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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think its perfectly ok for under 12s watch superhero films?

73 replies

FishCanFly · 30/03/2015 11:46

Hosted a movie day on weekend. Hellboy 1 and 2.
Ds(11) invited a few friends from school. One was not allowed. At the schoolgate i met the said kid's mother and she told me its very inappropriate to show kids films rated above their age.
Ok, i get the point. But Hellboy is a kids' film, just like Spiderman, etc.
Rating isn't a law.

OP posts:
Original poster
FishCanFly · 30/03/2015 12:37

I do have a right to invite guests? Let my kids invite classmates?
Somebody doesn't want to come, fair enough.

Just the certain situation felt odd

OP posts:
OrlandoWoolf · 30/03/2015 12:44

I do have a right to invite guests? Let my kids invite classmates?

You have that right.
Do you have the right to show them films that are above their age rating?

Original poster
FishCanFly · 30/03/2015 12:48

Are ratings a law? I'm not a business or an institution.

OP posts:
OrlandoWoolf · 30/03/2015 12:50

Would you be happy if your DS went to a house and played GTA - and the parents didn't mind as it's "only a rating"

Original poster
FishCanFly · 30/03/2015 12:54

Lets go back to common sense. GTA, porn, extreme horror -- thats a completely different kettle of fish.

OP posts:
OrlandoWoolf · 30/03/2015 12:56

Again - do you have the right to show a 12 rated film to a child who is not 12?

Despite what you think of the film, other people might think differently and not want their child to watch it.

MuddlingMackem · 30/03/2015 13:58

FishCanFly Mon 30-Mar-15 12:54:44

Lets go back to common sense. GTA, porn, extreme horror -- thats a completely different kettle of fish.

granulatedhappiness · 30/03/2015 14:01

My DD is 6 and has seen films rated 12, loves Guardians of the Galaxy, etc but I wouldn't let her watch these films when she has friends round. It's up to the parents. I would think 11 would be OK to watch Hellboy but that's not the point. It should be the parents' choice.

ShadowStone · 30/03/2015 15:43

Depends on the superhero film.

I've seen both the Hellboy films, and I'd consider them darker in tone than, say, the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man film, which is also a 12.

Even if I felt my DC were old enough at 11 for Hellboy, I'd err on the side of caution if their friends were watching too. Firstly, they're below the age classification for that film, and secondly, it's unlikely that you know the other children well enough to be confident that they're all mature enough to be comfortable with the film and it's content.

HouseAtreides · 30/03/2015 15:50

I LOVE Hellboy. However it is not as daft as a lot of superhero movies and has some very intense moments (John Hurt being executed in cold blood by the undead Nazi fetish ninja for one). I wouldn't pick it for a kids' movie night.

FirstWeTakeManhattan · 30/03/2015 15:52

I wouldn't choose to invite other people's kids for a movie, and then show something rated above their age group. It puts pressure on parents to say yes, some kids watch out of bravado but then find it scary/upsetting/whatever, and other parents - like the one you mention -feel they should make their feelings known on it.

If you've hosting for other kids, then I would always play it safe, out of consideration for everyone else. It's not like there's no other more appropriate films to choose from.

iseenodust · 30/03/2015 16:02

YABU. It's above their age group. What you show your own DC is up to you.
Most of DS's friends are 11 but they're in yr6 and as a summer birthday he is still 10 for a while yet. I wouldn't be happy. We're not over strict just sticking to the principle (which saves a lot of arguments).

madreloco · 30/03/2015 16:06

Its a 12-A, which means that the adults get to decide if they are ok with their kids watching it. IT's fine for you to choose for yours, its fine for someone else to choose the opposite.

She is U to think that you shouldn't show it to kids (as long as you have let the parents know what you are showing?) and you are being U to think she shouldn't have a problem with it.

