Think I'm getting to be an old prude.

[ladyinthelibrary]

www.bbfc.co.uk/faqs/2010/05/why-are-there-trailers-for-%e2%80%9815%e2%80%99-%e2%80%9918-films-before-children%e2%80%99s-films/

[chocolateflapjack]

This is what the BBFC say:

www.bbfc.co.uk/faqs/2010/05/can-a-school-show-videosdvds-of-a-particular-category-to-children-below-that-age/

(Obviously got too much time on my hands today!)

[chocolateflapjack]

xposted with ladyinthelibrary !

[valiumredhead]

I was pretty pissed off about being shown the trailer for the new Paranormal Activity at a 12 a we saw at the weekend. It scared me let alone ds!

[chocolateflapjack]

The answer to your unsuitable trailer gripe is also on the BBFC website:

■We have no control over which film trailers and advertisements are shown before any particular film at the cinema. Trailers and advertisements should be of the same category as the main feature, or lower. If you are complaining about a trailer or advertisement which is of a higher category than the main feature you should complain to the cinema manager or cinema head office.
www.bbfc.co.uk/about/contact/

[ChocHobNob]

EverybodysSleepyEyed: If it's any consolation, my 4 yr old didn't seen any trailers for The Avengers or The Hunger Games, but he is also petrified of Queen Victoria after seeing The Pirates! He wont watch any bits of the film with her in it.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Nikki - advertising etc surrounds us all with temptation for things we may or may not be able to have, and learning that is a part of life. At 12, they ought to be old enough to start to learn that they can't neccessarily have everything they see advertised.

Anyway, the dvd will be out long before they are 15, so you will be able to buy it, review it yourself (because a trailer suitable for showing before a 12 film is not going to contain the bits that would make the actual film a 15, of course), and then let them see it (as long as you think it is suitable).