To think that a trailer for a film rated 15 shouldn't be shown before a film rated 12A?

[acsec]

I took DSS 10 and his friend to see Guardians of the Galaxy. It's rated 12A and, having watched other Marvel films of the same rating I knew it would be fine for DSS and his friend to watch it.

The trailers before the film started were completely inappropriate, however! The first was for Sin City 2, which is an 18 - granted it probably didn't look very exciting to DSS and his friend. The second was for Let's be Cops, 15 rating - DSS and friend "haha that looks really funny, we want to see that" no as it's too old for you. And finally a trailer for Sex Tape! Completely inappropriate!

I emailed the cinema and explained this to them and the reply I received said, all the trailers featured 12A content so were fine.

Am I being unreasonable to think that just because you show the potted version of the 15/18 rated films doesn't mean they are fit to be shown before a film rated 12A?

They make sure the trailers are suitable for the age of that particular audience.

I don't see the issue.

They're showing these ads on television during the day.

A bit unreasonable yes.

As long as the trailer content is fit for a 12A audience, I don't see a problem.

Yanbu

It's bloody stupid. Like showing a scene with Chucky in it doing something cute

Or Ted with the teddy bear eating a cupcake as opposed to discussing Anal ffs

Am I being unreasonable to think that just because you show the potted version of the 15/18 rated films doesn't mean they are fit to be shown before a film rated 12A?

YABU. They are specially made 12a trailers. Rated the same as the movie youve chosen as appropriate.

They even say, "The following trailers are deemed suitable for this movie.." or something sometimes.

YABU they are specially done so suitable for a 12A audience. A large number of people in that audience will be old enough to see them, and would therefore be interested in the trailers.

But the Sex Tape one especially didn't seem like it was 12A rated. The fact that they even showed a trailer for a film called Sex Tape to children aged 12 and under, IMO is ridiculous. Children that age don't need to know that adults make sex tapes. Also, why show 3 trailers for films that the children can't actually go and watch?

Because most people in the audience are not children

It was mostly children in the audience.

Because most of the audience will be of an age where they can see the film.

And they will probably all watch the DVD/Nexflix release.

You do realise that 12a has been deemed suitable for 12 and over,so your repeated references to younger children is silly? The A part means that you can choose to bring younger children if you want,not that its actually suitable for them. same for the ads.

There may have been a lot of children in the audience, but that doesn't mean the film was specifically aimed at them. I'd guess most people who watch the Marvel films are far older than the age specification.

So it would be ok to have a film entitled Anal Fist Fuckers United as long as the suitable clip of a couple having tea was shown?

Who really wants children to be shown a tame clip of 'Donkey Punch' and then have to explain what it is to their 11 year old after?

No one that's who.

I mean if I'm forced into explaining terms a bit prematurely to kids I will but I really don't want to have to dissuade them from watching 'Ted' as 'the cartoon bear looked funny'

In fact 'Ted' is a great example, loads of people have shown young teens that thinking it's suitable. I'm not particularly prudish but there's a few too many jizz, anal, and spit roast jokes for me.

12a films aren't aimed at children. They are for over 12s or an under 12 with an adult who is responsible for making the judgement.

For example I read the imdb information on the amazing spiderman, thought my son could cope with it and has the patience to sit through a film that isn't specifically aimed at children. He's 8 and loved the film. Right choice.

The parents of the 3 year olds in the cinema with us who spent the first hour shouting 'when is spidey coming mummy' over and over and over again didn't make the right choice.

The trailers are suitable. The films might not be. But your kids aren't the target audience.

I think YANBU. Seems bonkers to show ads for films rated 15 and 18 at a film aimed at children

"In fact 'Ted' is a great example, loads of people have shown young teens that thinking it's suitable. I'm not particularly prudish but there's a few too many jizz, anal, and spit roast jokes for me"

Then they are bloody idiots. It's R rated, so its only a great example of the kind of people who need instructions on toothpicks.

I agree with you OP, I would not be impressed at having to explain the names of some films or why DC can't go and see them given they have just seen a funny/exciting/designed to attract clip. Also was this during the daytime in school holidays? In which case I would assume a greater proportion of younger audience members, and expect more family friendly ads & trailers.

I am also a bit shocked at what content is allowed in films for 12 yos in general TBH, that's a whole other thread!

It's not possible to vary the trailers by each cinema showing's age group - how would you even do that anyway? They are blocked out weeks in advance and decisions are made centrally. Most people who go to see GoG will be 15 or older. Most films are 12a or below anyway so it's difficult for a film rated 15 to get its trailer shown to enough people if they only show it in other 15 films.

What is the worst that's going to happen? Your under 12 will WANT to watch a 15 - but he won't be able to. Cinemas won't admit him and he will be unable to buy it. He could stream it but that is illegal and a whole other issue.

YANBU

If I take my kids to a 12A film, I am responsible for making a judgement on whether the film is suitable for them. I took them to see Dawn of the Planet of the Apes over the summer, knowing that they are fine with 'unreal' scenarios. However, there was a trailer for a film about an amnesiac woman, who looked terrified. Although the trailer had clearly been rated 12A, it contained a very different type of threat to the one I had judged my kids OK with - I'm much warier about more 'realistic' images.

I judge each 12A film on its own merits, which I wasn't able to do with the trailer. As it happens, they were fine with the trailer too, but I resented not being able to exercise my judgement.

Just because one 12A is suitable for a particular child doesn't mean everything rated 12A is OK for them!

I would expect that a 12yo would understand and accept the concept if 'it's not suitable, you're too young'

I'd be stunned if a 12yo wasn't aware if the concept if a sex tape.

If you take children younger than 12 to a 12A then the issue is your not the cinemas.

SugarSkully it was 11.30am during summer holidays.

I'm glad that there are some people on this thread who understand where I'm coming from. I would have loved a trailer for TMNT!

I agree that a 12a film is not aimed at young children and should be treated as such however pimpernel raises an excellent point and one I hadn't thought of before. Children seeing trailers for films they can't watch is a non issue imo "yes darling and when you're 15/18 you can watch it" is adequate I think but the fact that the a means younger children can go if an adult deems it appropriate but see things the adult doesn't find appropriate and said adult has no opportunity to vet that is an issue, well potentially anyway.

But they advertise 15 & 18 rated films during the day on TV. They only show content suitable for pre-watershed, this is no different.