Idontseeanydragons · 30/03/2015 16:11

Hellboy is a bloody great film but I kept DS back from watching it until just after his 13th birthday because I didn't feel it was appropriate for him before then. He loves all the Superhero films, as does his 9year old sister but I wouldn't hesitate to keep them away from a film night if the parent was showing a film that I felt was unsuitable for them. That's my choice.
She made her choice and you made yours - as parents you both have the right to do that Smile

YouTheCat · 30/03/2015 16:15

I'd go for a different superhero film tbh. Fantastic 4 is pg rated.

Or there's always the Wizard of Oz. That's a U and isn't at all scary tries not to think of flying monkeys .

TeenAndTween · 30/03/2015 16:17

I think it is inconsiderate to plan a get together / party with an over-age film. You run the risk of a child not being allowed/willing to attend and being called babyish, or of you having to change the film and child being called a spoilsport.

I really really hate it when parents do this.

There are so many films of suitable rating to choose, is it really necessary to pick an over-age one?

But at least you said upfront what the film would be so the Mum could pull her child out, rather than her find out after the event.

TrixieB123 · 30/03/2015 16:19

My giant nerd of a 6 year old DD loves superhero films and I'm perfectly happy to let her watch them with me, but I absolutely wouldn't let her watch Hellboy until she was the right age. I also won't let her watch Jurassic Park yet (much to DH's annoyance) because it's just a bit gory. That being said, I was her age when I conned a babysitter into letting me watch Terminator 2. Nightmares for months.

ihatelego · 30/03/2015 16:19

it's a difficult one, i let my DS watch some superhero films rated 12 but beforehand i go on imdb and read through the parental guidance to see what's included. If it's the odd swear word or romantic bit i let it pass but anything violent or scary i give it a miss

FirstWeTakeManhattan · 30/03/2015 16:22

Also, 'Superhero films' is a very broad brush OP. Hellboy ain't Superman, is it?

YABU, sorry.

CalicoBlue · 30/03/2015 16:25

I think that as you have said what the films are, you have given the parents the choice if they do not want their kids to see the films. As only 1 child's parent has said they are not coming because of the film, YANBU.

prepperpig · 30/03/2015 16:25

I would be really cross if I let ,my child come to your house and you had that sort of attitude. My children do not watch films above their age certification unless DH and I have discussed it and thought carefully about each film. They are 8 and 10. We have let them watch a couple of 12s (Harry Potter Number - 4 but only when they'd read the book and knew exactly what to expect. Pirates of the Caribbean number 1 last week - but only after a lot of debate and DS2 had a cushion on hand for the scary bits)

DS1 would tell you he isn't allowed to watch it and would be upset that you'd put him in that position in front of his friends. I wouldn't be letting him come over again.

You have to respect others' wishes for how they raise their children. You might think its pathetic that I don't let my children watch films above the ratings, I think its sad that you hurry your children through childhood and expose them to things that they might struggle with. There are enough great films that are PG rated.

PatricianOfAnkhMorpork · 30/03/2015 16:32

Hellboy is not a kids film and both of them are very violent leading to their 12A ratings. Both were rated PG-13 in the States.

Avengers: Age of Ultron has been classified a 12A as was the first Avengers movie.

Just because its from a Marvel graphic novel doesn't make it child friendly.

FirstWeTakeManhattan · 30/03/2015 16:36

I think that as you have said what the films are, you have given the parents the choice if they do not want their kids to see the films. As only 1 child's parent has said they are not coming because of the film, YANBU

But think of the arguments, the cajoling, the pressure, the 'everyone else is going' guilt that some of the parents probably went through before saying yes, okay. I would probably not be too chuffed at being put in that position to be honest.

YouTheCat · 30/03/2015 16:37

I think the OP is getting an unnecessary hard time about this. She has given the invitee's parents the heads up about which films they are going to watch so they can make their own decision. I can't see what is so bad about that?

Go the whole hog and let them watch 'Watchmen'. Grin

YouTheCat · 30/03/2015 16:38

Oops no - read it wrong.

In that case, you should have given them the choice by letting them know beforehand.

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