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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To consider letting my 4 yo watch a 12a

36 replies

Minikievs · 13/10/2014 07:22

Fully open to being told IABU. It's probably more a WWYD. New film out at cinema (Turtles) which he would love. But it's a 12. I haven't mentioned it to him and luckily he hasn't seen the adverts for it. He's 4-is it absolutely ridiculous to let him go and see it with half term coming up? He would have no interest in, for example, the Postman Pat film. But I'm not sure if this would be too old for him. Would you let him go?

OP posts:
OwlCapone · 13/10/2014 07:27

I think 4 is too young to see it without a parent having already vetted it beforehand. From memory, the trailers don't look like the cute turtles from the TV programme.

HamishBamish · 13/10/2014 07:29

I was considering it for my turtle mad 4yo too, but DH said the film looked unsuitable from the trailers. I wouldn't chance it unless you or someone you know well had seen it first.

Delphiniumsblue · 13/10/2014 07:38

If he doesn't know about it there is no need to even consider it.

merrymouse · 13/10/2014 07:38

www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-2014

BBFC insight explains why the film is a 12a.

It might be fine, but I would be wary of letting a 4 year old watch a 12a without pre-screening it. The Dark Knight, for instance, was a 12a and I really wouldn't have wanted to watch it with an 8 year old, never mind a 4 year old.

On the other hand, it isn't out till next week, so maybe wait for the reviews? (assuming you are in UK).

merrymouse · 13/10/2014 07:39

Also the Box Trolls is supposed to be really good.

MrsMonkeyBear · 13/10/2014 07:40

I'm taking my nephew who is also 4 yo. My DSis trusts my judgement on this. She knows I will leave if he gets scared or isn't enjoying it.

The BBFC website offers something called INSITE CLICKY LINK and it might help you reach your decision.

MrsMonkeyBear · 13/10/2014 07:41

Cross post

Spadequeen · 13/10/2014 07:43

There's generally a reason why it's a 12, so I would say not to take, especially to a film that you've not seen. Save it for when he's older.

starlight1234 · 13/10/2014 07:46

I have just watched a minute of the trailer and have to say I would not take my 7 year old.

I find it very annoying what shoould be a pg at most has been made into a 12 but no I don't think a 4 year old need see that level of violence.

Original poster
Minikievs · 13/10/2014 07:53

Thank you for the link-I've had a quick look and there's an amount of swearing, including "shit". Decision immediately made-no.
So thanks for the responses.
Delph, yes, he's not seen adverts but thought he'd enjoy it and it's a way to fill a couple of hours of (probably rainy) half term. I'll hope he doesn't see the adverts now!
Merry, Boxtrolls is the plan now, thank you.
And yes Star, I'm a bit cross too, to me, TMNT are slightly younger than a 12a (or should be!)

OP posts:
JubJubBirds · 13/10/2014 08:00

Just read the link too. How annoying that it isn't more suitable for younger audiences. 4 is most definitely too young for the way they've made it. Good decision on your part mini.

fuzzpig · 13/10/2014 08:05

I would (and sometimes do) happily ignore ratings for films/TV I've already seen, but I wouldn't risk it in this situation. Especially as it's at the cinema so anything scary is going to be much scarier (IME anyway) due to bigger screen/volume.

Bizarre that they've aimed it at older audiences really, I used to watch the cartoon when I was small.

DogCalledRudis · 13/10/2014 08:24

Cinema -- i wouldn't.
Wait till DVD comes out, then watch and decide.

mrscumberbatch · 13/10/2014 08:27

We watch a lot of 80's films and words like 'Shit', 'Crap', and 'Balls' etc are all quite common.

Dd doesn't even notice them although it makes me cringe, and she's never repeated any of them. She is nearly 5 and loves Ghostbusters, Iron Man etc

fairgame · 13/10/2014 08:33

It's a shame that it's a 12 when they are basically targeting younger kids with all the merchandise. They should have made it into a PG. My friend has got a hooky copy on dvd for her 4yo, I don't think she realises it's a 12.
I don't understand why they need to use words like 'shit' in a turtles movie Confused

DogCalledRudis · 13/10/2014 11:36

Honestly, words like 'shit' isn't something they wouldn't hear at school, on a bus or anywhere else.

KatoPotato · 13/10/2014 12:00

I'd check out the common sense review for boxtrolls too tbh. I've heard it's grotesque and scary with not a lot of let up! My friend's 6 yo was quite disturbed by it?

KatoPotato · 13/10/2014 12:01

www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-boxtrolls

great website, we use it a lot.

rumbelina · 13/10/2014 12:02

I would wait for a DVD where you can stop it if gets a bit much. I have started watching TV films with DS and then realised it's not age appropriate and turned them off. He takes it quite well, I just say sorry this is for older children, you can watch it when you're 10, let's put Ninjago on! That usually works :)

Pilotti · 13/10/2014 12:03

Yes that website is so brilliant, they always seem to get it completely right IMO

ChippingInLatteLover · 13/10/2014 12:25

I have just watched that trailer... I am astounded that it's the swearing that's stopping you letting a 4 year old watch it.

I think the 12 is right. It's incredibly violent & threatening, and kind of creepy. Why would you let a 4 year old watch that, even if the swearing was taken out??

[...and I'm not a 'softie' by any means, nor someone who sticks to the guildelines for movies. We have plenty of discovery stuff with dinosaurs, sharks, anything documentary about either of those is fine. Mama Mia was fine (not sure what the rating was now, but much older than the 3 year old that was obsessed by the bloody thing!) Titanic - watched at 4. So it's not all ceebeebies by a long shot - but that ^^ No way]

BlueberryWafer · 13/10/2014 12:43

I think scooby doo looks scarier

BlueberryWafer · 13/10/2014 12:44

Sorry pressed send too soon

I think scooby doo looks scarier Smile use your own judgement OP, only you know your son well enough to judge. I do agree that maybe waiting til it's out on DVD as the cinema noise can be more scary Smile

Original poster
Minikievs · 13/10/2014 12:51

I do see your point Chipping, but he's far more likely to imitate someone swearing than throwing a baddie out of the window if that makes sense? Although it's a bit of a moot point, as I've already said I'm not taking him. In a brief squizz over the website this morning before work, the swearing just stuck out and made my mind up, without having the time to review in full their definition of threat and violence. The 12 is probably right, my issue was more that I'm disappointed in how they've made the film, as in it should be more geared to a younger audience, rather than they've got the classification wrong.

Rudis, I know he'll hear that in a lot of places (hopefully not school so much, at 4yo!!) but I can't really control what he heard on the bus, whereas I can control what he hears at the cinema IYSWIM

OP posts:
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