To wish cinema's had a parent/guardian only viewing for children films

[PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange]

i will admit I have always steamed a pg film and recently 12a film online since I have 2 children.

I don't want to do this, but also don't want to take my children to a film that I don't know if it's suitable, my children are 9 and 6. So need to make sure I can to my best of abilities explain.

Would it be a better idea for movies that are PG to actually have a viewing so parental guidance can be met.

teddy Jaws is a PG according to that Commonsense site.

Jaws was a PG , on original release... they upgraded it in 2012 " The PG certificate of Jaws has always struck many as a strange decision, due to its frightening suspense and gory shark attacks. Now, 37 years since its original release, the BBFC have granted Jaws a 12A certificate for its upcoming theatrical re-release." So for 37 years parents could have thought it was suitable for their kids.... until they watched it!

Oh yeah, you're right!
Just seen the BBFC site.

In practise, what's the difference though? Both need a parent to decide if it's suitable.

Oh, yes, a free showing of kids films pre-realease to see if they are suitable or not in the eyes of the parent. Flipping genius. I would declare all films unsuitable, as I've already watched them.

I think it is very simple. You tell the child they can go to the film when you have been and seen it, and decided it is suitable. If they kick off about not going the monent it comes out, they don't get to go at all.

Monent?? Moment.

Has anyone mentioned the www.bbfc.co.uk website yet. Apologies if I've missed it.

If you look up the film you want to see they explain exactly why it's been rated as it has. Yes there are spoilers but I can handle that for a kids film.

Frozen 'insight' from the BBFC website (Frozen is rated PG):

FROZEN is an animated feature about a princess who cannot control her magical powers that freeze everything around her. It is rated PG for mild threat.

THREAT
Characters become involved in adventures which place them in danger, for example being chased by a pack of wolves and being threatened by a giant snow ogre which flings soldiers around. However, the mild threat is balanced by comic moments and a focus on bravery and resourcefulness.

The film also features an evil character being punched and some mild rude humour, such as the dialogue, 'What if he picks his nose? And eats it?'

Rogan I guess the difference is that if people decide on the spur of the moment what to see, without researching, they are more likely to merrily wander into a PG with a 5/6/7/8 year old expecting it not to be scary and to say they would have to check whether the 12A is suitable.

I live abroad and there are no PG/12A ratings - there is 0 (suitable for all), 6 (vaguely similar to a PG except some PGs are 0 and some are 6 and cinemas won't let you take a child very obviously well under 6 into a 6 rated film), 12 (no A, cinemas won't let a child who looks significantly under 12 in unless you can prove they are 12 with a passport or similar - Jurassic World was a 12 so I never even had to have the discussion with my 10 and 8 year old about whether they were allowed to see it, none of their friends went to see it either as only the very occasional 10/11 year old who would pass easily for 12 would have got in).

I generally prefer the clear classifications as there is no "debate" with DC and most especially there is no "but so and so's mum let him" argument and no weird parental competition in which people are a bit sneery and patronising about children who's parents don't take them to disturbing, creepy, gory, brutal or very sad films and boast about what films their children have seen and been unaffected by, thinking that their child's thick skin, desensitised emotional responses and lack of understanding of what is actually going on or of empathy or imagination means they are more "mature" ...

However it can be a pain not being able to see a 6 rated film with kids of a range of ages including a 4 year old and several over 6 when the film would be a PG in the UK and doesn't really seem to need a 6 certificate!

What are reward points?

I don't understand the need to see a film before allowing your children to watch it. If you read up a bit in advance, that usually gives a good idea of potentially scary scenes or coarse language or whatever.

But even if you have previewed a film in its entirety, you may not be able to predict how your children will react. For instance, a young relative was terrified by the singing crab in The Little Mermaid. That came as quite a surprise.

If I'm going to go to the cinema alone I'm not wasting time watching a bloody kids film!